reimagining logo 500In May 2013, the former site of the Highland Golf Course in northwest Calgary was sold to a partnership headed by Maple Projects Inc. Maple has been involved in the Uno and Ten projects in Calgary, and has focused on rental properties and hotel developments in Western Canada and the United States.

Maple’s initial plans were to build multi-family homes and some commercial elements that would revitalize the property, provide accessible greenspace and offer housing options for Highland Park. The ultimate goal is for a development that respects the history of the area while enhancing its future.

highland site v3A comprehensive community engagement process was launched in November 2013, giving Calgarians a chance to provide input and help shape plans for the former golf site.

This input helped create the initial Highland Village Green development plan, which was submitted to The City of Calgary for review in December 2014. Since then, the project team has worked with The City of Calgary to adjust the plan based on a technical review of the Highland Village Green application by City staff, neighbouring residents, businesses, community organizations and area Community Associations.

A revised version of the plan was completed in May 2016, and recommended for approval by the Calgary Planning Commission on May 5, 2016. Plan revisions based on community input and technical review took place over the next several months, resulting in several additional changes to the plan (illustration below) which is now one-third open space, with an 8.7 acre central open park.  The final version of the plan passed third and final reading at Calgary City Council on March 20, 2017.

highland-village-green-plan-dec-2016

About the engagement process

reImagining: A New Future for the former Highland Golf Course is a comprehensive engagement process designed to collect ideas and opinions from the public.  The initial phase ran from November 4 to December 2, with area residents sharing their feedback online, via telephone and email, on a community sounding board, and at the temporary engagement centre established at the former golf course Clubhouse.

During Phase 2 of the engagement process (January 23 to February 10, 2014), the initial design concepts were available for community input and review as part of an extensive community consultation process. Workshops February 9 helped to refine the concepts and incorporate community feedback on issues like storm water management and traffic implications.

In January 2015, the initial plan for Highland Village Green was available for community review during drop-in information sessions hosted at the former golf course’s clubhouse. Additional information sessions have been held in March and December 2016.

Stay informed

Maple Projects Inc. and the reImagining project team are committed to keeping the community informed throughout the planning and development process. Check back to the reimagining.ca website for regular updates, or sign up to receive periodic updates via email.

18 Comments

  1. Malinda Jalbert
    November 4, 2013

    It would be great to see bike paths along some green space with possibly a splash park for kids. Though the paths at Confederation Park are nearby, Highland park doesn’t have anything like this for themselves. And since we’re sandwiched between a couple very busy roads, a space for bike riding safely would be great. With all the new homes being built in the neighbourhood, the amount of young families in the neighbourhood is quickly increasing. We don’t have a splash park nearby. It would be a great addition as well.

    Reply
  2. Elise Bieche
    November 5, 2013

    I often wish we had an extension on the paths from Confederation Park through to the off leash area on Centre Street. If we had a destination to walk to it would be even better. I hope that in the plan there would be the opportunity to include some nice retail/commercial- I know I would love a Sunterra. A concept similar to the Keynote building downtown. We are a neighborhood in transition so appealing to the families that might be considering Highland Park their new home would be great. Appreciate the opportunity to provide the feedback!

    Reply
  3. Tim Wright
    March 18, 2014

    I hope that a new golf course would have affordable green fees. Understandably you get what you pay for but I thought the old Highland course was a great and inexpensive place for beginners to learn and practice. I went there often during and after high school.

    Reply
  4. jd
    April 29, 2014

    As a resident of 44 avenue I would like to see the 3 aquifers which drain into the golf course from Nose Hill and Confederation Park opened up and made available to access the environmental cleansing that can occur before the waters drain into the Bow. I would also like to add that the new duplexes which are replacing the bungalows in the neighborhood stop draining into the alleyways, sending gravel into our sewers and stopping them up.
    On 44 Avenue there is no space for a driveway or a garage. Any development on the curb of 44 Avenue will put people’s lives at risk since the corner is invisible to traffic.

    Reply
  5. jd
    April 29, 2014

    Many of the people in this neighborhood are elderly helping the disabled. Obviously they do not have time to interact on the Internet .When these people pass away who will be taking care of the less than fortunate in our neighborhood? At that point will we send our disabled neighbors to the next outskirts of Calgary as we did 20 years ago. (that is why they are here- transit, central, cheap). Maybe we could take care of the people who have lived here for their entire disabled lives…maybe we could do something for the people who are already here instead of catering to the new home buyers like the City does increasing its Tax Base.

    Reply
  6. Janet
    March 4, 2015

    I strongly agree with Melinda above. I think it would be amazing to incorporate a kid friendly area in the development. A splash park or wadding pool like the one in Riley Park. Nice bike paths similar to confederation park would also be great. This community doesn’t really have any cool parks for families and the elderly to enjoy.
    Thanks!

    Reply
  7. Dunrau
    March 20, 2015

    As a new homeowner in the area I would suggest a medium density mixed use development with extensive commercial/service podiums amenities. This area would benefit from an increase of commercial amenities such as restaurants, coffee shops and grocery stores. Something along the same line of some of the new developments in Bridgeland / Kensington / Mission neighbourhoods. Maximize height (4-6 stories) in order to provide density while still allotting for green space, public amenities and trails. The current proposed commercial allotment East of Centre Street seems too small for a proper grocery store, a larger site on the corner of centre street and McKnight may be more beneficial. Alternatively, underground parking and/or a grocery store podium with residential development above could be considered to maximize the developable area. Remember that this is a future LRT site and a high traffic area – lots of investment potential. A more direct route between 4th Street and Centre street is desirable for the Highwood community members commuting to the Centre Street transportation options – this doesn’t mean necessarily mean more traffic – what about a direct pedestrian/bike path through the site? If not, people will be cutting through residential buildings in order to take the most direct path of travel.
    Thank-you,

    Reply
  8. Gillian
    June 30, 2015

    I’m excited about the amazing opportunities for this space! As a new home owner starting a family in this neighbourhood, I love the idea of a bike path and a splash park. I also think that a grocery store would do very well here as there are very few nearby and they are incredibly busy at all times. This would be beneficial to everyone, but especially senior citizens who must go a distance to buy the necessities. Creating a nice space for community members with a coffee shop, local retail stores and restaurants would be a wonderful addition to the area! Thank you for the opportunity to share our thoughts

    Reply
  9. Brad ward
    July 21, 2015

    I’m of the opinion we leave it as a park. It’s full of beautiful decades old trees.

    Reply
  10. Bob Dawe
    September 22, 2015

    As an area resident, and Realtor, serving the area since 1993, I am thrilled about the new development! Don’t get me wrong, I miss the old golf course, as it was a real treat to have a par 3 golf course in, what is now, the middle of the city, but adding new buildings and infrastructure to an older established community, is exciting! and will greatly add value to surrounding homes and businesses. It would be great to see live/work condos built, for the many work from home professionals, that would jump at the chance to own such a unit.
    Please keep me informed.
    Great website, and information.
    If I could, I would loved to more involved in the process, and would definitely be interested in selling in this new part of Highland Park.

    Reply
  11. Grant
    November 18, 2015

    When can we expect development on this site? At the time it is just an inaccessible green space. If there are no plans to develop in the near future, please consider re-opening the golf course, or opening it up as a green space to the public. Having a fenced off prime piece of land doesn’t benefit anyone.

    Reply
  12. Craig
    April 8, 2016

    The consistent theme at engagements and in material provided was “connections or traffic shortcuts through existing neighbourhood streets.” There is now a main connection onto 1st street NW. With the increased density of the overall development, this small neighbourhood road will not be able to safely handle the increased traffic volumes.

    Reply
    • hpgc2013
      April 11, 2016

      Our understanding with The City is that the connection will not be physically built unless required due to local access closures.

      The changes around 1 Street NW access occurred in working with CPAG on the Detailed Team Review #2 between November 2015 and February 2016. At that time it was decided with Transportation that there was a need for a connection to the redevelopment site from 1 Street NW.

      This access was intended to allow The City to be able to provide existing residents with access to Centre Street North via the new Highland Drive NW, in the event that the Green Line LRT requires access closures for other area roadways. In that case, the road would be used by existing residents to gain access through the new site, and not vice versa.

      The applicant agrees that the local roads to the north cannot accommodate traffic volumes from the proposed development, and would not support connecting 1 Street NW for the purpose of directing development traffic out to the north.

      Reply
  13. Craig
    April 8, 2016

    How does the new “McKnight” Station location…now in Thorncliffe influence the following statement from your March 30 FAQ?

    All of the planned units are within 400m (a five-minute walk) of transit service along Centre Street North and 4 Street NW, and almost 70 per cent are within 600m of the approved Centre Street LRT Green Line stations at McKnight Boulevard NW and 40 Avenue NW. By concentrating the density of the site closer to Centre Street North, the plan provides a strong connection to this major transit corridor, which is expected to substantially reduce the amount of new traffic generated compared to what would be seen in a typical suburban neighborhood in Calgary.

    Reply
    • hpgc2013
      April 10, 2016

      A Green Line Station is planned for 40 Avenue NW and Centre Street as well as in the vicinity of McKnight Boulevard and Centre Street North. With a station at both of these intersections along Centre Street North the entire Highland Village Green development is within the 600m Transit-Oriented Development. The 40 Avenue NW station is confirmed resulting in the parcels at Centre Street North and the southern ones along 40 Avenue NW continuing to be within the 600m TOD station area. Further understanding of parcels within the TOD area will be determined upon confirmation of the next station’s location.

      Even if the platform is on the north side of McKnight, on the Thorncliffe side, we expect that pedestrian access to the station would still be available on the south side of McKnight Boulevard.

      Reply
  14. Blair
    June 11, 2016

    Will the off leash dog park be maintained during and after this redevelopment? It is well used and a great place for community members to gather. It’s also a big reason why I live where I live.

    Reply
    • hpgc2013
      June 11, 2016

      While there’s no formal dog park on the former golf course site, the owner has been willing to let community members use this private property for dog walking since the property was purchased in 2013. If there’s enough interest from the community, the owner will consider including a dog park as part of the public space in the proposed development.

      Reply
  15. Ellen Chen
    June 13, 2016

    We are grade 3 students and teachers at Highwood School. We usually go to Highland Park to sketch and journal and learn about science. We’d love to keep the park as a natural green space with the following features:
    A splash park for us to play in;
    More trees;
    A small fountain, picnic table, etc as a rest area;
    Off leash dog area;
    A playground or a soccer field;
    A bike path that is connected to the one from Confederation Park;
    Some convenient stores are fine but not too many.

    Yeah we know we ask for a lot but think of so many schools in this area!
    Thanks for giving us the opportunity to voice our opinions!

    Reply

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