Calgary's newest 'urbanist' community breaks ground

Ground was broken and dirt was tossed to launch the start of a new Calgary southwest community Thursday.

Alpine Park will take about 15 years to complete at an estimated cost of $2.5 billion, creating hundreds of jobs a year to offer housing to about 10,000 residents.

"I don't think it's like a lot of other places," Michael Cooper of Dream told reporters.

"Alpine Park is among some of our most prestigious mixed-use communities, along with The Distillery District and Canary District in Toronto and Zibi in Ottawa. We strive to build communities that help make peoples' lives better," Cooper said.

The mayor of Calgary says the project could raise the bar.

"Dream has done a remarkable job in planning what will be a new kind of community. A community where people can live, work, play in a great environment, an urbanist environment, a sustainable and resilient environment even on the fringes of Calgary," Naheed Nenshi said.

"I am very excited about what is possible here because I think it could set the bar for future urban development here and throughout the country."

The 646-acre space is south of the Tsuut'ina Reserve at 146th Avenue S.W., west of the communities of Evergreen and Bridlewood and the southwest ring road and north of Spruce Meadows Trail.