East Village Rejuvenation Plan

Frenzy · #1 Posted **Oct 31, 2009, 4:08 AM**

Hello All!

Im not completely sure if this thread has been done, but I don't think we have a specific thread dedicated to the East Village yet. Any comments, opinions, and general discussion is welcomed!

East Village plan unveiled
Major development aims to revitalize city’s urban core

MEREDITH O’HARA
METRO CALGARY
September 17, 2009 5:42 a.m.

A roadmap for the future of the downtown’s east side is set as the vision for the East Village’s renaissance was revealed yesterday.

The master plan for Calgary’s newest development was unveiled yesterday, including plans for RiverWalk and increased pedestrian areas.

“This is an exciting project,” said Mayor Dave Bronconnier, adding the neighbourhood would bring life back to a historic area.

“It’s the importance of bring people back to the core and that’s city council’s direction,” he said.

The master plan for the neighbourhood shows four distinct areas including River’s Edge, which will be a place for restaurants overlooking the RiverWalk park.

One member of the design team called it “a new urban village,” something between the high-rises of downtown and the span of houses in the suburbs.

Ward 7 Ald. Druh Farrell was at the event and said it’s exciting to see things moving ahead.

“I’ve been fighting for this community since before I got elected … it’s been a labour of love and it’s necessary for the well-being of Calgary,” she said.

The East Village area is now ready for construction to begin.

Chris Ollenberger, president of the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, in charge of the area’s development, said now that power, water and sewage lines have been completed projects could begin tomorrow.

“With the master plan we can provide some guidance to builders and developers about where we’re going … and what the overall plan is.”

The goal is to complete East Village by 2020.

Link:http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/loca...-plan-unveiled

• Video Link

Links
Calgary East Village, (Master Planning Firm) Broadway Malyan http://www.broadwaymalyan.com/projec...illage-calgary

Project website www.evexperience.com

Calgary Municipal Land Corporation www.calgarymlc.ca

Current Infrastructure Projects

Riverwalk: http://calgarymlc.ca/rivers_projects...verwalk_video/

4th Street SE Underpass: http://calgarymlc.ca/rivers_projects..._street_video/

8th Ave Streetscape: http://calgarymlc.ca/rivers_projects...8th_ave_video/

Stormwater Pond: http://calgarymlc.ca/rivers_projects...ntion_wetland/

St. Patrick's Bridge: http://calgarymlc.ca/rivers_projects...idge_-_closed/

Enmax District Energy Plant: http://www.centrecitytalk.com/my_web...wntown-di.html

- Thanks to Wooster for providing additional links!

Halcyon · #2 Posted **Nov 9, 2009, 2:20 AM**

That was the first time I've seen the project explained in-depth... I like it. The mayor's right, it IS ambitious, but hopefully the willpower stays constant to follow through on these plans.

Wooster · #3 Posted **Nov 9, 2009, 2:59 AM**

Good idea for a thread. There's lots more stuff on calgarymlc.ca site about riverwalk, St. Patrick's bridge that could be added too.

Lots to discuss for a long time with this project.

O-tacular · #4 Posted **Nov 9, 2009, 3:41 AM**

Drove through the EV this weekend. The new roads have definitely already made a difference.

Thinner6 · #5 Posted **Nov 9, 2009, 5:20 AM**

Wow, I am loving this project. I had no idea what was planned for this area...now that I see it I am very impressed. What a difference it is going to make when entering the downtown. Just one step in the right direction for Calgary if it is to be a world class city.

Distill3d · #6 Posted **Nov 9, 2009, 12:58 PM**

Pardon me for being skeptical, but I won't believe it until its finished. I think the main issue is that this has to be all built at once in order for it to actually happen. Otherwise, in 10 years time, there's going to be one or two buildings built and then a new East Village concept coming out.

Otherwise this project looks awesome! Seems in feel like our Yaletown.

Frenzy · #7 Posted **Nov 9, 2009, 8:07 PM**

Exciting project for sure! I hope we see a public square in the middle of the East Village. The only other major public square I can think of in Canada is the Yonge-Dundas square in Toronto. If so, I believe that a public square will be an excellent addition to the east village, and more so downtown Calgary. Anybody agree with me?

niwell · #8 Posted **Nov 9, 2009, 10:13 PM**

I'm really liking it and hope it actually happens. Still remember reading about East Village plans as a kid, such as the one with the canal feature.

Best aspects of this IMO are the large reliance on midrises to create an effective streetwall and the diagonal view corridor / pathway / linear park.

Does anyone know if any of the current plans call for mixed-income housing? Or some form of coherent plan to deal with the problems in the area without simply displacing everyone?

Wooster · #9 Posted **Nov 10, 2009, 1:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Distill3d

Pardon me for being skeptical, but I won't believe it until its finished. I think the main issue is that this has to be all built at once in order for it to actually happen. Otherwise, in 10 years time, there's going to be one or two buildings built and then a new East Village concept coming out.

Otherwise this project looks awesome! Seems in feel like our Yaletown.

It will be phased. Urban developments of this scale ~5000+ residential units cannot be built at once. I think continuity of this master plan will last because it's a development corporation managing the construction of infrastructure and phased sale of land. I'm sure new ideas and initiatives will be added to the plan as it gets built up, but the basic framework will likey stay the same.

===========================================

You may want to add this to the first post:

The project website

www.evexperience.com

And the development corporation:

Calgary Municipal Land Corporation

www.calgarymlc.ca

Current Featured Infrastructure Projects:

Riverwalk:
http://calgarymlc.ca/rivers_projects...verwalk_video/

4th Street SE Underpass:
http://calgarymlc.ca/rivers_projects..._street_video/

8th Ave Streetscape:
http://calgarymlc.ca/rivers_projects...8th_ave_video/

Stormwater Pond:
http://calgarymlc.ca/rivers_projects...ntion_wetland/

St. Patrick's Bridge:
http://calgarymlc.ca/rivers_projects...idge_-_closed/

Enmax District Energy Plant:
http://www.centrecitytalk.com/my_web...wntown-di.html

Frenzy · #10 Posted **Nov 10, 2009, 1:58 AM**

Thanks wooster! I will add those Links to the first post.

Wooster · #11 Posted **Dec 5, 2009, 2:50 AM**

Some more links from evexperience.com

A very interesting Historical timeline of the community:
http://www.evexperience.com/place/dateline_calgary

A video tour with the Master Planner from Broadway Malyan:
http://www.evexperience.com/plan/tou..._masterplanner

Video introduction to the East Village project:
http://www.evexperience.com/plan/rev..._neighbourhood

WhipperSnapper · #12 Posted **Dec 5, 2009, 6:01 PM**

Will the land just be sold to the highest bidder or will there also be a RFP process?

Wooster · #13 Posted **Dec 5, 2009, 6:39 PM**

They haven't really talked about the land disposition process as far as I know. I'd imagine a competitive RFP similar to how the Bridges was sold off - with a set of weighted set of criteria.

This was the Bridges criteria:
Price 45%
Financial capability 20%
Offeror experience & expertise 20%
Proposed project description 15%

http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server....on+Process.htm

It was all quite an open process and in fact they published the amount of each winning bid:

Here's phase 2 land sales - it's been 4 years now since the sales were approved for phase 2 - still no project is off the ground.
http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server....ase+Offers.htm

ue · #14 Posted **Dec 30, 2009, 8:32 PM**

Is Riverfront Pointe apart of the East Village plan, or at least in the area of East Village?

I think this is my favorite project underway in Calgary right now. This area seems to be taking a similar route of the Pearl District, and could easily end up with many similarities to it (although I'm thinking something closer to Denver's Riverfront Park). It's amazing you guys already have some stuff getting underway (Edmonton's the Quarters, which is probably the closest project to this up here has yet to have anything done, except one piece of infill and one stalled museum because it doesn't have money) ... I checked in streetview and the new cobblestone streets near the riverfront look real sleek. I also am anxious to see some really detailed renderings for the Central Square, as a few of you know, I love modern urban plazas (think Millennium Park Chicago, but there are tons of examples on a muuuch smaller scale).

Also, another question, out of curiosity is the East Village really dangerous or anything during the day? The Quarters here isn't usually, especially around major roads. But at night it tends to be.

Full Mountain · #15 Posted **Dec 30, 2009, 8:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmontonenthusiast

Is Riverfront Pointe apart of the East Village plan, or at least in the area of East Village?

I think this is my favorite project underway in Calgary right now. This area seems to be taking a similar route of the Pearl District, and could easily end up with many similarities to it (although I'm thinking something closer to Denver's Riverfront Park). It's amazing you guys already have some stuff getting underway (Edmonton's the Quarters, which is probably the closest project to this up here has yet to have anything done, except one piece of infill and one stalled museum because it doesn't have money) ... I checked in streetview and the new cobblestone streets near the riverfront look real sleek. I also am anxious to see some really detailed renderings for the Central Square, as a few of you know, I love modern urban plazas (think Millennium Park Chicago, but there are tons of examples on a muuuch smaller scale).

Also, another question, out of curiosity is the East Village really dangerous or anything during the day? The Quarters here isn't usually, especially around major roads. But at night it tends to be.

The area that is specifically being focused on is from 4 St SE to the Fort Calgary and north from 9th ave SE to the bow parts of the work do extend past that (4 street underpass, River Walk, and some other improvements) so no it's not technically part of it

Is it dangerous during the day? for the most part no especially in the areas that have been redone and the redone areas are quite nice even at night, the areas that haven't been done suffer largely from poor lighting which makes it seem unsafe

mersar · #16 Posted **Dec 30, 2009, 10:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmontonenthusiast

Also, another question, out of curiosity is the East Village really dangerous or anything during the day? The Quarters here isn't usually, especially around major roads. But at night it tends to be.

It isn't bad anymore, once construction started on the infrastructure upgrades it forced a lot of the homeless and drug users who were the most visible presence in the area to other places. Whether they return once spring arrives now that a lot of the construction on that phase is wrapping up is to be seen.

ue · #17 Posted **Dec 30, 2009, 11:18 PM**

^Where do they go? I mean the East Village seems like the only central neighborhood (along with Victoria Park) with enough desolateness to have people not worry as much about those types becoming the majority of the neighborhood.

Is there any construction slated for when the infrastructure improvements are done? I know the area around the river is set to continue construction for stuff like the riverfront park.

fusili · #18 Posted **Dec 30, 2009, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmontonenthusiast

^Where do they go? I mean the East Village seems like the only central neighborhood (along with Victoria Park) with enough desolateness to have people not worry as much about those types becoming the majority of the neighborhood.

Is there any construction slated for when the infrastructure improvements are done? I know the area around the river is set to continue construction for stuff like the riverfront park.

Sorry to nitpick, but Victoria Park does not exist anymore. It is now part of Beltline.

ue · #19 Posted **Dec 30, 2009, 11:48 PM**

^Yeah but it makes more sense to say Victoria Park than all Beltline (including Connaught) which is in a different situation than Victoria Park.

Aegis · #20 Posted **Dec 30, 2009, 11:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmontonenthusiast

^Yeah but it makes more sense to say Victoria Park than all Beltline (including Connaught) which is in a different situation than Victoria Park.

It's stupid that the communities adopted a less unique moniker like "The Beltline Communities of X".. the reality is, West Beltline is not even close to the same as the former community of Victoria Park in terms of development or social issues. It's hard to say they're part of the same community.