Your turn: Chinatown housing, Windsor Park rezoning, and more

This week's batch of calls for public engagement includes a questionnaire about housing in Edmonton's Chinatown and a rezoning proposal in Windsor Park.

YEG Chinatown Re:VITA is asking what kind of housing and development is most needed in south Chinatown, also known as The Quarters, to further its vision of creating community-led housing in the neighbourhood.

"We are working toward a long-term vision of community-owned, affordable housing in Chinatown," the group wrote on its website. "If we don't lead our own development, it's only a matter of time before we are up against displacement and gentrification."

The group said it is focused on south Chinatown because seniors housing and community and cultural organizations are already located there. It wants to build on existing residential capacity and take advantage of the Valley Line LRT.

The city has been trying to incentivize development in The Quarters with variable success through a community revitalization levy. Municipalities can use CRLs to finance infrastructure developments needed to attract private development to targeted areas, and the investment is meant to be paid back through the property tax uplift of new development. The Quarters CRL has funded $100 million in "catalyst projects," including The Armature, upgraded drainage servicing, Kinistinâw Park, and the adaptive reuse of city-owned buildings into new art spaces.

An update on The Quarters CRL said the improvements attracted more than $450 million in private development. Despite this, the revenues from the CRL are expected to be about $63.6 million short of covering all outstanding costs of the catalyst projects.

The Home in Chinatown questionnaire asks what kind of housing should be built — stacked townhouses, mixed-use apartment towers, or an entertainment district with a plaza. It also asks if it should be specially built for any demographic, such as seniors, students, families, or low-income Edmontonians.

The group said the input will guide future planning before it draws designs, raises funds, or buys land.

Re:VITA's Jordon Hon spoke about the need for affordable housing in Chinatown after the Pacific Mall and adjacent parking lot were rezoned on July 6 to allow for an 18-storey building and a six-storey building, respectively. The former zoning allowed for buildings of up to 38 storeys.

Here are some other opportunities to provide input in the Edmonton metro region:

• Until July 12: The City of Edmonton is collecting feedback on a rezoning application in Windsor Park that would permit a six-storey building with commercial opportunities.
• July 14: Stony Plain is hosting a community party at Meridian Meadows along Derek Drive from 5pm to 7pm to collect feedback on an update to its municipal development plan.
• Until July 15: The City of Leduc is conducting a survey about its proposal to annex land from Leduc County. The city shared results from its growth management study, which recommends annexing a slightly smaller area than what was originally proposed.
• Until July 20: The City of Edmonton is conducting a survey on bike parking regulations.
• July 23: Stony Plain is hosting a community party at Graybriar Playground from 5pm to 7pm to collect feedback on an update to its municipal development plan.
• July 28: Stony Plain is hosting a community party at St. John Paul II Catholic School from 5pm to 7pm to collect feedback on an update to its municipal development plan.
• Aug. 4: Stony Plain is hosting a community party at École Meridian Heights School from 5pm to 7pm to collect feedback on an update to its municipal development plan.
• Aug. 13: Stony Plain is hosting a community party at High Park School Playground from 5pm to 7pm to collect feedback on an update to its municipal development plan.
• Aug. 18: Stony Plain is hosting a community party at Fairway Drive Playground from 5pm to 7pm to collect feedback on an update to its municipal development plan.
• Aug. 20: The City of Leduc is hosting an open house on a proposed youth centre in Kinsmen Park at the Civic Centre from 4pm to 8pm .
• Until Aug. 31: Edmonton is conducting its 2026 business census. City employees will visit businesses in person, and there is an online survey.
• Sept. 2: The City of Leduc is hosting an open house on a proposed youth centre in Kinsmen Park at the Civic Centre from 4pm to 8pm.
• Until Sept. 13: The City of Leduc is conducting a survey on a proposed youth centre in Kinsmen Park. City employees will also gather feedback from residents, community organizations, and youth through targeted outreach.
• Ongoing: Stony Plain is accepting feedback on an update to its municipal development plan.

— With files from Darcy Hoogers

"Your turn" is Taproot's weekly collection of public engagement opportunities in the Edmonton region. Watch this space every week for opportunities to make your views known. If you know of a request for public input, send it to hello@taprootedmonton.ca.