The amazing place that is Downtown Edmonton

Posted by Justin Havre on Thursday, September 22nd, 2016 at 8:10pm.

With the recent opening of Roger’s Place, Edmontonians are realizing for the first time that downtown has transformed.  Twenty years ago, some say the downtown area was a disaster with boarded up buildings and black holes.

The invention of the Downtown Business Association way back when was a step towards revitalization but it has certainly taken its time coming. New life is stirring, starting with the 25-acre Ice District and with it, $2.5 billion in new construction.  The arena was first, with a hotel and beautiful new office towers set to change the downtown landscape in Edmonton even more.

The City of Edmonton laid out its Capital City Downtown Plan in 2010.  The vision was to create a downtown that would be the envy of the country, where businesses would want to be, visitors would be sure to visit and where people would clamour to live in chic new condominiums.

Even just 10 years ago, downtown was still dismal. The tallest building was 36-storeys high. Only 15% of the land downtown was zoned residential.  In fact, between 2006 and 2011, 93% of all growth experienced was in the suburbs. That’s but that’s when a subtle metamorphosis started to take place in the centre of the city. The Art Gallery of Alberta with it’s unique architecture emerged setting a new standard for downtown buildings. Mayor Stephen Mandel initially wasn’t interested in building a vibrant downtown core, but he soon changed his mind when he realized suburbs are not where the tourists want to go when they visit Edmonton.  Tourists spend their money in hotels, restaurants and museums downtown.

Rogers Place is what sparked the condo boom and the former mayor believes that once downtown Edmonton is fully developed it will be an bigger attraction than the new rink.

Pre-Ice District projects like these got the ball rolling downtown:

  • MacEwan University expansion
  • Conversion of the former Hudson’s Bay building at Enterprise Square
  • Royal Alberta Museum construction
  • Stantec Tower (66 storeys) – the height of which was made possible by the closing of the City Centre Airport.
  • Churchill Square is still at the heart of Edmonton’s festival community.
  • There are 15 hotels in downtown Edmonton to satisfy the most discerning traveler.

Downtown Revitalization is Still Young

The city’s centre will mature as Edmonton grows up.  The population of downtown Edmonton has already increased by 20% since 2008 to 13,148 people. The evolution of the area will include the repurposing of older buildings on Jasper Avenue and 108 Street. Bike lanes are being introduced, Alex Decoteau Park will be finished at 105 Street and 102 Avenue, which will be the first new park in downtown Edmonton in 17 years.  The shift in attitudes is palpable in Edmonton, and it has started with City Council which has enough faith in downtown to spend money on it.

The Downtown Edmonton Community League is highly invested in the city centre as a residential neighbourhood and work closely with Edmonton City Council addressing issues that are unique to downtown dwellers such as social issues, health care, traffic and pedestrian safety.

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