Canada Olympic Park plans condos, hotel

The Calgary Olympic Development Association has unveiled a $200 million development plan for Canada Olympic Park, including 1,100 condominiums, an athlete's village, a cross-country ski trail, a hotel and a business park.

City council has approved the plan in principle, but will not make a final decision until early May. It has requested more information about the plan, and proposed about a dozen amendments relating to density, access and environmental safeguards.

While a number of organizations including the Altius Nordic Ski Club and the Paskapoo Slopes Preservation Society support the project, some neighbours aren't pleased.

Antonio Pisano, who bought a $500,000 home in Cougar Ridge, above the park, ten days ago, says he was misled, because he was told that he would always have an unobstructed view.

"We were told any type of construction would be built on the other side or down on the hill," Pisano said. "Sell me my lot and then say, 'did you know in your backyard there's going to be 500 units three stories tall?'"

Pisano and other residents of Cougar Ridge say the condos proposed for the top of the hill should be eliminated from the plan.

Roger Baxter, president of the Altius Nordic Ski Club, says the development could go a long way towards promoting amateur sport.

"It does not in itself threaten the ongoing use of the facilities at Canada Olympic Park and it will generate additional income that should allow CODA to afford all of the legacy sports from the Calgary '88 Olympic games," said Baxter.

CODA president John Mills says potential revenue from the development is critical to CODA and the sports it supports.

"It's putting some of our land to use to provide us with the funds we need to develop sport facilities that will result in better performances for Canadian athletes and improve recreational amenities for the people of Calgary."