Calgary Minute: Row Houses, Beltline Concerns, and Arena Deal Finalized

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

This Week In Calgary:

• There will be a meeting of the Executive Committee on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will hear an update on the progress of the Indigenous Gathering Place, and give three readings to the Anti-Racism Training and the Code of Conduct for Elected Officials Bylaw. Also on the agenda is a discussion about tax incentives for renewable generation developments on brownfield sites.
  
  
• The Nominations Committee will meet on Thursday at 9:30 am. No agenda is available for this meeting yet. Later in the day, at 1:30 pm, there will be a meeting of the Audit Committee. No agenda is available for this meeting yet either.
  
  
• Residents living in the Beltline near Calgary's supervised consumption site at the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre are expressing concerns about incidents on their properties and a perceived lack of response from authorities. Homeowners in the area are reporting issues like open drug use, overdoses, and break-in attempts, with limited police intervention. The supervised consumption site, which opened in 2017, has seen a significant number of visits and overdose responses, but there have been discussions about potentially relocating the site to smaller, more service-accessible locations.

Last Week In Calgary:

• An agreement has been finalized between the City of Calgary, the Alberta government, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC), and the Calgary Stampede for a $1.22 billion project that includes a new event centre, a community rink, attached parking, an enclosed plaza, improvements to the public realm, and transportation and infrastructure enhancements. The city will provide $537 million, the province $330 million, and CSEC's share is $356 million. Officials say the project will create 1,500 permanent jobs, and attract 8,000 new residents. Construction is anticipated to start next year.
  
  
• There was yet another violent assault on a CTrain. Police are investigating a reported stabbing that occurred between Victoria Park and City Hall stations. Approximately 100 passengers were forced to evacuate the train inside the tunnel. A 26-year-old suspect was taken into custody, and charges are pending. Violent altercations on transit are happening far too frequently - if you agree, be sure to sign our petition calling on Council to Declare a Transit Safety Emergency.
  
  
• The construction of row houses has increased as builders and buyers seek more affordable housing options due to rising construction costs, interest rates, and purchase prices. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported that single-family home construction in Calgary was down 13% in the first half of 2023, while row house construction increased by 37% compared to the previous year. The CMHC also noted that increased construction costs pose a significant challenge to building more homes in the city.

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