Future of the old Rossdale power plant up in the air

EDMONTON- Many options are being considered as the city discusses the future of the old Rossdale power plant.

The historic brick building was constructed during the middle part of the twentieth century however, a new report suggests it would require at least $4.5 million in immediate repairs just to keep it stable.

The price to upgrade the facility and two former pumping stations for commercial tenants, along with other improvements to the 1.8-hectare site, is now estimated at $87.3 million.

“We need to look at a variety of options to see what’s possible, plausible, and really a result that’s going to be effective,” explained Mayor Stephen Mandel. “We’ve tried so many different things from an arts and cultural centre, to a performing centre, to a water centre of excellence, all kinds of things and we just haven’t been able to come up with a program or a plan that can justify the kind of cost we’re going to spend for it.”

Mandel says there are a number of variables the city has to consider in order to decide which method will be the most cost effective for Edmontonians and the city.

“We can stabilize it and say we’re going to keep it stable for the next five to seven years and then look at what options there might be to convert the facility, which in those days will be well over $100 million,” Mandel explained. “We can look at knocking it down and see what that entails, what are the implications of that?”

Because the facility, which sits on the north bank of the North Saskatchewan River, is a historical building, Mandel says council must be extra cautious and go the extra mile to make sure they don’t make any mistakes.

“It’s such a valuable piece of history for the city of Edmonton that we can’t discount it lightly.”

The City’s Executive Committee will discuss the issue on Monday, in order to come up with recommendations to put forth to city administration.

With files from Postmedia News. 

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