Calgary Council: Pub's Future in Peril After Rezoning

CALGARY — Calgary City Council approved a land-use redesignation on January 20, 2026, that could silence 35 years of live music at the Ship & Anchor pub. The vote clears the way for Strategic Group to add two residential storeys atop the existing four-storey building at 534 17 Ave SW.

The pub's majority shareholder isn't celebrating.

Living Above a Rock Show

James Ballantyne told council the plan amounts to a death sentence for live music. "It is unrealistic to expect music to be muted sufficiently for residents," he said, warning of bylaw complaints and "open hostility from those overlooking the pub's patio."

Ballantyne knows the acoustics firsthand. The Ship's offices used to sit above the pub. When bands played, it was very loud. Now imagine residents trying to sleep.

He floated sound-dampening as a possibility, but only if the developer wants to talk. The Ship & Anchor has 16 years remaining on its lease, with exclusive-use protections for all current areas.

Developer Promises Cooperation

Strategic Group insists the pub will keep operating during construction. They pointed to their in-house property management and direct lines to the venue operator as proof they'll play nice.

Ward 8 Councillor Nathan Schmidt voted yes but hedged. He urged the developer to work with his office and the Ship & Anchor "to find a solution," nodding to the venue's cultural weight in the city. Councillors John Pantazopoulos, Rob Ward, and Kim Tyers voted no.

The Noise Bylaw Wild Card

Calgary's Noise Bylaw 5M2004 is under comprehensive review, with a report due to the Community Development Committee in Q2 2026. That review was triggered in part by a July 2024 meeting on the new Event Centre, where sound insulation alone carried an approximately $8 million price tag.

The redesignation vote is one step. If the development permit gets challenged, the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board makes the final call. The noise bylaw review could reshape how the city handles mixed-use projects in entertainment districts—potentially too late for the Ship & Anchor.