Author: Vote Calgary

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Update: Mission Road Project

Council did not make a final decision on the outcome of the Mission Road Innovation Project at the January 9th Public Hearing. It was decided by a majority of Council that the project merited further consideration but it was thought that perhaps more study was required on key issues prior to proceeding to final acceptance. Those voting against the first reading of the bylaw and as a result, the continuation of the project, were Ald. Stevenson, Chabot, Colley-Urquhart and Demong.

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The Role of The City in affordable housing

The City of Calgary's role in providing its citizens with affordable housing requires a

"comprehensive corporate-wide strategy that allows for flexibility to respond to changing environments".

Creating affordable housing options for Calgarians is a joint effort including staff, land and tax-supported funding. The City of Calgary has supported both the "Calgary 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness (2008)" and the "A Plan for Alberta - Ending Homelessness in 10 Years" programs. There are non-profit organizations in Calgary that facilitate safe and affordable housing solutions to people. Check out Calgary Housing Company and Attainable Homes Calgary. Both provide Calgarians with options to meet targeted needs.

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Couple retires in Rimbey home built from 30 steel shipping containers

The Glennon family’s retirement home might just look like a stack of shipping containers of all different colours from the outside. But once it’s complete, it will be a sprawling, 5,000-square-foot, four storey building — two levels above ground, a walkout basement and another level below — with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a games and media room, garage and workshop, and two enclosed decks. Read full story Read full story Source: Calgary Herald  Author: Clara Ho

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Redstone an exercise in innovation

Redstone has been Shanghaied. An exercise regime popular with residents of the largest city in China will be part of the newest community being developed in Calgary by Qualico Communities.

An enhanced pathway system has been designed for Redstone in the city's northeast - one that will include six to eight exercise stopovers with two or three pieces of outdoorrated equipment.

Read full article Source: Calgary Herald  Author: Marty Hope

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Building permits fall in September

Published Nov 4th by Postmedia News

OTTAWA — The outlook for construction activity in Canada weakened in September, as the value of building permits declined for the third straight month.

Statistics Canada said Friday that permit values fell 4.9 per cent to $5.6 billion during the month. Economists had expected an increase of as much as 2.8 per cent.

The federal agency also revised its estimate for August, lowering the decline that month to 10.1 per cent from 10.4 per cent.

"The decline nationally was mainly attributable to lower construction intentions for both the residential and non-residential sectors in British Columbia, and the non-residential sector in Alberta," the agency said.

Read full story Source: Postmedia News  Author: Postmedia News

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Calgary seen as part of safe haven

Signs of housing gains detected

In a few days, we'll find out just how busy those on the front lines of Calgary's resale housing industry were in October.

But with three-quarters of the year behind them, the various real estate offices in town have seen a slow but steady growth in momentum.

In terms of new homes, the October numbers are more than a week away, but builders have been working hard to hold their own in what has been a challenging year.

There has always been an inescapable link between resale and new housing - with first-time buyers typically looking at resale to get themselves into the market, and with those selling homes typically moving up in the new home market.

Read full story Source: Calgary Herald  Author: Marty Hope

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Award honours plans for city

The City of Calgary is garnering the respect of urban planners for its innovative vision for future development.

So much so that the city was recently awarded the Award of Merit for its Municipal Development Plan and Calgary Transportation Plan at the annual Alberta Professional Planners Institute Conference in Red Deer.

This award symbolizes the provincial leadership role Calgary plays in growing more sustainably: environmentally, socially and fiscally, says Mary Axworthy, city director of land use planning and policy.

Read Plan It Caglary which includes the integrated MDP and CTP which focus on intensifying and diversifying urban activities around transit stations and premium transit routes, in urban activity centres and along corridors with housing choice, mixed land-uses, strong local employment bases, and comfortable, safe, walkable streets, public spaces and amenities.

Read full story Source: Calgary Herald  Author: Andrea Cox

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Resale price hikes lowest in Canada

Compared to the same period last year, price increases for resale homes in Calgary during July to September were the lowest in the country, says a national real estate survey. "It's unbelievable," says Ted Zaharko, broker/owner of Royal LePage Foothills. "The only reason I can think of to explain why it's so slow here is the lack of new listings." Average condo prices in Calgary rose to $254,467 during July to September, a 3.2-per-cent increase compared to the same period last year, says a national Royal Lepage survey.
Read Full Story Source: Calgary Herald  Author: Marty Hope on October 29th, 2011 

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Housing prices increased to all-time high in August

With low mortgage rates driving a high demand for homes, housing prices in Canada increased to an all-time high in August, according to the Teranet-National Bank national composite house price index. Prices spiked 0.9 percent in August over July, the ninth consecutive month with an increase. The rise in prices took the index to 149.46, a record for the Canadian housing market.

Read full article Source: Can Equity Blog  Author: CanEquity News Staff on October 27th, 2011 

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Audit snips at permit red-tape as city vows improvement

CALGARY — As the mayor’s war on “red tape” continues its slow march, city auditor Todd Horbasenko is offering a few pokes at some of the clogs or inefficiencies in Calgary’s development permit system. While it didn’t expose or condemn the sort of groaning delays developers often mention, the audit released Friday did raise several concerns about delays in the permitting process, like the reduced number of fast-tracked applications and rules that make builders wait weeks for neighbour or community feedback that never comes. Read More Source: Calgary Herald  Author: Richard Jason Markusoff