Downtown

[thommyjo]

The good thing about the current downtown plan compared to the 1984 one is there’s actual substantial funding going into it.

I think in terms of residential unit growth, we’ve finally hit some momentum and we’re going to make decent progress by 2030.

The sticky issues imo are retail, perception and social disorder tbh. But I’ve got faith those will get addressed in some way over the next few years.

And I think it’s undervalued how much the valley lines and tap pay options will make getting downtown way more chill for suburbanites.

For special events, this will help a lot more people get downtown and walking vs just drive into a parkade and out asap.

Less parking lots should also help more people consider transit. Would love to see more done to encourage transit use though.

 

[The_Cat]

I think it's more than the parking lots. People who don't want to go downtown, won't. Other people don't like the LRT or transit won't change.

 

[Edmontonmanía]

We all talk about more residents being the solution for downtown, and I agree. But, I always found paradoxical, after living in 104st and walking on a Sunday, how empty and desolate it feels, even with all the tall apartment towers there.

I know we already have 10-20k residents living in downtown, so adding 20% or more will really make the difference? I hope yes, and our downtown enters into a virtuous cycle, specially with all the exciting projects before the decade ends.

 

[thommyjo]

Lots of downtowns still have big issues with twice our population. So it’s certainly not a silver bullet. But of all the levers to pull, it’s likely the most wide reaching in benefits.

I think it's more than the parking lots. People who don't want to go downtown, won't. Other people don't like the LRT or transit won't change.

Things change. Brand new LRT lines help a ton to attract new users. And easier payment methods are a huge help too. The little things like thinking you need cash or finding out how to buy tickets for a bus stop, deter occasional users. But easy tap pay removes many of those barriers.

Most of my friends and I never went downtown growing up or even in uni. Now we all own bikes and regularly bike to downtown and central events due to the bike lanes. City changes and investments change people’s behaviour.

 

[IanO]

We need 2x the pop along with 2-3 new hotels, for they create 10x the street life that housing does.

Not to mention more 'event nights' and festivals of all kinds at ECC, Arts District and other smaller venues.

 

[AntonK]

We all talk about more residents being the solution for downtown, and I agree. But, I always found paradoxical, after living in 104st and walking on a Sunday, how empty and desolate it feels, even with all the tall apartment towers there.

I know we already have 10-20k residents living in downtown, so adding 20% or more will really make the difference? I hope yes, and our downtown enters into a virtuous cycle, specially with all the exciting projects before the decade ends.

Residents are a big key, but as IanO mentioned, we need at least twice the amount, maybe even triple the amount. There's a critical mass that brings about more retail, and more retail brings more people into downtown and more people out of there apartments. More events is another thing, but I'm guessing it'll come with more people living downtown.
I know so many people who don't want to come downtown, even for events. The suburban folks' perception of downtown isn't a good one, but double the population, add retail, and things could change.

 

[TAS]

Residents are a big key, but as IanO mentioned, we need at least twice the amount, maybe even triple the amount. There's a critical mass that brings about more retail, and more retail brings more people into downtown and more people out of there apartments. More events is another thing, but I'm guessing it'll come with more people living downtown.
I know so many people who don't want to come downtown, even for events. The suburban folks' perception of downtown isn't a good one, but double the population, add retail, and things could change.

Certainly, we need to increase downtown population significantly. And continue with Wihkwentowin, too.
But what will also help are those communities nearby the core that have been stagnant for so long - Queen Mary Park, McCauley, Westmount, Inglewood, Grovenor, Crestwood, Prince Rupert, Spruce Avenue, Alberta Ave, Parkdale, Central McDougall etc. - along with those nearby communities south of river.
Since my friend moved closer to downtown in Ritchie, he's been downtown a lot more often - usually on his bike.

 

[thommyjo]

Certainly, we need to increase downtown population significantly. And continue with Wihkwentowin, too.
But what will also help are those communities nearby the core that have been stagnant for so long - Queen Mary Park, McCauley, Westmount, Inglewood, Grovenor, Crestwood, Prince Rupert, Spruce Avenue, Alberta Ave, Parkdale, Central McDougall etc. - along with those nearby communities south of river.
Since my friend moved closer to downtown in Ritchie, he's been downtown a lot more often - usually on his bike.

Infill, bike infrastructure, and improved transit 100% helps the catchment area grow for downtown vibrancy. The more people who are 10-15 minutes from downtown by transit and bike will help a lot. Significant infill in all these areas is certainly happening. The quarters being the biggest issue still…

 

[constance_chlore]

We all talk about more residents being the solution for downtown, and I agree. But, I always found paradoxical, after living in 104st and walking on a Sunday, how empty and desolate it feels, even with all the tall apartment towers there.

I know we already have 10-20k residents living in downtown, so adding 20% or more will really make the difference? I hope yes, and our downtown enters into a virtuous cycle, specially with all the exciting projects before the decade ends.

Even downtown, and even when it's not -20, a lot of folks will just drive from one parkade to another without really stepping outside. It's terrible for street life. This is why I'm glad Westrich and others are beginning to experiment with reduced/no parking.

 

[archited]

beginning to experiment with reduced/no parking

I believe this has much more to do with bottom line savings otherwise one would expect to see improvements in other areas -- simple areas like better overall design.

 

[constance_chlore]

I believe this has much more to do with bottom line savings otherwise one would expect to see improvements in other areas -- simple areas like better overall design.

Oh, I'd totally believe that the reason is economic, but that doesn't mean that there won't be benefits for downtown to having a large number of new car-free residents.

 

[David A]

Even downtown, and even when it's not -20, a lot of folks will just drive from one parkade to another without really stepping outside. It's terrible for street life. This is why I'm glad Westrich and others are beginning to experiment with reduced/no parking.

Perhaps that is partly why older cities that have more warehouse loft conversions with limited parking have more vibrant downtowns. While it is nice to have heated underground parking, it sure doesn't help downtown vibrancy.

 

[archited]

Oh, I'd totally believe that the reason is economic, but that doesn't mean that there won't be benefits for downtown to having a large number of new car-free residents.

Gotcha! One would think that a conscientious developer nonetheless would work to put some street-activators into their design to enhance the pedestrian realm, especially if they were saving money on parking -- maybe work to provide some retail or hospitality instead of excusing it saying that downtown retail is DOA.