[MichaelS]

Well, whether they sold the building or not, the conversion of Sierra Place to residential seems to be back on:

DMAP

The work on this building is actually out for tender again.

During today's Council meeting on the downtown strategy, HomeSpace confirmed they are the ones behind this conversion:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1386746195448459267

108 affordable housing units to hold 180 people, ready in Spring 2022.

The location for anyone not familiar:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.ca

 

[UrbanWarrior]

That’s awesome, the conversion of Sierra Place has been on the books for years. Glad to see it will be affordable housing, couldn’t possibly be in a better spot, right at a station, amenities on the ground floor, parks nearby, the mall, and a grocery store 3 stations away

 

[JonnyCanuck]

That is good news. This will be the 3rd 'crack' at converting that building.

 

[Surrealplaces]

This is great news. A perfect win-win.

 

[CT (Chinese_T)]

During today's Council meeting on the downtown strategy, HomeSpace confirmed they are the ones behind this conversion:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1386746195448459267

108 affordable housing units to hold 180 people, ready in Spring 2022.
View attachment 315336

The location for anyone not familiar:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.ca

Great news - the reclad design, not so much... Pretty disgraceful treatment of a heritage building.

 

[Surrealplaces]

Very true. A perfect win-win, except that the current cladding has a cool retro look to it, the new cladding....not so much.

 

[ByeByeBaby]

I agree that the conversion is great, but the loss of the cladding is sad, especially given that it's across the street from the Elveden Centre, which was built in the same style and same year and is a real classic landmark (including being the tallest building in the Prairies when completed). They managed to build the top 6 floors of Sierra Place in a consistent style in 1980; it's sad if today's architects can't do better than the ones of the late 70s, given the overall quality of late 70s architecture in the downtown.

If I had to choose between the residential conversion and keeping the heritage facade, I'd 100% pick the residential conversion, but I really don't see why this one couldn't be both.

 

[darwink]

but I really don't see why this one couldn't be both.

I'd bet it is a combination of our old friends the new building code energy standards, and that the project is meant to be a "demonstration of cost-sensitive conversion".

 

[Cowtown]

More on the Sierra conversion'

HomeSpace giving vacant downtown tower new life as affordable housing

Bernadette Majdell, CEO of HomeSpace Society, has praise for a city council decision to approve a $5.5-million grant allowing a vacant downtown office tower to be t…

calgaryherald.com

 

[Roaring Flames]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1392160494774112258

 

[JonnyCanuck]

It will be interesting to hear what this group comes up with for recommendations. Uses of floor space other than for offices, is a pretty short list.

1. Residential - I think I read somewhere that it has already been concluded there are only about 4 buildings downtown that are suitable/cost effective to convert
2. Warehouse - not practical in high rises and certainly not cost competitive or convenient for transportation
3. Entertainment/Cultural Venues - depending on where the building is located, it really should be near other similar venues and amenities (i.e restaurants/bars). For example, a building that houses exhibits of some kind and is by itself in a corner of the city somewhere, is not likely going to draw people.
4. Retail - there is already a glut of street level space that is empty. Putting retail on upper floors with no other draw, is a recipe for failure.

Other than an incentive laden blitz to attract more businesses to Calgary, what else can be done?

 

[Silence&Motion]

It will be interesting to hear what this group comes up with for recommendations. Uses of floor space other than for offices, is a pretty short list.

1. Residential - I think I read somewhere that it has already been concluded there are only about 4 buildings downtown that are suitable/cost effective to convert
2. Warehouse - not practical in high rises and certainly not cost competitive or convenient for transportation
3. Entertainment/Cultural Venues - depending on where the building is located, it really should be near other similar venues and amenities (i.e restaurants/bars). For example, a building that houses exhibits of some kind and is by itself in a corner of the city somewhere, is not likely going to draw people.
4. Retail - there is already a glut of street level space that is empty. Putting retail on upper floors with no other draw, is a recipe for failure.

Other than an incentive laden blitz to attract more businesses to Calgary, what else can be done?

I would add...
5. Educational (classrooms, lecture halls)
6. Institutional (e.g. libraries, community spaces)
7. Healthcare (clinics, laboratories)
8. Creative industry (art studios, live/work spaces)

Then there's unconventional ways of doing things. Take retail, for example. Rather than having established businesses with their own units, what about pop-up retail, various types of markets (flea, craft), etc.

 

[adamyyc]

In my opinion, a key to the success of the downtown revitalization and office conversion will be the introduction of more urban grocery stores. There are parts of downtown that are food deserts.

 

[Surrealplaces]

1. Residential - I think I read somewhere that it has already been concluded there are only about 4 buildings downtown that are suitable/cost effective to convert
2. Warehouse - not practical in high rises and certainly not cost competitive or convenient for transportation
3. Entertainment/Cultural Venues - depending on where the building is located, it really should be near other similar venues and amenities (i.e restaurants/bars). For example, a building that houses exhibits of some kind and is by itself in a corner of the city somewhere, is not likely going to draw people.
4. Retail - there is already a glut of street level space that is empty. Putting retail on upper floors with no other draw, is a recipe for failure.
5. Educational (classrooms, lecture halls)
6. Institutional (e.g. libraries, community spaces)
7. Healthcare (clinics, laboratories)
8. Creative industry (art studios, live/work spaces)\

9. Hotels or hostels

Those 9 ideas probably cover off all the uses. Residential is a great win if a few buildings can be converted. Ideas 5-8 can make a decent dent. Even if those are smaller venues and usages, if there enough of them they can have an impact.

 

[Chinook Arch]

Maybe the city can look at infusion some capital and getting the Barron building finished.