For 16 years, the site of an old Esso gas station has been an eyesore on Whyte Avenue — a vacant lot along the busy strip.
Now Edmonton city council is hoping to breathe new life into the space after clearing the way for a new six-storey building.
“To finally have new development, I think it would be amazing,“ said Logan Lehune, who often walks past the empty lot at Whyte and 105th Street.
“And I think if it’s dense, high-density development it fits in well with Whyte Ave. itself … it would be great.”
Council has approved an application to zone the lot for a six-storey, mixed-use building. The ground floor would house restaurants and stores, with two other floors dedicated to office space.
The rest of the building would be divided into one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The six-storey design originally ran afoul of the Strathcona Area Redevelopment plan, but council approved bylaw changes to allow it to be built.
The lot has been vacant for so long because of contamination of the soil caused by the Esso station.
After years of calls to have the site cleaned up, Imperial Oil began reclamation.
“I’m really happy and, you know, it’s always been referred to … as the gap tooth in the smile of that avenue,” said Coun. Ben Henderson.
“And it makes a huge difference to that side of the street.”
The design of the building has met some resistance from people in the community who worry the height will dwarf other nearby buildings. The developer behind the project responded by shortening the building by a couple metres to ease those concerns.
Murray Davidson, executive director of the Old Strathcona Business Association, says the project will have a big impact on that part of Whyte.
“It’s just about that vibrancy and having something there that’s been empty, right on the cornerstone of Whyte Avenue,” he said.
The plan is to have building construction completed by 2017.
