Viva

This project was cancelled in January of 2009 due to the slowed market that put several Torode Residential projects into receivership. The Herald reported in March 2010 that the Viva land was bought by Dan van Leeuwen and his firm New Urban Consulting in partnership with Phil Swift, founder of ARC Financial. That news story said Mr. van Leeuwen had been president of Torode Commercial and intimates that his more cautious approach led to his leaving the Torode company. He was quoted as saying the property is a "long-term hold".

Viva had been planned as Torode Residential's next project after the three-tower Arriva project a few steps west in Victoria Crossing. Of course Arriva saw only its first tower completed before the market cooled, collapsing further plans for that block.

Viva was to be 18 storeys tall, housing 161 suites in its first-of-two buildings, an in-ground parkade and storage lockers for every suite. Plans called for a fifth-floor roof-top garden on tower one's south side, and green-roof landscaping over top of the three-storey podium on the north side. The four-floor podium's south face was to house two-level homes which would allow "live/work" for those fronting onto the Twelfth Avenue sidewalk; perfect for a lawyer, Realtor or chiropractor. No retail spaces were planned.

The location is adjacent to the Elbow River and the Stampede Grounds, both to be upgraded, and of course Inglewood with its shops, restaurants, and bars. Just behind the Viva property a major future development is to be called Railtown, and is also planned to have Calgary's terminus for a high-speed rail link to Edmonton.

I have on file all of Viva's original marketing material and floors plans. Hey, maybe good times will see the original plan revived!