2 more office buildings to be converted to residential space in downtown Calgary – Calgary | Globalnews.ca

The City of Calgary announced that two more buildings will be converted into new residential spaces in the city center.

United Place at 808 4 Avenue SW and Canadian Center at 833 4 Avenue SW will be converted to new housing as part of the city’s Downtown Calgary Development Incentive Program.

The program aims to revitalize downtown Calgary by converting vacant office space into mixed-use space for residential, office, retail, entertainment, and tourism purposes.

The United Place project will convert approximately 88,000 square feet of office space into 81 homes, with a mix of studios and three-bedroom units. The project is close to the residential areas of Eau Claire and Downtown West with many recreational opportunities within the neighborhood.

The Canadian Center project will convert about 163,000 square feet of office space into a residential tower. It includes a mix of fully furnished apartments and short-term rental units with a variety of housing options and amenities.

“We have the tools at our disposal to create a vibrant downtown Calgary,” Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong said at a news conference on Wednesday.

“People want to live where they feel safe, where things are accessible, and where things happen.”

The city said three other projects are in the final stages of approval and more announcements will be made later this summer. About $27 million of the $100 million fund remains because three projects initially considered for the grant will no longer take place.

Applications for the grant will reopen on July 15 and close on September 9 with a continued focus on conversion from office to residence. Priority will be given to downtown, which has the highest levels of office vacancies in the city.

“It’s important for our downtown to be economically vibrant and it’s also important to develop a cultural vibrancy and strong sense of place that resonates with our residents, workers and visitors,” Wong said.

“When we think of the problems facing our center, we often think of vacancies, but that’s only part of the picture. Vitality is what encapsulates a thriving center.”