The City of Calgary is hoping residents will speak up to help shape the future of Chinatown.
“We’re gathering community views on Chinatown including current issues, challenges and ideas for the future,” Planning Chinatown project manager Allison Chan said in a Tuesday news release.
The feedback will potentially be applied to current land use applications, the evaluation of future land use applications, and to form the basis of a new Chinatown Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP).
READ MORE: Calgary city council delays decision on Chinatown development
“This will help us understand what outcomes are important for preserving Chinatown’s unique cultural identity and history,” Chan said. “We also want to ensure revitalization of the area supports a vision for Chinatown that is sustainable, thriving and culturally vibrant.”
“Your ideas, aspirations and hopes will help us create the best outcome possible and make Chinatown even stronger.”
Calgarians who wish to provide feedback can attend one of many drop-in events throughout the summer to speak directly with City of Calgary staff, or submit their input online.
The public consultation comes after a proposed amendment to Chinatown’s ARP earlier this year which caused controversy within Calgary’s Chinese community.
READ MORE: Rally held at city hall to protest proposed Chinatown redevelopment
The amendment would alter existing land-use designations, effectively paving the way for the construction of a 27-storey building which would be almost double current height restrictions.
Community members spoke out against the changes, saying the redevelopment would erode Chinatown’s heritage and history.
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