# Neighborhood retail in residential Calgary

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2022-01-06

calgary, development, faas-architecture, infill, neighborhood-retail, rndsqr, small-scale-commercial, toronto, urbanism

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I have written, [many times over the years](https://brandondonnelly.com/2020/12/13/building-cool-things-is-not-as-easy-as-it-may-seem/), about small-scale commercial uses in residential neighborhoods. Here in Toronto, they are generally not permitted. The small convenience stores and bodegas that remain are often legal non-conforming uses.

Today I came across [a great example from Calgary](https://www.rndsqr.ca/lease/general-block). I don't know if it was done on an as-of-right basis or if variances were needed, but it is an example of small-scale commercial on a site that used to be low-rise residential.

Here is the before (from street view):

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/3627bac908bf2af2f501a652eb00e59d.png)

Here is the after:

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/15bd56dcbbefc971d1f3c36aa4db449f.png)

And here are a few more photos from the developer:

https://twitter.com/DevaniAlkarim/status/1478965592937807874?s=20

Developed by [RNDSQR](https://www.rndsqr.ca/lease/general-block) and designed by FAAS Architecture, the project houses three street front commercial units that are now leased -- according to their website -- to an ice cream shop, a coffee shop, and a pizza + wine bar. The second flour houses office space.

Congratulations to the team behind this development. It looks like a terrific project. And in my view, being able to leave your home and walk to things is one of the greatest urban amenities out there.

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/neighborhood-retail-in-residential-calgary)*