First stage of demolition begins at Edmonton’s Exhibition Lands
Global News
The main stables at the horse racing track have started to come down, which is step one of a longer process which will remove all the structures no longer in use.
After years of sitting untouched, work has finally started on the Exhibition Lands in central Edmonton.
Slowly, each building will be knocked down, making way for the future of the former Northlands area — which some residents say has been a long time coming.
The main stables at the horse racing track have started to come down, which is step one of a longer process which will remove all the structures no longer in use.
“It’s really exciting to start to see some progress, some real progress on the site — something tangible that residents have been looking for a really long time,” said Ashley Salvador, Ward Métis councillor.
Three years ago, Edmonton city council announced that the area near the former Northlands Coliseum would be redeveloped to include residential, retail and commercial spaces. Since then, there hasn’t been much movement at the site.
“I hope to see something built in my lifetime. I understand that there’s lots of process and there’s lots of ideas, as far as I know there’s nothing firm for the plans,” said Mandolin Books & Coffee Company owner Lianne Traynor. The bookstore is just down 112 Avenue from the grounds.
People living and working not far from the area say they hope to see infill in the area, but at a pace faster than other recent infill projects.
“It’s tough to be hopeful — looking at developments like Blatchford — with like city-led initiatives, but I’m generally an optimist. I generally like our council and so I am hopeful,” said Steven Teeuwsen, Lowlands Project Space director.
