Sports complex in Calgary to revitalize downtown
September 18, 2015
Backers of a proposed $890-million sports complex in Calgary revealed recently they are hoping the project will also revitalize a part of downtown.
Ken King, CEO of Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp., which is behind the venture that will include a new arena for the NHL's Calgary Flames, a new stadium for the CFL's Calgary Stampeders and a field house, believes the proposal — dubbed CalgaryNEXT — provides an opportunity to clean up and develop the West Village district, the site of the proposed complex.
Currently, West Village has little more than a Greyhound bus depot and a couple car dealerships. It also sits on ground contaminated by creosote, once used by a now-defunct wood preserving plant on railroad ties and telephone poles. Enough of the toxin exists in the soil to apparently fill two Olympic-size swimming pools, and may cost as much as $300 million to remove.
“The remediation of the site is a gift,” King said at a recent media conference. “The site is not going to get cleaned up unless there’s a catalyst, unless there is a group prepared to broker an arrangement between the three levels of government.”
The project also calls for construction of a new neighbourhood in West Village. If the proposal goes ahead, King envisions some 15 hectares of land will add several office towers to the Calgary skyline. He also anticipates the development will add several businesses, especially bars and restaurants to the area, which will be within walking distance from condominiums and other residential housing.
Realtor Julie Dempsey believes that if CalgaryNEXT becomes a reality, the result will be of great value to West Village.
“There hasn’t been a lot of new development in a long time,” she says. “That end of the city is pretty quiet, so I think adding some lifestyle value would be really important.”
CalgaryNEXT is pinning a lot of aspirations on a $240-million Community Revitalization Levy, a provincial loan geared towards propping up crumbling neighbourhoods and repaid via property taxes. The CRL was first used by Calgary when it borrowed $357 million in 2007 to spruce up the neighbouring East Village. It will also be implemented in Edmonton to revitalize its downtown in conjunction with the construction of its new arena and surrounding Ice District.
Some private involvement is also anticipated, and while the talk around town is still fresh, Dempsey already has a small buzz regarding interest.
“I was chatting with someone about investment potential for the west end,” she says. “It is future planning, but it will be a while before we’ll reap the benefits of that west end development.”
While King admits that combining sports facilities, entertainment centres, office buildings and residential units into one big package will be a challenge, he firmly believes choosing the West Village to build the project is the right location.
“We examined almost every square inch of this city looking for opportunities and places that would work to do what we would do,” he says. “This area in West Village is perfect for what we’re trying to do.”
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About Gene Kosowan
Gene Kosowan is a freelance journalist based in Edmonton. His work has been featured in such publications as Avenue Edmonton, Alberta Venture and the Edmonton Journal.