Stadium Shopping Centre final plan revealed to public

Plans for the redevelopment of the Stadium Shopping Centre were unveiled on Wednesday by the propertys owner.

Western Securities has been working on the plan for several years. The 1960s strip mall on the site will be torn down and be replaced by eight buildings with various uses.

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Mike Brescia, vice-president with Western Securities, said their final plan was developed after extensive community consultations.

Building heights have changed over time and where the uses are located on the site has changedthe number of uses has not changed, said Brescia.

We've always had the intention and have said since the outset we wanted to see residential, commercial-retail space, office space and a hotel on the site and that remains the same today.

Many University Heights residents opposed the application when it was before city council last year.

They feel the plan puts too much development on a small site and will create traffic problems on 16th Avenue.However, city council rejected their objections and approved the redevelopment plan.

Opposition remains

Peter Khu, president of the University Heights Community Association, said the main concern is that the development is located so close to the Foothills hospitalarguably one of the most important trauma and cancer centresin southern Alberta. He wonders how the project will affect access.

Another concern for Khu is that the plan is not entirely built on private land but also includes a municipal reserve at the corner of 16th Avenue and 29th Street.

"Really, the big problem is the loss of this piece. Itmay seem insignificant but its not insignificant at all," said Khu.

"Theres a corridor from basically Banff Trail all the way to the edge of the city, which is at this pointin tact."

"This isnt just an issue of one neighbourhood, or two neighbourhoods,itaffects the entire city, he said.

Western Securities plans to apply for a development permit in a few months.

The Stadium District Masterplanis posted below. On mobile? Click here.