Drop-In hotel project rejection not simple NIMBYism, says Calgary councillor
Gian-Carlo Carra says Centre 4800 proposal didn't meet 'best practices' of planning and community consultation
City planners' rejection of a controversial proposal to convert a northeast Calgary hotel into affordable housing was not a case of simply giving into NIMBYism, according to Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra.
The proposal for the former Quality Inn at 4804 Edmonton Trail N.E. just didn't meet with standard "best practices" for city planning and public engagement, said Carra — a member of the Calgary Planning Commission who voted with the majority in the 7-2 rejection.
"This hotel sits very in an isolated spot and was there was no intention to redevelop the site, to partner with development partners to create a comprehensive project that enhanced and worked with the community, and integrated physically into the community," Carra told the Calgary Eyeopener on Friday morning.
While some have chalked opposition to the Calgary Drop-In Centre's plan as simply NIMBY (not in my back yard) syndrome, Carra said there's more going on in this case.
He noted that Mayor Naheed Nenshi, who is typically an advocate for affordable housing, chose to attend Thursday's planning commission meeting to speak against the proposal — a rare move for a mayor.
Mayor speaks at meeting
"In his historic, first-time ever acting in his ex-officio role as a member of Calgary Planning Commission, he said that community consultation is a planning issue and this one was a tremendous failure," Carra said.
The Drop-In plans to appeal the decision, according to executive director Debbie Newman.
"We have invested significant resources and time to prepare a proposal that we feel meets the land use and reuses an existing structure to provide affordable housing," she said in a statement.
"We are confident it is appropriate and meets the planning criteria so we will appeal the decision."
The Drop-In bought hotel in a bankruptcy sale in 2012 with plans to turn it into a housing facility and immediately ran into opposition from people who live in the nearby communities.
The proposal, now dubbed Centre 4800, has gone through several iterations since, but the controversy never abated.
- Drop-In Centre's new housing project to receive no provincial funding
- Calgary Drop-In Centre's plan for former N.E. hotel released
- Drop-In Centre board member confronted over project
Newman said the centre worked hard to gain the trust of the community over the past three years and "circled back several times with changes that responded to the community input."
Carra, however, said the Drop-In's actions at the planning commission don't suggest there is much interest in working with the community.
"The Drop-In Centre was extremely clear that they're going to be pursuing an appeal to the subdivision and development appeal board," Carra said. "And, as a matter of fact, commissioner (Jyoti) Gondek asked, 'Would you like to go back and have a conversation with the community?' And they basically said no."
In her written statement, Newman said the organization is "anxious to work with a mediator to develop a good neighbour agreement," but that requires both sides to have "representatives with authority to make decisions and further be willing to participate in the mediation."