With all the renovation work and preparations for a move, our latest ‘#Yegdt Notes’ is later than usual. Lots of information to get out and upcoming events taking place in your community in the next few weeks!
- DECL is pleased to announce our 2013 Annual General Meeting will be held Tuesday, May 7 at Yellowhead Brewery (10229 105 Street). We had such a great turnout at Yellowhead last year, we decided to hold it there again this year! Our guests this year will be some of Edmonton’s finest – our new downtown beat cops will be on hand to discuss their role in keeping our community safe, and taking any questions you might have. Meeting registration is at 6:30 pm, meeting at 7:00 pm. $5 DECL memberships will be available at the door. Refreshments will be provided, cash bar is available.
- DECL’s Annual Community Clean-Up will be held on Sunday, May 5 as part of River Valley Clean-up Day. Meet us at Dick Mather Park (beside MacKay Avenue School) from 10 am to 12:30 pm. Wear work attire, we will supply everything else! Help us keep our community clean!
- If you can’t make it to our Community Clean-Up, 104th Street Committee is hosting their own ‘Street Cleaning Blitz‘ on Saturday, May 11 at 9 am.
- Our new space at 10042 103 Street is close to being completed! Contact Property Services has done a great job renovating the space for us. We hope to be moving in by the end of April. We can’t wait to share the new space with you – look for an open house and party sometime in May!
- April 30 will be another Community Benefits Agreement meeting for the arena project, when the Downtown Arena Advisory Board make-up is discussed. Whether you agree with the politics and funding surrounding the arena or not, we were pleased to see in a draft statement that six surrounding community leagues will be represented.
- A new patio policy was well-received by Executive Committee this week that will make it cheaper, and hopefully easier, for establishments to get a patio license. This is something we’ve been advocating the City look at for a while, including an impromptu ‘patio gathering’ last year to push the issue (described by some as a ‘protest’). We now hope the City will work with ALGC to streamline the process for licensed patios as well.
- Civic Precinct Master Plan will be presented to the Community Services Committee on today. If you are not already familiar with the plan, the City intends to strengthen and improve some of the aspects of the areas around Churchill Square and the Arts & Cultural District.
- Public meeting for input and comments on a Direct Control zoning (DC2) proposal for a 36-storey (118m), condo tower at the SE corner of 106 Street and 99 Avenue by Alan Wasnea is happening this Thursday, April 18. Strangely the meeting is not being held downtown, but we do invite any concerned residents to attend the meeting and find out more information.
- First meeting of 2013 for Our Urban Eden Community Garden is May 2, 7 – 9:30 pm at 9808 103 St (The Horizon). Garden Coordinator Dawn Woolsey tells us that all plots are already spoken for in 2013! Residents downtown love to garden!
- Of gardening, EFCL will be kicking off a new ‘Balconies in Blooms’ program this year. DECL is very interested in being involved in this and EFCL says they will have details soon!
- ‘Transforming and Revitalizing Downtown‘ Conference will be held in Edmonton for the first time June 12-13. If you’re not attending the conference, that week will also feature free lectures by MADE in Edmonton and GreenDrinks being planned will be downtown-focused. Look for a full schedule of events as we get closer to the event. It will be a whole week of thinking about downtowns!
- There has been lots of talk about regional cooperation the last week or so and the overall costs to Edmonton, starting with Mayor Mandel’s ‘State of the City‘ address April 2.
- Kelly Ramsay Project is moving ahead. Although we’re excited for this project and that the Kelly Ramsey facade will be retained, the loss of the 103 year old Moser Ryder Block (formerly Swedish Jewelers) makes us a bit sad.
- 100th Anniversary of Edmonton Public Library continues. 22,000 free memberships have been given out so far! Is the purpose of the public library changing?
- Mexx is now open in Edmonton City Centre.
- The Cavern is now open and is already getting lots of attention from foodies! Not only featuring some of the finest cheese selection in Edmonton, this cozy little space has great charcuterie and features a good wine and beer list.
- Oliver Community League held their Annual General Meeting on April 10. Congratulations to President Jarrett Campbell and the new 2013-14 board!
- It looks like 104 Street Grill (formerly Ric’s Grill) is now closed. New owners plan to open up a burger joint called ‘The Burg‘. Sounds promising!
- What would small ‘downtown intervention’ projects look like to you? We’re working with individuals that are looking to make ‘small improvements’ to our downtown this summer. Stay tuned!
- Brent Toderian comments that, “Amenities make density enjoyable”. How about some funding for our proposed Warehouse Campus Area community park?
- Downtown renewal was well underway before this post appeared on Todd Babiak’s blog, but the sentiment is one shared by many – can we continue to ‘Make Something Edmonton‘ downtown?
If you have non-profit events happening in the downtown, or things you think our members should know about, please contact us!