Organic growth breathes new life into Calgary’s Marda Loop

Change is under way in Calgary’s established neighbourhoods. The bungalows that once occupied the wide, tree-lined streets of the prairie city’s postwar suburbs are slowly surrendering to building forms better attuned to the needs and preferences of a younger generation of families – from infill homes and row houses, to multiplexes and mid-rise buildings.

As market pressures accelerate the pace of change in these neighbourhoods, redevelopment isn’t always welcome by existing residents, who bought into a suburban lifestyle many decades ago. But the benefits of densification are undeniable, as a steady influx of new residents triggers not only community improvements, but it also attracts additional services and amenities to otherwise underserved areas.