Now marks the perfect and traditional time of year to look back and see how far we’ve come. At University District, 2020 was a landmark year for many positive reasons! From meeting new neighbours to welcoming members of our retail community, breaking ground on new homes and keeping our community safe, 2020 at U/D was busy and rewarding.
Let’s take a walk down memory lane and reflect on all we accomplished – and look forward to exciting news for 2021 as we grow and firm up our roots!
The best part of moving into a new community is meeting the neighbours – and U/D does not disappoint! Bailin and Connor’s outdoorsy lifestyle shows just how close U/D is to anything you could want, while Dr. Sabir’s work at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and life in the NW highlights all the amazing people and resources surrounding U/D.
With the opening of more homes, we were able to welcome so many more neighbours!
With the first purpose-built rentals in Aria by Gracorp Properties and condos in August, by Homes by Avi, welcoming residents in 2020, so many more people were able to call U/D home!
As Maple by Truman and Cambridge Manor by the Brenda Strafford Foundation opened this year, U/D became a space for senior community members to age in place with all the amenities and assistance they could need right at home.
Meet the new neighbours yet at University District? Check out this collection of blog stories! Click to explore the businesses and people who make U/D feel like home!
Neighbours are more than the people next door – they are also the businesses and business owners who call your community their second home! Bringing great convenience and character to University District, a wonderful line-up of shops and services opened their doors in 2020! Whether you’re looking to get your groceries or choose wine for dinner, you don’t have to go far! From big names like Save-On-Foods to our local Market Wines opening in 2020, everything is nicely within reach.
All ages of people and walks of life are refreshing their style and enjoying a feel-good boost from regular self-care and grooming visits to the bright, modern Denim & Smith Barbershop and Curious Hair Salons we also welcomed this Fall!
We always remember our furry friends, too! Pet Planet is just a hop, skip and jump away for the latest treats and toys!
Meanwhile, other handy professional services are helping us keep track and turn important corners in our daily lives! We all appreciate the importance of a trusted community bank and could not be more pleased to welcome Scotiabank to U/D. All manner of financial counsel and conveniences are offered by the team here.
Financial Tips from Scotiabank: The year-end is also an important time to review your financial circumstances! Scotiabank offers this helpful reminder checklist!
The exciting progress doesn’t stop there. This year, we also saw future plans firm up with wonderful announcements about future retailers coming soon! Keep an eye out for Village Ice Cream, The Alley, BarBURRITO and Shoppers Drug Mart.
Who? What? When? Wondering who’s in the neighbourhood and who will be next to arrive? Check out our retailer page for all the details and updates!
Our builder partners are, literally, the foundation of this community! With beautiful offerings to fit any stage of life, these are the homes you begin your U/D experience in.
Capella by Brookfield Residential broke ground in February 2020, soon giving future residents the option of condos or larger, single-level homes to create their dream home.
Meanwhile, Esquire by Truman also put shovels to work in 2020, bringing custom condo living with high-end amenities to the neighbourhood.
And it’s more than houses and shops that make U/D a home – with construction starting on Central Park and its buildings that add to the retail main street. This addition will make U/D an even more engaging space to live! With a three-acre park in the middle of the neighbourhood, you know you don’t have to go far to get outdoors and burn off some energy, or take a casual walk – and run some errands at the surrounding stores at the same time!
Our team’s top priority is keeping our community members safe, healthy and happy – especially important in 2020! When it came to COVID-19, U/D kept up to date on all government recommendations to make sure anyone living in or visiting the community was safe. We encouraged making appointments to view the Discovery Centre, as well as made hand sanitizer, surface sanitizer and masks available for all visitors. We also installed our first stages of wayfinding in 2020, an important piece of any community.
Outside of the neighbourhood, our team encouraged safe volunteering to help out folks in our community – and beyond! Between virtual visits, grocery runs for those stuck at home and dozens of Calgary organizations looking for assistance, there are no shortage of ways to give back this year.
With 2020 nearly in the rear-view mirror, let’s take a look ahead to 2021 and see what exciting news is on its way! In addition to those cited, we will be welcoming many more new retailers to our main street early next year. These include OEB Breakfast Co., Monogram Coffee, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Sesame for delicious food and beverage choices! In addition to all the delicious food retailers joining us, Clever Centres Daycare is slated to open in January 2021, with Orangetheory Fitness and YYC Cycle close behind. There’s more! University District Dental and Cineplex VIP Cinemas are on the calendar to open later in 2021 as well.
Whether you’re looking to eat, drop the kids off for some fun or get a workout in, there are going to be plenty more exciting options close to home at U/D!
There are so many moments and community milestones to celebrate and anticipate here at University District. Keep pace and stay connected! We share so many of our adventures in and around U/D on social media – follow along at University District on Facebook, @udistrictyyc_ on Instagram and Twitter, too! check out our top social post of the year right here!
The University District blog is a resource for Calgarians who want to live, work, play, visit or buy in the northwest. We will provide you with information, stories, news and a closer look at the things that matter so you can live a more inspired, active and connected life in NW Calgary at University District… Life works here.
Join the Discussion