Bridgeland/Riverside is booming aka blooming!
While Calgary’s downtown struggle to fill up its empty office space, the communities around the downtown core are thriving. Major new residential and commercial developments are happening in Bridgeland/Riverside, Beltline, Inglewood, Hillhurst and Sunnyside.
Bridgeland/Riverside is actually booming with numerous major projects recently completed, under construction or soon-to-be. It seems that ever since the implosion of the Calgary General Hospital in 1998 and the subsequent approval of the “The Bridges” masterplan to redevelop the hospital site, Bridgeland/Riverside has been experiencing a mega makeover.
Note: Hopefully this will continue when the world gets back to a new normal.
Hospital as anchor
Brian Beck, President of the Bridgeland/Riverside Community Association for the past three years and who has lived in the community since before the implosion, laments the loss of the hospital. However, he thinks “the demolition destroyed one possible future for the community, but it created another.” With the hospital the community was more of a live, work, play community, whereas today. he sees it a bedroom community for people who work in the City Centre, but not in the community. The hospital was the community’s anchor tenant and it created its sense of place and character.
It has taken 20+ years to generate a new sense of community, albeit one that is more gentrified. Hundreds of smaller, more affordable homes have been demolished to build million dollar homes and new condo buildings, as well as the conversion of family-owned ethnic restaurants to trendy shops, by bars, bistros, yoga studios and bike shops.
While Bridgeland/Riverside’s moniker of “Little Italy” had fallen to the wayside, it has become a very attractive place for Calgarians of all ages and backgrounds, including families to live. And the many projects currently under construction or being planned with only make it more attractive.
Under Construction
“Dominion” by Bucci, is currently under construction at 1018 McDougall Road NE. It consists of two-funky looking towers each 15 storeys that will create 300 new homes when completed. The project is designed by Maxime Laroussi and his Urban Agency team, a boutique Dublin architectural firm. In addition to new homes, this Bucci development will also include space for retail, restaurant and a co-work space.
Also under construction is “Columbus Court,” an affordable housing project designed by NORR architects and developed by Bishop O’Byrne Housing Association. This five storey building will create 104 new homes and join the Associations’ two other buildings - Columbus Manor and Columbus Place.
Thirdly, STEPS Bridgeland is under construction again; this project has started and stopped construction a couple of times. Designed by Calgary’s Sturgess Architecture, this six-storey building is now being developed by Centurion Asset Management and will add 122 new homes on the east side of the community.
Last but not least, the five storey Bridgeland Riverside Community Care facility designed by FWBA Architects, will be home for about 200 clients (adults and seniors) some in secure floors and other unsecure. In addition to be a residence, it will be an employment centre given staff needed to care for the residents. This will benefit the shops, cafes and restaurants as they need people in the community week days, as well as evenings and weekends.
Also underway is RNDSQR’s funky “General Block” building designed by FAAS Architecture.
It will be home to a “who’s who” of Calgary retailers - Village Ice Cream, UNA pizza and Phil & Sebastian café. The second floor will be office space.
Diversity
These projects will add much need diversity to Bridgeland, from luxury homes to affordable homes and from street retail to seniors’ programs. The new homes will attract both young professionals and empty nesters. And the diversity of the contemporary architecture of these buildings will add to Bridgeland’s ever-evolving sense of place that mixes the 20th and 21st centuries.
Coming Soon…
And there is more residential development in the works. “ERA,” a new project by Minto Communities at 618 Meredith Road NE is a 13-storey contemporary building with 178 units. Now 90% sold, expect construction to start soon.
And Jemm Properties has a development permit application currently being reviewed by the City for its new residential development called 950 McPherson Square. Designed by Zeidler Partnership Architects, it has a 16-storey central tower with 11 and 7 storey wings on either side. It will add 285 new homes and retail along the street.
Alps Group Inc has plans for a 33-room hotel at 632 Meredith Rd NE with three suites on the top floor for extended stays. Designed by MT-Arch, the Alps Hotel will have a restaurant on the main floor with access from both the street and the hotel.
As well, a bistro on the top floor with a south facing patio that will have an outstanding view of the river and downtown.
Gravity Architecture is working on a design for a boutique building that will include just three condos with a 7,000 square foot retail restaurant space at street level – all on a lot that would have had just a single house in the past.
Given all the above development, it’s hard not to use the term “booming” to describe what is happening in Bridgeland/Riverside today. In addition to the 500 or so new apartment-style homes currently under construction, there are also dozens of smaller single, attached and row house infills recently completed, under construction or planned.
Yes, Bridgeland/Riverside is “booming” or if you prefer “blooming.”
Last Word
Be it booming or blooming, Beck thinks “Bridgeland/Riverside is in a good spot today. Ultimately people get too caught up (myself included) in thinking that the sorts of decisions being made today by the City planning department or by private developers will define the future.
The reality, of course, is that our community and its sense of place are defined by the people who live, work, and play here. Bridgeland/Riverside has great pride and there’s lots of energy. I love our neighbourhood and expect it will continue to be a place that is somehow always in transition.
Strong communities adapt to new realities — social, economic, aesthetic, whatever. The unique spirit and true of place in Bridgeland/Riverside is carried by the people.”
Note: An edited version of this blog was published in the Calgary Herald’s New Condos section on March 14, 2020.
D.L wrote in an email
Thanks for forwarding your article about the ongoing evolution of our neighbourhood.... yes indeed many new building projects are in progress or soon to be underway - it will be good to have residences built and more people living on lots that have been vacant since the ‘98 CGH implosion .... although it remains to be seen what impact Covid19 will have on those that have not already begun.
I know that your focus is development and all development is good, right?
I’ve attached a picture of the proposed Dominion building... and it’s visual impact on the streetscape- it’s two 15 storey towers represent horrendous overkill from my perspective ...totally out of scale ... it will stick out like a sore thumb... or be a striking edifice, depending on one’s viewpoint.... but will fit with the city’s densification goals for sure.
I think what is as important if not moreso, is what actually happens in our community... how the design of the place allows for meaningful connection between people ... and for a sense of community to develop... I think after Covid we will have a deep need to connect.
The Bridges area has a number of parks - Murdoch soccer field and playground, Riverside (recently renamed from Mcdougall) and its rain garden, baseball field, fence art and seating, as well as parklets called McPherson and St Matthew.... but other green spaces in our community have yet to be considered and I think our growing number of residents will crave green spaces where they can go and sit.
I am wondering what more you can do Richard to highlight the importance of parks, green spaces and community gardens to the “life “ of the community... to foster connectedness, wellness.
I think you also have a role to play in exploring what makes an inner city streetscape appealing... as more people are out walking these days I think they naturally gravitate to some streets and places over others.
I can guarantee that walkers are not drawn to the areas of our community with 3 storey dark coloured stucco, big windowed boxes that are devoid of the personality of the older houses (and you don’t come here to take pictures of those places either). Perhaps you could encourage the developers and new owners to consider ways that they can soften the impact of their big box houses, and create an interesting streetscape... curb appeal. it’s been said that Bridgeland’s streetscape is quirky and demonstrates the varied places and perspectives of the people who have lived here over the years (many of them immigrants from European countries).
EDT: Always good to get another perspective especially from someone who lives in the community. I welcome feed back either directly on the comment page of the blog or by email. Thanks DL.
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