Banff Heritage Foundation Says Visitor-Centre Project Has Drifted From Original Vision

A Banff heritage organization is urging Parks Canada to put a greater focus on visitors than housing as plans move forward for a major redevelopment in the heart of downtown Banff.

The Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation says the winning concept for the long-planned redevelopment of the 200-block of Banff Avenue places too much emphasis on residential development and not enough on creating a "world-class visitor centre."

The comments come weeks after Parks Canada selected a proposal by Toronto-based Paul Raff Studio and Japanese architecture firm Kengo Kuma & Associates as the winning concept in an international design competition for the site.

The redevelopment would transform the east side of the 200-block of Banff Avenue with a new visitor centre pavilion, public gathering spaces, residential buildings and underground parking. The design also preserves and restores the existing heritage visitor information building.

Harvey Locke, a board member and treasurer of the foundation, said the organization supports the redevelopment and has no concerns with the architectural style of the winning design.

"We're excited that there's an opportunity to put Banff National Park back in the heart of downtown Banff," he said.

However, Locke said the foundation believes housing has become too prominent in the project.

"This should be a visitor centre. First, foremost, and always," he said.

The foundation owns and maintains several legally protected heritage properties on Beaver Street directly across from the redevelopment site, including the Luxton Museum.

The redevelopment traces its roots to recommendations made in the 1996 Banff Bow Valley Study. Over the following decades, Parks Canada gradually assembled properties along the east side of the 200-block of Banff Avenue in support of plans for a future visitor centre and public gathering space.

"There's been a 30-year arc here that we've been really enthusiastic about, and we were really surprised to see suddenly it's more of a housing project than anything else," said Locke.

Parks Canada says the project remains in the planning stage and that the winning proposal will continue to evolve.

In a statement, the agency said public, stakeholder and Indigenous engagement helped shape the competition requirements, with feedback emphasizing the need for a redevelopment that reflects Banff National Park's character, incorporates Indigenous representation, supports the local community and creates a welcoming atmosphere.

"The selected winner is a conceptual design and represents early stages of the design," the organization said. "Parks Canada, through a negotiated procedure, will work with the winning design teams to further refine the design to best incorporate all needs for the project."

The agency said it is currently exploring funding models for the redevelopment and intends to negotiate a contract with the winning team to advance the project.

"The project remains in the conceptual and planning phase, and future steps depend on funding, approvals, and further design development," Parks Canada said.

While the foundation questions the amount of housing proposed for the site, Locke said it supports efforts to address Banff's housing shortage but believes the redevelopment should remain focused on its original purpose.

"We hope in the next phase of the design that the visitor centre will be put back at the heart of the project," Locke said.