General Construction Updates

[Nimbus]

I would love to see Rndsqr get in on the Triangle site. Parkade access would be tricky, I'd guess we'd most likely see it mid block on 9th Street, and that could perhaps be a catalyst to adding a 4-Way stop at 9th Street and 2nd Avenue.

 

[Mountain Man]

Interesting Ideas for that site, would love to see something like what you guys are suggesting!

 

[darwink]

This project might be around the right size:
LOY / SATO Löylyramid (JDS)

 

[Surrealplaces]

Either the one by BIG, or LOY, both are very funky and would work for that triangle lot. Make a LOY type design at 10 floors and I'm sold.

 

[Nimbus]

The owner of the Kensington Manor building on 10th street has until the end of the month to decide to repair or demolish the structure. That's a prime plot of land on 10th street, I'm guessing it gets taken down.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/kensington-manor-demolish-owner-decision-1.4706983

 

[Mountain Man]

Might as well demolish it, the cost to fix it up would be quite high I bet. I wonder if the owner will demolish and then just sell it.

 

[Surrealplaces]

My preference would be to have it demolished as it's almost a guarantee that whatever replaces it would be better.

 

[maestro]

I'm torn. It's an ugly building with a poor street interface. Calgary doesn't have an apartment replacement policy. These affordable units will be gone forever should this building come down.

 

[Nimbus]

I'm torn. It's an ugly building with a poor street interface. Calgary doesn't have an apartment replacement policy. These affordable units will be gone forever should this building come down.

A very good point. Surreal was mentioning that the Triangle site in Sunnyside will be going out for RFP's soon and has to include an affordable housing component. I wonder how many units were in Kensington Manor and could Triangle absorb all of them or would they come up short?

 

[retrofiturbanism]

I'm torn. It's an ugly building with a poor street interface. Calgary doesn't have an apartment replacement policy. These affordable units will be gone forever should this building come down.

As long as new units continue to be built, there will be affordable units available. It is called filtering. Basically, as new units are occupied, it opens up vacancies in older buildings, which have to decrease their prices in order to attract tenants. Today's new condos become tomorrow's affordable units. We just have to ensure we keep building.

 

[Social Justice]

I'm torn. It's an ugly building with a poor street interface. Calgary doesn't have an apartment replacement policy. These affordable units will be gone forever should this building come down.

There's already enough affordable multifamily units around the city. I think the prices will continue to fall based on supply and demand.

 

[maestro]

As long as new units continue to be built, there will be affordable units available. It is called filtering. Basically, as new units are occupied, it opens up vacancies in older buildings, which have to decrease their prices in order to attract tenants. Today's new condos become tomorrow's affordable units. We just have to ensure we keep building.

How do we ensure we keep building? It's already being speculated that rising interest rates will drive dollars away from real estate development.

 

[maestro]

There's already enough affordable multifamily units around the city. I think the prices will continue to fall based on supply and demand.

To a degree. There's a high cost with new construction. It will make more sense to pull the units from the market than actively seek tenants if it drops too low.

 

[maestro]

A very good point. Surreal was mentioning that the Triangle site in Sunnyside will be going out for RFP's soon and has to include an affordable housing component. I wonder how many units were in Kensington Manor and could Triangle absorb all of them or would they come up short?

Good to hear.

 

[Mountain Man]

I'm torn. It's an ugly building with a poor street interface. Calgary doesn't have an apartment replacement policy. These affordable units will be gone forever should this building come down.

If they have to spend the money to renovate, these apartments likely won't be affordable anymore anyway. If you want more affordable housing in the city, keep pressure on your Councilor and MLA.