Commercial Properties -
Custom Built
The Dobbin-Cochrane Group
Charles Cochrane was President of the Dobbin Cochrane Group for many years, garnering much press for the DCG projects. Here's a taste of the many stories circulated at the time surrounding the DCG developments.
August 7th, 1983
"...That may be because Dobbin and Cochrane believe in fostering commercial developments within the context of a certain lifestyle. Their projects tend to be more people oriented than soaring glass and concrete edifices that now dominate the
city skyline."
- The Calgary Sun
April 8th, 1985
"The developers are willing to hand an estimated $50 million in annual casino profits over to charity and let the provincial government run the casino operations, Cochrane said."
- The Toronto Star
August 7th, 1985
"...[t]his mall will create 2,200 jobs and pump $68 million into the Calgary economy during construction as well as provide 2,200 permanent jobs after it is built."
- The Calgary Sun
"They won't build anything until they have major
tenants signed first .
"It's all part of the security package," said Cochrane. "You fashion the development to the economic needs of the tenant."
Cochrane said the approach is becoming the new industry trend and is spelling the end of the speculative "get-rich-quick", style of development in Calgary."
November 30th, 1985
"Kensington Lane Official Grand Opening ... An old neighbourhood landmark puts on a charming new retail and office face."
October 20th, 1985
"In 1981, Dobbin teamed up with a friend, Harvard-educated
Charles Cochrane a veteran of the commercial and residential real estate development business
in Calgary, formerly with the Imperial Group.
August 1st, 1987
"Certainly there have been changes, but to a surprising extent the values and character of the old neighbourhood have survived.
The present and past meet in a meaningful way and Calgary is richer because of it."
- The Calgary Herald
December 26th, 1988
"Some of the design features of the Ross block, which was destroyed by the fire Saturday morning, will be incorporated in a seven story complex to be built on the Hillhurst site.
... [the complex] will include 60 retail shops, 80 hotel rooms and four 100-seat restaurants."
- The Calgary Herald
February 27th, 1989
"One night, the four boys ... built a small bonfire
in the basement. They thought the fire was
out when they left, but some coals dropped
to the floor and set the block ablaze.
When police told Dobbin about the boys,
Dobbin said he wouldn't press charges. Instead, arson squad detective Jim Jones tells me, the boys have written letters of apology."
April 2nd, 1989
"... students from the Alberta College of Art began giving the Kensington area a new shine Saturday by painting the boarding panels around Kensington Crossing at 10th Street and Kensington Road. There are 71 panels with about 10 reserved for elementary students."
- The Calgary Herald
The group now owns a number of
buildings and land in the area, including the Swimco Building, Kenington Wharf Buidling, Charlie Chan Building and the Arnell Block."
- The Calgary Herald
February 21st, 1986
"Cadillar Fairview Corp. Ltd. and
The Dobbin-Cochrane Group are expected to announce plans to turn the 34-store centre into a full-scale regional shopping mall, the sources said."
-The Calgary Herald