Edmonton Notes for 5/27/2012

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• Edmontonians are fired up about Century Hospitality’s newest restaurant – most are upset that the name of the new place, MKT, is too similar to downtown’s existing MRKT.
• If you have thoughts on the new downtown arena designs, now is the time to share them. You have until June 10 to attend a public presentation, view the display at City Hall, and complete the online survey.
• Graham Hicks takes a break from food to share the fascinating story behind the Quesnell Bridge expansion.
• This is a good idea: LRT Bike Art. The idea is to combine public art with bicycle parking. Here’s some further information on the campaign.
• I’m quite happy that we’re starting to imagine what the City Centre Redevelopment could be! The notion of a street-level garbage chutes that connect to an underground vacuum collection system is pretty intriguing.
• Financing for the final leg of the Anthony Henday ring road has closed, which means construction can begin in June with an expected completion date of 2016. German construction giant Hochtief will design, build and operate the road over 34 years for a total of $1.81 billion.
• Council has decided that the Southeast LRT will be constructed as a public-private partnership (P3). Mayor Mandel will be writing to Premier Alison Redford to ask for support, and the City will be applying to the federal P3 fund as well.
• I think the gaming industry in Edmonton is stronger than most people realize. Gaming technology from our very own 3D Interactive will be used to redo SYSTEM 21, the most widely recognized well control e-learning system for the global oil and gas industry. Even better, 3DI has partnered with local firms Christie Communications and Yardstick Software to make it happen.
• The Citadel Theatre is entertaining redevelopment proposals that could include constructing something on top of the indoor garden.
• The Old Strathcona Business Association is beginning a branding effort and has a survey online for you to provide input. Let them know what you think about the future of of Old Strathcona!
• The federal government announced this week funding of $50,000 in support of construction of the Victoria Cross Memorial Park Monument.
• Sharon has a great recap of the first week of the new 124 Street Grand Market.
• The presenters have been announced for Pecha Kucha Night 13. Looks like a great lineup!
• Thanks to the rain last week, everything is starting to look nice and green! You have until June 28 to nominate someone in the Front Yards in Bloom competition. The winner will be announced on August 9.
• In case you missed it a couple weeks ago: the largest Living Wall inside any airport terminal has been unveiled at the Edmonton International Airport. I think it looks amazing!
• Have you received your property tax notice? If you don’t get one by June 1, contact the city at 311. The deadline for paying taxes on all properties is June 30.
• A quick follow-up to my post this week on food trucks: Drift will be staying in their spot on 108 Street until further notice.
• The City held its Food in the City food and agriculture conference this weekend. Sounds like it didn’t take long for the issue of land use in the northeast to come up.

LRT Expansion by Hugh Lee

Here are some upcoming events:

• The May edition of Emerging Business Leaders is tomorrow night and features Dave Mowat, President and CEO of ATB Financial.
• The grand opening celebration for the newly renovated Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre takes place on Tuesday afternoon.
• On Tuesday evening head over to the Santa Maria Goretti Centre for the first public presentation on the downtown arena design.
• AccelerateAB takes place all day Wednesday and Thursday at the Shaw Conference Centre.
• The first Southeast to West LRT Preliminary Design Open House takes place on Thursday at the South Edmonton Alliance Church. This one focuses on the Mill Woods Town Centre to Whitemud Drive leg of the route.
• Don’t miss Truck Stop in Old Strathcona on Thursday evening, our final one in May! The lineup and menu will be posted soon on our website.
• Also Thursday evening is the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Gala.
• If you’re in the 124 Street area on Thursday night, check out week 2 of the new 124 Street Grand Market.
• I’m really looking forward to Meet the Media Tweetup 2 on Friday evening. I missed the last one but heard it was a great event!
• The Handmade Mafia returns to Orange Hall on Saturday!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Federal Building Construction by Mike Friel