While one developer has backed out of a project to build an 80-store outlet mall adjacent to Calaway Park, the opportunity for future retail development on the site remains a possibility, according to Calaway Park general manager Bob Williams.
“I can confirm that it’s true that the development with RioCan/Tanger is not proceeding,” said Williams. “We may take steps to pursue development with our existing bylaw approval for a smaller outlet mall, 175,000 square feet which would be compatible with our amusement park and RV facility.”
In 1996, Calaway Park received bylaw approval from Rocky View County (RVC) council for a 30-acre development that would feature a 175,000 square foot outlet mall. While they chose not to pursue development at the time, Williams said the idea has always been in their long-term plans.
“It wasn’t our priority then as far as business going forward, but if the climate and market conditions are right, we do have the opportunity to pursue that if we do decide to go forward,” he said.
“I can’t articulate at this time what those conditions would be, but we do see shopping and amusement parks as a compatible and aligned opportunity.”
Area councillor Jerry Arshinoff said that until he receives confirmation from RioCan, he can’t give an official word on the termination of the project, but said the majority of residents in the area would be “extremely pleased” with the news. According to Arshinoff, the RioCan/Tanger outlet mall was a proposed expansion of the original approved request for 175,000 square feet.
He said they felt that was too small, and proposed a massive outlet mall of 350,000 square feet, which, according to Arshinoff, many Springbank residents opposed. Once bylaw approval is received, the applicant has an open-ended permit for development in the area, according to Arshinoff.
“When something is approved, it stays approved for ever and ever,” he said.
“It should be like an oil lease, where if you don’t do anything in five years, you can forget it.”
RioCan/Tanger was unavailable to comment as of press time, and Williams was unable to speak on behalf of the company.
“In this case, we were not the developer of the project, we were just selling land,” he said.
“The arrangement with them as identified in the open house presented Nov. 13, 2013, we were there in support of them so that if they chose to proceed with the development, we saw it as an opportunity to create a cluster for our existing facility to make the area more of a destination.”
Williams confirmed Calaway Park is not working with other developers on a smaller outlet, but that the door is open for that possibility in the future.
