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First Street SW (Scarth Street) Revitalization Project
The first phase of a major revitalization project to restore
First Street SW back to its former days of glory took place
in the construction season of 2000-2001. Fabric banners and
metal signage featuring the historical architecture of the
area and resurrecting the original name of "Scarth Street"
were installed as the finishing touch.
Along with the decorative banners and signage forming the
meridian down the center of the 2-block portion of First Street,
new coloured sidewalks and crosswalks, attractive new pedestrian
and street lighting and lots of trees gave a new image to
this historic area of Calgary. A special night time touch
is added with the inclusion of amber-coloured LED rope lighting
strung between the new light poles.
In Calgary's early days, the city's downtown streets were
named after officials working for the Canadian Pacific Railway
who were involved in the establishment of the railway coming
to Calgary. Scarth Street, one of early Calgary's major North-South
routes, was named after William B. Scarth, a Director with
the Canada Northwest Land Co. These names existed from 1883
until 1904 when Calgary switched over to its present numbered
streets and avenues. The past is now reclaimed, as part of
Victoria Crossing's revitalization project for this area,
by putting the historic name of Scarth Street in service once
again.
Intersecting avenues to this revitalized area also features
the historical/dual street names: 12th Avenue formerly known
as Van Horne Avenue (after William C. Van Horne, then General
Manager and later Chairman & President of CPR); 13th Avenue
formerly known as Kennedy (after John S. Kennedy, then a Director
of CPR); and 14th Avenue formerly known as Grenfell Avenue.
Funding for this project was obtained through a Local Area
Improvement Bylaw involving local merchants, The City of Calgary
and TransAlta.
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REVITALIZE
