In fact, on our first visit, the airport taxi driver outright refused to drop us there.

Formerly a thriving industrial waterfront district at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers, East Village fell into neglect as the railyard to the south became the centre of logistical activity. In the 1970s, new road viaducts further divided the area, leaving it plagued by petty crime, anti-social behaviour and vagrancy.

With the decline in population and economic activity, attempts to revitalise the district in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s failed to gain traction. However, its prime riverside location and proximity to a thriving economic centre downtown could not be overlooked.

Broadway Malyan won the competition and was commissioned by CMLC to develop its masterplan concept as part of a new Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) for East Village. This statutory masterplan for the district was designed to evolve through ongoing stakeholder consultations, identifying specific, costed interventions to be led by CMLC.

East Village contained a prominent collection of heritage buildings, earmarked for retention and reuse to symbolise the special and resilient character of the district. These buildings were to be juxtaposed with more contemporary civic, residential, mixed-use development and open space segments, creating a unique series of activated urban blocks. The aim was to bring the village back to life through targeted federal, provincial, civic and private investment, resulting in a dynamic range of urban spaces and pedestrian routes. These routes would connect the city’s commercial centre with its underutilised waterfront and riverside parks, elevating Calgary’s downtown residential housing and economic offerings.

East Village has evolved into a mixed and sustainable community, benefiting from the sense of liveability seen in this reborn district, while also enjoying easy access to the wider city.

It has become one of the most visited parts of the city, a success attributed to the bold and ambitious vision for the district, which triumphed despite the doubts and scepticism expressed by some along the way.