BY JOSH SKAPIN, CALGARY HERALD
AUGUST 21, 2014
The skyline is dramatically changing over one of Calgary’s historic downtown districts. These days, a fleet of cranes towers above East Village.
They’re part of buzzing construction activity, including two major condo developments, as a new vision for the neighbourhood takes shape.
“It’s a huge step,” says Michael Brown, president and CEO of Calgary Municipal Land Corp. Created by city council, CMLC has spearheaded the Rivers Revitalization Plan, which includes East Village, since 2007.
“We’ve often talked about what East Village used to be and overcoming the stigma. Today, we no longer have to defend what it used to be and we can now talk about what it’s going to be.”
There are three buildings under construction above grade in East Village. Two are the respective first phases of condo projects by Embassy Bosa and FRAM+Slokker Developments. Embassy Bosa’s first phase is called Fuse, set to contain 203 condos in a 21-storey skyscraper and an eight-level mid-rise building. These homes will start from the $359,000s.
For FRAM+Slokker, it’s an 18-storey tower dubbed First. This phase has 196 units starting from the mid-$200,000s.
Embassy Bosa’s first phase is on the northwest corner of 6th Avenue and 5th Street S.E. while FRAM+Slokker’s is on the same street but on the northeast corner.
“Both (FRAM+Slokker) and (Embassy) Bosa have talked about people moving into their buildings in the second quarter of next year,” says Brown.
Also under construction in East Village is the National Music Centre. This is a 160,000-square-foot facility at 9th Avenue and 4th Street S.E. Meanwhile, last week, work began on a $75-million hotel at 7th Avenue and 4th Street S.E. It’s dual branded Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Inn and Suites and will contain 315 rooms.