East Village Eastern evolution

EASTERN EVOLUTION

The promise that the eastern edge of Calgary’s downtown had always held is being fulfilled now, as East Village becomes the cosmopolitan heart and the future of Victoria Park comes at hand.

In just over a decade, what used to be a disused and overlooked portion of Calgary’s inner-city has been transformed into a dynamic residential and commercial core that brings new energy to the area.

There were only about a thousand residents in East Village when the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation was given the reigns to foster its growth. Now, there are over 4,000 residents in more than 1,500 residential homes – both condos and rentals – and more are coming.

“We have two residential projects underway (one in construction that is rental and another that is underway with a development permit) that will offer another 350 new homes to the community,” says Clare LePan, CMLC vice-president for marketing and communications.

The redevelopment of Victoria Park is now also under CMLC’s purview and growth is already budding. “Victoria Park is home to about 2,800 residents and the master plan calls for 8,000 residents as development progresses over the next 20 years,” she tells Calgary New Home + Condo Guide.

CMLC is going on 15 years of its 20-year redevelopment plan for East Village that began in 2009, and it has met the vision of creating a desirable, walkable, livable riverside destination.

“East Village has transformed into one of the most dynamic inner-city communities in Calgary. There are few neighbourhoods that offer the range of amenities that are now in East Village and neighbouring communities like Victoria Park are poised for the same level of growth,” LePan says.

Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre. Photo by Brandon Wallis. Courtesy of Tourism Calgary.

Calgary Central Library. Photo by Chris Amat. Courtesy Travel Alberta. East Village. Photo courtesy, CMLC.

RiverWalk pathway. Photo courtesy, CMLC.

CMLC has expanded its focus to realizing the vision for east Victoria Park that calls for approximately four million square feet of absorbable mixed-use development in Calgary’s Culture + Entertainment District.

While the current uncertainty of the Event Centre plan that includes a new home for the Calgary Flames may be a stumbling block in its progress, but the prospects of vigorous growth remain.

The CMLC says that while the Event Centre has long been part of the vision for Calgary’s Culture + Entertainment District (C+E), it is by no means the only significant project in the works. “Even without an immediate answer on the Event Centre’s future, other citybuilding projects worth a collective $600 million are currently underway and are laying the foundation for the C+E’s success,” the CMLC says in a statement.

“The 20-year vision guiding this development has the flexibility to accommodate major projects like the BMO Centre expansion and the Event Centre while also prioritizing the crucial residential, commercial and mixed-use projects that add colour and vibrancy to the district and Calgary’s broader downtown.”

Even as progress continues, East Village has already become one of the most desirable places to live in Calgary’s inner-city.

Residents in East Village and Victoria Park are a walk from major amenities like RiverWalk and the regional pathway system along the Elbow River, St. Patrick’s Island, the Central Library, new innovation tech spaces like Platform, along with new retail offerings in both communities. East Village had nine new retail businesses open in 2021.

“Currently, we have a winter Nordic loop that is open around Fort

Nordic Loop. Photo courtesy, CMLC. St. Patrick’s Island

Calgary in partnership with Foothills Nordic and Fort Calgary. It is a free, family friendly and safe activity outdoors for x-country skiing and snowshoeing. This is our second year of this program, and it has been a great community program in East Village,” she adds.

Both East Village and Victoria Park are highly connected to the regional pathway system that offer over 700 kilometres of pathway throughout Calgary. Residents can jump on the pathway and connect to the downtown core, and communities to the south, west, east and north.

“One of the biggest additions to this whole area that benefits residents in East Village, downtown, Victoria Park and beyond is the 5th & THIRD development,” LePan says. “Offering the first urban Supertstore in Canada , a new Winners store along with other retailers provides a very easy and integrated retail destination for daily needs.”

East Village and Victoria Park have an eclectic range of interesting local restaurants. Some of Calgary’s historic buildings are home to favourite restaurants like charbar in the Simmons along the Bow River, Cardinale along 12th Ave (next to the Stampede Casino) and the King Eddy Bar in the historic King Eddy Hotel. Each of these spots give a great local experience and tie into the rich history of these communities.

Watching a new East Village rise against the skyline of downtown Calgary’s east end is undeniably exciting. It demonstrates – dramatically – what can happen when collaboration, creativity, determination, passion and plain old hard work prevail.

Courtesy CMLC Courtesy CMLC