Community Development - Blatchford

ue · #1 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 1:22 AM**

I figured the rest of Canada might want to hear about what's going on with Edmonton City Centre Airport in the days before it's first stages of closure ...

Lobby group shares its vision of City Centre Airport

Quote:

The group petitioning to keep the City Centre Airport open took the opportunity Thursday to unveil its development plans for the airport. The initiative comes as one of the airport's runways is scheduled to close.

Envision Edmonton is still working to gather close to 78,000 signatures to force the city to revisit the decision of closing the airport. The first of two runways at the City Centre Airport is scheduled to close next week.

Mayor Stephen Mandel has maintained that the airport lands will be transformed into an urban setting with residential properties.

Envision Edmonton unveiled renderings of what it wants to see on the airport lands, which includes two possible LRT options that would run west or east of the site as well as a new building hub in hopes of doubling the airport's current 1,200 person workforce.

(...)

dmonton Airports says it will start to close down one runway in the coming days. It's also invested $20 million to ensure tenants can move their planes to existing hangars or even build their own hangars at the International Airport or Villneuve Airports.

Envision Edmonton says it progressing with its petition campaign. Officials maintain they have roughly 50,000 signatures to date.

Rest here: http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/lo...9?hub=Edmonton

feepa · #2 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 1:44 AM**

http://notmyairport.ca/

JayM · #3 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 1:50 AM**

Isn't that Airport used for Indy? If they close that airport there wont be anymore Indy there.

Coldrsx · #4 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 3:23 PM**

^it could potentially stay there, or there are other options for keeping it here such as a street circuit.

vid · #5 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 3:40 PM**

I thought it was already shut down?

MrOilers · #6 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 3:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayM

Isn't that Airport used for Indy? If they close that airport there wont be anymore Indy there.

The runways and airport don't actually need to be in operation to have the race there.

Plus, it will take decades to develop and fill in all that land - plenty of time to find an alternative site for the Indy (if it's still held in Edmonton after the next 3 years are up).

MrOilers · #7 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 3:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid

I thought it was already shut down?

City Council voted for a phased closure.

One runway shuts down this August 4, and the other runway shuts down at a later date (not yet determined).

Coldrsx · #8 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 3:57 PM**

which also means that part of the airport overlay will be gone...

240glt · #9 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 5:03 PM**

I was just approached to sign this petition at my workplace.

I declined, but listened to the individual give the reasons for the petition to one of my co-workers.... all about STARS and how people will die if the airport is closed.

It really is quite a fear campaign

ue · #10 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 5:06 PM**

^^Yep. Oliver really needs some height in the 90m-120m range. The Pearl will be a nice start. I can also see this being more attractive to developing the Warehouse District (part of Downtown north of Jasper, east of 109 St, west of 103 St, and south of 104 Ave) as IIRC the overlay is lifted for 105 St and west.

Even if the Indy chose not to stay in Edmonton with the closure for whatever reasons, I'd still be glad the City's finally looking for redevelopment of the site.

^ LOL. Hospital services work in other cities without the proximity to (a) Airport. For those that don't know, Royal Alexandra Hospital and Glenrose Hospital are blocks from the YXD.

240glt · #11 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 5:14 PM**

^ Of course, but if you are trying to rile the masses, the best way to do it is with a fear campaign

bulliver · #12 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 6:21 PM**

Fscking wankers. We already had this plebiscite many years ago. If anything the 'close' side should have more numbers today.

Perhaps the thing to do at this point is organize a 'Redevelop the airport lands' counter movement to fight the propaganda. I really don't see why anyone with an ounce of common sense wouldn't agree that closing the airport is the best thing for Edmonton. If they get their vote and lose again it should effectively be the proverbial nail in their coffin.

Who wants to step up and get the ball rolling?

240glt · #13 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 8:08 PM**

Edmonton’s mayor slams Smith for airport remarks

Wildrose leader demanding the city have further debate on downtown airport

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...#ixzz0vCLholpG

EDMONTON — Mayor Stephen Mandel lashed out at Wildrose Alliance Leader Danielle Smith Friday for wading into the airport debate, something he says is a city matter and of no concern to an unelected provincial politician.

“Most Edmontonians, and myself included, take offence when Calgarians tell us how we should run our city,” Mandel said.

The mayor was livid that Smith held a press conference at the City Centre Airport this morning, demanding the city have further debate on whether to keep the airport running.

Smith argued Edmontonians should hold a plebiscite to decide the matter.

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...#ixzz0vCLO4Cj5

Good for Mandel, & to hell with Smith & her bunch of oil company puppets.

Bigtime · #14 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 8:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240glt

“Most Edmontonians, and myself included, take offence when Calgarians tell us how we should run our city,” Mandel said.

So guys, I have a bunch of suggestions on how you should deal with this whole city centre airport thing...

MrOilers · #15 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 8:41 PM**

The funny thing is, the more support that this group gets from Calgary-based influences over Edmonton-based ones, the worse their case becomes for keeping it open.

Bigtime · #16 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 9:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrOilers

The funny thing is, the more support that this group gets from Calgary-based influences over Edmonton-based ones, the worse their case becomes for keeping it open.

Very true, I would think Mayor Mandel's line is enough to garner more support to stick with the original plan of shutting it down.

edm_guy · #17 Posted **Jul 30, 2010, 10:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240glt

Edmonton’s mayor slams Smith for airport remarks

Wildrose leader demanding the city have further debate on downtown airport

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...#ixzz0vCLholpG

EDMONTON — Mayor Stephen Mandel lashed out at Wildrose Alliance Leader Danielle Smith Friday for wading into the airport debate, something he says is a city matter and of no concern to an unelected provincial politician.

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...#ixzz0vCLO4Cj5

Good for Mandel, & to hell with Smith & her bunch of oil company puppets.

I think Mandel summed it up best with that quote

The Jabroni · #18 Posted **Jul 31, 2010, 12:08 AM**

Why can't it be more like Dunsfold Park, in Surrey, England? It's a business park, with a racetrack, and an airstrip. For those who watch Top Gear on BBC, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Then again, the decision has already been made. For whatever reason why the airport needs to be closed, I'm sure it's for the better of Edmonton.

I'm sure the Edmonton Indy would be there for the remainder of its contract, once the airport closes. After that, it's up to the IRL if they want to remain there, or whatever plan that the city has in mind for the airport forces the IRL to go somewhere else.

ue · #19 Posted **Jul 31, 2010, 1:32 AM**

^The airport should be closed for a few reasons. First and foremost is the fact that it is highly underutilized (keep in mind this was once Edmonton's main port) and the airlines and passengers that have moved to the newer, larger Edmonton International have no reason to move back. Why keep open something when it is barely being used and could be used much better for something else?

Then there's the fact that both runways are pointed towards downtown and airplanes fly over it, causing huge height impacts which has made Edmonton loose development opportunities in the past (for example, Husky originally was looking into Edmonton for an observation deck, but chose Calgary for the lackof height restrictions).

Also, the site has tremendous potential to become a massive, dense transit orientated district of 35 000 people that would likely otherwise be producing demand for new suburbs over top of farmland. It would also enhance Edmonton's "urban scene."

Policy Wonk · #20 Posted **Jul 31, 2010, 1:57 AM**

Yes, a Wal-Mart Super Center and acres upon acres of vacant wasteland for decades to come will do wonders for Edmonton's "Urban Scene"

Airport redevelopments are a nightmare and both Denver and Austin hit all the right urbanist notes when planning the development of Stapleton and Muller - yet produced little to nothing but a shopping mall in Denver and a crappy subdivision in Austin (but with a high concentration of christian owned businesses). They put too much development land on the market all at once with an intense pressure to develop it rapidly.

And it isn't just the wildrose alliance, all the provincial parties oppose closing the airport. I look forward to the day I can once again fly between Calgary and YXD in 40 minutes. And should YXD survive Edmonton Airports is going to demand their hands be washed of it.

Airports before real estate schemes!