Development Derailed: Calgary and the CPR, 1962–64

Product Description In June of 1962, the Canadian Pacific Railway announced a proposal to redevelop part of its reserved land in the heart of downtown Calgary. In an effort to bolster its waning revenues and to redefine its urban presence, the CPR proposed a multimillion dollar development project that included retail, office, and convention facilities, along with a major transportation centre. With visions of enhanced tax revenues, increased land values, and new investment opportunities, Calgary’s political and business leaders greeted the proposal with excitement. Over the following year, the scope of the project expanded, growing to a scale never before seen in Canada. The plan took official form through an agreement between the City of Calgary and the railway company to develop a much larger area of land and to reroute or remove the railway tracks from the downtown area—a grand design for reshaping Calgary’s urban core. In 1964, amid bickering and a failed negotiating process, the project came to an abrupt end. What caused this promising partnership between the nation’s leading corporation and the burgeoning city of Calgary to collapse? From the Inside Flap In June of 1962, the Canadian Pacific Railway announced a proposal toredevelop part of its reserved land in the heart of downtown Calgary.In an effort to bolster its waning revenues and to redefine its urbanpresence, the CPR proposed a multimillion dollar development projectthat included retail, office, and convention facilities, along with amajor transportation centre. With visions of enhanced tax revenues,increased land values, and new investment opportunities,Calgary's political and business leaders greeted the proposalwith excitement. Over the following year, the scope of the projectexpanded, growing to a scale never before seen in Canada. The plan tookofficial form through an agreement between the City of Calgary and therailway company to develop a much larger area of land and to reroute orremove the railway tracks from the downtown area--a grand designfor reshaping Calgary's urban core. In 1964, amid bickering and afailed negotiating process, the project came to an abrupt end. Whatcaused this promising partnership between the nation's leadingcorporation and the burgeoning city of Calgary to collapse? From the Back Cover In June of 1962, the Canadian Pacific Railway announced a proposal toredevelop part of its reserved land in the heart of downtown Calgary.In an effort to bolster its waning revenues and to redefine its urbanpresence, the CPR proposed a multimillion dollar development projectthat included retail, office, and convention facilities, along with amajor transportation centre. With visions of enhanced tax revenues, increased land values, and new investment opportunities, Calgary's political and business leaders greeted the proposalwith excitement. Over the following year, the scope of the projectexpanded, growing to a scale never before seen in Canada. The plan tookofficial form through an agreement between the City of Calgary and therailway company to develop a much larger area of land and to reroute orremove the railway tracks from the downtown area--a grand designfor reshaping Calgary's urban core. In 1964, amid bickering and afailed negotiating process, the project came to an abrupt end. Whatcaused this promising partnership between the nation's leadingcorporation and the burgeoning city of Calgary to collaps About the Author Max Foran is a professor in the Faculty of Communication and Culture at the University of Calgary. He has written extensively on various western Canadian urban, rural, and cultural topics, most recently on ranching, urban growth, and sustainability.