Kensington, Calgary

Location of Kensington in Calgary

Kensington is a Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ) in Calgary, Alberta, focused around the intersection of Kensington Road and 10th St. NW, also known as the Kensington-Louise Crossing Business Association. It resides primarily in the Hillhurst and Sunnyside neighbourhood, and successful marketing has made it such that the neighbourhood itself is erroneously referred to as Kensington. It is located immediately north of downtown and the Bow River and is easily reached by most of the city's major access routes.

Kensington during the Sun and Salsa Festival
Hillhurst United Church on Kensington Close

The Calgary C-Train (above ground light-rail transit system) runs through the Kensington area via Sunnyside Station. The station is located along 9A Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenue N.W.

Kensington has seen a revival over the past few years with a host of new residential development by local Calgary builders. Kensington by Bucci, St Johns by Streetside, and LIDO by Batistella will add over 20,000 sq.ft. of new street level retail as well as approximately 240 residential condo-style homes to the neighbourhood. Encompassed by the areas of Hillhurst and Sunnyside, Kensington is an active family-friendly area, abundant with amenities.

History

The area was owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway and pioneer rancher Ezra Riley at the beginning of the 20th century,[1] when Riley Park was used for horse pasture. The oldest building still standing is the Plaza Theater, built in the 1920s.

Today, the neighborhood hosts Christmas in Kensington Village in December, the Sun and Salsa Festival in July, as well as the Bizarre Bikes & Bazaar in May.[2]

Sporting Teams

Kensington is home to the Calgary Kookaburras Australian rules football club.

See also

References

  1. Where magazine (November 2005). "Kensington neighborhood". Retrieved 2007-04-27.
  2. Visit Kensington. "Kensington Village". Retrieved 2007-04-27.

Coordinates: 51°03′09″N 114°05′41″W / 51.05250°N 114.09472°W