Calgary Minute: Issue 324

Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics

📅 This Week In Calgary: 📅

• Calgary’s Chief Administrative Officer David Duckworth has publicly affirmed his commitment to transparency and disclosed his annual salary of $410,000. City Council unanimously supported a motion recognizing this move, aimed at providing quicker, more open updates to the public than the usual yearly financial reports. The initiative, originally proposed by Councillor Sonya Sharp, underwent amendments after legal and HR consultation, ultimately allowing Duckworth to voluntarily disclose salary changes himself. The push for greater clarity came after recent reports showed a significant increase in the salary band for Duckworth’s role, raising public and political attention. Mayor Jyoti Gondek backed transparency but criticized the process as politically motivated during an election season. She argued the issue could have been resolved through direct discussion rather than a formal motion. 
  
  
• Following Calgary’s 2024 city-wide rezoning, development permit appeals have surged, with nearly 20% of 172 eligible permits being contested. The rezoning eliminated the need for lengthy land-use hearings, aiming to speed up housing approvals, but has instead shifted delays to the appeals process. Builders say the uncertainty caused by appeals pauses construction and adds significant daily costs, sometimes totalling tens of thousands of dollars. Industry representatives argue some appeals are used strategically to stall projects. Despite delays, none of the 33 appeals have succeeded so far. Critics say the zoning changes have not resulted in more affordable housing and may instead inflate costs for buyers as developers face added expenses from appeal-related consultants and legal work, while residents can file appeals for as little as $200. 
  
  
• Speaking of housing, a new six-storey modular apartment building in downtown Calgary is scheduled for completion this December, just eight months after construction began. Built using pre-fabricated units assembled in a Calgary factory and craned into place on-site, the project significantly reduces time, waste, and on-site disruption. The initiative is a partnership between ATCO Structures and Attainable Homes Calgary, a City-owned non-profit focused on housing affordability. The building will offer 84 studio apartments at approximately $1,100 per month. While some Calgarians have expressed concerns about durability and fire safety, project leaders say quality and consistency are ensured by factory construction. Compared to a nearby conventional build that took nearly two years, this modular approach is seen as more efficient. Tenants are expected to begin moving in by January.
  
  
• A vacant 25-storey office tower in downtown Calgary, formerly Chevron's head office, is being converted into 332 rental units by developer Strategic Group. The building, located at 500 5th Ave SW, has been empty since 2024 and is set to reopen for tenants in 2027, with monthly rents ranging from $1,700 to $2,800. Strategic Group, known for similar office-to-residential projects, aims to provide housing for everyday downtown workers and will add features like operable windows and proximity to transit. This project is part of a broader trend in Calgary to repurpose vacant office space and address housing shortages. Although this particular project is not receiving municipal grants, the City of Calgary is supporting 21 other similar projects through its incentive program, with the goal of revitalizing Calgary’s downtown and decreasing high office vacancy rates.
  
  
• Calgary has significantly increased its road construction efforts this year, doubling its investment in pavement quality and expanding its paving program to 320 locations across the city. The work, covering 530 lane kilometres, is part of 30 projects that include major routes like Glenmore Trail, McKnight Boulevard, and 16th Avenue. This marks a sharp rise from 20 paving projects completed last year. To minimize disruptions, much of the construction is being carried out at night or outside rush hours. In parallel, the Alberta government is investing $485 million into upgrading Deerfoot Trail and Stoney Trail, with work expected to finish by 2027. Calgary’s limited construction season requires concentrated efforts during warmer months.
  
  
• Some Calgary residents and Ward 7 Councillor Terry Wong are calling for changes to how the City handles noise exemptions for off-grounds Stampede tent venues. Wong raised the issue at a Council meeting, highlighting the inconsistency in cutoff times between events like the Stampede tents and the Calgary Folk Music Festival. His office received numerous complaints about noise and disorder, especially near Cowboys Park, where residents reported late-night disturbances and public urination. Wong is advocating for a standardized, predictable system and better City oversight on crowd, traffic, and parking management. Residents living near Cowboys Park are especially vocal, pushing for earlier noise cutoffs, particularly on weekdays. City officials say they are reviewing processes to ensure next year’s festival season is more balanced for all Calgarians. Community engagement sessions are being planned to gather feedback and identify improvements for future events.

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