[News] CSEC and City of Calgary agree to restart formal discussions on new arena

[Red Slinger]

Call me a naïve optimist, but I'm hopeful. Both parties have had some time to digest the other parties concerns and hopefully can now come to the table with a better understanding. Some of the key players have also changed. Now that we are recovering from the pandemic, some material prices (steel) are starting to stabilize.

In any case, talking is much better than not talking (or talking via media shills).

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by GGG

I believe you mean CESC will be whining about costs and not following through on agreements they made because they didn’t like the PM.

I’m excited to rehash the same arguments in a new thread!!!

you mean city will demand flames pay for sidewalk costs and climate incentives. Does any other business have to pay for sidewalks?

[Robbob]

It only makes sense that they build off the previous agreement. It would probably even fast track this thing.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

you mean city will demand flames pay for sidewalk costs and climate incentives. Does any other business have to pay for sidewalks?

Depending on the terms of their development permit, if construction of a private business involves demolition of existing sideways and roadways, quite often a business would have to cover the costs of replacement of the sidewalks/roadways.

[Flames_Gimp]

please please they need to put underground parking in the new building!

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by MrCallahan

Who wants to take wagers on if we'll still be in this same spot next year?

What kind of odds are you giving?

[agulati]

Originally Posted by Draug

Assuming you'll be able to go through walkways inside BMO once the building is done, no?

I hope so, but are they building a plus 15/hallway extension for this purpose?

[Zarley]

Originally Posted by D as in David

Wait, the last design was CMLC's? Wasn't it released after CMLC had been removed from the project?

The design was done with CMLC's involvement, yes.

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Depending on the terms of their development permit, if construction of a private business involves demolition of existing sideways and roadways, quite often a business would have to cover the costs of replacement of the sidewalks/roadways.

if they are demolishing an existing sidewalk that makes sense but a new building, and new sidewalks. I think it's fair for the city to pitch in sidewalks. imo I believe csec was right on that one.

I'm confident they will come to an agreement now, and we will finally enjoy an NHL game in a proper building like most nhl teams

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

you mean city will demand flames pay for sidewalk costs and climate incentives. Does any other business have to pay for sidewalks?

Originally Posted by Freeway

Depending on the terms of their development permit, if construction of a private business involves demolition of existing sideways and roadways, quite often a business would have to cover the costs of replacement of the sidewalks/roadways.

Yes, every development pays for sidewalks.

The “sticking points” from last time were not specific requests for the arena, they were requirements for any project, amd certainly any project of that size.

they also were never imposed by the mayor, or even by council.

The development permit process would have brought those items up.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

please please they need to put underground parking in the new building!

Not sure if serious. Underground parking below an arena?

[Toonage]

Its like the movie The Core. But with parking.

[AFireInside]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

if they are demolishing an existing sidewalk that makes sense but a new building, and new sidewalks. I think it's fair for the city to pitch in sidewalks. imo I believe csec was right on that one.

I'm confident they will come to an agreement now, and we will finally enjoy an NHL game in a proper building like most nhl teams

When I built a new garage I had to pay out of my own pocket to change the sidewalk. We didn't destroy the sidewalk or anything like that. Let the development pay.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

I doubt the previously announced design will change much unless both sides agree to scale back the project.

The current design already looks like it was value-engineered from the start. I wince at the thought of it being scaled back even more.

[corporatejay]

Guys please leave the debate about the old deal out of this thread. It is completely irrelevant. Focus on new news only. This has been debated to death.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Zarley

You are correct that they have done great work in the past, including the Riverwalk, central library, Simmons Building revitalization among others. However, those projects were designed years ago and the team at CMLC has almost completely turned over since then.

Recent CMLC projects including the Platform parkade, BMO expansion, and the first incarnation of the arena project have been extremely weak from an urban design perspective. I think they were in over their head in managing a project of that scale.

CMLC couldn't go wrong in their first few projects, everything they touched felt like an urban design homerun. These days, everything feels like a giant swing-and-a-miss. Not sure if it's a personnel/budget issue, but it's been a pretty big fall from grace.

[topfiverecords]

For the love of god, nobody involved in the negotiations tweet anything!

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

please please they need to put underground parking in the new building!

They are. For players, management and semi-trailers.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Table 5

CMLC couldn't go wrong in their first few projects, everything they touched felt like an urban design homerun. These days, everything feels like a giant swing-and-a-miss. Not sure if it's a personnel/budget issue, but it's been a pretty big fall from grace.

Such as?

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Zarley

Bringing in this CAA firm to PM seems like a major positive for the project - for both the City and CSEC.

With their arena experience hopefully they can get better estimates and control costs better that the other parties who have never built one.