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Calgary-based Arlington Street Investments has recently made public plans to increase density and vibrancy along Calgary's Uptown 17 corridor through development and renovation of multiple properties. The company has purchased parcels of land along the popular retail strip with the intention of building newer, higher density developments in those locations.
Arlington founder and CEO Frank Lonardelli has begun a mission to build 17th Avenue into a high street similar to those in larger cities, stating, "We want to create a high street on 17th Avenue and we want our high street to be like Robson in Vancouver or Bloor in Toronto and now even the emerging Yorkville in Toronto. Right now, 17th Avenue has kind of a smattering of very individual legacy-based assets and no one has really gone out and consolidated enough assets to create a high street."
One such location is at 615 17th Avenue SW, where Arlington recently released plans for a medium density mixed-use project that would replace the current strip mall and a section of houses to the south of the strip mall along 6th Street SW.
Currently the project is in the conceptual stage, as Arlington has submitted an application for a land use change. The zoning, if approved, would change from the current C-COR1 f3.0 h23M-C2 to DC/C-COR1. The current zoning allows for mixed use with commercial storefronts with a FAR (Floor Area Ratio) of 3.0 with a maximum height of 23 metres. The new zoning would allow for the same mixed-use commercial but with an increased FAR and increased height. According to the conceptual renderings, the approximate height Arlington is looking to increase to is 12 floors.
Arlington has been very busy in the Beltline area market with seven different projects under consideration or underway. Renovation of the National Block is already underway, and across the street to the west, another Arlington project The Fifth, has a sales centre up an running. An open house for this project was held November 19th and is presently in the public engagement stage. Arlington is hoping to have the land use change in spring 2019.
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.
