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October 25, 2011
RE: In Favour - Proposed Downtown Arena and Entertainment
Deal
I am writing on behalf of the ONEdmonton Downtown Vibrancy Task
Force
(DVTF). The DVTF was created late in 2010 as an extension of
EEDCs
ONEdmonton Leaders Forum; an initiative which brings together
GreaterEdmontons top leaders from a wide spectrum of perspectives
and disciplines
for common vision and direction through informed discussion,
debate and
action. The more than 150 participants of ONEdmonton identified
a vibrant
urban core as a top priority for moving Edmonton forward in its
goal of
becoming one of the worlds great mid-sized cities. As a result,
the DVTF
was founded to accelerate the development of a strong and
vibrant urban
core. A list of the members is attached.
The DVTF believes that City Council should vote in favour of
the
downtown arena and entertainment deal.
We want a vibrant downtown that uniquely defines our city. A
place
that is engaging to citizens and visitors, and that has dynamism
during
both business and leisure hours. The new arena and
entertainment
complex will make an enormous contribution in this
direction.
Vibrant city centres are becoming table-stakes for global
competitiveness because of the significant influence they have
on
resident retention and attraction. While considerable progress
has
been made in Edmonton over the past decade, there is much more
weneed to accomplish. The new arena and entertainment complex
will
be a timely and transformational element for the vibrancy of our
urban
core, and correspondingly a welcome enabler in our
labour-related
efforts.
c/o Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, 9990 Jasper Ave,
Edmonton AB
T5J 1P7
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Vibrancy is a shared benefit, and also a shared responsibility,
for public
and private entities. The new arena and entertainment complex is
a
positive example of this kind of mutual collaboration.
In The Way Forward, The Way We Live, and the Capital City
Downtown
Plan, the City of Edmonton has expressed a vision for our
downtownthat is lively, sustainable, attractive, social, and
transformational. The
new arena and entertainment complex contributes energy and
momentum in each of these areas.
Vibrancy attracts people. People attract more people. More
people
attract more business. As a cultivator of vibrancy, the new
arena and
entertainment complex will have a favourable influence on the
citys
desire for increased residential and business density in our
urban core,
and in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
As members of the DVTF, we believe in the expression, As
goes
your downtown, so goes your city. We encourage City Council
to
approve the downtown arena and entertainment deal, and to
continue to
support initiatives that add vibrancy to the heart of our
City.
We appreciate the opportunity to express our thoughts, thank
you. We look
forward to a favourable council decision.
Sincerely,
ONEdmonton Downtown Vibrancy Task Force
Simon OByrneChair
c/o Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, 9990 Jasper Ave,
Edmonton AB
T5J 1P7
