River Crossing – building a new story for Rossdale

On Wednesday, City Council had a chance to discuss the West Rossdale development and refine a vision for the area we’re now calling ‘River Crossing‘.

The new Walterdale Bridge, looking into a re-imagined River Crossing. Conceptual only.

The new Walterdale Bridge, looking into a re-imagined River Crossing. Conceptual only.

River Crossing’s new vision  asks us to step back and consider the Rossdale development in the context of the wider area and the incredibly significant role the site has played in our city’s history. For many years we were overwhelmed by the complicated pieces that made up the area and wondered if it would ever be possible to see a financial return on our investment at that bend in the river. River Crossing shifts our perspective to something much bigger and much more important: a storyline for a transformative development.

At the end of the Wednesday’s meeting, City Council unanimously passed a layered motion that allows us to move forward and to (finally) start making some key decisions. Among these are confirming the province’s interest in lands for a Legislature promenade, analyzing how existing city-funded infrastructure programs might be leveraged to help improve the development picture, and focusing our efforts on city-building priorities rather than just trying to turn a profit on the real estate.

Baseball fans will also find comfort in the fact that we are going to actively seek out a team for Telus Field (via an RFP), but if we come up short we will have no choice but to move on to a Plan B that re-imagines baseball, and the park, in an entirely different form.

Paul Kane's portrait of Fort Edmonton. Likely painted while in the Rossdale area.

Paul Kane’s early portrait of Fort Edmonton. His perspective is from the Rossdale area.

I’m also excited by the ask of City Council for a historical interpretation plan that will help bring the River Crossing’s rich history to life. The story of our city was first written in the River Crossing district; not only were the earliest fur trading forts located in the area, but archaeologists working on the Walterdale bridge project discovered a 1,400 year old Aboriginal campsite on the south side of the river, painting an incredible picture of life in pre-historic Edmonton. These are stories we simply cannot ignore in developing this area.

There is, as well, the issue of the canal project. While I continue to have questions about the costs of this project, both short and long-term, there is interest on Council in considering amenities that could bring about an increase in the value of the Rossdale lands. Having said that, I am curious about other ideas that the market might bring to the table in order to take the River Crossing vision even higher. As we move forward, I will push to ensure that any additional development concepts are given due consideration; the worst thing we can do is to leave a great idea in an envelope, on the table.

We will not enter into the development of this area hastily. I realize this may elicit a groan from those who have waited decades to see something, anything, happen in Rossdale. But Wednesday’s motion ensures we do it properly, and in the right order, instead of letting ourselves continue to be overwhelmed by the parts that make up – in fact – a much bigger sum.

4 thoughts on “River Crossing – building a new story for Rossdale

  1. Doesn’t this area flood with some regularity? While I am looking forward to some development in that area, I certainly hope Council will also consider, and make public, the results of their investigation into the best ways to protect the City’s investment in Rossdale from the inevitable.

  2. Very well thought out DI……..

    Edmonton is a richer city because of you’re leadership.

    Regards….

    JerryK

  3. Don,

    When is the City going to tell the tax payers that the Walterdale bridge is not going to be opened till the spring or summer of 2017?

    F

  4. Gerald Delorme Says

    This was taken off the propaganda from the city of Edmonton.(See Below) This is the furthest from the truth and yet the genocide continues. We were assured that none of the area was going to be disturbed and yet behind closed doors without any consultation the Cemetery was amended to become much smaller than it actually is. The Historical Grave yard was disturbed once again. Remember this. There are two sides of History and like I have said before I know which side of History I am on. This will be certainly addressed at a time at our convenience. We have tried to be fair and open yet it has fallen on very deaf ears. Sad. I have seen the change and it is very disturbing to know what you say and do are two different things. For what? Screen shot for record.

    An extensive pre-construction Historical Resources Impact Assessment was carried out between October 2011 and Octo- ber 2012. Construction includes ongoing archaeological moni- toring and paleontological inspections. An amendment to the Fort Edmonton Cemetery and Traditional Burial Ground legal boundary was requested. The existing interpretive belvedere will be relocated as part of the project work, but the memory circle, re-interment area and historic period graveyard will remain undisturbed.

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