Change is finally coming for the last remaining at-grade rail crossing in the centre city

11 Street SW is a vital link between the Beltline and Downtown West for people accessing parks, grocery stores, restaurants, shops, homes, and offices. But the at-grade CPR train crossing has long made this link both unreliable and unsafe, especially for those walking and wheeling.

The Beltline Urban Development Committee (BUDC) has taken time to review the Development Permit Application (DP2021-5558) for the new Event Centre. We also had an opportunity to meet with the applicant on August 24, 2021 to discuss it. Although the BNA is happy to see this site developed and for a critical component of the Rivers District Master Plan (RDMP) to be realized, the application before us has a number of shortcomings that we would like to see remedied.

Given the significant contribution of taxpayer funds that will be put towards this project, it is critical for it to demonstrate meaningful and material public benefit. At this time, we believe there is ample room for improvement. 

11th Street in the Beltline connects homes, parks, schools, shopping and entertainment. But it has languished for too long and has been in need of improvements to better serve the neighbourhood. Three years ago, the BNA reached out to the City of Calgary to work together on identifying areas in need of improvement and addressing them. We’re pleased to share that, starting this fall, residents and visitors to the neighbourhood will be able to access and enjoy 11th Street much more safely and easily.

In April 2021 — days before an anticipated development permit application and public unveiling of the design — progress on Calgary’s new $550 million event centre / arena project in the Beltline was abruptly paused to address budget issues. Since the middle of June, it has become apparent that the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation’s (CMLC) project management role is in jeopardy. As a project that will make or break the future success of the Rivers District in the Beltline’s East Victoria neighbourhood, the Beltline Neighbourhoods Association (BNA) is extremely concerned and disappointed by this news.

The City of Calgary has released the final results of Phase II public engagement for safety and mobility improvements on 14th and 15th Avenues SW in the Beltline. The results show overwhelming support from residents, local businesses and developers for adding a protected mobility/cycle track on 15th Avenue with added safety improvements to both 14th and 15th Avenues including curb extensions, crosswalks and improved signage.

The City of Calgary has opened Phase II of engagement for improvements to 14 and 15 Avenues South through the Beltline and is asking for your feedback by January 31st on design options that improve safety and mobility.

Developers are lobbying City Council to approve 11 more new communities on November 2nd

On November 2nd, City Council will vote on whether to add 11 more new communities to the record 41 new communities already approved for development on Calgary's outskirts at a cost of an additional $23 million annually or the equivalent of a 1.5 per cent tax increase. 

The Beltline Neighbourhoods Association (BNA) is a vibrant community association for the Beltline district in urban Calgary home to over 25,000 residents in the neighbourhoods of Connaught and Victoria Park. 

Based out of the McHugh House Community & Arts Hub, the BNA is non-profit organized by a volunteer Board of Directors who work to make the BNA an accessible and diverse association open to all residents to get involved in making the Beltline an even better place.

It’s been a very different year but a busy one again none the less! Here’s what we’ve done together…

While much of our attention this year has been focused on the global COVID-19 pandemic, it has distracted from the equally tragic and even more destructive opioid crisis wreaking havoc in communities across Alberta, Canada and the United States. As of September 9th, 248 Albertans have died while the opioid crisis has claimed the lives of over 2,000 Albertans.

We saved our pools...until 2021. 

We have an opportunity to share with the City how we use social and recreational facilities in the Beltline neighbourhoods.