Councillors got zapped with about $136 million volts of sticker shock Tuesday when they got a look at the cost of implementing a new vision for downtown.
The long-awaited implementation plan for the downtown area redevelopment plan (DARP) saw its first public light and the $135.8-million price tag caused several councillors to shift in their seats.
“There’s a bit of a sticker shock here,” said Coun. Wes Brodhead.
The plan lays out a series of studies and capital projects over several years that are aimed at redeveloping the downtown to make it a bigger draw for residents, businesses and shoppers.
The plan recommends beginning with studies to create a downtown parking strategy, a servicing and stormwater management plan and a pedestrian, cycling and transit study.
The plan then identifies four capital projects “to be fast-tracked and initiated immediately.”
These projects are:
• Narrowing Perron Street and widening the sidewalk
• Re-aligning St. Anne Street to curve south of the courthouse and meet up with TachĂ© Street
• Building a civic square where the central parking lot now sits
• Building a parkade
These four projects are projected to cost $42.4 million. The report suggests they could be completed within three to five years. Longer-term projects would include expanding the Art Gallery of St. Albert, building a community support centre and building more parking structures.
Total costs are projected to be $135.8 million — $135 million for capital projects and nearly $800,000 for studies.
“I think everybody got a little bit of sticker shock,” said Coun. Cam MacKay.
He convinced council to accept the plan as information but not approve it. This means city administration will proceed with the no-cost elements but all capital projects will sit on the unfunded list for consideration at budget time.
MacKay isn’t enthused about the plan at all. He thinks it’s a “grandiose” vision that can only be achieved at substantial cost to all taxpayers because the redevelopment won’t generate enough additional taxes to cover the city’s costs.
“I think the idea of putting all your money into one area, into a downtown, is kind of passĂ©,” he said. “Everybody’s been talking about rejuvenating downtowns for 20, 30 years, whether it’s Edmonton or St. Albert, and it never seems to work.”
“The reason it doesn’t work, I think, is the world’s changed,” he continued. “Now everything’s on the outskirts.”
Mayor Nolan Crouse said DARP is a long-term vision for the city to pursue as the downtown changes and evolves over time. He doesn’t expect to see capital spending for many years.
“I think we’re talking about, over a 20-year period, every time a move is made, it’s moving toward a vision but this isn’t schedule-driven whatsoever,” he said.
The downtown is up against many demands for capital money, such as the city’s Grain Elevator Park, the soccer and rugby fields and a potential new RCMP station, he said.
“The competition for capital is great and I think … the downtown isn’t going to necessarily compete in the next five years for capital.”
The implementation plan includes a number of zero-cost elements, such as amending the land use bylaw and the municipal development plan.
At Crouse’s request, the plan also includes the creation of a downtown design review panel. As part of the land use changes, he also wants to restrict ground floor businesses to retail and address architectural standards.
