I have always wondered why Calgary’s 14th Street on the west side is so different on the north side of the Bow River versus the south side.

On the north side, it’s a gloomy corridor for cars with no parking and just one street patio. While on the south side it is full of restaurants and services between 11th and 18th Avenues and again at the top of the hill between 22nd and 33rd Avenues.

New infill projects like this one are gradually making 14th St NW a more attractive place live and play, but much more is needed.

SOLA

However, that is all about to change if Harish Consul (President & CEO, Ocgrow Group) has his way. For the past several years, Consul has quietly been assembling land along 14th St NW with the goal of creating a more pedestrian-friendly streetscape which ultimately could include 800 new high-tech, multi-family homes and 15 to 20 new shops/services from Kensington Road to 5th Avenue NW.

His first project SOLA, designed by Calgary’s Riddell Kurczaba Architecture has already sold 50 of the 172, since first announced in Fall 2020. New marketing materials including a 3D walk through will follow this spring, with construction anticipated to begin in Fall 2021.

To date, most of the condos have been bought by investors from out of town, many being international investors who see the future of Calgary very differently than many locals do. While we often focus on the negative, they view Calgary as a very affordable, attractive place to live, work and play compared to our peer cities around the world. They are betting that post-COVID, smaller cities like Calgary with its many amenities will be more attractive than mega dense larger international cities.

One of SOLA’s unique high-tech features is the incorporation of Amazon’s Alexa/Echo smart hub into every home, allowing residents to use voice commands for such things as setting your alarm, turning on the coffee pot and creating your shopping list. SOLA, with fastest highspeed internet in Alberta, will be an ideal live/work place.

Computer rendering of SOLA, which is the first of several projects planned by Ocgrow Group, will be much more pedestrian friendly. Note the addition of street parking and trees.

Grace Hospital Site Redevelopment

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Consul is not alone in his vision for a new 14th St NW. Also in the works is NorthWest Healthcare Properties’ ambitious plans for the redevelopment of the old Grace Hospital, Sunset Lodge and Agape Hospice site on the northeast corner of 14th St and 8th Ave NW.

The proposals is to build up to 800 new homes, in combination with 13,395 square metres of medical offices with supporting retail.

The height of the buildings could range from 10 to 20 storeys, offering spectacular views of the downtown, with Riley Park in the foreground.

The Grace Hospital site is close to Riley Park and could become an attractive mixed-use anchor for the new 14th St. NW.

North Hill SEARS Site

And the really big 14th Street NW project is Concord Pacific’s redevelopment of the 12-acre former SEARS site at the east end of North Hill Mall (Calgary’s first shopping mall). Concord Pacific is one of Canada’s leading developers of master planned urban communities that combine residential highrise development with community infrastructure ( i.e. daycares, medical, schools, retail, restaurant and public spaces). Concord Pacific has owned the site since 2015, it is only a matter of time before they announce something spectacular for this site which not only offers the best views in the city (both downtown and mountain), but easy access to two LRT stations.

The 12 acre SEARS site includes all of the surface parking surrounding it. It is attached to the North Hill Shopping Mall and just west of the SAIT campus. It is has easy access to two LRT Stations - Lions Park and SAIT.

Last Word

Like any multi-site redevelopment. the 14th Street NW makeover will happen in phases, with Ocgrow Group taking the lead, followed by Northwest Healthcare Properties and then Concord Pacific. Like Currie, University District and East Village it will take 20+ years complete, but we could see definite improvements within the next five years.

Calgary’s future depends upon its ability to attract international immigrants to bring new ideas and energy to the city. Last year alone Calgary attracted almost 16,000 international immigrants which represented 54% of our population growth.

Projects like SOLA will add a new option to urban living in Calgary, for both existing and new Calgarians looking for a high-tech live/work home.