EDMONTON – The rules are changing in Edmonton’s Oliver neighbourhood. City Council unanimously passed a bylaw to amend the area redevelopment plan, allowing a new 29-storey complex.
That means four lots near 98 Ave. and 111 St. will soon be replaced by a 260-unit highrise. The proposal is for townhouses to be housed at the base, and studios, one and two bedroom units to be built above.
Up until now, the zoning in the area was only for four-storey buildings; and Monday’s vote to change that is not sitting well with some area residents.
Parking, traffic, and the scale of the building are among the concerns residents brought forward to Council.
“These are my neighbours,” said Ward 6 councillor, Scott McKeen, who lives in the neighbourhood and admits the vote was a bit of a struggle for him.
“They had solid, strong arguments for preserving the character and nature of a fabulous community. And I had to weigh that against some broad, civic goals.”
“This project had some really neat elements to it,” explained Mayor Don Iveson. “Some family housing, and a podium that’s only a couple of stories tall…I think that really reduces the impact of a 29-storey building.
“And with that comes badly needed housing on top of an LRT station – very consistent with the direction Council wants to go with growth in Edmonton.”
McKeen elaborated on that vision, stressing Council’s commitment to infill housing as a way of densifying the city’s mature neighbourhoods, which he believes is crucial – not only to reduce urban sprawl, but also “to make the city more financially sustainable.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s going to be ugly, or disruptive, or horrible, or change the character of our communities.”
The development slated for the Oliver neighbourhood will sit on a designated where a historic building, the John T. Ross residence, currently sits.
The developer says it will be moving that building, and could possibly use it as an Edmonton office in the future.
With files from Quinn Ohler, Global News
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