Inner City Feature Purpose-built rentals welcomed by some in industry
BIKE SHARING
NEW SOLUTIONS
Calgary lagging behind other cities
How to start the new year on the right foot
MUNICIPAL A5
DEBORAH HARRISON A7
A9 FREE jan 22 to jan 28 2016 issue 06-02 editorial 403-781-1324 advertising 403-263-4940 crebnow@creb.ca
real estate news from industry experts
SUITE SEPARATION
Highland Park president says lack of communication complicating secondary suites issue CODY STUART
managing editor
A
local community association president says a lack of consultation by at least one member of council is adding to the disconnect between Calgary residents in support of the suites and those on city council who have voted against wider approval. Highland Park Community Association president Elise Bieche said despite a “large” majority of those in her Ward 4 community who support the suites, Ward 4 Coun. Sean Chu hasn’t contacted anyone with the association to gauge their opinion. “I don’t think he’s ever surveyed Highland Park. That would be my guess,” she said. “Sean has never asked me my opinion on secondary suites or my board’s opinion, because my board has actually endorsed our stance on secondary suites. So it’s not as though I’ve gone rogue or there’s a disconnect between me and how my community feels on secondary suites.” An outspoken opponent of citywide approval of the suites, Chu was one of several city councillors who recently voted against rezoning more than 35,000 homes in four central wards to allow for the suites. In the past, Chu has cited a “solid majority” of Ward 4 residents opposed wider approval suites. However, Bieche isn’t quite clear where Chu is getting his evidence. “I don’t know where he’s coming up with this information,” she said. “Maybe his sample size was just people from Edgemont. I don’t know how he came up with his opinion. It doesn’t represent an inner-city community that’s in transition such as Highland Park, that’s for sure.” In an interview with CREB®Now,
Chu said his information was gathered through various sources. “I do a lot of engagement with people at different events, and also I door knock in the summer, so that’s what I came up with,” he said, noting he was also tipped off to a poll that showed opposition to secondary suites, yet he could not confirm its source, nor was he willing to release details about its results. Thorncliffe, another Ward 4 community, has also spoken out in favour of wider acceptance of the suites. In a letter sent to council in 2014, Thorncliffe Greenview Community Association vice president Marvin Quashnick spoke out in favour of removing the need for land-use re-designation for residents seeking to build secondary suites. “We feel council can serve all communities better by eliminating landuse re-designation for secondary suites as recommended by administration.” Bieche believes as long as a suite is safe and meets the “stringent” building codes imposed by the province, outside issues such as parking and zoning shouldn’t act as an impediment. “I don’t think it’s reasonable for people to be opposed to secondary suites because of parking issues,” she said. “How many of us who have rear attached garages can actually park two vehicles in our garage? If somebody wants to put a legal suite in, and they’re willing to invest the time and money to do it, then the city should be onside.”
SECONDARY SUITES A3 Highland Park Community association Elise Bieche president says a ‘large majority’ of those in her neighbourhood are in favour of secondary suites.
4796
4684 4960 4917 4838 4801 4643
4336
4058
URBAN
LIVING FOR ONLY
$499,000
Lee Edwards 403-540-0540
CREB® STAFF
C
3384
3936
Quick sell
*All statistics based on monthly data compiled by CREB® via MLS® activity. Includes detached, attached and apartment.
COUNTRY
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Commercial office market
DEC13 JAN14 FEB14 MAR14 APR14 MAY14 JUN14 JUL14 AUG14 SEP14 OCT14 NOV14 DEC14 JAN15 FEB15 MAR15 APR15 MAY15 JUN15 JUL15 AUG15 SEP15 OCT15 NOV15 DEC15
2257 2498 2898 3205
CALGARY HOME CONTENTS NEWS BRIEFS + GARDEN SHOW RELEASES FIVE THINGS INDUSTRY FULL LINEUP
MLS® MONTH END INVENTORY* DEC ‘13 – DEC ‘15
5533 5706 5641 5394 5141 5137 5215 5600 5623 5327
CITY OF CALGARY
CODY STUART, Managing Editor
algary’s 35th annual Calgary Home + Garden Show has announced its full list of personalities that will be on hand for this year’s show at the BMO Centre. HGTV star and landscaping expert Carson Arthur, master craftsman André Chevigny of HGTV’s Timber Kings, along with Calgary’s top gardeners and design experts, will be on hand for this year’s edition, as well as more than 650 exhibitors and local vendors.
INDUSTRY A3
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