BANFF – A community greenhouse at the Cascade Plaza has been turfed out by the new owners of the shopping mall to make way for future redevelopment plans.
The new owners, Atlas Development Corporation, have kicked in $5,000 to help with the relocation of the structure they required the Banff Greenhouse Gardening Society to remove by the end of April.
The Town of Banff came up with a last minute alternative site at the Fenlands overflow parking lot, with council committing $4,000 for materials, water service and greenhouse re-assembly.
“Let’s get something operating for the 2019 growing season and then come back to us with what the future might look like,” said Mayor Karen Sorensen, noting Plan B is the top of the Bear Street parkade if the Fenlands site doesn’t work out.
In a 2013 agreement with the then-owners of Cascade Plaza, a 20-plot greenhouse kit was purchased and set up on the roof of the mall’s parkade by the Banff Community Greenhouse Society (BGGS). It was one of three greenhouses for the organization, which also has two greenhouses at the rec grounds, the first of which was established in 2011.
This year, there was a record high 122 applications for garden plots. This included 31 returning gardeners, including Banff Elementary School, Banff daycare and Into the Wild nature program. In addition, there are 91 new applications. If all three greenhouses are available for 2019, there will be 82 gardening beds.
Bob Lutz, BGGS president, said the community greenhouses are becoming more and more popular, noting the second greenhouse at the recreation grounds was recently completed.
“Every time we build, the applications increase,” he said, noting the number of applications was up from 90 the previous year and there continues to be a consistent annual waiting list.
“We’re in an unfortunate situation where Cascade Shops is not in a position to be able to host the greenhouse, and they’ve asked us to move, and what that’s done is reduce our plots down to 60 while the number of applications went up.”
Craig Fulton, a spokesman for Atlas Property Services, said Cascade Shops is doing renovations to open up the parkade to the public as part of the company’s redevelopment plans.
“Cascade Shops has been proud to be able to host the Banff Greenhouse Gardening Society’s satellite greenhouse on the top level of the parkade for so many years, but with the renovations and increased usage it won’t be appropriate to have the greenhouse sharing the space, unfortunately,” he said.
Chad Townsend, the Town’s environmental manager, said the Fenlands is a good location because it has an existing waterline, power, washrooms, picnic areas, bike racks, and ample parking.
He said other programs and services offered there in summer that compliment the greenhouse include a large children’s play area in the curling rink, summer drop-in sports on the dry floor, shower services, and a bike repair station.
“Access to The Fenlands is scheduled to be improved in 2019 with the installation of a new dedicated trail along Norquay Road for pedestrians,” he said.
“The Fenlands site may also allow for improved site security with regular visitation and staffing at the centre.”
Councillor Corrie DiManno said she went back and forth on whether the greenhouse should be relocated to the Fenlands or Bear Street parkade, noting there were pros and cons for both sites.
“I thank administration and the greenhouse society for being on top of this and bringing this to us,” she said.
“I really like the idea of creating this summer community down there at the Fenlands.”
