Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:
Headlines
- Brian Mason announced plans on Wednesday to step down as leader of the NDP after the party leadership vote in October. Here’s a statement on the announcement from Premier Dave Hancock. Here are some stats on how the Alberta NDP have fared under Mason.
- City Council has had just three motions pass or fail by one vote so far this term. The most recent was also the most significant: a proposal to increase the speed limit on Scona Road failed.
- The final 2014 property tax rate of 4.92% was approved by Council this week. Tax notices go our May 23 and the deadline to pay taxes is June 30.
- Edmonton did well in the 2014 Startup Canada Awards, winning 7 of 20 possible awards for the Prairie Region.
- The Edmonton Police Service released both its 2013 Annual Policing Plan Report Card and its 2014 First Quarter Report to the Community. Property crimes decreased by 6.9% and violent crimes decreased by 2.1% in the first quarter of 2014.
- More single family homes were sold in April than any time since May 2007, according to the Edmonton Real Estate Blog. Average sale prices are up too.
- Be prepared for delays if you’re used to taking Walterdale Hill into the downtown! Starting tomorrow, that street will be closed until August to facilitate construction on the Walterdale Bridge project. ETS routes 9 and 197 will detour via Saskatchewan Drive and Queen Elizabeth Park Road.
- Works has begun on the Molson Brewery site, and the City has announced that the north, south, and portions of the easy walls will be rebuilt. While that’s good news, it still doesn’t change the car-centered nature of the overall development.
- The historic Paramount Theatre will be demolished to make way for a residential tower if ProCura’s plans go ahead. The development would also impact Edmonton’s oldest restaurant, The Hat, and one of downtown’s hottest new spots, Remedy Cafe.
- Edmonton’s Transit System Advisory Board is advocating for a monthly low-income transit pass. I think it’s long overdue!
- The Old Strathcona Foundation is the first Edmonton community to be accepted into the Alberta Main Street Program.
- It wasn’t a great weekend for the Edmonton Oil Kings as they fell to the Winterhawks twice.
- Mayor Iveson called on the federal government to do more on sustainable housing, and said a national housing plan is needed. “Without the support of the federal government and a national housing plan, we cannot keep pace with the housing needs of our rapidly growing population…”
- Football season is right around the corner! The Eskimos held their AGM on Thursday.
- Can both Rexall Place and Rogers Place succeed in Edmonton? Northlands of course thinks they can, but the Katz Group disagrees.
- Here’s another update on the Northeast Anthony Henday project. It’s still slated to be completed in 2016.
- Next Monday, forty lots in Oxford Phase II will be sold by the City. Registration takes place on May 8.
- Have you made it over to Notables yet? Their going-out-of-business-sale runs through the end of the month. Carbon will be relocating from 104 Street downtown to the vacated space.
A look at the downtown arena construction from Jason Woodhead
Upcoming Events
- Cheer on the Edmonton Oil Kings at home this week! Games three and four in their series against the Portland Winterhawks take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Today marked the return of the Callingwood Farmers’ Market! You can catch it on Wednesday evenings as well as Sundays.
- Wednesday is the next Green Drinks event at Yellowhead Brewery. The theme this time is “Good Business”. Here’s the preview.
- The Edmonton Real Estate Forum takes place at the Shaw Conference Centre on Thursday.
- The 2014 edition of the Global Visions Film Festival kicks off on Thursday evening and runs through May 15.
- I hope to see you on Friday night at Avenue Theatre for The Yeggies! You can get your tickets here. Want to volunteer instead? Let me know!
- Royal Bison returns this weekend! Here’s the vendor list.
- Saturday is the City’s annual Get Ready in the Park event. Fun for families, the event is a great opportunity to learn about emergency preparedness.
- Make Mine Love begins its run at the Citadel Theatre on Saturday evening.
- For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.
Premier Dave Hancock speaking at AccelerateAB
May the fourth be with you!
MasterMaq's Blog 