Pace of Kensington condo boom 'exciting,' but 'unnerving'

Abuilding boom is going on in one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods as hundreds of new condominium units are either under construction or being plannedover the next several years.

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Jennifer Dobbin, who speaks for longtimeKensington developer the Dobbin Group, says the redevelopment plan forthe community allows for higher densities a plan endorsed by the city and the community association.

"Between infills, and the large developments that came through,Kensingtonis under the most pressure for redevelopment for established communities in Calgary," said Dobbin.

"I think the number on the books right now is 1,500 new homes coming in."

Rapid change

The pace of change has stunned many in the community, says Hillhurst SunnysideCommunity Associationboard presidentTim Kitchen.

Organization volunteers normally review each application and work with stakeholders to ensure new developmentsdon't take away from the character of the popular community.

"We literally gave up because we could not manage the volume of change coming at us," said Kitchen.

The community associationanticipated the changes recommended by the area redevelopment plan would take place over a generation, but instead are happening in a four to five-year time span.

"We're starting to see some of those things in real time that's very exciting, but it's very unnerving, as well," said Kitchen.

To deal with all of the development, residents, developers, the community association, local business ownersand city employees came up with a new model to discuss all of the projects.

Calling it a "fishbowl," they all met Wednesdayfor a round-table discussion to air concerns and look for solutions.The Dobbin Group has been part of those conversations.

"It's not a 'No, you can't put a building there,' the conversation is'let's put the right buildingthere that serves the people and the needs of the community,'" says Dobbin.

"So, now we have to start teaching developers how to come and have theseconversations because it has been adversarial."

The projects

Dobbin says the company is trying to rezone 13 single family lots with historic homes along Memorial Drive west of 10th Street for a 70-unit project.

Another development is set to go up where the LidoCafand Ant Hill building are now, at10thStreet and Second Avenue northwest.

The Lido project, by Calgary'sBattistella Developments and also backed by the Dobbin Group, will average$600 per square foot. Sales started last month and already a quarter of the 60 units have been sold,says Battistella'sTraci Wilson.

"There's a wide demographic, but everybody sort ofhas the same desire. They want to move into this area, they like a walkablelifestyle."

Construction on the Lido project is expected to start in the spring. The LidoCaf will be torn down for the project, but the sign for the longtime breakfast spot will be saved and repurposed.

The company is also behind Pixel, a new condo building a block away. Almost complete, the building is already sold out.

"We're blown away how many people wantto live here," said Wilson."A lot of emptynesters, baby boomers."

More condos are planned for the west side of10thstreet.

Carpenters'Union Hall and the building next to it on 10th Streetwill also be torn down to make way for a new, yet-to-be-named condo by Vancouver-based Bucci Developments Ltd.Sales are expected to begin in the fall.

Down the road, workers are putting the finishing touches on a building calledSt. John's Tenth Streetaproject that includes 95 units.

And if you head the other way on10th Street, on the corner of KensingtonRoad the owners of Osteria de Medici restaurant arelooking to rezone their property.

On Fifth Avenue, between 12th Street and 11A Street another condo is being planned byBirchwood Developments. The group is planning to knock down eight single-family homes along Riley Park.

The city is also allowing the construction oflanewayhomes along10AStreet northwest as a pilot project.

• CBC reporter Bryan Labby is covering the storyand explained his findings so far on the Calgary Eyeopener:

Kensington development map

Click on the red markers for details. On mobile? Click here to view.