Beltline Adventure

Just south of Downtown Calgary, across the tracks, are a grouping of neighbourhoods collectively titled the “Beltline District”. It’s mixed use residential and commercial, things old and things new, many stately homes, modern condo towers, heritage buildings, schools, churches and countless places to shop and eat. And it’s here we’ve come to explore. It’s a fairly straightforward route we’ll follow with lots to see along the way. But you can wander about randomly if you like – mix it up as we always say – and guaranteed, nearly any street will offer up something of interest. You could come back a time after time and still not see it all.

A good place to start is at the east end of 11th Ave SE, just by the Calgary Transit Bus Barns. Things are quiet along this road (unless there’s an event happening at nearby Stampede Park), with some no restriction parking if facing westbound. There’s a lot of empty lots here, with a few century old (or older) homes, rather tiny ones at that, scattered about. Given the urban renewal that’s happening all around – take in those towering condo blocks in back – it won’t be long before these are gone and the land reused for higher density housing.

Head west on 11th Avenue. At a VW repair specialist, guess what, a bunch of VWs. Go figure. On our visit, a Type 2, aka VW Microbus or Kombi (circa late-’70s/early-’80s we think), belonging to a brewery, sits out front. And it’s painted up in BIGDoer yellow. Pull tabs hubcaps! Off on the distance, in downtown, the Telus Sky Tower takes shape. It’s an interesting design for sure. All that office space and there’s already a glut. But then the economy will improve – it’s cyclical and always does.

A row of little dwellings. The neighbourhood here is called Victoria Park (after Queen Victoria), and there used to be many homes like this in the community. Now there are but a few. They look so out of place among all the towers and don’t fit in well with redevelopment plans.

Pass the Independent Biscuit building dating back to 1912. You’ve entered the “warehouse district”. The building has been all fixed up but in the process some very interesting ghost signage was painted over, sadly. To the left, Victoria School, just over a century old, now part of a condo complex. It’s one of many “Sandstone” schools in the city.

More repurposed warehouses from the 1910s. Ribtor was a sporting goods retailer and a long time city institution which once occupied one of these buildings. Signage is a reproduction. The Calgary Tower peeks out above the roof line.

Come to the 1912s built “Custom’s House”. The time just before World War One was a boom period in the city. To the right, soon in, Calgary’s iconic Tower. With so many skyscrapers crowding it in downtown, it’s often not in view anymore. In the past, it stood tall and proud and off by itself. The former Lewis Stationary Building (circa 1910) is now “Lewis Lofts” a Condo block.

Continue eastbound and soon it’s the ghosts of “Electric Avenue”. For a block or two, in the area around 5th and 6th Street SW, it was home in the 1990s to the hottest night clubs in Calgary. It was a rocking place, loud, boisterous, and oftentimes trouble. Now it’s all quiet with little to remind one what was once here. Still, on one building, the outline of a sign that once welcomed clubbers to the party. Always chuckle worthy – a former club, one of the most busy, and notorious, is now a daycare. The Camera Store – resist the temptation! We can’t afford real cameras, but go there to window shop, and to dream.

We don’t have the weed, on a sign, in regards to marijuana having recently made legal. The west end of the Beltline is more heavily residential. Turn southbound on 14th Street. To the left, the site of the old Super S Drugs, another former Calgary Institution. In the 1970s the front of building also housed a pinball place frequented by your author.

Sacred Heart Church dates from 1910. A block up, Tim’s Grocery one of the few independent corner stores in Calgary. No 7-11 this, only creaky old floors, dim lighting, signage from the past, and a most amazing ambience. I swear in the ’70s it was called “Tom’s”. And like we do at every place like this, it’s lotto time. One day, I swear, it’s Jackpot! But we came up empty here.

Past a baby blue building, it’s left on 17th Avenue. For the next while, it’ll mostly be eatery after eatery. Lots of lunch options here. The squished head Calgary City Worker. And over there Olympic Billiards, housed in the basement of a building. It was another “pinball” hangout for your author in the ’70s, but not visited since. It was a rough place back then. Love that old school signage. Left on 11th Street.

Soon in come to Kalamata Grocery, for all foods Greek. Swiped some candy from the place in ’70s. It operated under another name then. But it had that same Coke signage out front. On the same block, some alley art, and a building long vacant that we suspect might not be long for this world. It’s looking a tad rough and unloved. Right on 14th Avenue SW.

To the right, St Stephen’s Anglican Church. Pass many fine homes from a century or so ago. Some are looking a little old and tired, others nicely done up and well kept, and everything in between. Many are hard to photograph account tight spaces or trees in the way. There’s lots of (mostly) 1970s/1980s era apartment blocks in the area too. Right on 10th Street.

Join Us Convenience – lotto stop! And no winners here either. Continue east on 17th Avenue. Food stop! Tubby Dog has yummy chow that our heart and arteries (and doctor) disapproves of. But it’s so damn good! And pinball, they got it too. Pow! Blam! Batman’s the game of choice.

Back on the trail, it’s Lang’s Grocery and more lotto. Up next is Connie’s old school, Western Canada High and soon after Pinbar, a place we’ve yet to visit, but suspect we soon will. Love to play the silver ball. Left on 4th Street SW.

Another corner store, an addiction fuelled. No winners…again! And now the Visa payment will have to wait. Right on 14th Street – back alley interesting things and a homeless person tidying up their empty lot. Left on 2nd Street (oddly 3rd does not exist) then right on 13th Avenue (all still SW). There’s little Haultain School from the 1890s and this makes it a very old building by Calgary standards. Left on 1st Street SW then right on 12th Avenue. We soon come to the Historic Sales House (see: Last Photos of the Enoch Sales House), that’s since burned down (arson).

Rundle ruins, remains of an 1890s era hospital that once stood here. This is a popular attraction with wedding photographers. Left on 6th Street SE and a quick left on 11th Avenue and you’re back at the start. Take a good look around, as the face of the neighbourhood here is bound to change soon. Developers are on the scene, as it the Stampede Organization, and they want to give “Vic Park” a full on makeover.

So we’re done, a nice walk that takes in but a slice of the Beltline District. Hope you enjoyed it as much as us. We’ll be back and take in a new route. It’s one interesting section of the city.

City hiking…
Urban Trek – Crossing Over – emphasis on bridges!
Calgary’s Best Walks #20 (Sorta).
Interesting Inglewood.

If you wish more information about this route, by all means contact us!

Date of adventure: October, 2018.
Location: Cowtown.
Distance: 9km (ish).
Height gain maximum: Nil
Height gain cumulative: Nil.
NOTE: all distances are approximate.
Technical bits: Picking an eatery ain’t easy!

They match!

Pull tab hubcaps.

Telus Sky Tower under construction.

Some of the last houses in Victoria Park.

Part old, part new.

Victoria School.

Colourful us.

Ribtor was a Calgary Institution.

The city in 1912 was booming.

Iconic, but often obscured by taller buildings.

Now condos.

What the?

“Cool” baby on board.

Ghosts of Electric Avenue.

We’re not worthy!

We don’t have weed…

Elk in the city.

Formerly Super S Drugs.

Sacred Heart.

Feeling lucky @ Tim’s Grocery.

A bit of blue on the corner of 14th Street/17th Ave SW.

Chuckle worthy.

Played pinball there as a kid.

Kalamalta Grocery for all foods Greek.

Alley art.

This building’s been neglected for a while.

Here at St Stephen’s.

Among all the apartment blocks.

We stop at all independent stores.

At Tubby Dog!

Our heart and arteries hate us.

Many layers thick.

Old school sign…

…And Connie’s old school.

We’re pinheads but have yet to visit.

Along 4th Street SW.

It’s starting to look like an addiction…

Sometimes the alley view is the most interesting.

Homeless, but keeping things tidy.

From the 1890s.

Boring soup.

Yes, yes it is.

This house burned down spectacularly.

At Rundle Ruins.

Where the buses call home.

The face of this quiet street may soon change.

An easy route of about 9km – star = start.