BLOSSOMING IN VIC PARK

Proposed downtown condo project will include apple orchard
BY DYLAN ROBERTSON
CALGARY HERALD JULY 15, 2014

Fresh apples will be ripening between two downtown condominium towers as a developer aims to give Calgary a more fruitful and dynamic city centre.

The Orchard on Twelfth is a two-tower project at the southeast corner of 12th Avenue and 5th Street S.E., just northeast of Stampede Park. Lamb Development Corp. of Toronto is planning two 31-storey buildings, which will nestle a one-acre orchard of apple trees between them on a 61,000-square-foot land parcel.

“Not only is this a public and private amenity for the city, but also a true green feature; not a stupid green roof that really in the end doesn’t do much,” said company head Brad Lamb. “It’s a phenomenal thing to have in a city, and it’s going to produce tens of thousands of apples which are going to be eaten.”

The company commissioned an Ipsos Reid survey last month which polled 1,000 Americans and 1,000 Canadians, asking them to guess the location from a digital rendering of the project with its apple orchard. Most Canadians thought the image was in Vancouver or Toronto, placing Calgary seventh out of 13 possibilities; Americans thought of Portland or New York and placed Calgary 12th.

The same poll found that 93 per cent of North Americans — especially younger adults — want greener downtowns, and would welcome projects that delivered food.

“I always try to deliver, if I can, a public amenity that the city will enjoy and the residents will enjoy,” Lamb said, comparing the Orchard on Twelth with another property his corporation is developing, 6th and Tenth, which will include a fountain park. “Our cities aren’t green enough, visually and for taking in C02.”

Richard Cho, senior market analyst with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., says the projects are part of an ongoing build up in new Calgary condominiums.

“We had lower inventory and now we see that being made up for,” said Cho. He noted that in last year’s January to June period, construction started for only 1,004 apartments. In the same months this year, the city netted some 4,010 starting units, and Cho says more are anticipated.

Alberta isn’t known for its apple orchards but Lamb said an agricultural firm has chosen tree species that can grow edible fruit in the area. A third party will be paid to prune the trees and harvest the fruit for sale or donation.

But for Lamb, the buildings themselves are more interesting.

“They’re rectangular, simple in design, but they’re super clean and super modern,” he said. “We’re delivering beautiful architecture and affordable apartments; these two buildings are spectacular in their own right.”

Units will range from $249,900 for one-bedroom apartments to over a million dollars for larger units. Lamb says those prices are competitive with Beltline properties. The project will cost $130 million with $170 million in expected revenue, he said.

An older house on the block will be demolished, while buildings on the fifth of the block not owned by Lamb Development will remain in place.

Lamb says his company is currently waiting for a permit, but he expects ground to be broken within the year as no zoning exception is needed. He expects the first phase to open in about three and a half years, followed by the second about five years from now.

VIC PARK TO GET NEW PARK

Parking lot to be transformed into Victoria Park park
Project includes courtyard and ‘memory screens’ for projecting videos and historic images
By Annalise Klingbeil
Calgary Herald April 25, 2012

A small southeast parking lot is set to become a new community park in a once-neglected neighbourhood that is desperate for green space.

The City of Calgary held a public open house Monday at a Macleod Trail noodle house to discuss the proposed East Victoria Park redevelopment with citizens.

The site, currently being used as a parking lot, is located above the C-Train tunnel along Macleod Trail between 11th and 12th avenues S.E.

“East Victoria Park is a new up-and-coming area. It’s already deficient in park space,” said Michelle Reid, project manager with the City of Calgary parks department.

The open house was an opportunity for citizens to weigh in on the preliminary concept plan. Gathering citizen feedback is an important step when creating new parks, said Reid.

“They’re the ultimate end users and we want to make sure that we give them a space that they can embrace and actively use,” said Reid.

The proposed redevelopment includes a courtyard that can accommodate small events and gatherings, with lots of open lawn area, perfect for picnics, and “memory screens” which can be used to project videos at night and historic images during the day.

The park will enhance the quality of life for Calgarians who live and work in the area, said Deron Miller, principal at Scatlif+Miller+Murray, the landscape architect and planning firm behind the project.

“This place will become an urban oasis,” said Miller.

At Monday’s open house, citizens were invited to fill out a survey about the redevelopment, which asked questions about design, landscaping, the central open space and moving the Enoch Sales house onto the site, provided funds are available.

It has been proposed that the Enoch Sales house, one of the last remaining historic houses in Victoria Park, be incorporated into the redevelopment as a cafe.

Citizen feedback surrounding the proposed green space, which is about 3,000 square metres in size, has been mainly positive, said Reid.

“One of the things that people are always a little bit worried about is who is going to be using this, how is it going to be used,” she said.

Reid said all users will be welcome at the park, but undesirable uses will not be welcome.

Calgarians who live and work in East Victoria Park will have to wait a few years to enjoy the new park. The current parking lot lease expires in June 2013 and construction of the green space is set to begin in July, said Reid.

UP YOUR ALLEY!

Most walkable neighbourhoods: Beltline bustles with some big-city hustle

By Tony Seskus,
Calgary Herald October 13, 2011

Sushi bars, bridal shops, nightclubs, art galleries, homeless programs, historic sites and yoga studios — a stroll through Beltline is unlike any other in Calgary.

It’s got a big-city feeling that’s bustling, vibrant and even gritty, sometimes within a single block.

“It’s one of the few places in Calgary where one can live without a car quite easily and it’s probably the best place to do it,” said Rob Taylor, an area resident since 1983 and community president.

“It’s fun to go outside and watch what’s happening when there’s a variety of people and a variety of things going on.”

On a sunny weekday afternoon, the streets are indeed alive.

Office workers, hipsters, a panhandler and two police officers walking the beat all momentarily share the busy corner of 10th Avenue and 1st Street S.W.

They are among the thousands of pedestrians who use Beltline’s sidewalks each day.

It’s little wonder that when the Herald used walkscore.com to get a sense of Beltline’s walkability, it rated “very walkable.” That means most errands can be run on foot.

Strolling with Bright Pryde of the Beltline Planning Policy Group last June, that much is obvious.

There are streetside businesses to satisfy nearly every consumer urge. And away from the bustle is Central Memorial Park, which includes a stylish garden cafe that would look at home in any major metropolitan centre.

The community thrives on visitors and its large population.

Beltline has nearly 20,000 residents, filling a densely populated neighbourhood of upscale condos, rental apartments, townhouses and a few single-family homes.

As day becomes night, crowds arrive in the neighbourhood to dine, drink and be entertained.

With so many eyes on the street, Pryde says she always felt safe on foot in the community.

“I used to live in this little building here — it’s kind of a sketchy corner,” said Pryde, pointing to a rental where she might hear arguments in the street at night. “But, you know, when I walked out onto the streets, I felt safe. I felt comfortable because I knew that the community was there with me.”

There’s no avoiding the crime statistics, but behind the headlines there’s been improvement.

Beltline had 47 street robberies in 2010, but that number is down nearly 30 per cent from 2008.

Car thefts and thefts from vehicles are also down significantly from 2008, coinciding with policing efforts in the community.

Trotting through Beltline, the community’s size is striking.

Yet its grid street system, a legacy of early planning, often makes it easy to find quick walking routes.

But there are challenges.

Walking conditions range from model sidewalks to rugged paths.

The best routes are wide, treed and have comfortable benches. They’re as good as any in the city.

But there are also instances where sidewalks are narrow, patched or crumbling. Some have utility poles or other obstacles that walkers have to navigate.

And, of course, thousands of vehicles pass through the community daily. Along the busiest roads, there’s the steady din of traffic.

Despite the beauty of Central Memorial Park, there are also no parks north of 12th Avenue.

The community association is hopeful that improvements will come along as the city looks to bolster walkability in the city.

While interest in the “urban lifestyle” is growing in popularity, Taylor acknowledges it doesn’t suit everyone’s needs. But there’s also great pride in the many things the community does offer.

“If you’re of an urban mindset, it’s fun,” Taylor said.

And as Pryde headed off to work down one of Central Memorial Park’s picturesque garden pathways, the community’s walk appeal was clear.

“I always hear people say that it’s impossible to live in Calgary without a car,” added Pryde, who is currently studying abroad.

“I always argue the opposite. You’ve got to pick the right community. No, you can’t live in Cranston without a car. But you could easily live (car-less) in the Beltline — and many people do.”

Photo By: RemotelyBoris

THE FUTURE OF MAINSTREET

Stampede mainstreet retail development moving forward
Leasing activity for the project picking up
By MARIO TONEGUZZI
Calgary Herald February 2, 2011

CALGARY - A turnaround in the local economy has the Calgary Stampede's mainstreet retail and entertainment development back on track as leasing for the project has picked up in recent months, the Herald has learned.

Alberta Development Partners Inc., based in Denver, is working on the mainstreet project along the current Olympic Way that leads into Stampede Park and will include Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant. Prior to this year's Stampede an announcement is expected on a construction start date for the project, which had been delayed due to the recent recession.

"We've had a couple of years here dealing with the downturn that slowed things down," Bryan McFarland, principal-development of Alberta Development Partners Inc., told the Herald.

"Things are now swinging back the other direction in a much more positive way. We're seeing some significant (activity) in the lease-up velocity for the retail space. We're encouraged to have this project moving forward this year to be able to announce some concrete financing and delivery milestones."

McFarland said the development permit was submitted with the city a long time ago but the company has stayed in touch with the city on a regular basis about the project.

On its website, Alberta Development Partners describes the project as a mixed-use development that will provide daily shopping, dining, socializing, learning, entertaining and hospitality experiences. Stampede Trail will preserve and advance the Calgary Stampede's western heritage and values, it says.

"Grand amenities will create a procession of activity all along Stampede Trail and will include a fire pit, architectural monuments, chiming carillon bells, a dramatic sculpture fountain, a plaza for gathering and majestic entry gateways," says the website.

Eventual plans for the 6.5 hectares include 150,000 square feet of retail space, 100,000 square feet of office space and a 300-room hotel, says the company on its website.

"Probably a new deal comes across our desk every couple of weeks which really has picked up over the last six months," added McFarland. "It's been strong. We've got 150,000 square feet of retail space. Of that I'd say we've got about half of that under binding offer right now.

"I would expect ... that we'll have some announcements here to make prior to Stampede about the final schedule, the actual construction start date and opening dates."

Warren Connell vice-president of park development and operations for the Calgary Stampede, said mainstreet is a critical piece of the organization's master plan.

He said that in the world of tourism a common mistake is that places gear developments towards tourists when in reality tourists go to the places where the locals want to hang out.

"And the whole idea of mainstreet is that it is a place where Calgarians will bring their guests and visitors as well as themselves," he said.

Michael Kehoe, an Alberta-based retail specialist with Fairfield Commercial Real Estate Inc., said the proposed Stampede Trail retail and restaurant project will be an important part of the overall Stampede Park redevelopment.

"The shoppertainment/eatertainment formula on this scale is unproven in Western Canada. However I feel that the critical mass of year-round entertainment and sports events generating foot traffic at the Scotiabank Saddledome and the adjacent BMO Conference Centre will ensure that the project will be viable over the long term."

ART, MUSIC, SALES, FUN