eiaw83
New Member
as someone who works in epcor tower, a pedway connection across 103a would be fantastic. anything to make it a bit less of a desolate island, particularly in the winter.
- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
IanO
Superstar
Interesting...
Edmcowboy11
Senior Member
A pedway connecting CN tower and Epcor Tower to either Edmonton tower or City Hall would be nice. I wonder which of those would be easier?
IanO
Superstar
There is a pedway to the RAM and so it makes sense to work it west versus another new one N/S.
kcantor
Senior Member
^ ^^
there is a pedway from the lawcourts to the remand centre and the doghouse on the forecourt of the brownlee building. you can access it from a "connection" at the se corner of the ram but (a) it doesn't take you to the main entrance of the ram, (b) i'm not sure if it ever reopened after being closed for repairs (water leaks and sections of the ceiling falling) and (c) it was long and narrow and ugly...
there was a design for a link from the north end of churchill station under 103a and 104 avenues that would have linked to the lower level of cn tower, the lower level of the ram on that side and to the p1 level of station lands. it's too far a tunnel not to have ventilation and a second exit so that was planned for the space between 102a and 104 avenue so it would also have had pedestrian access from the bus timing loop on 104 avenue (assuming that remains with the new routes). there was also the potential to connect to the ne corner of city hall or provide another connection from grade at that location.
if my memory is correct, there was money spent doing piles and a structural slab/roof across the ram courtyard so it can be excavated from below (a cover and cut as opposed to a cut and cover). that's why the area east of the cn tower was only landscaped on the east half.
there was an agreement in principal between station lands, the ram, cn tower, the galleria (which was still alive at that time) and the city to cost-share so this might be an update to that (ex-galleria) to enable it to finally get built.
there is a pedway from the lawcourts to the remand centre and the doghouse on the forecourt of the brownlee building. you can access it from a "connection" at the se corner of the ram but (a) it doesn't take you to the main entrance of the ram, (b) i'm not sure if it ever reopened after being closed for repairs (water leaks and sections of the ceiling falling) and (c) it was long and narrow and ugly...
there was a design for a link from the north end of churchill station under 103a and 104 avenues that would have linked to the lower level of cn tower, the lower level of the ram on that side and to the p1 level of station lands. it's too far a tunnel not to have ventilation and a second exit so that was planned for the space between 102a and 104 avenue so it would also have had pedestrian access from the bus timing loop on 104 avenue (assuming that remains with the new routes). there was also the potential to connect to the ne corner of city hall or provide another connection from grade at that location.
if my memory is correct, there was money spent doing piles and a structural slab/roof across the ram courtyard so it can be excavated from below (a cover and cut as opposed to a cut and cover). that's why the area east of the cn tower was only landscaped on the east half.
there was an agreement in principal between station lands, the ram, cn tower, the galleria (which was still alive at that time) and the city to cost-share so this might be an update to that (ex-galleria) to enable it to finally get built.
EdmTrekker
Senior Member
Why would the City do that unless a 'SIGNIFICANT" development is assured contractually. Maybe the contract for construction would be through Qualico and paid for by the City only when the SIGNIFCANT development is completed and the project taxable.?
IanO
Superstar
Perhaps this is tied to their two residential projects.
kcantor
Senior Member
^^
the original plan was that 20% of the cost would have been a city expense and the remaining 80% would have been recovered as local improvement charges from all of the landowners involved that would have been completely independent of any additional development. it was a good deal all around and i can't tell you if the current discussions are in fact for this link or whether the agreement for it will bear any resemblance to what was initially under discussion.
^
it wouldn't surprise me if this has nothing to do with the pedway and is in fact the residential towers on the north podium being the first "shovel ready" residential project to be accepted into the city's recently announced incentive program.
or it may well combine both of those things which would be another big step to integrating everything that's happening north of 103a avenue to the south side.
the original plan was that 20% of the cost would have been a city expense and the remaining 80% would have been recovered as local improvement charges from all of the landowners involved that would have been completely independent of any additional development. it was a good deal all around and i can't tell you if the current discussions are in fact for this link or whether the agreement for it will bear any resemblance to what was initially under discussion.
^
it wouldn't surprise me if this has nothing to do with the pedway and is in fact the residential towers on the north podium being the first "shovel ready" residential project to be accepted into the city's recently announced incentive program.
or it may well combine both of those things which would be another big step to integrating everything that's happening north of 103a avenue to the south side.
Avenuer
Senior Member
I believe this is the proposed pedway route that Qualico is asking the CIty to chip in for.
IanO
Superstar
Qualico looking for $37M in CRL funding to move Station Lands forward
By Mack Male
More than $37 million in funding from the Capital City Downtown Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) would help Qualico de-risk its initial investment in the Station Lands project, administration says in a new report for city council’s executive committee on June 14.
The city recommends $26.5 million for the 103A Avenue pedway, an underground pedestrian tunnel from the north end of Churchill LRT Station to the Station Lands site, with connections to the Royal Alberta Museum. First conceived of as part of the now defunct Galleria project, pedway construction began in 2016 with the shell north of 103A Avenue already built at a cost of $3.8 million.
Currently, the pedway is not eligible for CRL funding as “the opportunity to pay for the pedway ended when the Galleria project ended.” As a result, administration recommends amending the CRL plan to include the pedway as a catalyst project. That would require provincial approval, however, and administration states that pursuing the proposed amendment is “not without risk.”
Administration also recommends $24.3 million for publicly accessible amenity spaces at Station Lands, $10.6 million of which is for the first phase of development. Another $20 million in streetscape improvements is recommended to help “ensure street vibrancy is supported.” Both would be part of the Green and Walkable catalyst project already identified in the CRL.
If all three recommendations are approved, funding contributed by the City of Edmonton through the CRL would total $70.8 million. Administration says “the effect on projected CRL finances is minimal.”
By Mack Male
More than $37 million in funding from the Capital City Downtown Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) would help Qualico de-risk its initial investment in the Station Lands project, administration says in a new report for city council’s executive committee on June 14.
The city recommends $26.5 million for the 103A Avenue pedway, an underground pedestrian tunnel from the north end of Churchill LRT Station to the Station Lands site, with connections to the Royal Alberta Museum. First conceived of as part of the now defunct Galleria project, pedway construction began in 2016 with the shell north of 103A Avenue already built at a cost of $3.8 million.
Currently, the pedway is not eligible for CRL funding as “the opportunity to pay for the pedway ended when the Galleria project ended.” As a result, administration recommends amending the CRL plan to include the pedway as a catalyst project. That would require provincial approval, however, and administration states that pursuing the proposed amendment is “not without risk.”
Administration also recommends $24.3 million for publicly accessible amenity spaces at Station Lands, $10.6 million of which is for the first phase of development. Another $20 million in streetscape improvements is recommended to help “ensure street vibrancy is supported.” Both would be part of the Green and Walkable catalyst project already identified in the CRL.
If all three recommendations are approved, funding contributed by the City of Edmonton through the CRL would total $70.8 million. Administration says “the effect on projected CRL finances is minimal.”
IanO
Superstar
Opportunity cost comes into play.
Take the $37mil for instance.
$15,000/door across Downtown to incentivize housing would net us 2500 units and work towards more complete streets in more areas and with more impact than a singular development receiving this.
I'm all for Stationlands to move forward, but wonder how best to allocate these finite dollars.
Take the $37mil for instance.
$15,000/door across Downtown to incentivize housing would net us 2500 units and work towards more complete streets in more areas and with more impact than a singular development receiving this.
I'm all for Stationlands to move forward, but wonder how best to allocate these finite dollars.
JNO1
Active Member
Here is a link of the Administration report, with attachments, that is being discussed at Executive Committee today.
Station Lands Report
An interesting tidbit from the Admin cover report.
Completion of the pedway would provide a way for future expansion of the Downtown
District Energy system to include connections to Station Lands and other sites north of
103A Avenue. Qualico (Station Lands Ltd.) supports this expansion of the District Energy
system and is willing to commit to accommodating it and continuing to explore the
possibility to connect the development to the District Energy system. The Downtown
District Energy Initiative project team is currently preparing a feasibility study for the
connection to Station Lands.
Station Lands Report
An interesting tidbit from the Admin cover report.
Completion of the pedway would provide a way for future expansion of the Downtown
District Energy system to include connections to Station Lands and other sites north of
103A Avenue. Qualico (Station Lands Ltd.) supports this expansion of the District Energy
system and is willing to commit to accommodating it and continuing to explore the
possibility to connect the development to the District Energy system. The Downtown
District Energy Initiative project team is currently preparing a feasibility study for the
connection to Station Lands.
IanO
Superstar
CRL impact and forecasting.
archited
Senior Member
I think that this is an ideal Community Revitalization Levy Project. First of all the project is expected to be built out in 8-10 years in phases where the first phase begins immediately. Also it is a comprehensive Planned development that includes Condominiums, Assisted Living & Seniors Care, a combination residential + hotel, and two rental + condo residential towers, soft costs included, nearly $1 Billion in development on what has come to be known as Edmonton's North Edge. The project would be a great incentivizer for community redevelopment north of 105th Avenue. And with Qualico's experience I think they could stay one step ahead of Katz's Phase II.
The CRL money they are requesting is earmarked for 105th Ave Bike Lane improvements, outdoor public amenity areas including a plaza and a corridor "mews", a 97th Street "living bridge" connection, and -- and this is where 3/4 of the CRL money would be spent -- an underground pedway connection to the Royal Alberta Museum (one leg) and to Churchill Station, the Library, the Art Gallery, the Citadel, and Winspear, adding vibrancy to the whole area.
The CRL money they are requesting is earmarked for 105th Ave Bike Lane improvements, outdoor public amenity areas including a plaza and a corridor "mews", a 97th Street "living bridge" connection, and -- and this is where 3/4 of the CRL money would be spent -- an underground pedway connection to the Royal Alberta Museum (one leg) and to Churchill Station, the Library, the Art Gallery, the Citadel, and Winspear, adding vibrancy to the whole area.
Aaron_Lloyd
Active Member
While I'm a big fan of the Pedway and expanding the system, what exactly would be the rationale for investing in its expansion to Stationlands? Does Qualico have plans for Toronto PATH-style underground retail for these towers or something?
Seems like if the city were to put a bunch of money into improving Pedway connectivity there'd be a lot of better places to push forward with it first.
Seems like if the city were to put a bunch of money into improving Pedway connectivity there'd be a lot of better places to push forward with it first.
Last edited: