An exciting parkade? Calgary breaks ground on innovative, shape-shifting project
East Village planners are taking a jackhammer to surface parking lots in a project that will be complete by 2020.
On Wednesday, the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) broke ground on what it hopes is a groundbreaking concept: a parkade.
But it's not just any old place to park your car. The $80-million, shape-shifting, multi-use parkade is a project that promises to change and accommodate downtown needs into the future.
Need parking stalls? Great, the structure will initially have 508 across five levels. Need an innovator space? Don't fret, this plan will integrate 50,000 square feet for that — it's called Platform and will be operated by Calgary Technologies Inc.
The plan also includes a ground floor cafe and outdoor sports court to spark more activity on Ninth Avenue S.E.
Although there's a need for parking in the East Village today, planners say it might not be a priority in the future. So, they've made the parkade into a convertible: it can be re-purposed into a commercial, mixed-use or residential space in future years.
'This neighbourhood is working'
On Wednesday, Ward 7 Coun. Druh Farrell said it's probably the most excited she's been for a parkade, and the politicians, planners and innovators who followed her behind the podium seemed to agree.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi said it's exciting that the city is needing to build extra parking for downtown east — it's a part of the city that council and the CMLC have worked at re-invigorating for years.
"It's a testament to the fact that this neighborhood is working, that people are coming here, they're visiting here they're living here, they're working here and that really matters," said Nenshi. "But we also know that the world is changing and maybe we won't need parking structures and parkades in the future."
In recent years, the East Village has seen a condo boom, a revamped RiverWalk, new hotels and most recently the new Central Library branch. And with all those new amenities there's a demand for places where people can park their cars.
Michael Brown, the CEO of CMLC, says the fact that they're able to break ground on this project cements the East Village's cool factor. And he's thankful that the group was pushed to innovate when coming up with a parking solution.
He added the fact that they've secured Calgary Technologies Inc. as the Platform tenants is a big deal.
"We will become the campus where all the exciting things take place within our community," he said. "There's no greater proof point to me that we're on the right track and we're doing the right things."
'Gives it new focus'
Terry Rock, president of Calgary Technologies Inc., said the Platform will act as a platform for Calgary as a technology hub and help highlight all of the innovation the city's already part of.
His company trains entrepreneurs and incubates new businesses.
"This kind of activity has been happening all along. And this gives it new focus," Rock said.
