Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Flames to announce plans to announce arena plans in the... future...

Bunk · 01-26-2013, 11:03 PM

I'll be interested to see what they come up with, if in fact this is true.

Having it accompanying a larger redevelopment makes it sound like they're aiming for West Village - which indicates they'd be looking for a similar Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) scheme that is being used to fund part of the Edmonton Arena (and Calgary's East Village revitalization).

The problem with West Village however is that it requires about $300-$400 million in other infrastructure (realigment of Bow Trail, environmental remediation) to support any significant uses on it. In addition, the last thing that downtown Calgary needs right now is to open up more developable land. We have massive amounts of underdeveloped or undeveloped land - that will last us decades. The City will also not be keen to cannibalize market demand for condos in the East Village. The arena would take up a lot of land there, meaning less land for private development (condos and offices) that would actually pay back the debt.

Someone mentioned East Village. I don't think that'll be the case. It doesn't really fit into the redevelopment plans there. CMLC needs to use the remaining lands to pay back the debt from the CRL.

One area I could see is Remington's Lands just south of the tracks, adjacent to the 4th street SE underpass. Large enough site to accommodate it. It also would tie directly into a planned SELRT station at this location. This fits within the Rivers District CRL area that is paying for the East Village revitalization but is on the Beltline side of the tracks. I suspect they'd ask the City to increase that CRL for another $100 million or so.

Big Four site would be great, although I don't know how other development would accompany it, being on the Stampede grounds.

Another challenge will be provincial funding. I believe what the Oilers/City of Edmonton are looking to tap into is unallocated Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding from the Province. The Province will loosen the restrictions on those existing grants and the City will allocate it to the arena project. If the Flames look to the same source of funding, they'll find that Calgary has already allocated every penny of its MSI funding (WLRT being almost half the 10 year amount).

I guess only the Flames know at this point.

01-26-2013, 11:03 PM	#46
Bunk Franchise Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Exp:	I'll be interested to see what they come up with, if in fact this is true. Having it accompanying a larger redevelopment makes it sound like they're aiming for West Village - which indicates they'd be looking for a similar Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) scheme that is being used to fund part of the Edmonton Arena (and Calgary's East Village revitalization). The problem with West Village however is that it requires about $300-$400 million in other infrastructure (realigment of Bow Trail, environmental remediation) to support any significant uses on it. In addition, the last thing that downtown Calgary needs right now is to open up more developable land. We have massive amounts of underdeveloped or undeveloped land - that will last us decades. The City will also not be keen to cannibalize market demand for condos in the East Village. The arena would take up a lot of land there, meaning less land for private development (condos and offices) that would actually pay back the debt. Someone mentioned East Village. I don't think that'll be the case. It doesn't really fit into the redevelopment plans there. CMLC needs to use the remaining lands to pay back the debt from the CRL. One area I could see is Remington's Lands just south of the tracks, adjacent to the 4th street SE underpass. Large enough site to accommodate it. It also would tie directly into a planned SELRT station at this location. This fits within the Rivers District CRL area that is paying for the East Village revitalization but is on the Beltline side of the tracks. I suspect they'd ask the City to increase that CRL for another $100 million or so. Big Four site would be great, although I don't know how other development would accompany it, being on the Stampede grounds. Another challenge will be provincial funding. I believe what the Oilers/City of Edmonton are looking to tap into is unallocated Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding from the Province. The Province will loosen the restrictions on those existing grants and the City will allocate it to the arena project. If the Flames look to the same source of funding, they'll find that Calgary has already allocated every penny of its MSI funding (WLRT being almost half the 10 year amount). I guess only the Flames know at this point. __________________ Trust the snake. Last edited by Bunk; 01-26-2013 at 11:20 PM.