Suggestions within the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy to remove parking, add bus rapid transit, and further pedestrianize the ever-popular area prompted the co-hosts of Episode 279 of Speaking Municipally to offer their thoughts.
"(This) looks a lot like urbanization to me," co-host Troy Pavlek said. "It has increased pedestrianization, removal of parking, plans for bus rapid transit, more parks, more green space, more open space, more walkability — all of the things that we've accoladed in the district planning and has been lambasted by opponents."
Council will review the strategy on Oct. 8. Pavlek said he expects some will express frustration, particularly because the strategy calls for the removal of parking next to the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market, as well as some stalls on Whyte Avenue. He suggested, however, that businesses concerned about losing parking should embrace the potential opportunities.
"They have to say: 'OK, these are the changes that are happening,' rather than push against them," Pavlek said. "It's the same thing (with) any businesses along a bike lane. They could put up a sign (that says) 'We hate bikes' and not get any new business. Or they could install a bike rack in front of their business and reap the rewards. But the businesses that choose to embrace change tend to be the businesses that experience longevity."
District policy
This week's public realm discussion arrives in the wake of last week's council decision to approve the city's new district policy and 14 district plans. These replace more than 50 plans that date back to the 1980s. Council's decision also follows the hotly contested zoning bylaw renewal in 2023, when supporters and opponents voiced opinions about district planning (council went on to approve the bylaw renewal). Pavlek said he did not hear those opposed during the past discussions speak up this time around, though the last episode of Speaking Municipally covered a Postmedia opinion piece that criticized district planning for neglecting planning at the neighbourhood level. Co-host Mack Male said those most opposed to the district policy and plans might reflect, however, that they aren't set in stone. "As we talked about with zoning bylaw renewal, these things can change. We can iterate," he said.
Three towers
The podcasters discussed two significant apartment tower projects. One is a two-tower development at Mill Woods Town Centre, where the neighbourhood's LRT stop is located. Each tower is 22 storeys and together they will comprise 550 units. The co-hosts said they hoped this could be a successful transit-oriented development. Still, Male pointed out there are sections of road without sidewalks near the station. He said walking from the LRT to the Mill Woods Library is "unpleasant."
The other is a 31-storey tower on Jasper Avenue that council approved through a successful rezoning application. Male said he is skeptical it will go forward, while Pavlek said he worries the construction may disrupt access to the Victoria Promenade.
There's much more in the Oct. 4 episode of Speaking Municipally, including more points in the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy, the city's efforts to collect the province's tax debt, and significant new municipal election costs that stem from the United Conservative Party government's Bill 20. The hosts also heard an update from the Taproot newsroom by managing editor Tim Querengesser. Speaking Municipally comes out on Fridays. Listening and subscription options are all right here.
Photo: This scene from a 2014 What The Truck?! event shows pedestrianization at work in Old Strathcona. Walkability and reduced focus on parking are both part of the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy. (Mack Male/Flickr)