a village built to last
Sustainability is the foundation of the rejuvenation of East Village. It guides vision, design and funding.
Since 2007, the year CMLC was formed, sustainability has been the basis of both the master plan and the business plan for the community. Sustainability is not limited to “green” considerations; rather, it’s a holistic outlook on the creation of a healthy community, combining environmental stewardship, social well-being and economic prosperity. Each aspect contributes to and is supported by the other.
Environmental Sustainability
With 100 years of industrial use beneath its soil, the rejuvenation of East Village began with extensive soil remediation but didn’t stop there. Planning looked to the future – a new District Energy plant is now in place, with the capacity to heat much of EV’s residences and offices (www.enmax.com). A new storm pond on nearby Fort Calgary filters rainwater from East Village. And the neighbourhood is seeking LEED certification: LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally-recognized green building certification system that verifies that buildings or communities incorporate a range of environmental strategies. East Village is currently applying for LEED ND, the certification for Neighborhood Development. And as more buildings come on-stream, a Sustainable Building Strategy will provide tools and education to builders and buyers alike in East Village.
Social Sustainability
The East Village master plan encourages social sustainability by design. The density and mixed uses of the Urban Village planned for EV facilitate neighbours meeting one another, helps foster a sense of community and enhances security. Proximity to transit and walkable streets with varied streetscapes reduce the carbon footprint. The accessibility of nature, in the form of public squares, community gardens, RiverWalk and St. Patrick’s Island, encourages healthy lifestyles. The integration of culture – from art installations to concerts at the National Music Centre – makes East Village inviting for many different kinds of people. And consistent programming of events brings the community together in shared celebration, strengthening its identity and fostering a sense of neighbourhood well-being. And since the beginning of East Village, Calgarians have been engaged in information sessions about proposed changes and asked to weigh in with opinions on subjects as varied as the design of the bridge to St. Patrick’s Island and the island master plan.
Economic Sustainability
No neighbourhood can grow without a strong financial foundation, and funding of East Village has relied on an innovative mechanism called the Community Revitalization Levy. The CRL means that property taxes generated through land sales are reinvested into the community. It’s through the CRL that some $160 million in necessary infrastructure improvements could be made to jumpstart the evolution of EV into an urban village.
