The Future of Calgary’s City Centre Is In the Hands Of CMLC
It would seem the future of Calgary’s City Centre is in the hands of the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC). The CMLC team is not only responsible for the completion of the mega East Village makeover, but the renaissance of Stampede Park and the Arts Commons transformation.
The CMLC website states, “CMLC was created to implement infrastructure improvements in the Rivers District. The varied and complex projects we've undertaken since 2007 range from raising the East Village floodplain to the construction of RiverWalk to master planning St. Patrick’s Island. While we've completed most major infrastructure projects, the CMLC team continues to fulfil important infrastructure mandates and assess future projects within the area.”
Yes, they have done that, but they have also done so much more, including the planning and design of the new Central Library.
Today CMLC is responsible for several major City Centre catalytic projects that will shape its evolution for the next 50 years.
Calgary Municipal Land Corporation is not only overseeing the makeover of East Village and Stampede Park, but they are also managing the development of the new arena (event centre), BMO Expansion and Arts Commons transformation. (Photo Credit: Peak Aerials)
East Village Makeover
Under the leadership of first Chris Ollenberger, then Michael Brown and now Kate Thompson the East Village master plan is unfolding more or less as planned.
The Village is home to a spectacular new Central Library, National Music Centre, RiverWalk, renovated St. Patrick’s Island and other several other public spaces.
These public projects funded in part or in whole by Canada’s first Community Revitalization Levy were designed to attracted private developers to build a mix of residential, office and commercial spaces to create a diverse urban community.
To date seven new residential towers had been built offering 1,500+ new homes, attracting approximately 2,500+ new residents. In addition, 35+ new retail, restaurant and professional services spaces have been created. The East Village master plan calls for about 3,500 new homes, so it is about half finished. It was projected to be completed in 2027 when the master plan was approved.
Stampede Park Renaissance
CMLC was so successful with projects like the Central Library, that in 2018 the Calgary Stampede engaged them to assist with the major expansion of their BMO Centre into one of Canada’s largest convention, trade show and event centres. At the same time CMLC also lead the community engagement and development of the Rivers District Master Plan including a new Event Centre (arena), redeveloped Stampede LRT station and opening up Stampede Park to 17th Avenue SE.
Ultimately this comprehensive planning process lead to the development of the ambitious Rivers Culture Entertainment District master plan (not to be confused with downtown’s culture and entertainment district next to Olympic Plaza and now called The C+E District) .
Currently, CMLC is working with Populous, Stantec and S2 Architecture teams to commence the $500 million expansion of the BMO Convention Centre in the spring of 2021, with a projected opening date of June 2024.
At the same time CMLC is managing the development of Calgary’s new Event Centre (aka arena), announcing in June 2020 they had selected DIALOG + HOK as the design project team to build the new home for the Calgary Flames that will be a year-round event and entertainment facility. The arena project is valued at $550 million. HOK specializes in futuristic looking Sports, Recreation and Entertainment projects, including Rogers Place in Edmonton and Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The real success of the Rivers Cultural Entertainment District will be if CMLC can attract private investors to build a couple of hotels, several residential towers and create a restaurant, entertainment, retail street along 4th Ave SE to connect with East Village. At the same time, CMLC must complete the second half of East Village just a few blocks away that also needs to attract more residential and commercial development to be successful.
Rendering of expanded BMO Centre at Stampede Park.
It is interesting to note the master plans for Stampede Park and East Village are very similar. Both revolve around the creation of architecturally significant public buildings and public spaces to attract private investment (mostly residential development) to support government investment.
In East Village it was the Central Library ($220 million) and National Music Centre ($191 million), in the case of the Rivers Cultural/Entertainment District it will be BMO Centre ($500 million) and Event Centre ($550 million). The catalytic public investment has more than doubled!
Everyone is hoping CMLC can work its East Village magic again, however, Calgary’s economic outlook is much less robust and the world’s economic condition are much more uncertain today than 10 years ago when the library and museum were being conceived as the catalyst for the redevelopment of East Village.
Link: Shouldn’t we finish East Village before we start Stampede Park makeover
Arts Commons Transformation
In October 2020, CMLC entered into a tri-party agreement with Arts Commons and The City of Calgary to manage the design process for the Arts Commons Transformation (aka Olympic Plaza Performing Art Centre). Phase 1, valued at $240 million is the development of Arts Commons North, which will include versatile performance spaces with a connection to the existing building on the northwest corner of Olympic Plaza.
Phase 2 - Arts Commons South - involves the revitalization of the resident house which is currently home to six resident companies: Alberta Theatre Projects, Arts Commons Presents, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Downstage, One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre, and Theatre Calgary. The budget for this project is projected to be $200 million.
A comprehensive design process will ensure the integration of both phases that have a combined budget of $440 million. However, what is missing is a champion and plan on how to integrate the Arts Commons Transformation with the Glenbow’s renovations plans and future plans for Stephen Avenue Walk and Olympic Plaza. And there is no plan yet on how to connect what is happening on Stephen Avenue Walk with what is happening at Stampede Park.
It seems like the City is focused on synergistic planning for Stampede park, but fragmented planning for downtown’s culture and entertainment district. However, this may be in the works given CMLC’s experience with public space development and programming and its involvement with Arts Commons.
Link: CBC: Transformation of Glenbow and Arts Commons: A Rare Opportunity
West Village Restoration
In November 2015, when the controversial Calgary Flames’ Calgary/Next proposal for a new arena in West Village was too hot for the City to handle, they engaged CMLC to conduct a feasibility study of the Calgary/Next proposal.
CMLC produced the West Village Environmental Background Report and the West Village Community Revitalization Levy Background Report.
The later document recommended not to proceed with the West Village proposal as private sector development given current economic market conditions would not support the City’s investment to clean up the toxic site and make the infrastructure improvements needed for the Calgary/Next proposal to proceed. Given Calgary’s economic conditions have significantly declined since 2015, this was a good decision.
As a result of CMLC’s recommendation, the City, the Flames and the Stampede worked out an agreement to build the new Event Centre (arena) on Stampede Park land, which ironically is part of the Rivers District, which has always been part of CMLC’s mandate to develop.
If Calgary/Next and the West Village restoration had gone ahead, it would have changed the evolution of Calgary’s City Centre significantly by keeping all of the City’s major developments on the north side of the CPR tracks. And, it would have left Stampede Park’s future in limbo.
Last Word
The CMLC team has a very good track record of completing complex projects on time and on budget. They have fostered a culture of comprehensive community engagement as part of their master plans, which results in strong community buy-in, as well as strong partnerships with private developers. They have managed two successful successions of their CEO/President.
Let’s hope CMLC’s success continues as the future of Calgary’s City Centre depends on it.
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