Potential loss of parking lot in Old Strathcona strategy has residents, businesses divided

The city's plan to transform the Whyte Avenue area into a more walkable, bikeable and vibrant arts and entertainment district has one major element that has divided residents and businesses: the conversion of a large parking lot into a park.

Two dozen people spoke at city council's urban planning meeting Tuesday in response to the proposed Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy.

The strategy includes turning the parking lot at 83rd Avenue and Gateway Boulevard into a park with all-age play elements, spaces for picnicking, gatherings and interactive art.

Kendra Connor, executive director of the Varscona Theatre on 83rd Avenue, also a member of the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Association, spoke against changes to the parking lot.

"Our fear is that these patrons, who make up a considerable amount of our patron base, will stop coming," she said. "The more complicated it is to get to a venue, the less motivated folks are to attend." 

Eric Decorby, treasurer of the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market, said the organization supports the strategy's overall goals to create a more vibrant public realm but noted the parking lot is a main access point for customers. 

"Our patrons rely on the parking lot to visit one of Edmonton's long-standing institutions, each weekend," Decorby said. 

He's asking the city to consult and engage local organizations, and consider a compromise to maintain at least a portion of the 300-space parking lot. 

Others at the meeting expressed wholehearted support to swap the lot for a green space.

Watch | City strategy could turn parking lot into park:

Long-time resident John Maidens said that the lot gets used on Saturdays but not much at other times.

"I see it mostly empty and so I think our community would benefit immensely from being able to use this for green space for cycling and a lot of the things that have been proposed within this strategy," Maidens said. 

Another resident, Conrad Nobert, painted a more grim picture of the lot. 

"It feels unsafe, it's hot, it's dusty, it's dirty, and most importantly, it's empty. This is a highly underutilized piece of land," Nobert told councillors.