PARK PLAN A SPARK PLUG
Aspirations of creating a first-rate arts and cultural district in Victoria Park hold the promise of breathing new life into the downtown neighbourhood. The area is characterized by parking lots that sit empty for most of the year, and Victoria Park isn’t likely to attract further significant investment until it gets some publicly funded improvements that can serve as a spark plug for development that not only redefines the area, but makes it a gem for the entire city.
The Calgary Municipal Land Corp., which is a subsidiary of the city, has assembled a team to craft a master plan for the community.
The vision is expected to be released in June and will incorporate the Calgary Stampede’s expansion ambitions, as well as the possibility of a new home for the Calgary Flames.
“It’s an area with entertainment in its DNA,” says Susan Veres, the land corporation’s senior vice-president of strategy and business development. “It’s been home to The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth for more than a century and Calgary’s beloved Calgary Flames for over 30 years.”
The neighbourhood, Veres notes, is close to the Glenbow Museum, Arts Commons, Studio Bell, the new Central Library, Telus Spark, Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary and other heavy hitters in the arts, culture and entertainment pursuits.
A $150-million budget will fund the extension of 17th Avenue into Stampede Park, the lengthening of the riverside walkway, the design of so-called streetscapes for the LRT’s proposed Green Line and other infrastructure.
This is good news and follows the land corporation’s successful nurturing of East Village, a similarly somewhat desolate area of the city that is now buzzing, thanks to the activity of highrise condo residents and shops and services that were coaxed into contributing to Calgary’s vitality.
The strength of the Victoria Park planning exercise is that it will produce a comprehensive plan for the community, which is superior to piecemeal development that allows construction to proceed in isolation with other initiatives. The $150 million will be spent over the next decade and is collected by a community revitalization levy that receives a portion of the property tax revenues generated in east downtown.
When the 20-year revitalization levy — which also applies to the East Village — ends in 2027, the city will receive approximately $50 million annually in property taxes from the redeveloped district, according to the land corporation.
Properly carried out, the transformation of Victoria Park will create a revived community with venues where Calgarians can gather and be entertained and inspired. Prudent and forward-looking planning now will be rewarded with a better city tomorrow.