Rossdale ReGeneration

ROSSDALE RE-GENERATION GROUP
Preservation and Renewal Meeting
TUESDAY JAN. 13, 2015
5:00-6:30 PM
ROSSDALE COMMUNITY LEAGUE HALL

It has been quite some time since there has been a meeting of the Rossdale Re-generation group. Our initial objective of having the EPCOR Generating Plant conserved has met with some success as the City of Edmonton has provided funding to secure the building for a three year period. On January 20, 2015 a major report regarding the future of the plant as well as the plan for West Rossdale redevelopment will be reviewed and debated at the Executive Committee of City Council.

MEETING AGENDA

1. Introduction/Welcome
2. Update
   • Preservation
   • Lighting
   • Other
3. Jan. 20 Executive Committee Meeting
   • Future of Generating Building/Rossdale Development/Planning
   • Key Principle/Points for future redevelopment/development
4. Other

Originally scheduled for the June 10th CIty Council Meeting, the West Rossdale Redevelopment report highlighting a number of potential scenarios for the development and governance of West Rossdale and the Rossdale Generating Station has been postponed until the City Council Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday, July 8th. 

Although the meeting begins at 9:30am, the Rossdale report’s place in the agenda won’t be released until Thursday, July 3rd.

For a brief overview of what the report entails and key points from our perspective, please read our previous blog post. 

On Tuesday June 10 the West Rossdale Redevelopment report is being presented to Edmonton City Council.  The report is lengthy with a number of attachments.

Ultimately, the report from City Administration asks City Council to give further direction regarding the proposed land development, infrastructure, Rossdale Generation Plant etc. and to refer this back to City administration for further work to come back to City Council at a later date.

Rossdale Regeneration representatives Michael Phair, Lynn Parrish and David Ridley met recently with City Administration and noted the following:

• The report includes the proposed redevelopment of Rossdale including the Power Plant, moving towards an integrated plan, an approach we have supported in the past
• The report suggests that there are a number of possible scenarios for moving forward that include different cost estimates and different governance models as to implementing the plan.

Given the meeting’s agenda it is unlikely Council will get to this item until mid-afternoon on June 10.

From the Rossdale ReGeneration Group’s perspective, the following points are key and are outlined in the report:

• That the plan for West Rossdale development includes the Rossdale Generation Plant
• It is paramount to us that the Generation Plant continue to be historically recognized and conserved/preserved as a significant industrial building in Edmonton’s past
• The context of the building in relation to the river as a ‘landmark’ and as an entrance to downtown is crucial
• That reuse of the Power Plant will be for a multi-use facility, both private and public
• Governance (conserving, reuse and managing) of the building must include interested citizens’ groups like Rossdale Regeneration.

 If you have time to attend/speak or send an e-mail to City Councillors on this matter, please do so.

A young architect has drafted his interpretation of Rossdale Power Plant’s potential future, which was recently showcased on CTV News.

For his thesis, Michael Zabinski created a plan for the Rossdale Power Plant, one that uses geothermal heating and features an indoor market, thermal baths, heating elements to ensure year-round use, and a connection to downtown in the form of a gondola.

“It could be argued that this is where Edmonton was born,” says Zabinski, “and this building itself gave power and energy to the city for so many years, and now it just sits vacant.”

Michael Phair from the Rossdale ReGeneration group was interviewed for the piece, and notes that such projects give renewed hope for the future of the power plant. “It’s great to see people like [Zabinski] spending time imagining what is there, because we need that. We need to be able to imagine what else it could be.”

Although this is merely one interpretation of the power plant’s potential and actual designs for the Rossdale Power Plant are a few years off, the City of Edmonton has committed to ensuring the plant’s structural stability.

Head to the CTV News website to see the full video!

On December 11, City Council reviewed and voted on the City of Edmonton’s Infrastructure Supplementary Budget.  The Supplementary Budget included the conservation of the Rossdale Generator Plant buildings at $3.4 million to cover a 10 year period.  The vote on the motion to provide these funds passed 9-4.

In early 2014, City Administration is scheduled to provide a preliminary report to City Council on the next proposed steps. The ongoing support of City Council has been noted by Alberta’s Minister of Culture Minister Heather Klimchuk.

Currently, EPCOR officially owns the property, the power plant and the adjacent pumphouse buildings.  Rossdale Regeneration sees the transfer of the land and buildings to the City as an important step in the preservation and future planning for the site.  Before subdivision of the lands can take place for the ownership by the City of Edmonton, a second level environmental study is required.  Given this, it is likely that subdivision is 8-14 months away.  Officially the property and building will remain with EPCOR for the time being.

It’s late notice, but tonight, November 12, 2013 at 6:00pm, we’re holding a public meeting at Rossdale Community League Hall (10135 96 Avenue NW). Budget season is upon us, and with it comes several discussions around the future use of Rossdale Powerplant and its integration with the changing neighbourhood around it.

Here’s a brief rundown of our agenda this evening:

1. Welcome

2. Updates; recent candidate tour: civic election results

3. The 2014 City Budget

4. Governance possibilities; messages from City Sustainable Office

5. Wrap up

—

Rossdale residents and the broader public are welcome to join. We hope to see you there!

This Sunday, October 13th, Rossdale ReGeneration is hosting a walking tour of the Rossdale Power Plant site, to acquaint Ward 6 candidates with the area’s historical significance and possibilities for the future. Architect Allan Partridge and Heritage Consultant Catherine Cole will guide the tour.

After the tour, Edmonton Heritage Council Executive Director David Ridley will tell the group about the decisions that will come to the new council with regards to maintaining and repurposing the building in the future.

If you’d like to attend, the tour begins at 2:00pm at the Rossdale Community League parking lot. With the election just over a week away, we encourage you to engage with councillors about the future of Rossdale!

As election campaigns begin to gain momentum heading into the fall, mayoral candidates Karen Leibovici and Don Iveson have posted statements regarding the future of the Rossdale Power Plant on their websites.

Councillor Leibovici sees the power plant as “an anchor for a whole new place for Edmontonians to gather,” continuing the tradition that the site has held for thousands of years. For now, she agrees that city council need a bit of “breathing space” to make the best decision.

Click here for Karen Leibovici’s full statement.

After taking a tour of the buildings, Councillor Iveson admits that “rising to this challenge will require real creativity.” Of course, creativity may take time, and it will require help from a number of stakeholders.

Click here for Don Iveson’s full statement.