Montgomery: Enjoying A Renaissance
For many Calgarians Montgomery is just a pass-through community along the Trans-Canada Highway on the way to the mountains. In fact, it is one of Calgary’s oldest communities, established in 1911 and wasn’t amalgamated into Calgary until 1963.
And like all of Calgary’s established communities it is undergoing a transformation with dozens of new infill projects every year, for the past 10+ years. And with these new infills comes the renaissance of the community.
Montgomery’s new Bowness Road streetscape has attracted new businesses as well as residential development. (Photo credit: Michael Magnan)
Montgomery’s Fringe Cafe is home to two funky swing chair tables.
Recently Fringe Coffee and LONDON Barber Shop opened along Bowness Road, across from Notable, one of Calgary’s best restaurants.
Rising Tides Tap Room opened in Montgomery Square a new four-storey mixed-use, built by Eagle Crest Construction and designed by FAAS architecture, with 52 new homes and nine commercial spaces a block to the east.
Coming soon is the uber modern four-storey Monty 44 to also be built by Eagle Crest and designed by FAAS, adding another 110 homes on Bowness Road.
The arrival of an independent café, upscale barber shop, tap room and mixed-used low rise buildings are sure signs Montgomery is on the radar for young entrepreneurs as an attractive place to “live work and play.”
In addition, the Montgomery Safeway store has undergone a major renovation, a sure sign the community is on the radar for major corporations.
Love the fun Dean Stanton signs at several entrances to Montgomery.
Recreation Mecca
Montgomery has a lot to offer when it comes to outdoor urban living. It not only has great access to the Bow River and its pathway for cycling to downtown, but to Shouldice Athletic Park and Aquatic Centre. It is home to one of Calgary’s great picnic sites with an amazing accessible playground and BBQ pits next to the Bow River. It has its own pump-park built by locals on an orphaned piece of land next to the Bowness Road/Trans-Canada interchange.
And there are entrances to Dale Hodges Park and Edworthy Park. The latter comes with the bohemian Angel’s Café situated right on the Bow River.
Two Main Streets
Montgomery has not one, but two main streets – Bowness Road and Trans-Canada Highway. The Bowness Road main street has recently been upgraded with a dedicated bike path, giving it a modern 21st century streetscape. While the Trans-Canada main street retains many of its mid 20th century car-oriented elements – vintage motels, gas stations, fast food chain stores, and huge signs to grab the attention of drivers from a distance.
Montalban Park in Upper Montgomery offers amazing views.
Like most Calgary communities along the Bow River there is a lower community in the old river flood plain and an upper community along the river escarpment.
Upper Montgomery is unique in that it is not only within walking distance to Bowness Road but also within walking and cycling distance to Market Mall and to University District, giving residents easy access to hundreds of shops, restaurants and two cinema complexes.
Montgomery even has its own lumber yard - Timber Town is tucked away on 46th Street NW, between the two main streets – for when you just need that extra sheet of plywood. And every good community needs to have a neighbourhood pub, in Montgomery’s case it is Pazzer’s Saskatchewan Pub - located in the Safeway shopping centre. It is not your typical sports bar, as it is known also for its perogies.
Bowness Road Main Street (photo credit: Michael Magnan)
Trans Canada Highway / 16th Ave NW Main Street
New buildings are gradually changing the look of Montgomery’s 16th Ave main street. Below are some of the vintage motels that still dominate the care oriented street.
Every community needs a good neighbourhood pub.
It is always handy to have a lumberyard in you ‘hood.
Along MacKay Road is the Foundations for the Future Charter School with the Alberta Children’s Hospital in the background. Montgomery is also home to the Terrace Road School.
Collage of Montgomery Infills
Last Word
Montgomery is home to a diversity of different infills, from the single-family mansions on the hill, to duplexes, corner conversions townhomes and three low-rise mixed-use residential buildings, with more to come. The diversity of new housing will attract families, young professionals and even empty nesters to enjoy Montgomery’s unique urban outdoor living opportunities.
If you like this blog, you might like these links:
Inner City Living: The Invasion of the infills in Calgary