The Marc & Mada development proposal is located in the heart of Marda Loop, an Inner-City community at the meeting point of four neighbourhoods: Garrison Woods, Altadore, South Calgary, and Richmond. Marda Loop is defined by two City-identified Main Streets, 33 AV SW and 34 AV SW, extending from 14 ST SW to Crowchild Trail SW.
Known for its rich history, central location, vibrant local businesses and active community, Marda Loop is a highly desirable area in Calgary for visitors and residents alike.
Homegrown in Calgary, fresh in Marda Loop
Community
Marda Loop
Municipality
Calgary
Neighbourhood
South Calgary
Representative:
Courtney Walcott, Ward 8
Local Organizations
Marda Loop Communities Association
Marda Loop Business Improvement Area
Downloadable Documents
Marc & Mada Site
The Marc & Mada property is a rare 1.8 acre inner city land assembly at the heart of Marda Loop. Today this site is occupied by Marda Loop Village, the Go Performance Fitness Lab and a private surface parking lot. The Marc & Mada site has active street frontage along three edges as well public lane access connecting to 21 ST SW on the western edge of the site.
Situated between two City-identified Main Streets and identified by the City of Calgary for the highest intensity of development in the area, this site represents the “Centre Ice” of Marda Loop. Such a large land assembly at the heart of the community was unanticipated by local policy makers and past planning initiatives.
Because of its large size and central location, the Marc & Mada site offers a unique opportunity for a comprehensive and innovative city-building development outcome that raises the bar for Main Street development in Calgary.
Marc & Mada Site
Address
2101, 2123, & 2127 33 AV SW
Site Area
1.76 ac / 0.71 ha
Current Land Use
MU-2f3.0h23
A Rich History
The Marc & Mada name is inspired by the rich history of Marda Loop. The community derives its name from two significant Calgary landmarks: the historic Marda Theatre and the No. 7 South Calgary trolley car.
The name “Marda” comes from the historic Marda Theatre, which was located on the northeast corner of the Marc & Mada site between 1953-1988. The Marda Theatre received its name by combining its founders’ first names – Marc and Mada Jenkins. The word “Loop” comes from the No. 7 South Calgary trolley car that operated between 1949-1974. The trolley travelled counter-clockwise to 34 AV SW and 20 ST SW before looping back to the City Centre.
Beyond the Marc & Mada namesake, our development vision takes inspiration from the site’s rich history and will incorporate commemorative elements into overall design of the building, streetscape and public amenity areas.
NO. 7 South Calgary Trolley Car, 1949 - 1974
Grand Opening of Marda Theatre, 1953
Marda Theatre, 1953 - 1988
Today, Marda Loop is a highly desirable community that supports a range of housing options and features over 150 unique shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Marc & Mada represents a unique development opportunity to acknowledge the site’s unique history through urban design elements while also contributing high-quality public amenities, active retail spaces, and fresh housing choices along two highly desirable Main Streets in the historic heart of Marda Loop.
Community Context
Local Area Plan
Planning decisions in Marda Loop are currently guided by the Marda Loop Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP). The City of Calgary is 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.
Primary Transit
The Marc & Mada site is within a short five to ten minute walk (±500m) of the MAX Yellow Bus Rapid Transit route, and along a Primary Transit Route with access to 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. Based on the principles of Transit-Oriented Development, this form of city-building enables sustainable long-term urban growth and provides a mix of land uses and densities that create a convenient, interesting and vibrant community.
Main Streets
The Marc & Mada site is situated along the 33 AV SW and 34 AV SW City-identified Main Street. 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 Street is one of a handful of corridors within the City’s Main Street initiative to receive funding for investment in infrastructure, servicing, community amenities and streetscape improvements to date.
Municipal Investment
± $40 Million
MAX Yellow BRT Investment
and on-going Bus Transit Service (#20, #66, & #7)
±$31.6 Million
Main Street Investment
Pubic Realm streetscape enhancements
Bike Lane upgrades
Waterman replacement and upgrade
Enmax powerline burial
Atco has line relocation
Intersection signalization 34 AV SW (at 14 ST SW, 20 ST SW, & 22 ST SW)
Traffic flow improvements (lane direction changes)
Marc & Mada sits at the intersection of million of dollars of City Investment.
Municipal funding of the Max Yellow BRT (2016) and the Main Streets Initiative (2023) has focused funds on the strategic improvement of community amenities, servicing, and infrastructure capacity within Marda Loop. These initiatives enable the long term planned population growth and ongoing evolution of the Marda Loop community. The timing of the Marc & Mada proposal offers a unique opportunity to build on the momentum of recent City investment, and coordinate construction efforts in a manner that reduces the impact of development activities on surrounding neighbours in the long run.
Land Use Context
Located at the heart of Marda Loop, this site warrants special consideration to ensure a Main Street-oriented development outcome.
Land Use Districts, also referred to as “zones”, provide specific direction on a property’s development outcome. The Marc & Mada site is located within a context of multi-residential, commercial and mixed-use Land Use Districts. Many of the surrounding properties were redesignated through City-led initiatives to encourage a greater intensity of development along the 33 & 34 AV SW Main Street.
Development Context
Marda Loop is an eclectic and evolving community.
Marda Loop is experiencing a strong demand for new housing options and business opportunities in the neighbourhood. Residents and visitors are drawn to the range of community amenities, transportation options, convenient inner-city location and vibrant commercial Main Street. As a result, in recent years the neighbourhoods surrounding Marda Loop have seen a number of new developments being proposed and built.
Public Green Space
The Marc & Mada site has very few options for public green spaces within walking distance.
There are no public parks, schools or open green space within the Marda Loop BIA boundary, and the surrounding area has very few options serving the more than ±9000 residents living within a ±600m walking distance of the 33 AV and 34 AV SW Main Streets.
This Section is still subject to change.
Transportation Context
The Marc & Mada site is situated in a well-connected inner-city location. Both current and future residents have many options to choose from to get around.
The Marc & Mada site is located along a Primary Transit route and within a 5-10 minute walk of the Max Yellow BRT route. A lane-separated bike route runs along 20 ST SW on the eastern edge of the site and connects to a well-established City-wide cycling network. Marda Loop is also located within the Communauto car share service area, and the Bird and Neuron motorized scooter service area. These multi-modal transportation options offer a short commute to the City Centre, Mount Royal University, and other surrounding destinations.
Those traveling by personal vehicle have easy access to major roads surrounding Marda Loop including Crowchild Trail SW and 14 ST SW. The City recently invested in evaluating and improving traffic flow in the area through intersection signalizations along 34 AV SW and strategic lane direction changes as part of the Main Streets Initiative.
20 Minute Commute
Future residents of Marc & Mada will have easy access to a range of transportation options connecting to the surrounding community and City Centre within a 20 minute commute time.
15,472
Total Households in T2T Forward Sorting
Vehicle Ownership
Given the availability of alternative modes of transportation, many households in Marda Loop and the surrounding communities choose to live without a vehicle.
Design Principles
Enhanced Main Street.
Achieve a high-quality public realm along active site edges – meeting and exceeding the urban design measures proposed through the Marda Loop Main Streets Initiative and Streetscape Master Plan for 33 AV SW, 34 AV SW. and 20 ST SW.
Quality Housing Options.
Provide housing options that support inclusivity for new residents with a diversity of backgrounds, income levels, lifestyles, and abilities.
Vibrant Destination.
Strengthen the relationship between people and place by creating lively, community-oriented public space, amenities and services that promote interaction in the heart of Marda Loop.
Climate Forward.
Embrace best practices for environmentally sustainable site design, construction approach, and building operations.
World Class Architecture.
Design attractive buildings that effectively use form, function and materiality to create a positive urban design impact.
Economically Viable.
The success of the Marc & Mada Block is dependent upon a smart growth model that enables high quality architecture and urban design outcomes through economically-viable business operations and development practices.
Design Process
Building Anatomy
ICON
ICON
Site Area
t1.8 ac (0.7 ha)
Residential
Area
504 Units (mix of studio, 1, 2 & 3 bedroom)
ICON
ICON
Building Height
62 m
Commercial/Retail/
Grocery Area
±4,250 sqm
(±45, 650 sqft)
ICON
ICON
Storeys
12, 17 and 19 storeys
Publicly-Accessible
Landscaped Area
±4,250 sqm (±45, 650 sqft)
ICON
ICON
Floor Area Ratio
6.5
Underground
Parking
537 Residential Stalls, 170 Commercial Stalls, XXX Secure Bike Stalls
Building Anatomy
ICON
ICON
Site Area
t1.8 ac(0.7 ha)
Residential
Area
504 Units (mix of studio, 1, 2 & 3 bedroom)
ICON
ICON
Building Height
62 m
Commercial/Retail/
Grocery Area
±4,250 sqm
(±45, 650 sqft)
ICON
ICON
Storeys
12, 17 and 19 storeys
Publicly-Accessible
Landscaped Area
±4,250 sqm
(±45, 650 sqft)
ICON
ICON
Floor Area Ratio
6.5
Underground
Parking
537 Residential Stalls, 170 Commercial Stalls, XXX Secure Bike Stalls