More than 50 people are registered to speak at a public hearing at Edmonton city hall Monday as city council is expected to make a decision on the contentious 80-storey condo tower proposed for Jasper Avenue.
The project would include a hotel, condominiums, restaurant, fitness facilities, shops and two publicly accessible parks, stretching over 100,000 square feet.
Some of the details contained in a recent land deal between project developer Alldritt Land Corporation and the city have been released by David Benjestorf, legal counsel and general manager with Alldritt.
Earlier this month councillors voted behind closed doors to sell the land on the embankment above Louise McKinney Park to Alldritt. The sale was necessary for this project to go ahead.
If the project is approved, the first thing that’ll happen is the old pink and blue buildings on the main site will be demolished, said Benjestorf.
“I have in my hand a demolition permit application for the pink and blue buildings,” Benjestorf told councillors.
Once the buildings come down, the site will be redeveloped into an “interim park,” he said.
“If we get into the ground right away, a park is possible for this summer,” Benjestorf said.
That temporary park will remain until construction begins on the tower. Alldritt would then have 10 years to begin the development or the land reverts back to the city.
The development also includes a “restricted covenant” which means the public would be allowed to access the park as part of the project, he said.
Those in support of the proposal are first up to address the public hearing, and will be followed by more than 40 speakers who have registered to oppose the project.
The hearing is scheduled to continue through to 9:30 pm Monday.