Calgary Openings, Closings, and Developments

[Muta]

Police deem Kensington restaurant fire not suspicious

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...-site-of-tower

A two-alarm fire hit two Kensington restaurants Monday night, occurring at the corner where a major development was approved in the northwest Calgary neighbourhood last week.

Calgary police are not investigating the fire, saying the blaze has been deemed not suspicious.

[Ozy_Flame]

Love that the title of that article leaves out that the Calgary Fire Department isn't ruling it out yet. Typical Calgary Herald.

[Locke]

In other news, CPS announces purchase of all-new Cruisers!

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

I'm no commercial leasing agent but is there an act of godfather clause that gets them out of that issue?

Fixed that for you.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Slava

Can someone take a second and remind me of the issues with this? I know that years ago a developer wanted to put a 12 story building there and that was rejected. Then they got approval for the 16 story and now it's burned down. I can't remember the controversy and such though.

The family sued Farell thinking she screwed them on the DP application.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

The family sued Farell thinking she screwed them on the DP application.

There is a lewd joke hiding somewhere in your post.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

There is a lewd joke hiding somewhere in your post.

The image of Drew with a strap-on was nowhere on my radar to start the day.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Easiest way to understand it is to watch The Sopranos.

This comment led me to binge watching Sopranos clips of every single hit and major character death until 4AM and then I had to wake up for an 8AM meeting with Toronto.

So now sleep deprived and I still don't get the motivation for the arson. Burned by the family that owned the establishment? Burned by the developers? Are they the same? Who gains from this?

[Wormius]

I suppose if it was done for sone kind of gain, insurance money on a building they never plan on rebuilding?

[Jimmy Stang]

Or if you have a tenant, let's say a Sushi restaurant, with a lease that has suddenly become inconvenient in light of that shiny, new development approval.

[Fuzz]

I've narrowed it down to "because money" or revenge. Not sure the details on either option. Maybe try the entire Godfather series next? I'm sure you can squeeze them in.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Or if you have a tenant, let's say a Sushi restaurant, with a lease that has suddenly become inconvenient in light of that shiny, new development approval.

The baffling bit is just how soon after the approval this happened. Like, if you didn't want it to appear obvious to the world of CP, you'd wait a few weeks, right? So then you don't care how obvious it is to us, or you are thicker than bitumen. That's the only bit of it that makes me think it's a poorly timed coincidence. But then, maybe they thought of all of this, and knew if they waited a few weeks we'd call them out on waiting a few weeks, so the obvious choice is to do it now. Man, this is some level 4 chess....I need a brain break. Where are Squiggy and the Dink when you need them?

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

The baffling bit is just how soon after the approval this happened. Like, if you didn't want it to appear obvious to the world of CP, you'd wait a few weeks, right? So then you don't care how obvious it is to us, or you are thicker than bitumen. That's the only bit of it that makes me think it's a poorly timed coincidence. But then, maybe they thought of all of this, and knew if they waited a few weeks we'd call them out on waiting a few weeks, so the obvious choice is to do it now. Man, this is some level 4 chess....I need a brain break. Where are Squiggy and the Dink when you need them?

Clearly the fire is just to distract us from the fact that they’re building 16 stories in the heart of Kensington. That’s outrageous, and sets a precedent for total neighbourhood destruction. Our city council sucks

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Clearly the fire is just to distract us from the fact that they’re building 16 stories in the heart of Kensington. That’s outrageous, and sets a precedent for total neighbourhood destruction. Our city council sucks

But the experts advised on the decision, can't not trust the experts.

I think anyone in the development approval side cannot work for any developer they handled 5 years after quitting. Although probably not legal.

[Muta]

Just my opinion, but as someone who grew up in and around Kensington for decades, and having worked in there too, I'm totally excited for that proposed development. That corner is severely underutilized right now and is an eyesore on such an important location; this new development will have a feature plaza on that corner that will accommodate flow of pedestrian traffic better, and create a gathering place for residents and visitors, which will be good for local businesses and encourages greater street level interaction. I like the building height too; 16 stories isn't tall IMO. The character of Kensington will not be ruined, just like every other new development that has gone up on Kensington Road and 10th Street over the last 30 years.

[jayswin]

Yeah, I don't see height as a barrier to vibrancy as many do, it's really about what's done at street level. That's where a lot of "tall building" failures come from. Do street level right and you're good to go.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Muta

Just my opinion, but as someone who grew up in and around Kensington for decades, and having worked in there too, I'm totally excited for that proposed development. That corner is severely underutilized right now and is an eyesore on such an important location; this new development will have a feature plaza on that corner that will accommodate flow of pedestrian traffic better, and create a gathering place for residents and visitors, which will be good for local businesses and encourages greater street level interaction. I like the building height too; 16 stories isn't tall IMO. The character of Kensington will not be ruined, just like every other new development that has gone up on Kensington Road and 10th Street over the last 30 years.

is there a rendering of this anywhere? There's nothing in the news stories

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

is there a rendering of this anywhere? There's nothing in the news stories

https://qpengage.ca/project/kensington/

Here you go. There's more preliminary renderings on that page too. I wouldn't say this design is official at all though, but the massing solution of the building is quite interesting (which is required for the re-zoning). There's likely still LOTS of design work to do now from this point on; I wouldn't read too much into the design yet.

[Bigtime]

The plaza there will truly be great when we start the war on cars and make 10th street and Kensington road less of a car sewer. I'll appreciate the extra space around that NW corner, but I'm not hanging out there. The refurbished plaza area in front of the Plaza theatre and Pages is set back enough from the street to be a much more pleasant area to hang out in.

[Fuzz]

They should nix the plaza and make it the right turn lane. Get cars out of the way faster.