Open Letter to the City of Calgary Regarding Ship & Anchor Pub
If you want to leave your own comment follow this link: https://dmap.calgary.ca/?p=DP2025-06592
Our Letter to the City of Calgary
Re: Development Permit DP2025-06592 – Request for Consideration of Amendments
Dear Development Authority,
On behalf of the Alberta Hospitality and Restaurant Association, a voluntary professional organization representing restaurant owners and operators across Calgary and Alberta, we are writing to provide comments regarding Development Permit DP2025-06592, which proposes a mixed-use development.
We recognize and support the City’s goals around mixed-use development, increased density, and creating vibrant, complete communities. We also acknowledge the developer’s stated intention to retain the existing public house on the site as an anchor tenant.
That said, we would like to raise concerns regarding the proposed placement of residential dwelling units directly above and in very close proximity to an established drinking establishment.
The site is currently home to the Ship & Anchor Pub, a well-known Calgary institution that has operated continuously for more than 35 years. The Ship & Anchor is a focal gathering place for the surrounding community and Calgary’s hospitality industry, contributing to cultural vitality, street life, and economic activity in the area. It is a long-established and lawful use that predates the proposed residential component of the development.
Our concern is that introducing residential units directly above the pub and adjacent to a very active patio creates a strong likelihood of future noise-related conflicts. In comparable situations, these conflicts have resulted in operational pressure on existing venues, despite those businesses operating responsibly and within their approvals. Over time, this can undermine the viability of long-standing establishments and lead to outcomes that were not intended at the time of development approval.
We are encouraged by the developer’s stated desire to retain the Ship & Anchor as an anchor tenant and believe this intent can be better supported through adjustments to the proposed design. The following potential amendments have been put forward by the Ship & Anchor as practical, good-faith solutions intended to support long-term compatibility between uses. The operator has been clear that they want to coexist successfully with future residents and avoid conflict through thoughtful design rather than restrictions or enforcement after occupancy:
Locating non-residential uses, such as office space or internal amenity or community space, directly above the pub
Increasing setbacks between residential units and the pub and patio area, potentially incorporating landscaped green space and noise mitigation features
Enhancing building design and construction measures to better address sound transmission
Addressing these considerations at the development stage would help support the long-term success of both the proposed development and a well-established community venue. Taking these steps now would also help protect a long-standing employer, cultural gathering place, and contributor to Calgary’s local economy while supporting the City’s broader housing and redevelopment objectives.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on this application. We appreciate the City’s consideration and would welcome further discussion if helpful.
Sincerely,
Mona Pinder, Executive Director
Alberta Hospitality Association