been neglected like it had was because it needed a significant amount of infrastructure improvements – things like raising the flood level of the streets, improving the streetscape conditions, and upgrading utilities. “There were a number of barriers that prevented the private development industry from coming in and doing the development themselves,” Clare says. “That’s why CMLC was created. The goal was to form a development entity that could be tasked with that development effort, and that could also be involved with with attracting the private development industry into the communities it built out.” To guide their redevelopment efforts of East Village, CMLC created the East Village Master Plan. They authored that plan with the help of Broadway Malyan – one of the world’s top architectural practices, and the unanimous choice in the international competition CMLC organized in 2008 to find an urban design practice to provide advice on the master plan. Broadway Malyan’s plan was inspired by some of the world’smost liveableplaces, and it established the framework for redeveloping East Village into “a vibrant, mixed-use, creative city neighbourhood,” Clare describes – “an urban village and one of the most dynamic areas within Calgary’s downtown core.” Fast forward to today, and that neighborhood is in the midst of an exciting transformation. Since2007,CMLC’scommitment to date of over $400 million into infrastructure and development programs has so far attracted nearly $3 billion of planned private development. East Village is now home to more than 1,500 new condos and more than 3,500 residents, a variety of retail options, and restored heritage buildings that add to the character of the district. According to Clare, the area has become known “for its vibrant events calendar, innovative public arts program and diverse mix of residential development projects.” “Progress has been rapid,” Clare says. “As developers and retailers have come to see the value of the East Village transformation, many of our available parcels have been snapped up.” “The infrastructure and development projects all materialized as a direct result of CMLC’s passion, focus and determination to succeed in fulfilling our mandate,” she adds. “It’s a new era for East Village – and an exciting future for urban living in Calgary.” There is a strong pipeline of development projects to launch in the coming years, and CMLC anticipates two new residential projects will break ground in 2023. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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