A new McDonald’s location under Calgary’s 4th Avenue Flyover is breaking from tradition, offering service exclusively through its drive-thru and takeout counters.

The decision, rooted in crime prevention strategies, could signal the start of a new fast-food trend in the city. The site previously housed a Starbucks that closed amid concerns over social disorder.

Now, McDonald’s is taking a different approach, applying principles of “target hardening” and “crime prevention through environmental design” to reduce incidents inside the restaurant.

Criminology professor Doug King of Mount Royal University believes the move reflects broader urban challenges.

“There are pockets within any community, Calgary included, that tend to congregate disadvantaged individuals who are substance disordere

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