Kosy123
Senior Member
All we need is new retail somewhere. We've been getting some good momentum when it comes to unique things downtown.
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Downtown
- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
Didama
Active Member
Not sure if this is the right thread for this, but an interesting tidbit I heard this morning is that there will soon be 3 'hop-on hop-off' buses plying their trade in Edmonton, aimed at taking out of town visitors to see more of our fair city. Love this idea and long overdue. The bonus is that they will be a streetcar style trolley, so a nice little homage to our HLS attraction.
IanO
Superstar
Curious to see how this works for 'The Eddie Bus' tried and failed, but maybe bit off a bit too much.
David A
Senior Member
Good idea. I hope there will be long term commitment here, as it takes time for things like this to catch on, get the word out, build momentum, and not just a we are going to try this for a few months.
Greenspace
Senior Member
Tom Girvan, Director of Downtown Economy, provided an update on the Downtown Action Plan to Downtown residents last night. A few interesting tidbits not mentioned on the forum yet:
- Moving ahead with Public Spaces Plan for the new lot purchased east of Freemason's Hall. There is money in the CRL to develop it. More coming later this year.
- Tom's department is doubling down on beautification this summer with over 300 planters.
- City received a provincal grant for trees and tree grates. The temporary looking wood tree grates should be replaced with real metal ones later this year.
- The farmer's market footprint will be the same as last year, just shifted a towards Jasper Ave.
- City is planning programming throughout the Downtown in 2026 with over 600 activations over 225 days in parks, plazas etc.
- Adding tree lighting to 108 Street
- More sidewalk and permanent repairs in priority areas in 2026 than in 2025. (pavers etc as well)
- 250 winter lighting decorations
- Moving ahead with Public Spaces Plan for the new lot purchased east of Freemason's Hall. There is money in the CRL to develop it. More coming later this year.
- Tom's department is doubling down on beautification this summer with over 300 planters.
- City received a provincal grant for trees and tree grates. The temporary looking wood tree grates should be replaced with real metal ones later this year.
- The farmer's market footprint will be the same as last year, just shifted a towards Jasper Ave.
- City is planning programming throughout the Downtown in 2026 with over 600 activations over 225 days in parks, plazas etc.
- Adding tree lighting to 108 Street
- More sidewalk and permanent repairs in priority areas in 2026 than in 2025. (pavers etc as well)
- 250 winter lighting decorations
Glenco
Senior Member
I absolutely hate those phoney street car style buses. Who are you trying to fool?
degrandprix
Active Member
Agreed, but I think it works for tourists who don't want to go on a plain old city bus for sightseeing.
If that's what they want though they should do an open-top bus instead!
policyenthusiast
Senior Member
Perfect for High Level Bridge decapitations.
Kosy123
Senior Member
I for one am excited for more lighting downtown.
MacLac
Senior Member
What?! Never rode the Duck Bus of Seattle, before the Crash that killed a bunch?
Kosy123
Senior Member
I'm curious if anyone has any idea how strong the uptake or interest on the Attainable Housing Incentive has been so far? I did remember seeing that those who didn't qualify for the Student Housing grant could look to this one in the future.
IanO
Superstar
^Spoke with someone yesterday who said that it has been 'slow'.
YEG imagineer
Active Member
Actually the Eddie Bus did better than expected. But Explore Edmonton cut the funding in the second year so only one bus every two hours to spend on Worlds Fair 2017 bid and then cut it completely to focus on the Worlds Fair.
Tropical
Active Member
What does this practically mean for the lot? A park?
IanO
Superstar
^correct. Pocket park.