Petition calls for halt to major new Inglewood developments

More than 1,600 people have signed an online petition against several proposed developments in Inglewood.

Organizers of the petition on Change.orgfear that if buildings go ahead that are taller than the existing 20-metre height restrictions, it will turn NinthAvenue S.E. into "another bland, commercial wind tunnel."

They fear these new projects will threaten the heritage character of the neighbourhood, alter the vitality of its main street and even chase away future film projects.

• Two of Calgary's walkable, inner-city shopping districts face distinct challenges
• Inglewood residents protest 16-storey tower they say will overshadow historic community

L.J. Robertson director of inner city planning and heritage with the Inglewood Community Association said several groups came together to take a stand against the growing developer interest in larger scale area re-developments.

"We felt that it was time to take on the movement as a whole and not only speak as a community, but speak for what we hope are many Calgarians that don't necessarily live in Inglewood but really value and love what we have," Robertson said.

"If these things are built, the neighbourhood will change forever."

Projects in the works

The online petition does mention three developments proposed for the neighbourhood.

Hungerford Properties is behind a residential project at Ninth Avenue and EighthStreet S.E. A change in land use for the building which will be 50 metres tall was approved by council last month.

The 11-storey building would replace the two-storeycinderblock building at Eighth Street that's currently home to Fair's Fair Books.

Two other projects along Ninth Avenue, one proposed by RNDSQR and one by Landstar, have not yet gone to the planning commission.

RNDSQR plans tobuild a 12-storey, mixed-use residential complex at the corner of Ninth Avenue and 12th Street S.E. currently a used car lot that would incorporate the historic Bank of Commerce block.

Landstar wants to put amixed-use residential complex, called Louis on 9th, atNinth Avenue and 11th Street S.E., replacing a strip mall and a two-storey building that housed an appliance store until recently.

The Inglewood Business Improvement Area (BIA)is not taking a position on the petition against new developments.

But it also has concerns about larger-scale developments in the community, which is known for its heritage buildings and eclectic collection of shops and businesses.

Dan Allard with Cold Garden Beverage Company and BIA vice-chair, said its mandate is to attract people to Inglewood.

He points to several new buildings that have opened in the past couple of years which have added to the vitality of the area.

New developments needto fit

But Allard said those new projects fit in with what he calls the human scale and village feel of the main street.

"The developers are interested in us because it's an attractive high street. Now, these projects propose to destroy the very reason they're interested in us in the first place," he said.

"So our job as a BIA is to protect the attraction of Inglewood."

He said that a decade ago, the BIA had 90 members. Today, that number is more than 220 and rising.

The area's city councillor acknowledges these developments are a big change for the community.

Gian-Carlo Carra said he supported the Hungerford proposal because he feels there needs to be a higher population base along Ninth Avenue to support a complete community, including schools and a grocery store.

Market dictates change

He said a century ago, the market dictated the building heights that were constructed in Inglewood but times have changed.

"They were built that way because that's what the economics of the day called for," he said.

"What we're seeing now is that if you want to build market rate housing that's going to be built at a level of quality, to support the ongoing heritage character of the community, you have to build to a certain scale."

Re-development isn't about knocking down heritage buildings which is part of what makes Inglewood special, he added.

"We're talking about adding sensitively-located buildings that will become heritage buildings a hundred years from now."

• What's your view on the issue? Have your say in the comments section below