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Development & Density

March 4, 2019 in Business, Community, Design

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Developers play a key role in shaping the landscape of a city. Often times, however, when we talk about the future of our cities, the voices of the folks that build the places we live, work and play aren’t considered. And that includes this podcast to date. So, we wanted to fix that.

In many North American cities, residential development has created a city that continually sprawls outwards. This has been the case in Calgary, where the City is not constrained by many natural boundaries that limit growth. New communities featuring auto-oriented development with primarily single-detached homes, winding roads and grassy lawns are still very common.

Despite the historical trend to build out instead of up, some developers are re-shaping existing neighbourhoods by designing higher density homes in existing communities. Today, we wanted to talk to a developer who is focussing on thoughtful inner-city development.

Alakarim Devani is a co-founder of RNDSQR, a Calgary-based inner city urban residential development company.

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Brewing Up Community

November 26, 2018 in Business, Community

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“The vaunted ‘third space’ isn’t home, and isn’t work – it’s more like the living room of society at large. It’s a place where you are neither family nor co-worker, and yet where the values, interests, gossip, complaints and inspirations of these two other spheres intersect. It’s a place at least one step removed from the structures of work and home, more random, and yet familiar enough to breed a sense of identity and connection. It’s a place of both possibility and comfort, where the unexpected and the mundane transcend and mingle.

And nine times out of ten, it’s a bar.”

This is a quote from Michael Hickey, a community developer in the U.S. A few years back, he wrote an article called “In Praise of Loud and Stinky Bars”. Hickey wrote that bars act as vital gathering spaces for communities.

And he’s definitely not the only one that sees the value in local bars and breweries.

Today, you’ll hear from Vanessa Mathews and Mark Heise about how breweries can provide a sense of place, build up other industries and give back to their community, one pint a time.

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Business For The Better

August 20, 2018 in Art & Culture, Business, Community

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When we talk about cities, developers are often the only businesses that get discussed. But how can other companies contribute to a city? To explore this question, we wanted to talk to someone that has helped spearhead a purpose driven business with community at the heart of the operation.

Jim Button is the co-founder of Village Brewery, a brewery based in Calgary, AB. Since day one, 10% of the company’s bottom line has gone towards supporting Calgary’s arts and community.

In this episode Jim and John talk about:

  • The importance of finding purpose
  • Calgary’s changing culture
  • How pubs and breweries can catalyze a community

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