University Heights zoned for growth

University Heights residents will have a chance to speak out Tuesday morning on plans to remake Stadium Shopping Centre as a residential, office and shopping development, a day after the mayor spoke of bright options for “derelict strip malls.”

Ald. Dale Hodges, the neighbourhood’s representative, sent dozens of homeowners for the council building exits Monday as he persuaded colleagues to delay the hearing until 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

In a 283-page package of letters to council, University Heights residents rail against the prospect of up to 240 hotel rooms, 372 residential units, and much more retail and office space replacing the mall and parking lot. They fear traffic will grind to a halt and their community fabric will come undone with such change.

But the density and zoning for that change is already decided, Mayor Naheed Nenshi told reporters Monday. He’s long been in favour of these redevelopment projects, including the condo projects near Brentwood LRT.

“When I talk about increasing density in existing neighbourhoods, I often talk about derelict strip malls and what is possible on those sites,” Nenshi said. “Where you can still have your Mac’s store and your pizza shop, but perhaps have something else — places for seniors to live, places for young people to live and so on.”

Pressed on his comment about derelict strip malls, Nenshi said Stadium Shopping Centre has some nice stores but the supermarket left years ago. “Certainly, it has seen better days.”