Edmonton Notes for October 23, 2016

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

Headlines

• The new Terwillegar Park Footbridge officially opened on Friday. “Construction of the $24.5 million Terwillegar Park Footbridge began in August 2014 and construction of the $3.5 million West End Trails began in July 2015.” The new bridge is one of the longest stressed ribbon footbridges in the world at 262 metres in length.
• The City is planning to reduce the minimum parking requirement for all low density residential units from 2 parking spaces to 1.
• Congratulations to the winners of Edmonton’s first Infill Design Competition! More than 80 submissions were received.
• A survey on draft updated regulations for the Mature Neighbourhood Overlay (MNO) is now online and will remain open until November 4. The review is action 17 on Edmonton’s Infill Roadmap.
• As the vacancy rate rises downtown, Councillor Andrew Knack wants to see if those empty spaces can be used in new ways, such as art studios or startup space.
• Edmonton’s 29th fire station opened Saturday in Lewis Farms. The $12.4 million project achieved a LEED silver rating.
• From the latest issue of Monocle: “The city formerly known as ‘Deadmonton’ has been reanimated – and its vital signs are good. With an entrepreneurial spirit that’s as strong as any, it seems the Big E is coming alive.”
• The Edmonton Police Service has received the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Human and Civil Rights Award for its Emerging Communities Framework. “Last fall, as Syrian refugees began to arrive in Edmonton, the EPS Equity, Diversity and Human Rights Section developed a plan to reach out to this emerging community.” That plan was developed into the framework.
• Uber Edmonton announced that uberX prices are now an average of 13% cheaper. You can sign up here.
• The Purrfect Cup will be Edmonton’s very first cat cafe! They have an Indiegogo campaign with a goal of raising $40,000 to make it happen.
• Brad Simons owns a recording studio called Velveteen Audio and he wants to use it to help Edmonton musicians succeed in Edmonton.
• The City is looking for input on the Heritage Interpretive Plan for the River Crossing Project in West Rossdale. There’s an open house scheduled for November 8.
• Feedback received by the Province as part of its Municipal Government Act Review has been summarized and posted online.
• A new pilot project called Incline to Include is taking place on Whyte Avenue until November 15. Accessible ramps have been installed at selected storefronts in an attempt to make Whyte Avenue an inclusive and accessible place for all.
• A number of Edmonton projects, including the Federal Building and the City’s new Edmonton Tower, are finalists in the 2016 Alberta Construction Magazine awards.
• Check out the latest renderings and floor plans for the Stanley Milner Revitalization project here.
• Liz Nicholls hsa the scoop on the end of the Douglas Udell Gallery which closed its doors on 124 Street this summer.
• Looking for an indoor trick-or-treat location for Halloween? Here are some options from Raising Edmonton. Plus, here are 9 haunted houses in Edmonton and area from Just another Edmonton mommy.
• For more recent headlines, check out ShareEdmonton.

Edmonton Skyline, photo by ALLEN QIAO乔谦之

Upcoming Events

• Enjoy fashion in support of the United Way and All In For Youth at the Art Gallery of Alberta on Monday evening.
• Startup Canada will present its Regional Awards for Alberta on Tuesday evening at The Westin Edmonton.
• Concert in the Dark takes place on Wednesday evening, supporting CNIB.
• The Oilers, fresh off a win in Winnipeg at the Heritage Classic today, host the Washington Capitals on Wednesday and the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
• The sequel to URBAN YEG’s For the People by the People takes place on Wednesday evening at Yellowhead Brewery.
• The Amiskwaciy History Series presents former UN delegate Ron Lameman on Thursday at the Stanley Milner Library.
• You can learn more about MacEwan University’s beekeeping project on Friday at lunch.
• The new Elevate Food Fare in Edmonton City Centre is launching on Friday afternoon!
• Check out ghost tours of Garneau and the University of Alberta at Halloween Haunt at Rutherford House taking place all weekend.
• The AGA’s latest Refinery event – Danse Macabre – takes place on Saturday evening.
• The City of Edmonton’s Planning Academy started this weekend and continues on Saturday with the second class on Urban Design.
• Halloween is on Monday this year. Don’t miss Linda’s Halloween event listing for Edmonton! And here’s another great listing from YEGDateNight.
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Pedway Construction between Enbridge Centre and Manulife Place