ROSSCARROCK 1733 & 1733R 33 ST SW and 3500 17 AV SW (DC 128D2014). New: Dwelling Unit, Supermarket, Restaurant: Licensed - Medium, Retail and Consumer Service (mixed use development - commercial podium and 3 apartment buildings, 501 units). DP2015-2086

I happened to stumble upon this notice on the City website. Basically a DP has been issued for the project located at the above address.  What this does not tell you is how major an event this is, and how little the community involvement has been in the project to date.

This is puzzling to me because I had to undertake some serious consultation efforts related to a comparably tiny project, rezoning a 42 ft lot from R2 to RCG.  The DP for the project that the City just permitted is not just 500 condos, it is the redevelopment of the most expensive underground transit hub built in Calgary.  All of this was done with almost zero community involvement, signage, media work, distribution of site plans or drawing, or meetings with the local communities.

I don't mean to suggest I oppose the project. Right now the land is a terrible wasteland of weeds and snowdrifts.  I own a development site just a block from here, and I am very interested in how this mega project can generate more interest in my townhouses.  My townhouses will be very different than what this builder is planning, but the commercial and retail amenities that come along with the project are a big plus.  Lets hope this project turns out really well so it becomes an amenity for my future clients to look at when choosing a home.

I will update the post here if I can locate some drawings of what is being proposed.  Since the DP is approved, the developer has submitted major amounts of design work the the City.  

Update - this is the small amount of publicly available information on the developer website:

The development of Uptown at Westbrook is ongoing and will proceed in several phases over the next 10 years or more. Matco has completed planning at Uptown and has commenced retail leasing. Uptown at Westbrook will become a flagship walkable urban place with residential and commercial buildings master planned within an urban realm specifically designed for the pedestrian. 

The promotional video looks good but not a lot of detail.  Ideally I'd like to know when they will start the project