Downtown Office Demolition Incentive Program

Who can apply

The following criteria must be met to be considered for the Downtown Office Demolition Incentive Program:

To be considered eligible to be approved by the Incentives Approval Committee or Council, as the case may be, an applicant must first satisfy the criteria outlined below. The criteria below must be met to be considered for the Demolition Program.

1. The proposed demolition results in the elimination/removal of office space.
2. Preference will be given to end-of-life buildings that are unsuitable for adaptive reuse.
3. Preference will be given to properties assessed at or close to land value.
4. The property is located within the Greater Downtown Plan Area with priority given to projects located in the priority area as highlighted on the map in Appendix A, with consideration given to strategic sites in the Downtown West area.
5. The applicant is the property owner or their designated agent, or the applicant provides the Downtown Strategy Team with the following letters of authorization:

• Written authorization from the property owner that is satisfactory to the Downtown Strategy Team authorizing The City to obtain any information reasonably requested by The City directly from the property owner; and
• Written authorization from the applicant that is satisfactory to the Downtown Strategy Team authorizing The City to discuss the details of the application directly with the property owner.

2. Evidence of satisfactory project financing.
3. Applicant track record.

• The applicant shall submit their project experience similar to scope and size contemplated in the application. If the applicant has no demolition experience, the consultants/ advisors that have demolition experience shall be named along with their relevant experience. The construction manager(s) or consultants must have a proven track record in large-scale demolition projects in urban areas. The City’s previous dealings with the applicant, if any, including the applicant’s history of compliance with previous agreements and/or requirements of development, may also be considered.
• The applicant shall prove to the satisfaction of the Incentives Approval Committee that the applicant has the human resources from a project management, supervision and execution perspective (if not own staff then via consultants) available in Calgary.
• Details about the applicant shall be provided with the application as follows:
• Age of entity/corporation;
• Type of entity/corporation (legal and industry); and,
• Proof of good standing with respect to annual filings, corporate standing, and financial capacity.

4. Consideration of existing tenants and uses.

• The applicant must support the relocation of any existing headlease and sublease tenants to a property within the Greater Downtown Plan Area before demolition.
• Additional consideration will be given where the following uses and tenancies exist:
• Non-profit/social services;
• Educational uses;
• Cultural spaces, including murals and public art;
• Daycare & learning centers;
• Recreational uses;
• Ground-level retail;
• Health services; and
• Other uses as determined by the Downtown Strategy Team.