[Albertasaurus]

Saw this in a budget summary on CBC:

Taxing vacant land?
As part of its push on housing, the federal government also says it's looking at vacant land that could be used to build homes.

It's not yet committing to new measures but the budget says the government will consider introducing a new tax on residentially zoned vacant land.

The government said it plans to launch consultations on the measure later this year.
Wonder if this would include parking lots? Which i guess technically are not vacant.

Some other summary points.

• Converting underused federal offices into homes. The budget promises $1.1 billion over ten years to transform 50 per cent of the federal office portfolio into housing.

Harry Hays? Not like there isn't vacant office space in the city that the feds could relocate to. The old CBE building does look like a federal building haha.

• Building homes on Canada Post properties. The government says the 1,700-plus Canada Post offices across the country can be used to build new homes while maintaining postal services. The federal government says it's assessing six Canada Post properties in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia for development potential "as a start."

I can't think of any post offices in Calgary but I do not know every post office in Calgary.

• Rethinking National Defence properties. The government is promising to look at redeveloping properties and buildings on National Defence lands for military and civilian use.

There has been some conversation on Currie, maybe the reserve unit could move? It is a bit awkward to have a reserve unit in the middle of communities. I even think about the reserve navy unit off Crowchild and 17th... I think they could really take those two parcels and do pretty well by converting them

I'd love to see Harry Hays bulldozed and redeveloped into housing. I absolutely hate that disgusting abomination of a building. Let the Feds purchase, renovate and move into a smaller underutilized office building somewhere in the core. Ideally as part of redevelopment the site should be reintegrated into Chinatown, of which it was a part before Hays was built.

 

[DougB]

I'd love to see Harry Hays bulldozed and redeveloped into housing. I absolutely hate that disgusting abomination of a building. Let the Feds purchase, renovate and move into a smaller underutilized office building somewhere in the core. Ideally as part of redevelopment the site should be reintegrated into Chinatown, of which it was a part before Hays was built.

It was sold a long time ago: https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archi...ice-buildings-better-use-taxpayers-money.html

 

[MichaelS]

Saw this in a budget summary on CBC:

Taxing vacant land?
As part of its push on housing, the federal government also says it's looking at vacant land that could be used to build homes.

It's not yet committing to new measures but the budget says the government will consider introducing a new tax on residentially zoned vacant land.

The government said it plans to launch consultations on the measure later this year.
Wonder if this would include parking lots? Which i guess technically are not vacant.

Some other summary points.

• Converting underused federal offices into homes. The budget promises $1.1 billion over ten years to transform 50 per cent of the federal office portfolio into housing.

Harry Hays? Not like there isn't vacant office space in the city that the feds could relocate to. The old CBE building does look like a federal building haha.

• Building homes on Canada Post properties. The government says the 1,700-plus Canada Post offices across the country can be used to build new homes while maintaining postal services. The federal government says it's assessing six Canada Post properties in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia for development potential "as a start."

I can't think of any post offices in Calgary but I do not know every post office in Calgary.

• Rethinking National Defence properties. The government is promising to look at redeveloping properties and buildings on National Defence lands for military and civilian use.

There has been some conversation on Currie, maybe the reserve unit could move? It is a bit awkward to have a reserve unit in the middle of communities. I even think about the reserve navy unit off Crowchild and 17th... I think they could really take those two parcels and do pretty well by converting them

This Canada Post building, which is surrounded by the now approved Midtown outline plan, seems like a pretty good candidate:

Google Maps

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

www.google.com

 

[darwink]

Saw this in a budget summary on CBC:

Taxing vacant land?
As part of its push on housing, the federal government also says it's looking at vacant land that could be used to build homes.

It's not yet committing to new measures but the budget says the government will consider introducing a new tax on residentially zoned vacant land.

The government said it plans to launch consultations on the measure later this year.
Wonder if this would include parking lots? Which i guess technically are not vacant.

Some other summary points.

• Converting underused federal offices into homes. The budget promises $1.1 billion over ten years to transform 50 per cent of the federal office portfolio into housing.

Harry Hays? Not like there isn't vacant office space in the city that the feds could relocate to. The old CBE building does look like a federal building haha.

• Building homes on Canada Post properties. The government says the 1,700-plus Canada Post offices across the country can be used to build new homes while maintaining postal services. The federal government says it's assessing six Canada Post properties in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia for development potential "as a start."

I can't think of any post offices in Calgary but I do not know every post office in Calgary.

• Rethinking National Defence properties. The government is promising to look at redeveloping properties and buildings on National Defence lands for military and civilian use.

There has been some conversation on Currie, maybe the reserve unit could move? It is a bit awkward to have a reserve unit in the middle of communities. I even think about the reserve navy unit off Crowchild and 17th... I think they could really take those two parcels and do pretty well by converting them

Best to take the tax part as a signal, if they had a good idea in this area they would have announced consulting on a hint of an idea.

 

[Golfing guy]

Interesting article about Hines and how bullish they are on Canada:

Hines 'bullish' on Canada, raises new $2B development fund

Hines Canadian real estate portfolio has "significantly" outperformed its holdings in other western markets, so the company has amassed an additional $2 billion in funds to deploy according to one of its top Canadian executives.

renx.ca

From the article:
"And the total quantity of supply in Calgary is the lowest per capita in Canada. We’ve only got three units per 100 people . . . It’s about half of what similar cities would have in terms of inventory. . . . We are looking to do more multifamily product in Calgary.”

I wonder if Hines is interested in picking up the Westbrook site.

It’s mind blowing how many proposals are out there and how many developers are bullish on Calgary, but so little (high rise) downtown/Beltline is starting up. Hope this spring/summer our next boom starts

 

[Urban4Lyfe]

Lots of fences up but not much happening.

 

[Nawads]

It’s mind blowing how many proposals are out there and how many developers are bullish on Calgary, but so little (high rise) downtown/Beltline is starting up. Hope this spring/summer our next boom starts

I'm expecting we see a lot of projects move forward this summer, between existing proposals and new proposals. Especially with new GST exemptions and low-interest loans for rental buildings from the government.

 

[CalgaryTiger]

I think they're waiting for the June rate announcement. Being able to save even a little on financing seems worth it.

 

[zzkwilliamcanada]

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7178035

There is a hope

 

[Cowtown]

Given the pace of building in East village, I don't know if that would be any better than Matco.

The problems with EV are mostly out of CMLC's control due to the environment of the area. The area was off to a good start, but halfway through people could see the bad elements of EV weren't going away, but instead gettng worse. Westbrook has some bad elements, but not near as much as what we've seen with EV. IMO it should be an easy area to develop.

 

[Surrealplaces]

Opinion: Calm down and consider the case for simplified zoning designations in Calgary

It is far better for a city to renew housing from the inside out rather than the outside in, argues guest author Terry Field.

calgaryherald.com

 

[Mull]

A letter signed by 50+ community associations was sent to the Mayor last week. protesting the City wide up-zoning. The Mayor graciously made time on her Saturday to meet with them today.

'Enough work hasn't yet been done': 42 community association representatives meet with Gondek over rezoning

Dozens of Community Association representatives sat down with Mayor Jyoti Gondek Saturday morning to express their concern about proposed zoning changes.

calgary.ctvnews.ca

The Mayor also tweeted about it. I can't figure out how to link tweets anymore but if others care you can search for her.

 

[Silence&Motion]

A letter signed by 50+ community associations was sent to the Mayor last week. protesting the City wide up-zoning. The Mayor graciously made time on her Saturday to meet with them today.

'Enough work hasn't yet been done': 42 community association representatives meet with Gondek over rezoning

Dozens of Community Association representatives sat down with Mayor Jyoti Gondek Saturday morning to express their concern about proposed zoning changes.

calgary.ctvnews.ca

The Mayor also tweeted about it. I can't figure out how to link tweets anymore but if others care you can search for her.

 

[artvandelay]

Based on the age and skin colour of these individuals - they don't deserve to have an opinion!!!

 

[Silence&Motion]

Based on the age and skin colour of these individuals - they don't deserve to have an opinion!!!

What? I for one am eager to learn more about what their great aunt's ass thinks about people who don't drive mercedes.