‘A great idea’: How office conversions could resurrect Calgary’s ailing downtown

The city skyline is seen behind the Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames, in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, March 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Four years ago, Maxim Olshevsky abandoned his business for a new opportunity.

After years of observing an exodus of downtown workers, Calgary announced it would be offering handsome payouts to developers to turn abandoned office towers into apartments.

“We completely pivoted in 2021,” said Olshevsky, owner of Peoplefirst Developments.