CNIB plans 27-storey tower in Bridgeland site redevelopment

The CNIB Foundation is looking at a major redevelopment on the land it leases from the City of Calgary in the inner city neighbourhood of Bridgeland that would include below-market housing and a potential 27-storey tower, says Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra.

While the proposal still needs to be passed by city council — who will make a decision on the plan on March 19 — Carra said CNIB has already found a development partner, and has begun to make plans.

In a statement, Jaime Stopa, a spokesperson for the City of Calgary, said the city has proposed to amend its lease with CNIB to enable the mixed-use development of up to 400 residential units at 10 11A street N.E.

But Carra said the foundation's plans include both a new CNIB facility, and accessible housing designed for people who are sight impaired, including its clients. CNIB is a non-profit organization that assists blind Canadians.

"That's what's moving forward right now and it's coming in rapid succession," said Carra.

CNIB told CBC News in a statement that its vision is to transform the Bridgeland-Riverside Village into an inclusive community, something it said would be a first in Canada.

"Empowered by the voices of Calgarians who are blind, Deafblind and have low vision, this project prioritizes accessibility by design to ensure everyone can live, learn, work and play without barriers," Christall Beaudry, CNIB's vice president for Western Canada said.

"While the proposed plans and timelines remain under review with the City of Calgary, we look forward to sharing more updates as they become available."

According to a public notice placed by the city in the Calgary Herald on Feb. 22, CNIB's lease with the city commenced in 1961, and has 61 years remaining in its term, with a possible extension of 39 years.

Because the land is leased by CNIB, Carra said further discussions at the city and council level are needed.

"Understanding how that lease functions with a new development partner bringing on new uses onto the site is one thing, [then] land use to enable that and then development permits to enable actual buildings to happen."

A public notice in the Calgary Herald newspaper on Feb. 22 by the City of Calgary describing the proposal for the land CNIB currently leases. (Calgary Herald)

An official with the Bridgeland Riverside Community Association (BRCA), Anthony Imbrogno, said many unanswered questions about the potential redevelopment remain, regarding access, transportation and the height of a potential tower.

"We're early in the permitting process where it's a land use redesignation that's before the city so there's a sense of continuing to engage and gather feedback."

"In terms of information, there's a lot that we're interested in from CNIB's perspective about this level of density. There's information [we need] from the city on the infrastructure, the safety, the impacts on, say, Tom Campbell's Hill, where there's a view."

Overall, Imbrogno said the BRCA is interested in hearing what the community thinks of the plan.

Carra said it's a proposal that could accomplish goals for both the CNIB and the city.

"We will be able to house people and we will also get tax base from that land through the market housing and maybe commercial uses that will inhabit that land that we wouldn't be realizing … [the CNIB] will get a facility that works for them."

The city said Calgarians have until March 14 to submit any concerns regarding the proposal.