A new development in downtown Cochrane named Bow Street Common is now its final phase.

This final phase will be named Bow Street Common and construction has begun on two buildings north of Walmart and west of Save-on-Foods

Springwood Developments Inc. first obtained the site on the corner of Railway and Bow St. 12 years ago, after it had sat vacant for over 25 years due to creosote contamination.

Cindy Casemore, Leasing Manager & Paralegal with Springwood Developments Inc., explains the environmental remediation conducted on this site was a complex and innovative procedure.

"We partnered with Biogenie and came up with a way where we could activate naturally occurring bacteria in the soil by adding a type of fertilizer, air and water to the soil, and the bacteria would “eat” the dangerous contaminants. So it was no longer creosote, it was back to soil. This is a far more environmentally friendly approach than the common practice of taking the contaminated soil, putting it in a truck, and taking it to one of the government approved dump sites."

Casemore says 38 acres of the 45 acre site have been developed and a Canadian Brewhouse is currently being constructed.

Springwood would like to see small retailers move into the remaining planned retail space.

"We want to keep it intimate, and a really walkable shopping centre, with some retail boutiques, fashion boutiques. There will be some quick service food, we're also actively seeking services such as medical practitioners, massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic clinics, yoga, etc."

The vision of Bow Street Common is to blend Historical Main Street with the big box stores in The Quarry.

Casemore says the goal has always been to marry the two retail areas.

"There's misconception that The Quarry is trying to pillage the downtown and that's not at all what we're trying to do. We don't want to see the downtown diminish, in fact, I think the downtown will become even more of a boutique, specialty zone. Bow Street Common is a way to blend that with some of the more big box retail, resulting in shoppers staying in Cochrane to shop instead of heading into Calgary. "

Casemore adds Springwood has planned a gathering space at the entrance to Bow Street Common that includes landscaping, benches and a large bronze statue of a cowboy and his horse. They found the bronze statue sitting neglected in a farmer's field, purchased it, and restored it to bring to the project.

"We are adding a western heritage art piece in the centre of the gathering space. We are hoping people enjoy it and take it as a western tribute to Cochrane."

The Brewhouse and a 10,500 square foot multi-tenant retail space should be completed in the coming months, the rest of the planned development will be created in 1 or 2 phases after that depending on the market.