Kensington Legion redevelopment breaks ground

Officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday for a contentious redevelopment of the Kensington Legion site.

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Truman Development Corp. is working with the Royal Canadian Legion to replace the aging North Calgary Branch No. 264 with a new home on the western edge of the property at Kensington Road and 18th St.N.W. The legion will occupy two of the fourstoreysand lease out the remaining space.

Trumanwill then build an eight-storey, 210-unit condo buildingwhere the legion currently sits.

The ground floor will have space for several shops, including an 11,000-square-footgrocery store.

Kensington Legionpresident Bill Cox says the projectcan be an example for other legions across the country.

"Reach out into your community.There are a number of branches that are sitting on some property, that maybe they can work something to bring forward their image within their community," he said.

The proposal has faced stiff opposition from some local residents who argued the condo building's 31-metre height was too tall for the area and that the development would create traffic problems.