Downtown Edmonton will son undergo a transformation. Approximately 18 blocks east of downtown will be transformed into ”˜The Quarters’.
For decades, there have been certain areas of the city that most people tend to avoid. However, one of those areas is just beginning a major overhaul. City planners have spend the last few years developing plans for ”˜The Quarters’ – which covers 18 city blocks on the eastern fringes of the downtown.
Wednesday, City Hall hosted an open house to fill the public in on the plans for redevelopment. The city wants to bring in new development to revitalize the area, but wants to keep those public agencies that are already there, in place. “The agencies who are here now, The Salvation Army comes to mind, are not going anywhere. They are part of the community, and they contribute to the community,” says Development Manager Kathleen Young. City planners have been meeting with stakeholders and other interest groups to make sure desirable businesses – and desirable citizens - are attracted to the area. This doesn’t mean it will turn into suburbia. In fact, when ”˜NextGen’ was consulted about the plans, the group emphasized the need to attract a diverse population. “They kind of like the downtown to have a bit of an edge,” Young explains.
The new plans include a park that spans four blocks, wider sidewalks to encourage non-vehicular forms of transportation, and more public transit options, including an LRT expansion. They also include upgrading water and power lines, along with a hotel on 96th Street, and an apartment complex on Jasper Avenue and 95th Street. The city has already been able to get rid of some tenants, including the peep show building, and has torn down the Mount Royal Hotel and plans to cell the land for new development.
So far, the changes are being well-received, and as they continue, will hopefully attract even more investment. “They weren’t willing to invest any more money. They wanted to see something positive coming from the city,” says George Broumas, who owns a restaurant in the area. “Now, I do think now that we have positive things coming from the city, you’ll see the property owners take more interest,” he adds. More private interest is crucial, because right now, a community revitalization levy is proposed, which will direct any increase in taxes from the new development to pay for infrastructure and aesthetic improvements.
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