The Value of Investing in Canadian Downtowns - International ...

UNITY
Does the downtown have strong leaders who collaborate to achieve a
shared vision?
The shared vision for downtown Edmonton’s future is
of a liveable, prosperous and intensified urban core.
This vision has been pursued across multiple political
cycles, business cycles, and official plans. The
patient and committed approach to achieving this
vision by the City deserves praise. According to
interviewees, this collaborative approach stems, in
part, from the collapse of downtown property values
in the 1990s and the steep increase in suburban
property tax rates that followed, which underscored
the importance of a healthy downtown for a healthy
city.
Vision
The 2010 Capital City Downtown Plan charts a
course to achieve the vision in the Strategic Plan,
identifying specific policies to guide future decisions
and, most importantly, coordinates public and private
“catalyst projects” that are planned or proposed for
downtown 8 . These plans follow in the footsteps of the
1997 Capital City Downtown Plan which spurred a
significant increase in the downtown residential
population, relaxed minimum parking requirements,
and directed investments in both the public realm and
downtown institutions. Earlier still, in the mid-1980s,
the Mayor's Taskforce for the Heart of the City
identified five “catalyst projects” that were ultimately
realised in the core.
Leadership
No particular leader or interest group stands out in
Edmonton because efforts have generally been seen
as collaborative. Yet support from elected officials
and the City has been widely acknowledged.
Advocacy for the downtown has also been voiced by
the Downtown Business Association, a partnership
between local businesses and the City, since 1985,
as well as the rapidly growing Downtown Edmonton
8
City of Edmonton. (2010). Capital City Downtown Plan. Retrieved from:
http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/projects_redevelopment/capitalcity-downtown-plan.aspx.
Accessed 2012 May 14.
Condominium tower under construction in downtown
Edmonton. Sustained leadership and vision for downtown
have created the conditions for a dramatic increase in the
downtown population.
Community League. In addition, the Edmonton
Economic Development Authority has created the
Downtown Vibrancy Task Force whose aim is to
further the revitalization of Edmonton’s downtown
core. Membership in the task force consists of 20
‘blue ribbon’ business, community, and social
agencies 9 .
Collaboration
There have not yet been any formal public-private
partnerships in downtown Edmonton; however, the
City’s overall approach to downtown revitalization is,
in a sense, a partnership between the public and
private sectors. Based on discussions with the
private sector, the City makes targeted investments
and regulatory changes with the intent to make the
business case for downtown investment much
stronger.
9
Ibid.
Edmonton has had a
downtown master plan for
26 years
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