This portion of the
city has been around for more than 100 years, and is the largest neighborhood of its type in the whole country. Its last redevelopment plan was put into place back in 1989, and was one of the first in the city. Councilor Farrell feels it is time that a new one is created.
She is reported by the Calgary Metro saying that much has changed over the years, including principles of urban development and zoning, and the community needs to evolve along with these. She further pointed out that:
“The downtown has changed, the market has changed. So how do we encourage development in Chinatown that ensures it adds to the vibrancy and cultural depth of that community?"
As a first step, the area’s first Business Revitalization Zone was set up this past November. Councilor Farrell said that she hopes the success of this will help to encourage more people to come to the area for both the residential and retail opportunities it offers.
A graphic design company can help businesses that make up such zones to design a logo that can be included on its letterhead, signage and more, as other towns have done elsewhere.
Once the scope of the project is determined over the next few weeks, it will be brought back to the city council for review sometime in the fall of 2016.