Opinion: Downtown Edmonton plan should reflect the needs of all
On June 26, city council will vote on whether to extend the Downtown Community Revitalization Levy — funding that would support the new Downtown Action Plan, a $553-million strategy made up of eight main categories and 45 detailed subcategories.
Over the past decade, downtown Edmonton has seen big changes: the Ice District and the long-awaited Valley Line LRT, to name a few. But despite these efforts, major challenges haven't gone away. Commercial vacancy rates are still high, property values are dropping, and downtown is contributing a shrinking share of the city's overall tax base.
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CBC
29-06-2025
- CBC
Edmonton City Council approves 10-year extension of Community Revitalization Levy
Edmonton city council has voted to extend the Capital City Downtown Community Revitalization Levy for another 10 years. City officials say extending it by a decade will help fund more projects and allow them to implement a downtown action plan.
Calgary Herald
26-06-2025
- Calgary Herald
Event park deal at Rogers Place sows division at Edmonton city hall over future of levy
Article content According to city staff, the total cost to implement the projects ranges between $514 million and $624 million, and is expected to be rolled out in a phased approach from 2026 to 2041 with most projects beginning in the next budget cycle. Article content The rubbing point for councillors Knack, Janz and some residents, are the first two projects on the list. Despite growing calls to pursue a CRL extension that excludes those items, city staff indicated that not only would that pull provincial support for the extension, it would also cause significant delays. Article content 'If council adds or removes projects, the review process with the province will revert to step one. This will require new approval from cabinet, and this is not guaranteed. The timeline for the review is unknown, and implementation of the CRL will be delayed,' said city staff. Article content With a Downtown Action Plan that 'hinges' on the CRL extension, Kim Petrin, deputy city manager for urban planning and economy, said city staff recommend council approve the extension of the CRL. Article content Article content Public input on Thursday began with a panel of speakers in favour of the CRL extension and its related projects, all of whom emphasized the role of the extension in sending a strong signal to residents and investors alike to help revitalize Edmonton's Downtown and the potential benefits that come with it, including an expanded tax base.
Edmonton Journal
26-06-2025
- Edmonton Journal
Event park deal at Rogers Place sows division at Edmonton city hall over future of levy
Article content According to city staff, the total cost to implement the projects ranges between $514 million and $624 million, and is expected to be rolled out in a phased approach from 2026 to 2041 with most projects beginning in the next budget cycle. The rubbing point for councillors Knack, Janz and some residents, are the first two projects on the list. Despite growing calls to pursue a CRL extension that excludes those items, city staff indicated that not only would that pull provincial support for the extension, it would also cause significant delays. 'If council adds or removes projects, the review process with the province will revert to step one. This will require new approval from cabinet, and this is not guaranteed. The timeline for the review is unknown, and implementation of the CRL will be delayed,' said city staff. With a Downtown Action Plan that 'hinges' on the CRL extension, Kim Petrin, deputy city manager for urban planning and economy, said city staff recommend council approve the extension of the CRL.
