More than $1 billion in major construction projects in Calgary will be completed or started this year, according to CMLC

Several major construction projects totaling more than $1 billion will be completed or launched by the end of this year, the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation said this week in its 2024 forecast.

The city's CMLC said it's gearing up for a year of milestones in the East Village and downtown.

“We always say that every year can't be busier, but it is,” said Keith Thompson, the agency's president and CEO.

He said 2018 was a big year for us to open (the Central Library), but it's definitely a big year for us in terms of completing projects.

Here's an overview of which projects will be completed and which will be launched in 2024.

Eastern village

CMLC said it will continue to oversee the development of several mixed-use housing projects in the East Village, including the 337-unit condo development at the Arris Building on Third Street SE.

The agency said construction is underway at Riverfront Avenue and Confluence Way SE, where the six-story building will include 44 residential units and 9,000 square feet of retail space.

Thompson said CMLC has seen “interest in sustainable development” in the East Village. Several letters of intent received for various parcels in the district are planned to be promoted this year.

Arts Commons and Olympic Plaza

On behalf of Arts Commons and the City of Calgary, CMLC is leading the redevelopment of Arts Commons and Olympic Plaza.

Thompson said Calgarians will see the design of the new Arts Commons space later this spring, and it is expected to break ground for the expansion later this year.

The project will add a building to the existing Arts Commons footprint. The new structure will house a 1,000-seat theater and a 200-seat studio theater.

CMLC said it is still in the design stages of redeveloping Olympic Plaza, but it plans to integrate the area into the Arts Commons campus.

Culture and entertainment district

Perhaps the most anticipated project under CMLC's purview will cross the finish line this year, with the BMO Center expansion set to open in time for Stampede 2024 (July 5-14).

The reconstruction of the Victoria Park/Stampede LRT station, as well as the 17th Avenue SE extension, are expected to be completed this summer.

CMLC said these projects total more than $600 million.

“The BMO Center will really allow Calgary to showcase itself and really become a venue for many different meetings and conferences and bring a variety of people, visitors and Calgarians to this amazing space,” said Thompson.

He said all the infrastructure to allow walking, biking and driving access to the BMO Center will be ready by summer.

To support the expansion of the BMO Center, as well as a future events center site planned along the Stampede Trail, CMLC will do preliminary work on the Sixth Street SE underpass in 2024.

According to Thompson, the underpass is an integral part of CMLC's work in the cultural and entertainment district, “making sense of how we get in and out.”

CMLC will issue a request for proposal for the underpass in the coming weeks and said the overall construction schedule will be finalized.