Rossdale Generating Station: Historic Opportunity
Photo credit: City of Edmonton
A few weeks back I took a tour of the Rossdale plant and pump houses. I was struck by the deceptively large scale of the buildings, as well as the scale of the challenge. The generator hall is a beautiful open space with lots of light and clear potential. The boiler hall, which is the taller space on the west side is much more of a challenge – full of structural steel, the roof is failing, there is much less light, and the pigeons have thoroughly infiltrated it.
The pump houses are interesting, but are structurally complex (they go down several storeys) and the older one is also deteriorating because the roof is failing.
So the question comes before Executive Committee today – what to do with this site and buildings?
Generating hall. Photo Credit: Rossdale Regeneration.
The report (to be discussed around 10:45 in the morning) recommends allocating enough funding to stabilize and protect the structure and roof for 10 years. Then taking time to find the right partners and uses. This is also the approach supported by Rossdale Regeneration, a broad-based community coalition.
The appendices to the report offer some interesting background research from our Historical Board and our Heritage Planners, including case studies from Winnipeg, Toronto, London, and Austin among others. The Austin example has some interesting elements including housing and lighting public art to screen the remnant substation.
Boiler hall. Photo Credit: Rossdale Regeneration.
I can’t be there for the discussion but I support the recommendation – we need time to consider our options and develop a viable business case for retention of the structures. They are deemed historic, so we have no choice. But we need time to come up with ideas that can work.
Whatever comes, I believe it will be essential to include an aboriginal component, to provide for improved access by various modes of travel, and, ideally, to ensure that future activity is financially sustainable without significant public dollars going into it.
Rising to this challenge will require real creativity, but if we don’t rush it I think we’ll find a solution that can help a larger goal of opening up the central part of our river valley to rich experiences for more users.
16 thoughts on “Rossdale Generating Station: Historic Opportunity”
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I am a history buff,but more imprtantly an expert in the field of Art Deco!I am following this story with keen interest,and offer my services in whatever capacity. I have EXTENSIVE knowledge in the architecture of the period,and all things related.I have seen the Tate Gallery in London,and have many ideas regarding the use and function of the old power plant.
Regards
Trevor
I would agree with the recommendation I think what has been done at the Forks in Winnipeg as well as Grandville Island in Vancouver shows what a city can do with historical sites like this, and frankly, it is far more likely that tourists will visit Edmonton to see an open market and indoor market (in Rossdale plant) like this than to see the Katz Palace.
The book “How Buildings Learn: what happens after they’re built” by Stewart Brand comes to mind. A great read for anyone interested in architecture, history, and/or urban design.
In either case, I support the recommendation and agree with Don in that time should be taken to consider what options would work best. I am also strongly in favour of incorporating the aboriginal context of the site.
The City should not be spending its limited resources propping up decrepit buildings. That’s almost criminal given the limited funding that far more important services receive.
Given that there is no immediate use for these, nor even a clear path towards future use, the plant should be torn down. Return the area to public green space and leave it that way. And don’t bother with public art or tributes to any ethnic groups. Green space is something everyone can benefit from.
I think this is potentially a great site for a central show piece for Edmonton. But please do not give the development of it to a purely commercial entity. If the bottom line becomes the most important issue it will turn into another WEM or worse. This needs a balanced approach.
I am in favor of some sort of restoration opportunity…even if just a portion of this large plant, provided the First Nations people are involved and participate in the project. Incorporating First Nation history and burial preservation is feasible given the size of the project. An indoor market like the St Lawrence Market in Toronto is an example. I, like others, prefer money to come from other sources besides city taxpayers.
Over the years I’ve had the good fortune to visit city’s with fantastic downtown markets. There’s Granville Island in Vancouver, Pikes Market in Seattle, A Grand Market in Budapest. Halifax and Ottawa as well. Why hasn’t anyone proposed a large downtown market. This would give the downtown farmer’s market a permanent home (although 104 street is fantastic in the summer). The advantages are clear. It’s a large open and very flexible space and is surrounded by lots of surface parking potential. It’s also central and would bring more people downtown. Imagine a grand city market right across from our new signature bridge.
As it beside the aboriginal grave site, it would make an excellent northern prairie aboriginal cultural centre and museum!
It is rather ironic that the power house is designated an “historic site” while the burial ground next to it that predates it by about 200 years is only recognized because a few people have struggled long and hard for it. Nothing should be done without First Nations direction. In my opinion the best acknowledgement of our aboriginal culture would be protected natural green space.
If we can sink $400 M so a spoiled sports team owner can have an Arena we don’t need, and 1/4 billion on an interchange for a bunch of box stores (south Edmonton common), I think we can spare some change for something unique and memorable. Add in the low level bridge as a pedestrian walkway and you’d have something world class!
The open nature of the plant commends itself to a market space. Check out Chelseamarket.com An old Oreo factory brick building was transformed into a funky market space with independent and small scale shops as well as eateries. Edmonton would benefit from an indoor market space that is close to downtown.
Carla Hirschfeld
Yes, an indoor market space would be fantastic! It should combine the best of local food, crafts and arts. A big central hall like that would be awesome as a showcase space for local musicians, dancers etc. There is music at the Strathcona market, but the space just isn’t big enough to be comfortable for hanging out, and it’s only open on Saturdays. Visual artists could club together to rent a stall for the year, but take it in weekly shifts to showcase their work. Or the Edmonton Arts Council, Alberta Foundation or other arts groups could do it for them and select artists to bring their work for sale for a week.
It would be great for the baseball team too. I don’t even like baseball, but strolling across the river to have lunch at the market and then take in a game sounds like a pretty good summer’s day to me.
As you will note with the UN Declaration of Rights posted below. Our Sacred Site at Rossdale should be left completely alone. How much more warning does the City need? I had asked for Historical Designation as your well aware and it fell through the so called cracks. How convenient. Many many people through out the world on what the City has and is still doing to our Ancestors and Sacred Site at Rossdale is being shared.Knowing the many years the City has desecrated our ancestors graves is unacceptable treatment. When will real RESPECT be first? Not a bridge or an old building? FYI This has been screened shot for record.
Article 11 of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides:
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to practise and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their culture, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature.
2. States shall provide redress through effective mechanisms, which may include restitution, developed in conjunction with indigenous peoples, with respect to their cultural, intellectual, religious and spiritual property taken without their free, prior and informed consent or in violation of their laws, traditions and customs.
And article 12
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to manifest, practice, develop and teach their spiritual and religious traditions, customs and ceremonies; the right to maintain, protect, and have access in privacy to their religious and cultural sites; the right to use and control of their ceremonial objects; and the right to the repatriation of their human remains.
In August in 2007 I had pubilcly read this to the City and the Province. These words still ring true to the current mayor and council. One just has to replace it with Don and which ever new Premier holds office. (This$ is also screened shot for records.)
Tawow Welcome: first The Creator who made us all:
second – those of our ancestors who are buried here and other sites in this
City of Edmonton and Province of Alberta;
third – those of you whom are descended from these persons who lie here and who have
come to honor our ancestors memory;
last- those of you who are the beneficiaries of those of our ancestors who gifted this land
and ancient knowledge of this place to you.
It is well known that for millennia this place has served as a mecca for all of the venues of life-from birth to death; from war to peace; from life to life this place has been the setting. As life has been lived out here and we have returned our loved ones to the earth, this was the spot were we chose to re-meet with our loved ones and to cherish their life and gifts to us. We, too, have had respect for those who went first and we also placed them to rest here with the same hearts beating in our beasts as those hearts anywhere in this world beat when they who stand a graveyard in respect.
It is because we share this common respect for those of our dead that I speak out today
to state that when there were gravestones that were vandalized here in Edmonton in recent years, we, too, were outraged at the dis-respect for your dead and called out for action against those who perpetrated that injustice. Just as we also stood at your side when there was a cenotaph that was pushed over we concurred with the world at the lack of respect for those of your fallen heroes and ours.
However, I must express my concern at the length of time and lack of resources much
needed to properly research and archive the true numbers and names of those of our
heroes who lay here and in other places in this City and this Province who have suffered
the same indignation. I speak of the desecration and removal of gravestones in Andrew, AB as I also speak of the desecration and removal of the gravestones from this site.There are many hundreds of thousands of descendants of those of who lay here and other places in this city and province who now are the voice of this City and Province and we remind you Mr Mandel and Mr Stelmach that these graveyard issues will not rest until you take the appropriate action beyond this very Public statement.
We will be waiting to see your proper response to the future concerns we bring and that you will action them with the same resolve as was shown when attempting to find the perpetrators of the tragic events relating to your desecrated grave and memorial markers. We will be evaluating you on your performance on those issues and our voting conscience will be swayed by your actions related to them. We call upon the City and Province to make a strong and visible portfolio of this issue of First Peoples grave sites and others labelled variously Canadian;Halfbreed;Metis;Fur trader; Explorer.
What ever you label these; who lay here; they are our fallen heroes- those whom we rever
and miss- those whose gifts are still felt far and wide. Our heroes our fathers our mothers;
our kookums our mooshims; all of those who went on ahead. We meet here today in respect and reverence in acknowledgement of our ancestors.
I realize that our ancestors have accomplished what we cannot. They are
united- one. They are united- one in death and silent on all of the contentious issues.
Let us learn from their example of becoming one and become united in our purpose and
intent of recognizing the contribution of our progenitors by properly recording and observing their contribution and remains.
This city has no sense of history. Building after building gets demolished regularly.
Recent case in point. Today Don and crew approved a 16 storey building in old Strathcona. Decades of preserving the area shot down. The developer stated numerous times that the building walls of the church had numerous exterior structural problems. Don and crew believed him. Yet when looked upon closely, it is only deteriorated stucco that has failed in areas. Uhmmmmm Don, stucco is not a structural element. It has nothing to do with hold up the building.
I feel for future generations. They will only have Fort Edmonton to see buildings of the past. Another flub up of city council to add to their books.