Residents of two southeast Calgary communities are petitioning to stop a planned housing development on the Franklin LRT station park-and-ride lot, arguing the loss of roughly 400 parking stalls will worsen traffic and parking congestion in the area.
First Conversion of CTrain Park-and-Ride Lot
The six-storey project by Onward Homes proposes four apartment buildings on the south side of Memorial Drive, delivering approximately 350 housing units ranging from one- to three-bedroom apartments. This marks the first time a CTrain park-and-ride lot would be converted into a transit-oriented development, a key element of the housing strategy city council approved in 2023.
The previous council unanimously supported a rezoning application for Onward's project in November 2024. A development permit was submitted earlier this month and is currently under review by the city's planning team. Architectural renderings show the three buildings arranged in a triangular shape with a central courtyard.
Affordable Housing Component
About half the units would be rented at below-market rates, targeting seniors, low-income families, and tenants with disabilities, according to Bryan Romanesky, board chair of Onward Homes. At a news conference last year, Romanesky highlighted the development's proximity to the CTrain, schools, and shopping along International Avenue and in Marlborough.
Residents Dispute Parking Data
Ida Stanley, an Albert Park resident since 1989, disputes the city's claim that the south-side parking lot is only 50 to 60 per cent full on average. “We knew that’s just not true,” she said, adding the lot is packed whenever she passes it. “I don’t know how they possibly could come up with that.” The city recommends using the 200-stall lot north of Memorial Drive, but Stanley argues that lot is similarly full.
Les Burton, a board member with the Albert Park Radisson Heights Community Association, agrees the city's data was collected before transit ridership rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic. He worries the loss of parking will strain traffic during school drop-off and pick-up times and overwhelm existing infrastructure in the neighbourhoods.
Community Petition Underway
Residents have begun circulating a petition urging the city to halt the development. The petition emphasizes the need to preserve parking for transit commuters and manage congestion in the area. The city has not yet responded to the petition, and the development permit remains under review.
