Calgary begins construction of East Village community centre

CALGARY, ALTA. — Calgary Housing Company (CHC), in partnership with the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) and carya, have begun construction of Village Commons, a community hub located on the second floor of CHC’s East Village Place.

The CMLC is the agency responsible for implementation of the East Village Master Plan and will manage the project along with CHC.

Village Commons will feature a community kitchen designed by Group2 Architecture Interior Design Ltd. in partnership with Burnstad Consulting and will also feature an art studio, recreation spaces, a family counselling centre and common areas.

Social profit agency carya will provide support through counselling, groups, education and community development.

CHC “found the perfect partner in carya – an organization with more than 110 years of creating healthier, more connected communities in Calgary. It was critical to find a strong partner that could operate a sustainable program without subsidies from CHC’s residential operation,” a City of Calgary release stated.

“carya got its start in East Village in 1910, so we’re thrilled to be coming full circle with Village Commons. After months of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this community gathering space will be more important than ever,” carya CEO Monique Auffrey added.

Additional commercial space on the ground floor of the building is being offered for lease with the goal of locating tenants who will further contribute to the East Village neighbourhood, the release stated.

CHC purchased East Village Place in 2016 and currently provides 163 affordable homes in the village.

East Village was once the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Nation and was home of one of Calgary’s oldest neighbourhoods.

The area fell into decline and was declared a “skid row” in 1941 and urban renewal projects in the 1960s demolished much of the existing structures. The CMLC was founded in 2007 and has since put over $357 million into infrastructure improvements and revitalization of the area.