Quote:
Originally Posted by 240glt
^ how about the poeple who lived in the mining camps in the 1900's ?
I don't know if 1995 was a start of anything. I came to Edmonton for the first time in 1999 and the downtown area was beyond depressing
I am lucky to be able to get the perspective of someone who was born in Edmonton and lived here since 1971, was extemely active in the community in his younger years and has a proepr perpective of what things used to be like. I'll take his word as fact
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The '90s definitely seemed to be the lowest point in Edmonton's history. Even in the '80s, areas like Alberta Ave were much more lively, and Jasper Ave hadn't been ripped apart for cut-and-cover LRT*.
At first thought, I want to say that people choosing a downtown (or Oliver or Strathcona) lifestyle are "pioneers", but I look at the people who chose downtown in the '90s and 2000s, when things were much rougher, and how much less options were around then, and they definitely seem like true pioneers by comparison.
But it's also not that black and white. 20-somethings moving into condos and apartments downtown and pushing revitalization of the core is hardly pioneering anymore, but having a family downtown still is. So there are still relatively unchartered territories for urban living here.
* early '80s, more specifically here.
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To the OP, the lifestyle you prefer is definitely possible here, but you will have to make compromises and lower your expectations if you're used to San Francisco, London, and Chicago. Edmonton is younger, smaller, and very car-centric, despite our efforts to the contrary. Our public transport shuts down shortly after 1am, so if you're out late and don't have a car, prepare to cab it.
I would also say it is difficult (though not impossible) to live here without a car 100% of the time. For 90% of your needs, you can live without a car with ease, especially if you live centrally, but there's always that 10% where having a car will make your life a whole lot more easy. Let's face it, this is Edmonton, not Montreal. Now whether you borrow or rent or try a car-sharing service, or actually own a vehicle doesn't matter much, but I would highly recommend having access to a vehicle occasionally. Much of this city is annoying to traverse via transit too, so unless you want to stay confined to the central areas of the city, a car comes in handy.
Edmonton is also a city dominated by wide boulevards, shopping malls, and under- and over-ground pedways, thus making the public realm seem somewhat lacking at times (though drastically improving). Jasper Ave west of 109th is still not very pedestrian friendly and 104 Ave is lined with suburban-style strip malls, for example. Even Whyte Ave is pretty wide.
Also, with a populace that doesn't really embrace the cold, the outdoor activity also gets very sparse in the winter when it's too cold, with people huddled in malls and pedways. So expect some desolate looking scenes downtown when the mercury hits -15 in December.
I bring this up because while, amenity-wise, you have 90% of what you need within walking distance in Oliver or Downtown, but Edmonton isn't always the most walkable city.
Nonetheless, this city needs people like you and others on this forum because without you guys, Edmonton will continue to be the post-modern suburban city clinging to the '80s since 1989. So while it will be more challenging to live a car-free urban lifestyle compared to Chicago, I hope you at least give it a shot here in Edmonton.