30-storey Chinatown development put on hold until spring

Calgary city council has decided to put off a decision on a proposal fora building in Chinatown thatcould see construction of a building twicethe currently allowed maximumheight in Chinatown.

The Chinatown Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) has come out against the proposed redesignationofa parking lot on SecondAvenue southwest.

The proposal is for a 30-storey development.

Terry Wong, the executive director of of the BRZ, along with a few dozen others, held an information session along downtown streets Monday morning, just before the council meeting started.

"The principal concern that Chinatown residents have and the businesses have is we have not received enough information about what the development is all about," said Wong.

"If you're going to change policy, it would be wise to consult both the stakeholders in the area as well as council."

Wong says the area residents are not opposed to density or growth or revitalization but they want to be consulted.

He says the current maximum height in Chinatown is about 15 storeysand that there are no buildings that tall.

The city's chief plannerRollin Stanley said administration will work with the developer on the proposal.

Council will discuss the proposal again in April.