The City of Calgary is considering special policy carveouts for new hotel developments in the Beltline that could come at the expense of the community
Future community investments similar to the successful Central Memorial Park renovation in 2010 could be at risk under proposed hotel development incentives currently being proposed by the City.
Previous city councils promoted the $1.2-billion public investment in a new arena and the $500-million in the BMO Convention Centre Expansion as a "catalyst" for private sector investment in hotels in the Culture and Entertainment District in the east Beltline. As it turns out, these hefty public investments have not attracted significant private sector investment in hotels in the district to date. Now the City of Calgary is considering policy changes to the Beltline Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) to further incentivize private hotel developers by carving out their projects from density bonusing policies at the potential expense of the Beltine community.
Density bonusing has been a key ingredient in the success of the Beltline
1st Street SW underpass (above) and others in the Beltline were renovated through the community's successful density bonusing policy.
Density bonusing is a successful program in the Beltline and Downtown Core that has enabled private developers to add extra "bonus" density to their developments for the overall financial benefit of their projects in exchange for contributing to public realm improvements to parks, underpasses, streetscapes and public art as well as community benefits such as affordable housing and heritage preservation in the Beltline. These community investments help accommodate additional population and density in the Beltline by improving the community for residents while also making it more attractive for private developers to build.
Is the City really "enabling" hotels in the Beltline?
The Marriott Residence Inn Beltline opened in 2019 at 5th Street and 10th Avenue SW.
The City is proposing amendments to the Beltline ARP that they claim would "enable" additional hotel density by "reducing the regulatory burden" on these types of developments in the Beltline. But hotels are already permitted throughout the Beltline and hotel investment was already happening in the Beltline prior to the new Event Centre and BMO Centre expansion. In 2019, the "world's largest Residence Inn By Marriott" was opened in the Beltline without any policy carveouts or special density bonusing relaxations.
Instead, these proposed policy changes risk undermining future density bonusing investments in the Beltline for both residents and private sector developers of housing and non-hotel developments.
If City Council believes private hotel developments are worthy of public subsidy, they should consider funding them directly instead of at the expense of the Beltline community.
Help protect continued community investment in the Beltline community
The City of Calgary is requesting public feedback on their proposed changes. The BNA has submitted this letter to the City expressing our concerns. Please help us tell the City of Calgary that:
- The City must not undermine density bonusing in the Beltline, which has been a successful tool for helping private developers of housing add extra "bonus" density to their developments in exchange for contributing to community improvements to the public realm, affordable housing and heritage preservation.
- Beltline residents will not support an unfair approach to incentivizing private sector hotel developments that comes at the expense of investments in the community.
✉️ Please email the City of Calgary and Ward 8 City Councillor Nathaniel Schmidt