We need your voice for an important housing project!
The former Viscount Bennett High School site comes to Council on April 8
Howdy, Neighbours!
If you visited the former Viscount Bennett High School site today, you’d see a construction zone; a space that’s been sitting empty for years, waiting for its next chapter. Now, there's an exciting chance to turn it into something vibrant for the community.
On April 8, 2025, City Council will hold a public hearing to decide the future of this site. The proposal would bring up to 1,509 new homes (the Developer is anticipating to build 1,231 homes), a public park, pathways, and new MAX Yellow BRT bus stops along Crowchild Trail — transforming the 11.5-acre site into a vibrant part of the community.
Will you join us in speaking out? Use the City Clerk’s form to write in (by noon on April 1), or sign up to have your voice heard! If you want more information on how public hearings work, read the guide we put together.
Too often in Calgary, we see a familiar pattern: those who oppose new developments speak the loudest, while those who are curious about change, feel neutral, or support the project stay silent. We understand that some residents are opposed and we respect their right to speak, what scares us is the disproportionate picture that paints, and the housing crisis can’t afford to risk that.
It is happening again with this project. We know that residents of Richmond Knob Hill have a wide range of perspectives on this issue, with many feeling neutral and supportive. Despite that, a few members of the community association are representing all residents as “deeply opposed to the proposed land use change.” Your voice can add nuance and help break the cycle.
In recent years, housing prices have risen and availability has tightened. As the city evolves, conversations about where and how we build are becoming more important than ever. This proposal is part of that bigger picture, and we know that understanding the planning process can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together an overview of the application, along with resources to help you learn more and share your thoughts with Council.
Act Now: Tell council what you think by April 1
We believe that everyone should exercise their voice in how our city grows. Whatever your view, it is important to let Council know. Otherwise, Council will only hear from the Applicant and opponents, and not the larger community and other perspectives.
You don’t have to be an expert on housing to have an opinion! Take a moment to tell Council who you are, what you think and why! It is okay if it is short but remember to be a good neighbour and keep it respectful and on topic.
If you want more information about the site and its history, keep reading below!
Quick Resources
Learn about the application
City’s report: presented at Calgary Planning Commission, February 27
Project website: 2501richmond.com
If you live in the community of Richmond and want an example of how opposition to housing is framed, you can read the Richmond Knob Hill Community Association’s letter in opposition.
Submit your comments
By noon on April 1, or sign up to speak to Council at the meeting.
Use the City Clerk’s form: Calgary.ca/PublicSubmissions
Council meeting date: April 08, 2025
File number: LOC2023-0359 / CPC2025-0098
Agenda item: Outline Plan, Policy and Land Use Amendment in Richmond (Ward 8) at multiple addresses, LOC2023-0359
What we know
Brief site and application history
Viscount Bennett High School opened in 1955 and closed in 1985 due to low enrollment because Ernest Manning and Central Memorial High Schools opened. At its peak in the 1970s and 1980s, the school had over 2,000 students. In 1995, the school was used for Chinook Learning Services programs, and permanently closed by the Calgary Board of Education in 2018. The school sat vacant and boarded up until Minto Communities purchased the site in March 2023, and submitted this application for an outline plan, policy amendment, and land use redesignation in November 2023. Demolition of the building began in October 2024. See the project website for a full timeline.
Rezoning is the first step. It is important to note that the land use redesignation (or, rezoning) is the first step, and if approved by Council, future development permit applications need to be submitted to actually build it. Rezoning focuses on whether the land use type (housing, transit-oriented communities and density) is appropriate.
Things won’t change overnight. If Council approves the rezoning, new buildings will not go up overnight. It will likely take years and multiple phases to complete the entire project. And the construction of the project will largely remain on the site itself.
More public engagement to come. There will be opportunities for public input in future development permit stages, and neighbours will be notified. The development permit is where details like building design, parking, and landscaping design are determined. This will be your chance to engage and advocate for what you want to see!
The Developer pays for traffic and public infrastructure upgrades. Per the Outline Plan Conditions of Approval, the Developer is required to provide and pay for all the necessary public infrastructure, utilities and servicing needed by future development (i.e., sidewalks, wheeling pathway, traffic signals, water, sewer, and sanitary pipes).
The Developer pays for transit improvements. Also per the Outline Plan Conditions of Approval, the Developer is required to provide a combined $1.25 Million to build two new southbound and northbound MAX Yellow BRT stops on Crowchild Trail SW. The new stops would be built to a better standard, and more easily accessed from the site. We know our transit system isn’t perfect but we are excited about how development can lead to improvements and grow ridership!
The Developer is required to provide a public park. The Developer is required to dedicate a minimum of 10% of total area (1.15 acres) as a Municipal Reserve for a park. The park is provided in the northwest corner of the site, facing 25 Street SW and Richmond Road SW. Greenspace is important to residents and we are glad to see it is a part of this project.
The Westbrook Communities Local Area Plan helps shape the application. The Westbrook LAP (approved in 2023) is a statutory policy that guides redevelopment for Richmond, and nine other communities, for the next 30+ years. The site is identified as a ‘Comprehensive Planning Site’ in the LAP, which means that an additional master planning process was required to determine the type and scale of development that could go here. Additionally, specific policies apply to make sure redevelopment integrates into the surrounding community, and provides additional mobility infrastructure and policies to support current and future residents. An amendment to the Westbrook LAP is also proposed, which categorizes the site as ‘Neighbourhood Connector,’ with maximum building heights ranging from 6 storeys closest to the surrounding low-density homes, and up to 16-storeys closest to Crowchild Trail SW.
Proposed zoning requires transition from low to higher heights across the site, and provides more certainty about future development. The application proposes to rezone the 11.5 acre site to a Direct Control District (DC; custom land use district) which regulates where certain building heights, maximum densities, and things like building setbacks, parking, and landscaping go. Parking will be required to be provided on site. The DC is based on the stock land use district of M-H2, which is also subject to the general rules for multi-residential districts. This includes a minimum of 0.625 car parking stalls per unit or suite, and 1.0 bicycle parking stalls per unit and suite, provided on site.
The proposed DC divides the entire site into three development sites, and a public park. Each site has specific rules for densities and building heights, and requires development to transition from lower height/density to higher height/density closer to Crowchild Trail SW. In other words, building heights are low (3-4 storeys) across from the existing homes along 30 Avenue SW and 25 Street SW; building heights can increase from 5 to 7 storeys in the interior of the site; and the tallest buildings can only go in the northeast portion of the site, closest to Crowchild Trail SW.
We need more housing. Even though these new homes will not be available right away, it is critical that more housing continues to be approved across the city if we want to have any chance of keeping up with the demand for housing and improving affordability. By our math of needing to build ~70 homes a day in Calgary to keep up with demand, at full build out, 2501 Richmond will accommodate about 17 days worth of growth.
One More Time: Please join us and speak up!
Use the City Clerk’s form to write in or sign up to have your voice heard! Calgary.ca/PublicSubmissions
Bring your personal story and passion to your submission, but keep it focused and respectful of diverse perspectives. Together, we can create a more thoughtful and constructive conversation.
Comment here or contact us at info@moreneighbourscalgary.ca if you have any questions. We are a volunteer-run organization, but we’ll do our best to provide you whatever information we can!
JFC, the only objection I didn’t see them mention is destroying the water table a la Glenmore Landing. They must have the same lawyers.