A captivating setting can transport people to another time or place, create a certain mood or atmosphere, and enhance the overall story of a community. Whether it's grand and elaborate or simple and minimalistic, a well-designed and carefully planned area can have a significant positive impact on the lives of those who experience it.
Airdrie City Council has identified Downtown Revitalization as a key focus area. Our goal is to transform the downtown into a vibrant and thriving area that offers a unique blend of proactive investment, strategic location, community engagement, sustainable growth, and collaborative support.
Our aims are clear: we want to double the current development in the downtown by supporting local businesses that want to expand and attracting new investments. We also aim to draw residents by supporting the development of new housing options and invite visitors to the area with exciting new events.
The City has taken a proactive approach to make downtown Airdrie an attractive place for investment with a series of incentives to accelerate downtown redevelopment.
The program aims to help eligible businesses and property owners upgrade their storefronts or buildings, construct new patios, add temporary art installations, purchase new outdoor seating and more.
Incentives encourage investment that might not otherwise happen and can be used to promote specific types of development and improvements in an area.
The goals of the program are to:
This grant provides up to $10,000 per project to offset the costs associated with hosting and/or operating an event, program or initiative in the Downtown.
Applicants must be a licensed Airdrie business, registered not-for-profit, public institution or a group/organization working with or actively supporting a local Airdrie not-for-profit or group.
Applications for this stream are currently closed.
This is a matching reimbursement grant of up to $5,000 to offset the costs to enhance the appearance and appeal of downtown businesses, properties and privately owned public spaces.
Applicants must be an existing licensed Airdrie business or registered property owner located in Downtown Airdrie.
Applications for this stream are currently closed.
This grant reimburses the full cost of a Phase I ESA and reimburses the full, or a portion of, the cost of a Phase II ESA.
Applicatiants must meet the following eligibility:
Phase I ESA
• The selected land parcel is located within the CRL area; and
o The applicable ESA has been prepared in accordance with the development authorities’ guidelines for ESAs; including but not limited to expiration periods.
Phase II ESA
• The selected land parcel is located within the CRL area;
• The applicable ESA has been prepared in accordance with the development authorities’ guidelines for ESAs; including but not limited to expiration periods;
• The property owner, or authorized agent, has entered into a development agreement, for the selected parcel, with City of Airdrie to construct a development project; and
• Must be associated with an approved development that achieves a floor area ratio of 2.0 or greater.
Applications for this grant are being accepted on a first come, first served basis until all funds have been committed.
This process only applies to development permit applications for new developments within the CRL boundary and excludes change of use development permit applications and land use amendment applications.
Applicants must have completed a robust pre-application process and recieve eligibility approval from a Development Officer.
Applications for this stream are being accepted on an on-going basis.
This is a matching reimbursement grant of up to $50,000 to offset the costs to enhance the appearance and appeal of properties in Downtown Airdrie while creating a positive impact to the surrounding businesses.
Applicants must be an existing non-residential property owner located in Downtown Airdrie.
Applications for this stream are currently closed.
This incentive is intended to subsidize the construction costs of above or below grade parking structures on the same site and in association with, an approved development.
Applicants must have an approved parking structure within the CRL area and located within the same development area and associated with, an approved development with an FAR of 2.5 or greater.
Applications for this grant are being accepted on a first come, first served basis until all funds have been committed.
This is a matching reimbursement grant of up to $15,000 to improve or construct a patio to help create attractive, lively and pedestrian-friendly downtown streets.
Applicants must be an existing ground-level restaurant, cafe, food establishment or similar located in Downtown Airdrie.
Applications for this stream are currently closed.
Our Core Strategy: A Revitalization Plan for Downtown Airdrie, adopted by Council in September 2022, encourages us to approach downtown revitalization in a unique way – to “downtown differently”. The plan thoroughly examines the strengths and weaknesses of the downtown and sets ambitious objectives to accelerate development. This work is expected to create between 1,000 and 7,000 new jobs and residents, as well as up to $154 million in new assessment value over the next 10 years.
Community Revitalization Levies were created by the province to allow municipalities to invest in public infrastructure or take actions necessary to encourage private investment. This is done by using the provincial portion of tax revenues from assessment increases in a specific geographic area.
At a special meeting of Council on December 28, 2022, following a public hearing, the CRL was approved and went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.
CRL projects will help the City of Airdrie to do “Downtown Differently.”