EDMONTON- Some residents in an older Edmonton neighbourhood are speaking out against changes to their area under the city’s neighbourhood renewal project.
The city has approved $33 million for neighbourhood renewal in Laurier Heights. The area west of 139th Street is slated for reconstruction in the spring of 2014.
“I do believe that they have allotted too high a budget and they come into a neighbourhood and it’s like they have to spend the whole budget,” said Trish Skoubis, who has lived in Laurier Heights for 16 years.
One particular concern for residents is a service road in the area of 86th Avenue and 142nd Street. Under the neighbourhood renewal, it will be down-sized from a two-way road to a one-way, in order to make room for sidewalks.
Skoubis says the changes will make it tougher for traffic to get around the neighbourhood, adding that the sidewalks really aren’t needed.
“They’re telling us that our road is 6.8 metres wide and so therefore, does not allow the room for two-way traffic and they decided this 55 years after the fact,” Skoubis explained. “The minimal walk by pedestrian traffic is next to none.”
She’s also worried mature trees along the road will have to be removed in order for the sidewalks to be constructed.
Ward 5 Councillor Karen Leibovici says she is doing her best to address residents’ concerns, but says there are guidelines that must be followed.
“I’ve asked the administration to look at what options are available, if there’s some way that we can meet what the requirements are of the policy, which in fact is to build those missing sidewalk links.
“The reality is, is if the sidewalk goes in front of their homes it narrows the road, it means that during the winter they’re going to have to be responsible for snow shovelling, which they’re not right now.”
Residents from five homes along the stretch of road have formed a petition against the reconstruction. They say they’re all for neighbourhood renewal, but only where it’s necessary.
“What we understand as of right now, the project is already set in place. Nobody here was asked about it. I don’t think they ever did a traffic count, whether it be people walking or people driving,” said Ken Toker, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 25 years.
“As usual, city hall has its priorities wrong,” Skoubis added.
Two public meetings on the reconstruction have taken place and another will happen this fall, or early next spring.
Skoubis says she is now conducting her own study on how many pedestrians and vehicles use the road, in hopes of presenting her findings to City Council.
For more information on the city’s neighbourhood renewal program, visit the City of Edmonton’s website.
With files from Shane Jones, Global News.
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