Council set to vote on Rossdale riverfront initiative
River valley enthusiasts and residents of the river-neighbouring Rossdale community are hopeful the city’s forward movement on a long-term redevelopment plan for the area will finally make the project a reality after decades of debate.
But the sky is still the limit for the proposed River Crossing project with the goal of making the northside riverbank area just east of the Walterdale Bridge a go-to jewel in the city.
The business plan concept, approved by urban planning committee Tuesday and that will face full council next week, includes the creation of several amenities as well as the rehabilitation of others to revive the area.
This includes the construction of Touch the Water — a long-discussed accessible riverfront promenade to bring residents right to the riverbank — an interpretive park with a focus on the Indigenous history in the area, as well as the restoration and use of the Rossdale Power Plant and associated pump houses.
The possibility of a gondola connecting Downtown and Old Strathcona with the river valley remains in the cards with a feasibility study due back to the city in December.
It’s a project that has faced significant contention and city officials conceded that they couldn’t keep everyone happy with the proposal after lengthy public consultation, but believe the presented concept is the best route forward.
“I think we found some bitesized ways to get this moving finally and I just hope we’ll be able to move forward with that,” said Mayor Don Iveson. “Recognizing that it all coming to fruition would take many years, but I would like to see us get moving on some of the roadwork and ballpark improvements.”
Right now the city estimates associated costs of $74 million for early work around new streets, sewers and open spaces in the area as well as $6 million for initial renovations of the power plant, but further costs are to be expected for its operation as well as construction of the riverfront promenade.
With early focus on the outdoor amenities, downtown ward Coun. Scott Mckeen said Edmontonians should easily be attracted to be in the area, providing reason for commercial and residential development.
This would provide a place to grab a coffee during a walk along the river valley or a spot for a bite before a baseball game at Re/max Field. The plan for a mix of four to six storey and eight to 15 storey residential buildings could welcome more than 4,000 residents to the area in 2,654 units.
“Starting to create this place where people would go down for events, maybe go down to dine, walk around,” Mckeen said. “You would want to go to the power plant building just to have a look in there. It is really immense and it has that great old-world industrial feel to it.”
The preferred concept includes a redesign of roads in the area, most notably converting Rossdale Road into a two-way arterial road with improved pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and street parking in off-peak hours. Conversely, 104 Street would be converted into a local street and feed into the large park.
It also recommends the continuation of baseball in the river valley with a 10-year lease of Re/max Field. The city has received at least two submissions, including one from the current tenant Edmonton Prospects, and an announcement is expected in the coming months on the chosen proposal.
Downtown Business Association executive director Ian O’donnell said the ideas are there to turn the area into an attraction and now it’s time for action.
“It’s a significant project and it’s not going to happen tomorrow as much as I’d like it to, but I think we can get going right away. We all want something amazing down there,” he said. “It’s an area that’s going to be universally received by this region and I’m just amazed that we haven’t seen more development down there.”