A lifelong Calgarian, Taylor Smyth says he has many fond memories of time spent at the Ship.“What makes 17th Avenue what it is, is businesses like the Ship & Anchor, and to see those go would I think be quite a loss,” he said.

And he thinks it’s preventable. As the general manager for Merlin Noise Control, he’s seen success with residential units built directly over live music spaces, similar to the plan for the Ship & Anchor.

His company works with architects and engineers to design acoustic ceilings and floors, like a floating slab with spring isolators that goes on top of the floor. It limits how much sound carries from room to room.