So here is a block-diagram plan-view superimposed on a Google Street Map to illustrate what I am talking about...
All of the subject land is either owned by the City or the Province so that is where negotiations for development would have to begin. The City also owns the High Level Bridge (
I believe). There is a heretofore unprecedented exchage that would have to take place -- the City and the Province would have cede rights to a "Development Partnership" (
one that would also include the City and the Province as partners) that would also include qualified Edmonton Developers (
something akin to the way development was handled at Blatchford). There would also have to be agreement on Architectural and Engineering Design -- an Architect-of-Record and an Engineer-of-Record plus premium designers that would be responsible for specific segments of the whole. To be sure this would be a project every bit as ambitious as the ICE District in total.
Some of the achievable goals would include:
* a linear landscaped park that would outdo New York City's HighLine and that would include Pedestrian Paths, Bicycle Paths and -- EXTREMELY important -- a permanent year-'round Edmonton Radial Railway route from Jasper Avenue (
and beyond) to Whyte Avenue (
and beyond) that employs the upper deck of the High Level Bridge.
* the lower deck of one of Edmonton's most significant historical assets would be converted from a auto thoroughfare to a Retail/Hospitality venue of the highest order. To protect the bridge a glass tunnel would be built along the upper deck and the lower deck, too, would be enclosed in glass so that elements would no longer interfere with the bridge's structural viability (
of course a structural refitting would have to take place first).
* reclaiming 109th Street as a viable Main Street with shops, eateries, pubs and businesses lining both sides of the new bridge. With a nod to Jane Jacobs the second and third floors above these shops could have condo-form town houses and small-business professional offices.
* the structural piers of the new bridge would also form the foundations for mid-rise and high-rise residential towers -- some rental and some condo.
* a five star hotel on the south end of the bridge would help to define a nodal development for the area adjacent to 109th street and Saskatchewan Drive.
more to come... I have to run off to a meeting.
Back on track...
* the City and the Province would not have to pay one red cent for this project; they would simply have to cede the land to developers as their portion of the "partnership". The developers in turn then would not have any land costs to deal with (typically 5% to 7% of project costs). Each section of the project would be handled by separate individual developers picked from the most reputable Edmonton firms.
* Star-power design architects would divide the project into sections with one single developer responsible for each architectural outcome. For example, Douglas Cardinal could pick up the north-end section south to the north shore of the river; Santiago Calatrava could take on the bridge portion spanning the river; Gene Dub could deal with the towers on the south bank of the river; MODA could finesse the span over the Kinsmen Park; AC Martin could pick up the tower at the south end of the High Level Bridge; and Frank Gehry could design the nodal group at Saskatchewan Drive and 109th Street. The landscape and deck designs for the historical High Level could be accomplished by Thomas Heatherwick with MNLA and Arup Engineers. Edmonton has a horrendous reputation for handling competitions -- so there would have to be a selection process that involves direct commissioning.
* the new "living bridge" could feature magnificent landscape features such as waterfalls, vertical plantings, and accent lighting.
* the inside of the glass-form protective tunnel on the upper deck of the High Level Bridge could act as a spectacular canvas for XR FX -- light and sound shows; AR imagery; and Holographic projections -- as stated elsewhere on this site -- it could be a light show that pays homage to every major holiday throughout the year.
* the land ceded to Kinsmen could allow for disruption to their Pitch and Putt course plus provide room for additional sports facilities -- maybe an exotic skateboard park, an exercise run, additional hiking trails, etc.
My next step will be to develop a massing diagram and assigning costs but there will need to be extreme patience in waiting for these -- I have a business with a lot of demands -- this is a project of the heart.