Edmonton Urban Planning Committee examine exhibition lands plan

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More planning and a new report is to come in late 2024 for the Edmonton Exhibition Lands project after the City of Edmonton urban planning committee met on Tuesday.

“Exhibition Lands is a site that’s incredibly unique and has a variety of competing needs as we’ve heard today. Because of the history of this site and the Northlands transition, it’s become pretty clear that the needs of Explore Edmonton were not sufficiently factored into that initial vision for the site,” said Ward Métis Coun. Ashley Salvador.

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The City of Edmonton allotted $35 million last December to demolish the Coliseum. With the beginning of the arena teardown set for 2025, discussions about the future plans for the space and surrounding area continue, raising several questions about what’s to come for the lands that have acted as a communal gathering space for Edmontonians for more than 100 years.

At the Tuesday meeting, Bart Jarocki, branch manager of real estate ay the city, presented on several items highlighted in a November city council meeting. Jarocki was asked to clarify the compatibility of the Exhibition Lands framework with the ongoing needs of the Expo Centre and consideration of ongoing needs to accommodate K-Days and other outdoor festivals.

“The phase two development and Borden Park expansion present significant challenges to Explore Edmonton and the city in hosting K-Days and other outdoor festivals,” Jarocki said.

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With the current Coliseum lands not planned for development for about a decade, Jarocki said that it could be a suitable alternative space to host outdoor events, including K-Days. While the venue north of 118 Avenue could provide an interim outdoor event location, the future of the plan still conflicts with having a permanent outdoor space for events. Jarocki said that a continuing conversation with Explore Edmonton will shape the future of outdoor events in the area.

While the original plans may have fallen short of meeting the needs of Explore Edmonton, Arlindo Gomes, vice-president of venue management and business development, said he’s “excited” about Explore Edmonton’s current collaboration with the City of Edmonton on the Exhibition Lands plans.

“The work we’ve been undertaking with city administration has been to ensure we preserve the opportunity for not only the Expo Centre to be sustainable over the long-term, but also the city has a really robust festival and events site that can continue to be an option for events to be hosted there,” said Gomes.

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Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and Ward pihêsiwin Coun. Tim Cartmell both indicated concerns over the Exhibition Land redevelopments having a similarly slow timeline to the Blatchford project.

“You guys pay attention to the Blatchford project as well, right? What are the lessons to be learned from that,” Sohi said.

Jarocki said that the Exhibition Land’s large parcel sales, like the one in January, are meant to speed up the process and put the onus of lot servicing and subdivision on the developers.

Sohi reiterated his concern about a lack of provincial support for the demolition of the Coliseum.

“Not having money allocated for the demolition of the Coliseum when the province is funding the demolition of Calgary’s old arena, once their new arena is built, is one of those areas that clearly highlights the inequitable treatment that [Edmonton] gets from this government,” said Sohi.

While the city continues to chase the province for better funding help, the Exhibition Lands will continue to work with stakeholders to provide more answers for the next report, due in the fourth quarter of this year.

Later this month, city staff will be meeting with farmers to discuss the relocation of the farm currently on the lands.

Sohi also said he would be “very disappointed” if the next report doesn’t have a transition plan for the occupants of the jockey dorms building located on the Exhibition Lands, which is currently transitional housing.

zdelaney@postmedia.com

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