There is finally progress in the vacant lot that has scarred the Mission district in southwest Calgary for more than a decade. Referred to by some as Mission's "hole in the soul," the long-awaited commercial development at the corner of 4 St. and 20 Ave. S.W. moved one step closer to completion recently.

With a ceremony celebrating the final pouring of concrete on the site, the last major milestone has been cleared before the six-storey, 140,000 square-foot building is fully unveiled in late spring, 2013.

A stretch of Memorial Drive in the community of Parkdale is about to get a little artsier.

The sculpture, by New York artist Brian Tolle, will be integrated into an existing storm water outfall along the Bow River pathway system. The intent of the piece is to heighten public awareness of the interface between Calgary's storm water infrastructure and natural landscape.

Calgary and Alberta continue to be the exception to the rule when it comes to the Canadian housing market.

"Alberta and the rest of the country are clearly on different train tracks when it comes to the housing market," said ATB senior economist Todd Hirsch. "Back when Alberta's home prices were booming, the explanation was pretty straightforward: very high in-migration combined with strong wage growth and the introduction of 40-year mortgages."

Construction has begun in the town of Cochrane on a corridor that will link the downtown with the Quarry, the future site of retail shopping, community gathering sites and residential development.

"Bringing this project to fruition required the contribution of many," said Cochrane mayor Truper McBride at an opening event for the corridor. "(We're celebrating) the first of a number of key milestones that will be met to ensure the success of this project.

Albertans purchasing a new place to call home will have warranty coverage for their purchase under new legislation proposed by the Alberta government.

Bill 5, the New Home Buyer Protection Act, was introduced in the legislature on Oct. 25. The Act requires builders to provide home warranty coverage for all new homes built in the province starting in fall 2013.

A recent pilot project from City Hall has once again cast a spotlight on the hotly contested issue of secondary suites in Calgary. One of Mayor Naheed Nenshi's major talking points during his 2010 campaign, the citywide legalization of secondary suites, remains an unrealized goal as the Mayor comes to the end of his term.

Although city council agreed in April to allow the suites in all new neighbourhoods, it's unlikely such a move will make much of a dent in Calgary's hot rental market.