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Posted May 2, 2015, 5:19 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lower Mount Royal, Calgary
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http://calgaryherald.com/life/homes/...-new-community
Quote:
University District proposed as name of notable new community
CLAIRE YOUNG, CALGARY HERALD
More from Claire Young, Calgary Herald
Published on: May 1, 2015
Last Updated: May 1, 2015 2:39 PM MDT
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There is a smart new name for what will grow into a vibrant, dynamic hub with live-work-play — and learning — at its very heart.
University District is the name developer West Campus Development Trust is proposing for the community that will be built adjacent to the University of Calgary and the Alberta Children’s Hospital. The trust will put forth its proposal to the Calgary Planning Commission on May 7.
“The name reflects the relationship with the university,” says James Robertson, CEO and president of West Campus Development Trust.
The land, almost 75 hectares, is bounded by 32nd Avenue N., Shaganappi Trail and 16th Avenue N. and lies to the west side of campus. University District will encompass residential, mixed use, commercial and retail development. All residences will be multi-family, from townhome style to mid-rise buildings. At build-out in the next 15 to 20 years, the trust expects to see 8.6 million square feet of total development, featuring 6,200 residential units, 1.5 million square feet of office space and 200,000 square feet of retail.
“There will be about 5,000 jobs here. And 15,000 to 17,000 people living in the community,” Robertson says, describing the scope of the community.
The community is not envisioned as an extension of campus, serving only students and professors, rather, it’s seen as a full and complete community.
“The consultation was extensive because we want University District to reflect the values of the university,” says U of C president Elizabeth Cannon, who also sits on the West Campus Development Trust board. “It has to be all-inclusive and speak to young and old, families and seniors.”
An animated main street with boutique shopping, restaurants, bars, a hotel and a cinema along with open spaces, gardens and natural areas will make it a natural draw for those living or working there, as well as provide a draw for others to visit.
Artist's rendering of High Street area of West Campus Development Trust's land with the proposed community name of University District.
Supplied / Calgary Herald
Artist's rendering of the central park area of West Campus Development Trust's land with the proposed community name of University District.
Supplied / Calgary Herald
Artist's rendering of the northern residential area of West Campus Development Trust's land with the proposed community name of University District.
Artist's rendering of Shaganappi gate in West Campus Development Trust's land with the proposed community name of University District.
Supplied / Calgary Herald
Artist's rendering of southern residential area of West Campus Development Trust's land with the proposed community name of University District.
Supplied / Calgary Herald
“Successful urban neighbourhoods offer a sense of discovery,” says Robertson. “Everything is not the same. University District is meant to be an organic community — built with Calgarians for Calgarians.”
Sustainability is a hallmark of University District’s master plan, says Robertson, from engineering roads to building construction to being socially responsible. A community built for all ages — including daycare, attainable housing and assisted living — with its underpinning financial support for the university offering another interpretation of sustainable development.
West Campus Development Trust is a non-profit subsidiary of the University of Calgary. All profits from the development and management of the land will return to the university, says Robertson. Other universities in Canada have set up similar land trusts, including the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.
“We have to look for new ways of increasing cash flows while adding to the university,” Robertson says of the role of the trust in helping to support U of C.
In the proposal before the planning commission, University District’s streets would be named after its 13 past and present chancellors, further underscoring the relationship with the university and the community.
Naming the streets after the chancellors serving in the first 50 years of U of C’s history would be a celebration of people who have served the university and Calgary in significant ways.
The chancellor, a volunteer position, chairs the university senate, which acts to bridge between the university and the wider community. The purpose of the senate is to represent the public interest, promote the university, influence decision makers, foster student interests and promote and recognize excellence.
“Each of them has made a tremendous contribution to our community,” says U of C president Elizabeth Cannon. “All the chancellors and their families are very excited about this.”
While new communities often have street names containing a root word stemming from the community name, for example, Legacy Gate in the WestCreek Developments’ community of Legacy in south Calgary, other communities have recently broken from that pattern. Brookfield Residential’s Livingston community in the city’s north — named for Sam Livingston who was one of Calgary’s first residents and farmer — will honour a variety of pioneers from the city’s history in its street names.
The vision and direction of University District’s master plan has met with approval from its neighbours.
“We have had community support throughout the process,” says Robertson, including letters of support from the five neighbouring community associations.
West Campus Development Trust is the midst of choosing a short-list of builders to bid on the first rounds of sites.
“We had a stronger than anticipated response from local and national companies,” says Robertson. “Most have been here (in Calgary) on at least one or more projects.”
Robertson expects to offer land for bids in the summer and award sites in the fall for the first phase.
“We’ll have six or seven sites in a variety of product. It depends on the response level and the market,” he says.
Retail will be incorporated in the first phase along with residential.
“We’re building inside out, from the heart of the community,” Robertson says.
The prospect of new neighbours is one that Cannon is enthusiastic about.
“I’m excited to see the people moving into University District and working in University District. It will bring a lot of excitement to our campus,” she says.
What You Need to Know
Proposed Community Name: University District
Developer: West Campus Development Trust
Proposed Street Naming Convention: Name the streets after the 13 past and current University of Calgary chancellors. The role of the chancellor, a voluntary and elected position as chair of the senate, is to foster relationships between the university and the greater community, both locally, nationally and internationally. U of C’s chancellors have all had been notable figures who have had special relationships with Calgary and the university. U of C’s first chancellor was C. Campbell McLaurin, Chief Justice of the Trial Division of the Alberta Supreme Court, who served as chancellor from 1966 to 1970. Today’s chancellor, former astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk, who began his term in 2014. He attended junior and senior high school in Calgary, and earned his undergraduate engineering degree (mechanical) at U of C, before studying a master’s in engineering, earning a medical degree and master’s in business administration.
At build out in 15 to 20 years: University District will be home to 15,000 to 17,000 residents.
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