Inglewood residents troubled by condo tower's proposed height of 63 metres

About 50 Inglewood residents attended a community meeting on Thursday to express concerns that a proposed condo tower is too tall for their southeast Calgary neighbourhood.

"None of us are against development on that site, we are against a 20-storey highrise that is completely out of character with our neighbourhood," said Lonnie Starling, who lives half a block from the development.

The project, called The Grid,would have 173condo units and 14 townhouses. At 63-metres (207 feet), the development would be more than triple the neighbourhood's current height limit of 20 metres, which was established by the Inglewood Area Redevelopment Plan in 1993.

"It's three times what is allowed. It is going to be an eyesore, as far as I'm concerned, not a focal point," Starling said.

If approved, the complex would be built on the location of the old Husky gas station on 17th Avenue at 19th Street S.E. a short walking distance from the future Blackfoot Trail/9th Avenue S.E. BRTstation, and a park that's planned along the Bow River.

The redevelopment of the former gas station, which was in operation from 1962 to 2010, will require cleanup to remove contamination.

Residents have also raised concerns over traffic and parking. The city won't allow direct access to the development from 19th Street S.E., so traffic would be directed along 7th Avenue through the residential community.

"My biggest concern is the traffic proposal of people coming through right where the school is and our children crossing an intersection that doesn't have a four-way stop or any flashing lights," Starling said.

Daniel MacGregor, a senior planner with B&A Planning Group, was there on behalf of the project's developer.

"No application has been submitted yet, we're hearing from residents and getting feedback," MacGregor said.

MacGregor said they're hoping to submit the land use application by the end of March, and the development applicationa few months later.

ErinStandenof the Inglewood Community Association expressed concern that the developer didn't attend the meeting themselves.

"I'm a little bit concerned about how our feedback is going to be integrated given the somewhat absence of the developer in these engagement sessions," said Standen.

However, MacGregorsaid they're still working on refining the proposal, and will look at resident feedback in regards to the height of the building and traffic-access points.

"Everything's still on the table, early stages, nothing's set in stone."

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