In the two months since our last update, progress at the site of Ezra on Riley Park has been moving along nicely. The eight-storey residential development designed by NORR Architects for Birchwood Properties recently topped off, and its cladding and glazing work is now well underway. 

Brick cladding and glass installation well underway, image by Forum contributor snorklepowder

Featuring a brick-clad two-storey podium level overtop of which the remaining six storeys will be faced almost entirely in glass, the twin residential mid-rise towers will be home to 50 units apiece, with a mix of apartment-style suites and multi-level townhouses. 

Work crews busy on site, image by Forum contributor Surrealplaces

The project is rising in the heart of Calgary's Kensington neighbourhood, a historic streetcar suburb that is the byproduct of the city's long-ago experiment with transit-oriented development that has left a handful of walkable neighbourhoods scattered across the city. Ezra at Riley Park has latched onto that success, touting the area's urban vibe as a major selling point. Indeed, thanks to the legacy left behind by the old Calgary Municipal Railway, the presence of pedestrian-friendly commercial thoroughfares in the neighbourhood has made this one of the city's best kept secrets. 

Entire block of century homes razed for Ezra on Riley Park, 2014, image via Google Maps

Erasing block after block of century homes from local streets, the ongoing redevelopment of the historic neighbourhood will drastically alter the charm that has long defined it. A point of concern to locals, the move will ultimately be met with the approval of developers and those on City Council seeking to intensify the core. The influx of residents to the area will represent a great deal of added value in terms of growing a steadily rising real estate market and tax base, while simultaneously working to curb suburban sprawl. 

Ezra on Riley Park, cityscape looming overhead, image by Forum contributor Surrealplaces

A prime example of what detractors would label density creep, the imminent arrival of Ezra on Riley Park, set within the heart of the Kensington Business Revitalization Area (BRA), will more than likely set a precedent. City planners and private developers are already busy at the task of pumping new life into the area one project at a time, and a stroll down the horseshoe of fine-grained retail that lines the neighbourhood's main streets is a testament to the sustained success of the area more than a century after its creation.

Row of popular restaurants and shops along Kensington Road, image via Google Maps

Slated for completion by the end of 2017, Ezra on Riley Park will bring at least 150 new residents into the neighbourhood. The addition will likely be a boon to local businesses, and a signal of things yet to come. 

SkyriseCalgary will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.