Edmonton Minute: Issue 243

Edmonton Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Edmonton politics

📅 This Week In Edmonton: 📅

• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a City Council meeting. On the agenda are options for the Alberta Avenue Arts Common project. The City of Edmonton has reacquired the ArtsCommon 118 site in Alberta Avenue after the Edmonton Community Development Company found the original arts-focused development unviable. Administration plans to list the property for sale on the open market, encouraging proposals that reflect the community’s vision, including flexible arts spaces, a black box theatre, galleries, artist studios, retail, and residential units. Community groups have emphasized the need for arts-related development combined with timely, financially viable construction and ongoing engagement with local stakeholders. The City intends to support accelerated development by extending construction timelines and may consider using $3.3 million from the Financial Stabilization Reserve to aid the project. Administration will seek proposals for six months before reporting back on suitable options. Ongoing community involvement will be mandated as part of any development agreement to ensure alignment with neighbourhood needs.
  
  
• Council has voted to extend the Downtown Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) by 10 years, allowing the City to borrow against future tax revenues until 2044 to fund downtown projects. The CRL aims to support housing, arts and culture, and public amenities, but the extension sparked debate over two controversial projects tied to the Oilers Entertainment Group. While many Councillors supported the extension, some opposed using public funds for private developments associated with a billion-dollar company. Supporters of the extension argued that the projects would boost economic activity, cultural engagement, and tourism in the core. Several community and business leaders urged Council not to delay, lest they risk losing momentum in downtown revitalization. Critics worried about a lack of transparency and potential provincial rejection if the project list changes. Ultimately, Council rejected motions to delay the decision and moved forward with the extension.
  
  
• Starting July 1st, Edmonton will remove all mobile photo radar from school and playground zones. The City plans to redirect efforts and funds toward long-term safety upgrades like more crosswalks and speed bumps. Since 2019, Edmonton has invested over $6 million in playground zone improvements. While some community members welcomed the shift toward infrastructure-based solutions, others expressed concern that removing photo radar would reduce road safety, especially for children. The Province has allocated $13 million to municipalities for traffic safety improvements. Edmonton aims to achieve its Vision Zero goal of zero traffic fatalities by focusing on safer infrastructure and community engagement. Advocates note, however, that without photo radar, road safety risks may increase until infrastructure changes are fully implemented.
  
  
• Councillor Aaron Paquette is advocating for a footbridge over Manning Drive to connect growing neighbourhoods like Brintnell and Cy Becker to the nearby Manning Town Centre shopping area. Residents have expressed concerns about the current lack of safe pedestrian crossings, with many resorting to jaywalking across the busy arterial road. The footbridge would offer a safer, more direct route without disrupting vehicle traffic. Paquette introduced a motion to fund a feasibility study for the bridge, which passed unanimously, with Council potentially deciding on funding this fall. The bridge could cost over $10 million, but local developers have shown interest in contributing. Community members have supported the idea, noting it would improve access for non-drivers and potentially boost local business.
  
  
• Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi won a byelection in Edmonton-Strathcona with about 82% of the vote, securing his seat in the Legislature after leading the party for a year without one. Another NDP candidate, Gurtej Singh Brar, also won in Edmonton-Ellerslie, capturing 51% of the vote, though the NDP's support, and the margin to the second-placed UCP, dropped significantly. Nenshi pledged to advocate strongly for issues like public healthcare, education, workers’ rights, and community safety. Brar, a local broadcaster and tech enthusiast, emphasized his commitment to improving health care, education, community safety, and the reinstatement of a cancelled south Edmonton hospital project.
  
  
• Current Councillor and Mayoral candidate Tim Cartmell says he wants City Council to pause approvals for large mid-block infill developments, arguing the City’s strategy is moving too fast. Cartmell plans to introduce a motion that would place a moratorium on bigger projects while the City reviews how infill fits with its 15 districts. He says smaller projects like duplexes are not the issue, but larger buildings between single-family homes are fuelling neighbourhood frustration. Supporters of the City’s new zoning rules say more infill is critical to tackle housing costs and make Edmonton’s neighbourhoods more sustainable. Critics argue big multi-unit buildings bring traffic, parking headaches and tree loss. Cartmell says the City must listen more closely to residents. Council’s Urban Planning Committee recently backed a proposal to cut allowable units in mid-block row houses from eight to six.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨