CALGARY, ALTA. – Calgary’s International Avenue has been awarded a Canadian Institute of Planners Award for Planning Excellence in the City and Regional Planning category.
International Avenue crosses through four different communities running from 26 St. to 61 St. threaded together via the 17 Ave. S.E. corridor. The avenue went through substantial infrastructure upgrades over the past three years.
“This plan envisions International Avenue as a multi-modal urban boulevard, a thriving residential neighbourhood with multi-functional hubs at key intersections, and a commercial destination. The jury was particularly impressed by the City of Calgary’s ‘One City, One Voice’ approach in bringing together different departments to combine their projects and present as one voice to the community and Council for engagement purposes and approval of the plan,” the awards jury stated.
The jury also pointed to the avenue intersecting the Forest Lawn, Albert Park/Radisson Heights, Southview and Penbrooke Meadows neighbourhoods brings a “coordinated vision to the area.”
“This approach offered clarity to stakeholders and communities along International Avenue, as well as being more economical, which led to the successful adoption of the plan. The plan involves a comprehensive and integrated policy approach supported by the communities along International Avenue, business owners and their associations, and City Administration. It is an excellent example of the integration of transportation planning with land use planning to achieve mixed-use, pedestrian, and transit-oriented development,” the jury stated.
City of Calgary planning lead Jihad Bitar said strong input from the communities attached to International Avenue helped in realizing the International Avenue Area Redevelopment Plan started in 2010.
“Our goal was to build on all the great urban design and goals that the community had put forth in 2010,” Bitar said.
“The aim was to create a visionary plan for all of International Avenue. This is really a comprehensive and integrated policy approach and we are so excited to be recognized on a national level for this project and to showcase our community partnerships and Calgary’s One City, One Voice initiative,” he added.
The awards ceremony took place in Ottawa and a full list of winners is on the Canadian Institute of Planners site.
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