Since the demolition of the Calgary General Hospital 21 years ago, the northeast neighbourhood of Bridgeland has undergone a massive transformation. In fact, that transformation is ongoing and will intensify over the next three years, as one of Calgary's oldest communities continues to reinvent itself.

They say that those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and the same could apply to historic buildings. In the wake of the Enoch Sales House fire and demolition, heritage groups and individual Calgarians have called for more to be done to preserve the city's historic structures.

City of Calgary Main Streets initiative aims to revitalize streetscapes and bring communities together

In late September, a throng of Bridgeland residents turned out for the first annual community-organized passeggiata, visiting cultural and business stops along the neighbourhood's main thoroughfare, ending in celebration at the street's General Square.

This passeggiata — a leisurely promenade or stroll in the Italian tradition — and other activities like it are exactly what the City of Calgary's Main Streets initiative is designed to encourage across 24 different city streets.

CREB®Now sits down with Calgary Transit senior transit planner Asif Kurji

Calgary's Main Streets project is back in the news, with Calgary Transit recently outlining its involvement in the City-backed initiative.

CREB®Now recently sat down with Calgary Transit senior transit planner Asif Kurji to discuss everything from how upcoming transit projects will factor into Main Streets to why he believes the city doesn't have any secrets.

CREB®Now: For those who are not familiar with it, what is Main Streets?

Kurji: The Main Streets initiative is a City initiative that is looking at 24 main streets in Calgary. The goal is to learn and understand each street, including their history and character, and then to create a strategy to enable growth along each of the main streets. Main streets provide an opportunity for mixed-use development such as residential, commercial and retail, and make a street great for people to live, work and play. Examples of main streets being look at include Centre Street N., Edmonton Trail N.E., Ninth Avenue S.E. in Inglewood and Kensington Road N.W.

Bridgeland Market shines while other corner stores are going the way of the dodo

Fresh-baked cookies, cheese from around the world and pints of organic ice cream are just a few of the treats visitors will find at Bridgeland Market, one of a vanishing breed of family-run corner stores slowly fading from the Calgary landscape.

Run by the Traya family, which also operates Tazza Deli & Grill across the street, Bridgeland Market, like Lukes Drug Mart a few blocks away, has actually grown with the times to become a community mainstay.