Construction begins on the first of five new residential developments in East Village
Calgary Municipal Land Corporation looks ahead to year of development growth, construction progress, and continued community-building in downtown and beyond
Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) prepares for another year of ambitious city-building and placemaking in 2026, which will be marked by delivery progress for more than $700M in major capital projects and ongoing stewardship of significant community development in downtown and beyond.
Development growth in East Village
As steward of the East Village Master Plan, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) is pleased to celebrate the start of construction on the first of five new development projects anticipated to begin construction in the community in 2026.
Today, CMLC and developer partner Bankside Properties ceremonially broke ground on Bankside Properties’ Library Square project, for which is anticipated to begin in February and will bring 162 purpose-built rental homes in two six-storey buildings just east of the Central Library. Conveniently located close to the City Hall LRT station and Calgary’s robust cycling and pathway network, Library Square’s modern apartment-style buildings are inspired by the historic building façades of East Village with traditional brick detailing, vibrant streetscapes, and a courtyard and roof-top amenity for residents. Tenants are expected to move in in 2027.
“As our city’s demand for housing and hotel rooms continues to grow, so too does development industry confidence in East Village, and we are proud to partner with industry to bring these much-needed homes and hotel rooms to life,” said Kate Thompson, President and CEO of CMLC. “With every groundbreaking, we make notable progress towards realizing our master plan vision for East Village, and we look forward to welcoming new residents, retailers and visitors to the community in the coming years.”
CMLC anticipates construction to begin on three more development projects in 2026:
- Ayrshire Group’s Lyric (Lot G) will provide 208 residential units in a multi-residential six-storey building
- Slokker Homes’ Vibe (Lot Q2) will provide 218 residential units and 1,100 square meters of commercial space in a 13-storey building
- Trico Communities’ The Edgewater (Lot 41) will provide approximately 170 residential units across nine storeys, with commercial space and childcare services
- Truman’s Hotel Development (Lot N) will provide 132 hotel rooms in a five-storey development
“I’m thrilled to see this breadth of residential development coming to fruition in East Village,” said Ward 7 Councillor Myke Atkinson. “As our city’s population continues to grow, our need for thoughtful, strategic housing also grows. East Village is a dynamic and diverse downtown neighbourhood, and these new developments and the neighbours they will welcome will only add to the vibrancy and excitement of the community.”
Together, the developments will bring 132 new hotel rooms and more than 700 new rental and condo homes to East Village. CMLC continues to work with private industry to advance development on the remaining parcels in East Village, and anticipate additional projects to progress through regulatory approvals this year.
Planning advances in Transit-Oriented Communities
To further respond to Calgary’s urgent housing demand, CMLC has been working with The City of Calgary to advance the development of Transit-Oriented Communities on underutilized sites along Calgary’s Red Line LRT.
In 2025, CMLC initiated site analysis, market analysis, community engagement and planning team selection on three preliminary TOC sites locate on the City-owned land at the LRT Park and Rides at Fish Creek-Lacombe Station, Dalhousie Station and Anderson Station. In 2026, CMLC will advance master planning and community engagement on all three communities.
Construction progress on the Werklund Centre and Olympic Plaza Transformations
CMLC, as Development Manager for the Werklund Centre Transformation (WCT) and Olympic Plaza Transformation (OPT) projects on behalf of Werklund Centre and The City of Calgary, continues to advance construction for the WCT Expansion – the new 170,000 sq. ft. building that will house two new theatre spaces. In 2025, crews prepared the site and completed piling and foundation works.
In 2026, Calgarians will see the start of vertical construction as the building begins to take shape. Construction will begin in earnest on the Olympic Plaza Transformation in 2026, with construction completion anticipated in 2028 in alignment with construction completion of the WCT Expansion.
Planning is underway for the WCT Modernization – the renovation of the existing Werklund Centre facility – and Werklund Centre is working to secure the remaining funding required to deliver the latter phase of the project.
C+E District stewardship, construction and development progress
In its role as steward of the Rivers District Master Plan, CMLC continues to serve as District Construction Coordinator, working with partners at the Calgary Stampede, The City of Calgary and Calgary Sport and Entertainment Corporation to coordinate delivery of the more than $1B in major projects underway in The Culture + Entertainment District.
To seamlessly integrate Scotia Place (Calgary’s new event centre) into The C+E’s urban fabric and create a cohesive district experience, CMLC is leading delivery of associated infrastructure, which will see construction begin in 2026 on 14 Ave, 5A Street and Flores LaDue Parade.
As Calgary’s growing meetings and conventions industry generates greater demand for downtown hotel rooms, CMLC and the Calgary Stampede continue to partner to attract hotel development to The C+E. In 2025, local developer Truman announced plans for $1.47B in hotel investment in the district, with the Autograph Collection Hotel on Stampede Park and the W & JW Marriott at 15 Ave S.E., which, combined, will bring more than 700 hotel rooms within walking distance of the BMO Centre. In 2026, Truman will advance construction on its Autograph Collection Hotel before its anticipated 2028 completion and advance regulatory approvals on the W & JW Marriott.
“While sustaining momentum toward fulfilling the master-plan visions for East Village and The C+E, we’re making impressive headway in our downtown revitalization projects and meaningful strides toward tackling Calgary’s housing crisis through Transit-Oriented Community development in the city’s further reaches,” said CMLC President and CEO Kate Thompson. “The CMLC team is skilfully balancing diverse city-building needs for the benefit of our shareholder and all Calgarians.”
Read CMLC’s 2026 Business Plan for more information about this year’s strategic priorities and initiatives related to project delivery, placemaking, programming, community safety and vitality, and more.
