North of McKnight Community Connection » Land Development

A bit of visible Saddle Ridge history is no more!

Greg Steiner — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:01:37 +0000

Have you been at the hall lately? If so you will notice that the ice rink and debris from the hockey shacks are gone. On the 9th of April the rink boards, the chain-link fence, and the huge pile from what was the hockey shacks were carefully removed by an excavation company. There are few residents left in Saddle Ridge that can remember what the area used to look like back in 1970, when our community enjoyed the rink and the skating area just west of the hockey shacks. The newly constructed rinks were frequently used in the coldest months of winter. Flooding the rink became more difficult when our well could not provide adequate water for more than one application. I was told by one of the original residents that the ice rink was built before the hall was completed. First things first, I guess! There will be a lot more historical information about the hockey rinks and the hall for our readers as we approach our 40th Anniversary this next Fall. The rinks will be landscaped and maintained as part of the larger play ground area.
We do need some help at the community hall. The natural gas BBQ requires the inner metal frames to be replaced. These frames hold the heavy grills. Is there anyone who can help or direct this project? Please leave a message at 403-285-1166. Also, we need a dozen cement parking curbs for the parking lot in front of the hall. As is, it’s possible for someone to drive down into the former rink area. Just leave a message at the community association number above. Thanks.

NE LRT Extension to Saddle Ridge

Kelly Sinclair — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:22:42 +0000

In late 2007 residents in Calgary’s northeast enjoyed the opening of a new LRT extension to the McKnight-Westwinds Station. This extension provides public transportation to 48,000 Calgarians in our growing city. Many residents in the area are already taking advantage of the convenience of having new LRT service closer to home.

To continue providing public transportation to Calgary, City Council approved another extension of the northeast LRT line to Saddletowne Circle. This project is in preliminary stages and community feedback is being gathered. There will be another opportunity for public engagement in early spring 2008.Most of the comments received so far are positive and residents’ are pleased the extension was advanced by several years.

Transportation Infrastructure (TI) is currently implementing a preliminary engineering design study. As part of this, The City is making suggestions to mitigate or lessen the impact of the LRT extension on residents. The main areas of concern and current recommendations are listed below.

Concerns and Recommendations

Noise: A noise analysis is currently underway. Sound attenuation is warranted at various locations along the right-of-way. Exact locations and wall aesthetics will be available in the near future.

Safety at Martindale Station: TI is recommending a split side-loading station with two platforms on either side of Martindale Blvd. This configuration requires trains to come to a full stop prior to crossing Martindale Blvd., thereby increasing safety for vehicles and pedestrians.

64 Avenue Crossing: TI will be recommending that an interchange be constructed as part of this project. Additional funding has been requested and is anticipated to be proposed to Council in April, 2008.

Regional Pathway: For safety reasons, TI is recommending the mid-block crossing of the pathway, north of Martindale Blvd. be removed and relocated.

Hear that train a coming?!

Dave Brown — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:08:13 +0000

CTrain Service finally arrives at McKnight Westwinds. It was quite a day, a few years of working with the City and various partners a new CTrain station was opened. The CTrain saga started with Alderman John Schmal, went through the paces with Alderman Larocque and ended with Alderman Jim Stevenson as the MC for the day. MP Art Hanger was there, MLA Shiraz Shariff, Premiere Ed Stelmach, Alderman Andre Chabot, and Ray Jones. Also in attendance were various members of the communities of Saddle Ridge, Martindale, Falconridge/Castleridge, Taradale all of whom worked with the City to create the CTrain station design that you see today. It was quite an experience and one that I am proud to say I was a part of. This service should really help the residents of Saddle Ridge in their commute to work. Saddle Ridge can look forward in the next 3 to four years for their own station in Saddletowne Circle. It was great to see the station crammed with people on the platform when the train arrived. It was great to be on that first inaugural ride from the Whitehorn Station, and I didn’t even need a ticket to ride.

Full speed ahead for NECC facility

Carol Steiner — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 23:31:21 +0000

Now that major funding has been received from the City, the NE Centre of Community will be going full speed ahead. And that means we need volunteers. Are you willing to be part of this exciting project? Here are some ways you can help:

NECCS is looking to expand its board early in the new year. We are looking for people with skills in any of the following areas: accounting, bookkeeping, building construction, building design, engineering, legal, communication, fund raising, and human resources.

We are also looking for volunteers to act as resources to the design committee. We need people with expertise in architecture, construction, engineering or design, and who would be willing to share that expertise with our design committee when needed.

Our golf committee is gearing up for our second annual golf tournament to be held in the summer. We need people to help out in many different ways—to help organize, obtain and pick up prizes, and to help out on the day itself. We are looking for people with a few hours to spare, and we can use your help, even if you aren’t a golfer! More details will be available in the next newsletter.

If you would like to be a part of this exciting project, please call 285-2621 and leave your name and number, and how you would like to help.

A long time coming

Dave Brown — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 23:01:17 +0000

Thursday, December 13th marked a milestone for Saddle Ridge. We finally got our grocery store. Members of the Saddle Ridge Community Association and Taradale Community Association joined Alderman Jim Stevenson, and MLA Shiraz Shariff for a first hand look of the new store. The three communities of Saddle Ridge, Martindale and Taradale have worked over the past six years trying very hard to get this store opened in Saddletowne Circle. There are times when we thought the day would never come. Three Alderman have now been involved in the new Saddle Ridge Safeway–John Schmal, Helene Larocque and our new Alderman, Jim Stevenson. It was a long hard task but in the end we believe what will continue to come to Saddletowne Circle below the Safeway site will really make our community come alive. The Gas bar won’t likely open for another year, however the liquor store is open. The other tenants we don’t know as yet.
The store is the 146th to be built in the new style for Safeway. The store itsself is about 50,000 square feet complete, with Starbucks. You may just find one of your neighbors working at the new Safeway as they have hired over two hundred people to work. We were impressed by the design and the layout, now it will be up to you to decide whether or not you want to shop there. Just remember that as you exit the parking lot, you always have to turn left, no matter what exit you take. So remember if you are going to short cut across the circle you have to turn left onto that one way road. Safeway also has our name right “SADDLE RIDGE” That is two words, not one, just like it’s Mount Royal. Again, congratulations to Safeway on a job well done and some of that job is still likely under construction. So remember the rest of the development will still take some time to complete and you will have to dodge a few construction vehicles for a while yet.