Calgary Gets A New Park
Longstanding, Calgary-based Truman Homes is the developer behind the massive 95-acre West District project on the west side of Calgary. Truman’s ambitious master plan was first announced back in 2014, fast forward to today and the plan is being realized with the recent opening of Radio Park, a $20 million, 8.5-acre park in the middle of a suburban urban village.
Back Story: West District is located just east of the huge radio transmitter antenna near 85th St SW and Old Banff Coach Road - and not far from Broadcast Hill. To pay tribute to the area’s history, the main street is called Broadcast Avenue, and the community park is Radio Park.
West District is on par with Calgary’s other master-planned urban villages - East Village, University District and Currie – but without the benefit of free land (as is the case for University District and Currie) or a community revitalization levy (in the case of East Village). In fact, Truman Homes had to upfront $200M+ to purchase the land and all the infrastructure costs necessary to allow for the construction of the homes to begin.
What Truman Homes has accomplished is incredible. There is a five-block long pedestrian-friendly main street with commercial uses at street level and residential above that is on par with University District and better than anything East Village or Currie has to offer.
Radio Park is larger than any of the new public spaces in East Village or University District Central Park. It includes a dog park, playground (with Calgary’s tallest slide, which I saw some adult trying it out), basketball court, misting plaza, pond and lawn areas. There is even a very modern building with a green roof on the edge of the park - for a future restaurant or perhaps food hall.
It is all very impressive. Future plans include office, medical and perhaps even institutional spaces to further diversify the community as a “live, work, play” village. As I have said before, “West District is a model for new suburbanism” in Calgary.
Diversity of housing
Like any village, West District offers a variety of housing options, from a few single-family homes to townhomes and apartments ranging in height from 8 to 15 storeys. West District currently has only 11 single-family homes and 100 townhomes (there will be no more singles or townhomes) and 768 completed apartment homes in five buildings.
By the end of 2025, 557 more homes will be complete in three additional buildings including the impressive Plaza with its art deco like façade. So, by the end of 2025 there will be grand total of 1,325 homes in West District with another 632 new homes under construction and 1,600 more in various stages of planning.
Later this year, a full-scale Sobey’s will be opening, as well as Canadian Brewhouse pub. They will join Una, Deville, f45 fitness and California Closets and many other retailers who already call main street (aka Broadcast Ave) home. Hula Poke, Alforno Bakery and Village Ice Cream and others are looking to open on main street in 2026. Truman Homes will also be opening its headquarter office building come January 2026.
Last Word
Kudos to Truman Homes for also delivering an urban grocery store in its Frontier project on the old Kensington Road Legion site. While many West Hillhurst community members were sceptical Truman would deliver on its promise to bring a grocery store to the community, an urban format (think smaller, 11,500 square feet compared to suburban stores that are typically 40,000+ square feet), FreshCo grocery store opened in August.
It was joined by Crave Cupcake Bakery, CeCe Café (Monogram coffee), fitness centre, and liquor store - with Sinatras Pizzeria and a drycleaner coming soon. These are welcome additions to West Hillhurst’s budding 19th Street/Kensington Road main street hub.