About — Marc & Mada Block

Marc & Mada Block

Marc & Mada Block is a nearly 2-acre property nestled between two of Calgary’s main streets at the heart of the communities of Marda Loop. A redevelopment vision and emerging applications, to be made to The City of Calgary, is the result of a collaborative partnership between two local organizations – landowner Calgary Co-op and developer/builder Truman Homes. Together, they envision Marc & Mada Block as an innovative and vibrant main street hub that introduces new housing options, high-quality public spaces and active local businesses anchored by a next generation Calgary Co-op grocery store.

Marc & Mada Block Site

Address
2101, 2105, 2107, 2109, 2111, 2123, & 2127 33 AV SW

3405, 3407, 3409, & 3411 20 ST SW

Site Area
1.76 ac / 0.71 ha

Current Land Use
MU-2f3.0h23

Marda Loop Transit Station Area Westbrook Communities Local Area Plan

600m (5-10 min walk) from MAX Yellow BRT Station

City-Identified Main Streets
33 Avenue SW & 34 Avenue SW (Phase 1 Construction Underway)

View Vision Brief

A Rich History

Our development vision is inspired by the rich history of the site and the greater community. Marc & Mada Block is named for Marc and Mada Jenkins, founders of the historic Marda Theatre which operated between 1953-1988, and was located on the northeast corner of the Marc & Mada Block site. The Marda Theatre name comes from combining its founders’ first names.

Marda Theatre, 1953 - 1988

Marda Loop takes its name from two significant landmarks - the historic Marda Theatre and the No. 7 South Calgary trolley car. The “Loop” in Marda Loop comes from the No. 7 South Calgary trolley car which operated between 1949-1974. The trolley travelled counter-clockwise along 34 AV SW and 20 ST SW before looping back to the City Centre.

Our vision for Marc & Mada Block is to celebrate the site’s rich history by incorporating commemorative elements related to the theatre and trolley car into the public spaces throughout the site.

Grand Opening of Marda Theatre, 1953

NO. 7 South Calgary Trolley Car, 1949 - 1974

Community Context

Planning decisions in Marda Loop are currently guided by the Marda Loop Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP), approved in 2014. The City of Calgary is now actively working on a new comprehensive planning document to replace the existing ARP, named the West Elbow Communities Local Area Plan (LAP). The emerging LAP will establish community planning goals and objectives for the Marda Loop community and a number of surrounding neighbourhoods in southwest Calgary for the next ±30 years. The West Elbow Communities Local Area Plan is in the early visioning stages of a multi-month process, and the City of Calgary is currently engaging with community members to explore the plan contents.

The Marc & Mada Block site is within the Marda Loop Transit Station Area (noted in the Westbrook Communities Local Area Plan) indicating a short five to ten minute walk (±600m) of the MAX Yellow Bus Rapid Transit station. The site is also along a Primary Transit Route with access to local bus routes 20, 22, and 66. The Calgary Transportation Plan and Route Ahead Plan identifies the Primary Transit Network as an organizing tool for land use planning, with community design emphasizing higher intensity, compact mixed used development concentrated near transit options to encourage ridership and optimize public infrastructure.

The Marc & Mada Block site is located along the 33 AV SW and 34 AV SW City-identified Main Streets. Calgary’s Main Streets are active corridors that attract residents to socialize, work, live, shop, dine, and celebrate. Identified for strategic growth and investment, Main Streets are part of a long-term plan to manage the growing population of our city over time. The City is progressing its goal to plan, invest in and create thriving Main Streets. The 33 & 34 AV SW Main Streets are one of a handful of corridors within the City’s Main Street initiative to receive capital funding for investment in infrastructure, servicing, community amenities and streetscape improvements to date.

A Made in Calgary Partnership

Calgary Co-op:

Landowner

Calgary Co-op has been serving Calgarians since 1956 when we opened our first store with local farmers and ranchers selling fresh, farm-to-table foods —even before farm-to-table was a buzzword. Owned by members, Calgary Co-op is one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America.

Calgary Co-op purchased the Marc & Mada Block property in 2020 with a clear vision: to pioneer the first Calgary Co-op “next generation” grocery store. Embracing a smart growth mixed-use development model, Calgary Co-op’s blueprint for Marc & Mada Block places new homes, community spaces, shopping options, and other services and amenities within one central location.

Serving the next generation of Calgary Co-op Members, the grocery store at Marc & Mada Block will introduce a fresh shopping experience curated for food enthusiasts.

The urban-format grocery store will showcase an expanded selection of products, house a full-service butcher, deli, and cheese counter, offer an extensive selection of grab-and-go options, and boast a coffee and gelato bar. Convenient online shopping pick-up will be provided by secure pick-up lockers. The grocery store will also offer new gathering space and health and wellness programs within a freely accessible public meeting room.

Truman Homes:

Developer / Builder Partner

To realize this vision, Calgary Co-op embarked on an extensive search for a development partner, ultimately selecting Calgary’s own Truman Homes as the successful proponent. Truman Homes, a local developer and builder with over 40 years of investment in Calgary, stood out for their commitment to sustainable development practices, established partnership with affordable housing providers, and proven track record of high-quality development outcomes across Calgary. Truman Homes was the obvious choice for a Joint Venture Partner. Truman is committed to building great places through great design – places that so many Albertans have chosen to call home.