Stollery Children's Hospital

[CplKlinger]

I can understand the location choice, but it's definitely rooted in suburban car centric thinking. A hospital does not need to spread out this much, you can build up instead of wide.

It's been a hot minute since I went through the planning documents, but I think they preferred something more horizontal than vertical because if it's smaller but taller then it can take longer to get between areas or respond to codes because you have to go between floors more often, and also some complimentary functions might be on different floors. I could be remembering something wrong but I think that was the general gist of it.

Well the University of Alberta for starters…

Yep, this is sort of the Goldilocks site for them: not on the north campus where it'd cause further issues with traffic parking, future campus development, etc., but close enough to the existing hospital that it'd be relatively quick and simple to drive between the two sites.

For folks worried about the political element here, let me put it this way: the site options (there were more than half a dozen) were scored and ranked with a weighted criteria, and this was one of the highest scoring options. The politics didn't away the location - the thing to watch for will be the budget (likely 2027) to see how well they fund the construction. The capital funding will determine how capable this will be as a hospital and research centre.

 

[thommyjo]

I don't think lack of LRT access is a huge issue -- kids won't be taking the train to the hospital on their own (I hope).

If need be the 31 BRT runs right past the proposed site -- fairly straightforward to add an additional stop there.

Kids won’t be taking the train to the hospital??

Bro what haha.

1) staff exist and making up a huge % of all trips made to the hospital each day. Patients are irregular, staff are consistent. Transit serves them greatly.

2) near the LRT doesn’t mean you have to use it. Just means you have the choice to.

3) do you understand what happens at the stollery? Speech therapy visits, blood tests, X-rays, allergy testing, students doing practicums and research, etc. it’s not like everyone visiting is some paralyzed high needs or severely injured kid. We’ve had a dozen appointments at the Stollery this last year and transit/biking access were very helpful.

4) the less locals using parking and roads for visits frees up space for the regional and out of province users.

I think the fox/uni/114st area does make driving extra hard though for access. So I totally get the appeal of a quick trip off 122st and the whitemud. I think an LRT leg from south campus to windemere makes even more sense now though.

 

[thommyjo]

How about instead of everyone shitting on the announcement we recognize there has been a lot of work put in the background between the Province, the Foundation and its Board, Alberta Infrastructure and others to make this significant project a reality.

Feel the same way about their approach to pausing renewables, letting measles run wild and kill kids, and cancelling photo radar with a proven uptick in collisions and deaths the last few years as a result?

Lots of work put into those, right?

 

[Foolworm]

Kids won’t be taking the train to the hospital??

Bro what haha.

1) staff exist and making up a huge % of all trips made to the hospital each each. Patients are irregular, staff are consistent. Transit serves them greatly.

2) near the LRT doesn’t mean you have to use it. Just means you have the choice to.

3) do you understand what happens at the stollery? Speech therapy visits, blood tests, X-rays, allergy testing, students doing practicums and research, etc. it’s not like everyone visiting is some paralyzed high needs or severely injured kid. We’ve had a dozen appointments at the Stollery this last year and transit/biking access were very helpful.

I think the fox/uni/114st area does make driving extra hard though for access. So I totally get the appeal of a quick trip off 122st and the whitemud. I think an LRT leg from south campus to windemere makes even more sense now though.

Well, bro, I think you're deliberately conflating LRT and transit access.

You do understand there is existing bus access to the proposed site right?

You also do understand that people are able to access medical services even in the absence of nearby LRT service?

I *do* know what happens at the Stollery, thank you very much. I also know when some bro is being patronising.

 

[Foolworm]

Not with standing that this government cancelled a hospital once before I get the impression this is just a distraction from other political issues. No need to get excited.

No need to turn what should be a win for Edmonton into a defeat as well.

 

[thommyjo]

Well, bro, I think you're deliberately conflating LRT and transit access.

You do understand there is existing bus access to the proposed site right?

You also do understand that people are able to access medical services even in the absence of nearby LRT service?

I *do* know what happens at the Stollery, thank you very much. I also know when some bro is being patronising.

Does a bus provide the same capacity, frequency, comfort, and reliability as a LRT?

Yes, I do know people access medical services without an LRT. I also know many that benefit from facilities with transit access. As do workers. As do students learning there.

If you know what happens at the stollery, why did you comment that kids can’t use the LRT to visit? What does that mean?

 

[The_Cat]

One question I have is if this facility has the capacity for transplants.

 

[The_Cat]

Also, I’m guessing that the new Stollery will need a lot of utilities. Probably its own power plant, water, sewage, oxygen and other medical needs. If this serves as an anchor for South Campus, other development might complement it.

 

[TagYEG]

Also, I’m guessing that the new Stollery will need a lot of utilities. Probably its own power plant, water, sewage, oxygen and other medical needs. If this serves as an anchor for South Campus, other development might complement it.

EPCOR is hoping to build a substation at South Campus to feed the hospital and offload adjacent subs too.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

Well my two cents on this is any announcement that has been made still means nothing until I see significant work actually take place. We have seen announcements for a super lab and for a South Side Hospital made and where are those now. The super lab already had its footings and then all of a sudden everything was reversed. Hospital land was starting to be prepped and then all of a sudden nothing. Unfortunately my faith in this provincial government is fairly low so any big announcements whenever they are made just is more press for their government to try to look good on one hand while on the other hand doing many things that are contrary to the improvements to Edmonton and Alberta.

 

[inclusion]

How about instead of everyone shitting on the announcement we recognize there has been a lot of work put in the background between the Province, the Foundation and its Board, Alberta Infrastructure and others to make this significant project a reality.

How about we let people be critical of the project while also acknowledging that the project is long overdue. Those things don't need to be mutually exclusive. No need to gatekeep discussion; one can just go to the legislature for that.

 

[Glenco]

No need to turn what should be a win for Edmonton into a defeat as well.

Once bitten twice shy. If you can’t see the that the timing of this announcement as being highly suspicious I don’t know if I can help you. They are telling us not to get too excited the hospital wouldn’t be ready for at least 5-8 years.it is probably dependent on the price of oil. Quite the win for Edmonton

 

[Airboy]

They don't have to spend money on demolition of the blood services building. But I agree with some, its all smoke and mirrors. Based on Bill 11. We may never get a new hospital. Or if we do they will rent the space out

 

[Airboy]

How about we let people be critical of the project while also acknowledging that the project is long overdue. Those things don't need to be mutually exclusive. No need to gatekeep discussion; one can just go to the legislature for that.

I agree, This project has gone back way before Notley,s gov. There may have been 20 mil spent on this so far by various design groups. Same with the SE hospital.

 

[David A]

Well my two cents on this is any announcement that has been made still means nothing until I see significant work actually take place. We have seen announcements for a super lab and for a South Side Hospital made and where are those now. The super lab already had its footings and then all of a sudden everything was reversed. Hospital land was starting to be prepped and then all of a sudden nothing. Unfortunately my faith in this provincial government is fairly low so any big announcements whenever they are made just is more press for their government to try to look good on one hand while on the other hand doing many things that are contrary to the improvements to Edmonton and Alberta.

Yeah, I don't think the lack of care in site selection is a good sign this will actually go ahead. We have been strung along several times by this government already.