Calgary residents rally against Highland Park golf course condo plan
Fears over wetland conservation and loss of 500 trees
Residents in northwest Calgary are rallying against a proposed condo development on the former Highland Park Golf Course.
"Very few Calgarians know about this development project, let alone the size and scope," said rally organizer Elise Bieche of the Highland Park Community Association (HPCA).
Concrnd abt <a href="https://twitter.com/HighlandPkCA">@HighlandPkCA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/golfcourse?src=hash">#golfcourse</a> devel proposal? Join us today--E side of Centre acr fr Buchanan 7 am & 4:30 pm <a href="https://t.co/geEx5mPL4K">pic.twitter.com/geEx5mPL4K</a>
—@HighlandPkCABieche was one of about 20 residents who took to the streets with placards on Thursday morning to raise awareness about the project.
A Vancouver-based developer wants to build more than 2,000 condo units on the land, tearing down more than 500 trees in the process.
Highland Park resident Diane White wants a plan that creates fewer high-end condos and allows for more green space.
"Where is the new innovation? ... There's lots of young people out there with lots of ideas ... they just can't get them across," White said.
Meanwhile, Ornan Huber says the new development may trigger floods because the area acts as a natural stormwater drain.
Bieche says the HPCA isn't against developing the area but she has many unanswered questions about things like wetland conservation and a cap on development.
Maple Projects Development, the company that owns the land, has said the condos at Highland Village Green will include a "vibrant, natural park corridor and a parks system" with approximately 25 per cent of the plan area intended as publicly accessible open space.
The proposal goes before city council on Monday.
