Revitalization in Downtown Edmonton

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ROUTING - City Council | DELEGATION – R. G. Klassen/P. OhmWRITTEN BY – P. Ohm | April 6, 2011 – Planning and Development Department 2011PGM008

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Revitalization inDowntown EdmontonEffects of an Arena Developmentin Downtown Edmonton

Recommendation:

That the April 6, 2011, Planning andDevelopment Department report2011PGM008, be received for information.

Report Summary

This report provides information on:

• context on the development of theDowntown versus the City as awhole

• impact an arena may have as acatalyst for revitalizing downtownand the conditions necessary for success

Report

At the March 2, 2011, City Councilmeeting, Administration responded toCouncil’s motion to prepare a report onthe experience of other cities on a crosssection of businesses adjacent to butoutside the immediate arena districts of those cities. A report was provided byDrs. D. Mason and M. Rosentraub onthe experience of five American citieswhere sports venues were developed intheir respective downtowns. The studyincluded comparisons of the propertytaxes for the central city (containing thedowntown sports venue(s)) versus thesurrounding county over a ten year period. The study concluded that therewere no adverse impacts to the propertyvalues of the central city versus thesurrounding county.

Arising from the Council discussion of the March 2, 2011, report, Members of Council made comments and raisedquestions as to:

• Edmonton’s downtown beingmarkedly different from the fiveAmerican cities cited in the abovestudy focusing on the degree of revitalization the City has alreadyexperienced

• whether Administration could provideinformation on the experience of other cities more comparable toEdmonton

• additional discussion on theconditions necessary for an arena tocontribute to the successfulrevitalization of downtown

To provide additional context about theexisting level of development in theDowntown and to further examinepotential impacts of a downtown arena,Administration has provided historicalinformation regarding property taxes for the downtown. As well, a more detaileddiscussion of Edmonton’s downtownhas been developed based on extensive

work already undertaken through theDowntown Plan.

Attachment 1 provides a comparison of property and business taxes for Edmonton’s Downtown versus the entirecity. The data illustrates property andbusiness tax values in Downtown havebeen relatively stable and trendingupwards over the past decade.

Attachment 2 provides additional

information on the degree to which anarena might be a catalyst for revitalizingdowntown and the conditions necessaryto do so. The report was prepared byTom Sutherland, FRAIC, Principal for DIALOG and the prime consultant for the Liveable City Design Consortiumthat assisted Administration in the

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Revitalization in Downtown Edmonton – Effects of an Arena Development inDowntown Edmonton

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preparation of the Capital City Downtown Plan. The report reflects theconditions in which an arena indowntown Edmonton can have positiveimpact on revitalizing the Downtown.

Policy

The Way We Grow , Edmonton’sMunicipal Development Plan:

• Policy section 3.4.1.5 – Promote theretention and development of major cultural, educational and recreationalfacilities in the Downtown.

Corporate Outcomes

This report is in response to Council’songoing consideration of a DowntownSports and Entertainment Facility. Thedevelopment of such a facility,particularly within a broader arenadistrict, has the potential to support anumber of Council’s 10 year goals fromThe Way Ahead , Edmonton’s StrategicPlan 2009-2018:

• Improve Edmonton’s Livability

• Transform Edmonton’s Urban

Form• Diversify Edmonton’s Economy

Attachments

1. Property and Business Tax Data –Downtown Versus City Wide, 2000to 2010

2. Is a New Arena a Good fit for Downtown Edmonton? Capital CityDowntown Plan – InformationAddendum. Prepared by Tom

Sutherland, DIALOGOthers Reviewing this Report

• L. Rosen, Chief Financial Officer andTreasurer



Page 1 of 1 Report: 2011PGM008 Attachment 1

Documents

Revitalization in Downtown Edmonton