Uptown 17th Transformation To An Urban Village

Long-time Calgary residents will remember when 17th Ave SW (from 4th St to 14th Street SW) was branded as “Uptown 17th” back in the ‘80s.  It made sense as 17th Ave was just 9 blocks south of downtown’s Stephen Avenue pedestrian mall. Then in 2004, it got nicknamed “The Red Mile” by the international media when during the 2004 Calgary Flames Stanley Cup playoffs, 20,000+ fans clad in red Flames jerseys stormed the street after each game creating an impromptu street party. That name stuck for a few years, eventually morphing into “RED District,” with “RED” standing for Retail and Entertainment District. Today, it seems to simply be just “17th Ave.” Not to be confused with International Avenue - a 35-block retail and restaurant street along 17th Ave SE in Forest Lawn.

Personally, I think they should go back to Uptown 17th – it has a nice upscale ring to it.

Mega Changes Coming

For most of its history, Uptown 17th has been home to low-rise commercial buildings,  housing a diversity of businesses - restaurants, boutiques, galleries, banks, jewelry stores, bars and cocktail lounges. Then, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, tall residential towers started to appear just off 17th Ave near Tomkins Park (established in 1916). For example, in 2018, The Royal a 34 storey luxury residential tower with a Canadian Tire and grocery store at its base opened on 16th Ave and 8th St SW.

Recently, Vesta Properties announced plans for a mega redevelopment Broadway on 17th (4th St SW, used to be called Broadway) of the northeast corner of 17th Ave and 4th St SW.  This project includes three towers (one 47 storeys and two 36 storeys), with a plaza on the corner.

Kudos to Vesta - if you go there now you can see where the plaza will be as they have created a temporary pop-up public space. This project could be game changer as it it will add about 1,000 new homes right on 17th as well as, 70,000 square feet of dining and entertainment space.  17th Ave will be its residents’ front yard, backyard and living room. Ideally, it will serve as the hub - connecting the 17th Ave and 4th St main streets - to create a contiguous main street 24-blocks long.

Arlington Group,17th Ave’s largest landowner has completed several residential projects over the past decade, with more in the works.  It is currently constructing its largest project a 16-storey building with 209 new homes and 7,000 square feet of commercial space on the former Fishman’s Cleaner’s site on 17th Ave at 5th St SW.

Aerial view of Broadway on 17th will become centre ice for residents living south of downtown. It will connect 17th Ave and 4th Street to create a 25+ Block Main Street.

Computer rendering of what Broadway on 17th will look like at street level.

Push East

Look for a push east in the next few years as developers look to capitalize on the newly opened 17th Ave intersection as Stampede Park. The redesigned of the intersection was to create a more pedestrian friendly access to the Stampede LRT station, expanded BMO Centre and the new Scotia Place arena for those living on the west side of Mcleod Trail.

At 1st Street SW, Avi Urban is currently constructing Sovereign, a 14-storey building with 149 new homes. But the big new is Truman’s recent announcement of a mega development/residential development that will include a 69-storey W Calgary hotel and a 62-storey JW Marriot Calgary hotel (total 400 rooms) as well as 360 new homes the corner of west side of Mcleod Trail and 15th Ave SE. 

A new park space has also been opened on the east side. Humpy Hollow Park at Centre Street includes an off-leash dog park, performing stage, seating areas and a plaza. It also includes the historic McHugh House (1896), currently being renovated to accommodate a variety of uses. The city is investing in more public spaces as a means of attracting more people to live in the area.   

Look for more residential projects to be announced over the next few years on 17th Ave, east 4th Street SW.

Truman’s proposed W Calgary and JW Mariott hotel towers just off 17th Ave at Mcleod Tail. Note a third new hotel also my Truman is the curved building on the left next to the expanded BMO Centre.

Computer rendering of the Truman Towers commercial space that will animate the street across from the LRT station.

Bohemian Village to Urban Village

Every “main street” must evolve with the times if it wants to remain vibrant. The landowners and business owners must continually adapt to new economic and marketing conditions. The days of the “mom and pop” retailers, restauranteurs and bar owners are gone - they simply can’t afford the rents. 

The bohemian days of 17th Ave SW are over. Café Beano, Rubaiyat, Reid Stationery and Ship & Anchor are relics of the past.  

Today, it is all about food halls and fancy cocktail lounges, led by large businesses like the Concorde Group. Even the café scene has become corporate with local entrepreneurs like Phil & Sebestian Coffee Roasters, Monogram Coffee or Analogue Coffee each having multiple locations.

While 17th Avenue was once surrounded by small walk-up apartment blocks and single family homes, the Beltline, Cliff Bungalow, Mission, Lower Mount Royal and Sunalta are evolving to create one of Canada’s most dense urban villages.

Yes, “Uptown 17th” along with 4th Street SW and to some extent 11th Ave and 1st and 11th Streets SW have evolved to become the urban playgrounds for the empty nesters, digital nomads, young professionals, creatives and new immigrants who want to enjoy Calgary’s unique urban experience.

17th Ave’s Ship & Anchor is one of Calgary’s signature pubs. The patio is often busy even in the winter, this photo was taken in mid February.

17th Ave has a vibrant cafe culture including Cafe Beano established in 1990.

Analog Coffee is one of several new independent coffee houses in Calgary.

Tompkins Park dates back to 1915.

It is an urban oasis in the middle of 17th Ave strip.

17th Ave is arguably Calgary’s most popular main street.

17th Ave is home to dozens of restaurants, pubs, cocktail lounges and speakeasies.

Last Word

With a population nearing 50,000 living south of the railway tracks, it is these apartment and condo dwellers who will support the new and existing street retail space to keep Uptown 17th thriving for another generation. 

Note an edited version of this blog was published in the Calgary Herald’s New Homes + Condos on July 25th, 2025.