What happens to transit-oriented development when the LRT is delayed?

by Ximena Gonzalez

New homes are under construction in the Seton community in southeast Calgary. The area was area was designed to have higher density around key amenities, including a hospital and LRT.

More than two decades ago, city planners envisioned Calgary’s deep southeast as an enclave of complete communities where residents would not only find an array of housing options, but also the services and amenities that support an urban lifestyle, including access to frequent, reliable transit.

The Southeast Centre Area Structure Plan guided the creation of three greenfield communities on the city’s outskirts: Mahogany, Auburn Bay, and Seton. Conceived as the subdivision’s centre, the latter is significantly denser than the other two and today boasts employment centres such as Calgary’s South Health Campus, as well as world-class amenities such as the Brookfield Residential YMCA.