Two years after the city of Calgary gave $ 100,000 to the Calgary Center Association for a project aimed at activating vacant downtown office space, the money was returned and the plan canceled.
The funding was in support of an initiative called the 1 Million Square Feet Program.
The main goals of the program include filling empty windows in the center, attracting private investment in empty buildings and creating attractions to attract people to the area.
In May 2020, the council agreed to give the downtown association $ 250,000 in installments, with the first $ 100,000 given immediately.
However, the plan did not materialize due to the pandemic, said Mark Garner, executive director of the Calgary Center Association.
“I just think these were the unintended consequences of COVID. That was the moment of the project, “he said.
Public health restrictions have suspended all ongoing initiatives.
“Based on COVID and all the challenges during this time when this project started, [we] I just couldn’t get the right grip on him, “Garner said.
In February this year, the city and the downtown association formally terminated their contract to fund the project, and the money was then returned to the Innovation Council.
However, Garner hopes that a new revival strategy can be created and that the city will provide the money again.
“I think there is still a desire between partners and stakeholders to do this project, but make sure we implement the vision in a more holistic way than we have previously formulated and presented to the community,” he said.
Whether it’s a small retail space or a curated art exhibition, Garner believes finding ways and devising a strategy to reactivate key downtown streets will be reconsidered, adding that he has already talked to the city.
“The commitment we have from Calgary to do these kinds of partnerships and try things is very refreshing,” he said.
“I think there will be an opportunity to look at other activations. We still need to convince people that the center is where we need to be.”
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