#Yegdt Notes – March 20, 2013

In the midst of renovations to our new space, it seems there is a lot going on downtown these days. The next few years are going to be a really exciting (and sometimes challenging) time for the heart of our city!

  • Downtown Dining Week 2013 continues all week until Sunday (March 24) with lunch and dinner specials at most downtown restaurants. The reviews are pouring in.
  • After good discussion at the February meeting, the next meeting of  ‘West Downtown Complete Streets‘, ie. bike lanes discussion, is March 28 at 7 pm, Oliver Hall.
  • DECL was pleased to meet some of our new downtown beat cops at our meeting last Thursday. Downtown now has 16 beat cops on rotation from 97 Street to 121 Street, with extra officers on patrol on the weekends.
  • Speaking of safety, reported crime downtown dropped 11% in 2012, and downtown Constable Candice Werestiuk was named ‘Top Cop of 2012‘. Check out the Edmonton Police Service’s crime map for regularly updated information.
  • Excited that the federal government announced $250m for much-needed Edmonton’s Valley (SE) LRT line as part of a ‘P3’ project. With the $800m commitment from Council, and $100m from the province’s GreenTrip program, this line is close to having all the funding needed to complete construction. Some preparations will happen in 2014, with construction full-steam ahead in 2015.
  • Premier Redford confirms today what we already knew – no new money for the downtown arena project.
  • Last week’s provincial budget was not all bad. NorQuest College received a funding commitment of $64m to move ahead with their campus expansion. This will fill up a large gap of urban fabric in the Warehouse Campus Area.
  • Happy 100th Birthday Edmonton Public Library! For its centennial year, the library will be offering free library cards. We think that’s pretty cool!
  • Edmonton will play host to the ‘Transforming & Revitalizing Downtown Summit‘ June 12-14. This conference features ‘national and international speakers’ and is the first time this it will take place in Western Canada. This is one of many events EEDC plans that week that will focus on downtown. More details will be released in the coming weeks!
  • As mentioned last time, Spacing Magazine is coming to Edmonton. Mark your calendars – Spacing Edmonton launch party is April 4 at The Common!
103 Street Space Under Construction

Sneak peak of DECL’s 103 Street space under construction!

  • Women Building Futures continues to quietly work away in our downtown, “program has graduated 600 since 1998”
  • Celebrate ‘Earth Hour‘ this weekend! Edmontonians reduced their power consumption by 3.4% in 2012.
  • North side of the Jasper Avenue New Vision Project should be completed by early April. A headache for everyone, this complicated construction project is reported to be back on track.
  • First a JOEY restaurant was rumoured for downtown, now there is reliable information that The Keg has selected a location as well.
  • You know spring is around the corner when the food trucks are back downtown!