att 1 city moves and levers for change - city of edmonton€¦ · building edmonton is a collective...

CITY MOVES AND LEVERS FOR CHANGE

A T T A C H M E N T O N ET H E C I T Y P L A N

( C R _ 6 4 0 8 )

C I T Y M O V E S A N D L E V E R S F O R C H A N G E / / 2

EACH OF THE CITY MOVES WILL BE INFLUENCED TO VARYING DEGREES BY FOUR PRIMARY TYPES OF LEVERS:

▪ Policies,

▪ Investment priorities,

▪ Advocacy and partnerships, and

▪ Pricing and subsidies.

While all of these levers will play a role in achieving a given City

Move, some will be more influential than others. The relative degree

of influence from each type of lever is reflected below.

The City Moves also connect to the city-building outcomes detailed

in Attachment 4 and were drafted through Phase II of The City

Plan project outlined in the November 13, 2018 City Council report

CR_6407. Each City Move will deliver on a number of specific city-

building outcomes - these outcomes are identified below.

The five City Moves described below are an invitation to work together to build our future city, as a community. They define bold, transformative priorities that will create a different set of opportunities for Edmonton by advancing City Council’s Strategic vision, principle and goals through The City Plan.

CALLING ALL CITY-BUILDERS (THAT’S YOU)!

Building Edmonton is a collective project that requires

many voices, interests and ideas to come together to

make things happen. As our home, and the incubator

for cultural and economic innovation, Edmonton is

the kind of place that offers an open invitation to all

residents to co-develop our future and to participate

in shaping the spaces and places we call home.

GREENER AS WE GROW

C I T Y M O V E S A N D L E V E R S F O R C H A N G E / / 3

Is about creating a city that is dedicated to preserving and protecting the

environment through good design and conscious development decisions. By

reclaiming underused sites, adopting regenerative design practices, becoming

more energy efficient, and enhancing urban biodiversity, Edmonton’s physical

growth and population expansion are not detrimental but instead act as a

catalyst to sustainability and resilience. By designing for people, a greener city is

a place where everyone has access to natural spaces and can enjoy the benefits

of living a healthier, and better connected, outdoor life.

About “Greener as We Grow”This City Move is about both the physical and technological green changes that we need to make as we grow, sustainably, to a city of two million people. It treats growth not as the inhibitor of a greener Edmonton, but as its enabler and indeed as a catalyst for positive change. Becoming ‘greener as we grow’ involves using new development and retrofits of existing areas as a practical means to expand our city’s inventory of green space, enhance urban biodiversity, and as an opportunity to leverage new green technologies and building design. Access to nature and recreation space is critical for everyone’s wellbeing. This City Move is about better supporting the physical, mental and social health outcomes for individual Edmontonians.

Some of the ways this could take shape in Edmonton include:▪ Physical extensions and improved connections to the river valley and

ravine system.▪ Expansion and enhancement of Edmonton’s mass transit network

and active transportation systems to reduce GHG emissions from automobiles.

▪ Improving the quantity, quality, diversity and access to open space and natural areas city-wide.

▪ Providing diverse outdoor spaces and networks for recreation, relaxation and celebration.

▪ Enhancing the resilience and efficiency of the urban environment through the redevelopment and transformation of underutilized or vacant sites.

▪ Supporting biodiversity in the city by design and bringing about ecological restoration and regenerative development.

4

The global community has been coming to

terms with the collective and concerted

commitment required to tackle climate

change, and Edmonton has started to

rise to the challenge. As the city grows,

Edmonton must intentionally build on this

momentum. Yet, it is not just our sense of

shared responsibility that makes this an

important move for our community - the

benefits to individual Edmontonians are

also evident. As the city intensifies, its

aesthetic value, availability of open space

and robust public and active transportation

systems are reasons why people will

choose to live in denser and more amenity

rich environments. Yes, climate change is

a strong enough imperative to become a

low carbon city, but it is the tangible local

benefits to quality of life that resonates

most with Edmontonians in the transition.

The most influential lever for change in this area will be through investment in our green spaces and technologies. Some potential areas for investment include:

▪ Increasing the number and quality of access points

to the river valley and ravine system.

▪ Purchasing underutilized land (e.g. parking lots) or

using City-owned lands to strategically increase our

inventory of connected green space and improve

resident access to open space.

▪ Investing in greener mobility technologies in support

of an energy transition.

The City’s willingness to show leadership in this area will

be another key factor in the success of this City Move. For

example, it takes leadership and vision to accept that in some

cases, the ‘highest and best use’ of City-owned lands may

not necessarily be exclusively monetary. Instead, as a city-

building priority, the City can choose to dedicate some of its

assets to Edmonton’s long term health through the expansion

of our green networks and natural infrastructure.

Levers to Make it Happen

POLICY INVESTMENT ADVOCACY AND PARTNERSHIPS

PRICING AND SUBSIDIES

C I T Y M O V E S A N D L E V E R S F O R C H A N G E / /

5

Connection to City Building Outcomes

COLLECTIVELY, THE FOLLOWING CITY BUILDING OUTCOMES WILL ENABLE EDMONTON TO ‘BECOME GREENER AS WE GROW’:

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Edmonton fosters personal wellness and mental health

by promoting connection for people of all ages and

supporting those who feel isolated or vulnerable.

Edmontonians feel safe and secure in their communities

and benefit from public spaces and infrastructure systems that

support physical health.

Edmontonians are all Treaty 6 people who acknowledge and celebrate diverse cultures and

welcome perspectives and experiences from around

the world.

Edmonton encourages community participation

through access to barrier-free spaces, facilities and transportation networks.

Edmontonians protect and steward the natural

environment, local biodiversity, agriculture and food systems,

and cultural landscapes.

Edmonton’s community wellness fosters citizen

leadership, capacity building and co-creation.

Edmontonians are active in their community, events, connected to its diversity

of people, and celebrate its heritage and image.

Edmontonians have the ability to live locally, in all seasons, with access to diverse and

attainable housing options in communities that support their

daily needs.

Edmonton’s commercial areas support a diverse economy

by attracting skills, talent and investment while supporting

small business.

Edmontonians live closer to what they need and are supported by more

walkable communities, safe bicycle routes, and greater

connectivity across all travel modes.

Edmonton’s river valley, natural environment, parks

and open spaces are protected and expanded for future

generations to connect with, explore and enjoy.

Edmonton is where creative spaces emerge and arts and

culture flourish.

Edmonton’s city design fosters a sense of place by celebrating

our unique attributes, diversity and opportunities

within the region.

Edmonton’s infrastructure, businesses, schools, and services are sustainable,

benefiting the city and region in turn.

Edmontonians, entrepreneurs and investors have

opportunities and supports to grow a diverse and

resilient economy.

Edmonton’s transportation system connects residents

and businesses, creating opportunities and supporting

partnerships throughout the region.

Edmontonians invest in the maintenance and care of

regionally significant ecological assets, natural resources, and

infrastructure services.

Edmontonians are creative, develop and invest in new

ideas and sectors that contribute locally and are

recognized globally.

Edmontonians demonstrate shared leadership as stewards

of their environment and investors in their community.

Edmonton is a leader in efficient, sustainable

community design, development and living.

Edmonton supports a diverse economy by embracing

services and technologies adaptable to the impacts of

climate change.

Edmontonians benefit from improved public transit and high-quality active

transportation networks which reduce GHG emissions.

Edmonton’s natural and physical systems ensure

security and resilience against extreme weather events and other environmental hazards.

Edmonton uses its economic strength to foster innovation

in technology, lead new initiatives and strengthen

its future prosperity.

I WANT TO BELONG AND CONTRIBUTE

I WANT TO LIVE IN A PLACE THAT FEELS LIKE HOME

I WANT OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE

I WANT ACCESS WITHIN MY CITY

I WANT TO PRESERVE WHAT MATTERS MOST

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO CREATE AND INNOVATE








climate change.










A REBUILDABLE CITY

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Is about working with what we have today and continuously adapting and re-

imagining our built environment to meet the needs of the future. Edmonton actively

enables redevelopment. The city is constantly evolving, intensifying and becoming

more efficient in response to new demands, opportunities and design ideas. Re-

shaping the city to better serve another million residents will require that we

preserve our heritage assets while deliberately making more room to grow. In a

rebuildable city residents respect the past but also understand the need to adjust, to

be creative, and to be open to new possibilities that make communities thrive.

About “A Rebuildable City”This City Move recognizes that ongoing change is the natural order of the city, and we can plan for that. Neighbourhoods and sites should be designed for continuous adaptability so they can shift, intensify, and diversify over time. In this way, Edmonton’s urban form at the street, district and city-wide scales can authentically reflect the evolving needs of our city as it is built and rebuilt over time. A re-buildable city is not a “disposable city,” but one that treats its assets as a precious resource for future development. By responsibly managing its urban form today, Edmonton can go along way in strengthening its climate resilience into the future.

Some of the ways this could take shape in Edmonton include:▪ Designing new and existing neighbourhoods, sites, street networks,

infrastructure and the public realm for increased efficiency and improved adaptability.

▪ Repurposing underutilized sites (e.g., power centres, vacant lots) to enable new development opportunities with a mixture of uses.

▪ Re-imagining road rights-of-way and other predominantly single-use corridors for multimodal and multifunctional use.

▪ Increasing infill opportunity across the city and expanding the diversity and density of housing and employment options.

▪ Actively advancing the redevelopment of transformative projects in major underutilized sites within core areas like Blatchford, The Quarters, Exhibition Lands and River Crossing at Rossdale.

▪ Designing places that are easy, playful, creative and transitional to support interim uses - not just perfect, permanent, places to redevelop.


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At any given point of time, Edmonton is in

transition. Recognizing this allows us to see

that, just as we have been gifted the present-

day city from past generations, Edmontonians

today are the temporary stewards and curators

of the future of our city. If we do not build

and grow our city with this mindset, we risk

creating great difficulty for both present-day

city-builders and future ones. For example,

once a street network is in place, it is very

difficult to change if we find it is too inflexible

or inefficient to meet our future needs, or if

we are unwilling to re-imagine its potential

use to meet new requirements. By taking the

long view on first-generation development,

and by actively embracing redevelopment

and retrofits city-wide, we put ourselves in a

position to accommodate the fiscal, social and

environmental realities that are likely to shape

Edmonton far into the future.

▪ Assuming some increased risk tolerance and being

willing to choose preferred locations for redevelopment

and infrastructure investment.

▪ Considering how the design of new suburban

development can better accommodate future

redevelopment opportunities.

▪ Creating more opportunities for infill in mature and

established neighbourhoods to meet or exceed the

current expectation for new suburban densities.

▪ Curating heritage assets carefully for future

generations to enjoy.

Investment, pricing and subsidies, and policy are also tools that will have significant influence on the success of this Move. These may include:

▪ Development levies for off-site improvements (mature

and developing neighbourhoods).

▪ Building capacity for redevelopment by allocating more

service dollars towards upgrading underutilized areas.

▪ More permissive and enabling regulatory environment.

Above all, a rebuildable city that’s designed for growth and change requires the City to take a proactive stance and support the market through advocacy and partnerships. This may involve some of the following strategies:

▪ Partnering with private landowners of large

underutilized sites.





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the world.










daily needs.



small business.








culture flourish.



within the region.
















climate change.















COLLECTIVELY, THE FOLLOWING CITY BUILDING OUTCOMES WILL SUPPORT EDMONTON’S EFFORTS TO CREATE ‘A REBUILDABLE CITY’:




Edmonton is a leader in efficient and sustainable




daily needs.





climate change.





resilient economy.



A COMMUNITY OF COMMUNITIES

9

Is about building connections to welcome new residents and developing housing,

recreation and employment centres that are within reach. Distinct geographic

districts comprised of many neighbourhoods and sub-areas within the city are

supported by local community hubs and social gathering places.They are linked

by a range of efficient mobility options, walkable features. Diverse design and

development opportunities are provided to meet the needs of residents through

all of life’s phases. Accessibility is improved so residents can turn their time and

attention to the things that really matter, like neighbourliness.

About “A Community of Communities”

Edmonton’s communities are its lifeblood. Many residents identify

strongly with their local street, neighbourhood and sector of the

city. Our city’s long track record of volunteerism and community

league leadership are attributes that are uniquely Edmonton. Yet

in most cases most residents cannot meet the majority of their

daily needs within their own community, and connections between

different neighbourhoods are often fragmented and can be difficult

to navigate. Supporting diverse and distinct areas of the city, as

a network, provides an important urban structure for creating

unique districts where daily life, work, and play intersect. Enhanced

walkability and local hubs will provide more easily accessible

gathering places for citizens to connect, socialize, and celebrate.

When linked by transit-supported corridors that connect even

wider areas, a ‘community of communities’ begins to emerge which

can support a range of mobility options and an ease of living that

serves Edmontonians, locally, no matter how they choose or are

able to live in their city.


1 0

Edmontonians should not feel constrained

to use a single mode of transportation - true

freedom of mobility means having the ability

to choose whichever mode makes the most

sense for a given journey and, ideally, to limit

the need to travel long distances to access

daily needs at all. Providing more choice for

how to move around supports ageing in place,

improves social equity and can ultimately result

in greater independence as well as physical and

mental health benefits for people of all ages.

Ensuring easy access to daily needs also allows

for more time to connect with our community,

family and friends, focusing on wellness and

happiness, rather than hours spent commuting.

By envisioning Edmonton not as a set of

individual neighbourhoods spread out over the

large landscape of our city but as a cohesive

‘community of communities’, we can set a

new course for Edmonton which emphasizes

connection, accessibility and quality of life.

This City Move incorporates many fundamental elements of the urban form, and as such there are a number of tools which can have a high degree of influence on its success. Policy, investment, and various pricing tools which may include:

▪ Policy supporting new residential, commercial and

institutional development focused within an city

structure based on districts, nodes and corridors.

▪ Investment in a better-connected, more versatile

mass transit network that does not require

“backtracking” or necessitate travelling through the

core for crosstown trips.

▪ Transportation pricing and subsidies to influence

mode choice and support a wider range of mobility

options.







small business.

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daily needs.



small business.








culture flourish.



within the region.
















climate change.















THESE CITY BUILDING OUTCOMES WILL EMERGE AS EDMONTON IGNITES ‘A COMMUNITY OF COMMUNITIES’:











leadership, capacity-building and co-creation.





resilient economy.



INCLUSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE

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Is city-making that supports human-centred design where people of all

ages, backgrounds and abilities can not only survive, but thrive. It’s where the

Indigenous roots of our region are celebrated and made concrete in our daily

lives and where newcomers feel welcome and at home. By focusing on building

a city that emphasizes compassion and inclusivity, the City of Edmonton and

Edmonton residents alike are intentional in their effort to reduce poverty, provide

attainable and affordable housing and eliminate homelessness.

About “Inclusive and Compassionate”

This City Move recognizes Edmonton as a place to build an equitable,

inclusive and compassionate future. This requires our city to embody truth

and reconciliation, increase and celebrate our cultural diversity, promote

health and recovery, and create meaningful space for people of all ages,

backgrounds and abilities. Edmonton has the opportunity to be a place of

safety and refuge, both for those who live here today and those who will

be welcomed into our city over many generations to come.

Some of the ways this could take shape in Edmonton include:▪ Working towards Truth and Reconciliation through the public realm (e.g.

art, street-naming, etc).

▪ Improving safety and accessibility for residents of all ages and abilities.

▪ Supporting a healthy city through physical design.

▪ Increasing the supply of affordable housing.

▪ Ending poverty and supporting recovery.

▪ Providing equitable access to public amenities and open spaces.

▪ Creating spaces for spirituality and community connection at a variety

of different scales and in diverse locations.

▪ Creating opportunities for formal and informal gathering, recreation,

arts and culture.


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Concepts like improving equity, ending poverty,

eliminating racism and making clear progress towards

Truth and Reconciliation are complex, multi-faceted

problems which require a number of different

approaches. To foster an ‘inclusive and compassionate

city,’ the City Plan will be strongly reliant on advocacy,

partnerships, and capacity building on behalf of the

City and our civic institutions. Capital investments will

have comparatively less influence on this City Move but

targeted subsidies could play an important role, in terms

of affordable housing or transit, for example.




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culture flourish.



within the region.
















climate change.














TOGETHER, THESE CITY BUILDING OUTCOMES WILL STRENGTHEN EDMONTON’S EFFORTS TO SUPPORT AN ‘INCLUSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE CITY’:










within the region.



and benefit from public spaces and infrastructure systems

that support physical health.



the world.









resilient economy.



CATALYZE AND CONVERGE

1 5

Is about developing new physical and economic opportunities for ideas,

talent and investment to come together. It’s where innovation, creativity,

and technology go hand-in-hand with purpose and energy and where

partnerships are ignited to steward our future economy and support personal

prosperity. By creating a collaborative environment where businesses,

academic institutions, the arts, and technology spark synergies and drive

competitiveness ahead, Edmonton is attractive by design.

About “Catalyze and Converge”

This City Move is about sparking and nurturing the places and

partnerships that will attract new talent and and give our homegrown

talent a reason to stay in Edmonton. This means creating opportunities

for creative professionals, ideas and resources to purposefully converge

and it also means paying close attention to the beauty and smart design

of our urban places. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts and our

city can collectively perform as an entrepreneurial hub that supports the

assembly of investment, innovation and technology. A diverse economy

is a resilient economy and ‘catalyze and converge’ is about deliberately

creating the conditions for Edmonton’s knowledge, arts and emerging

economies to flourish. This presents a strategic advantage for our

community and province.

Artists, designers, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs - they

cannot thrive without the right conditions in place. Edmonton’s health

and academic institutions, arts and maker communities, traditional

businesses and new technology sectors provide the ecosystem for this

talent to converge. In order to help our economy grow and flourish, the

City has a role to play and must be purposeful.


1 6

Edmonton needs to continually improve its

competitiveness and readiness to thrive within

both the national and the global economies. This

imperative is all the more pressing when considering

the rapid pace of change and the fact that we cannot

rely on the energy economy alone to support our

future prosperity. We can leverage our current

economic position to improve resilience and prepare

for future shifts.

To advance this City Move,’ The City Plan will rely

largely on advocacy and partnerships. One example

is to embrace the idea of the ‘city as a lab’ where pilot

projects or precursor technologies are tested with

purpose, to make Edmonton a leader in global changes.

Subsidies or targeted investments may also play a role,

in the form of financial incentives or grant programs to

support startups and small business.





Some of the ways this could take shape in Edmonton include:▪ Reducing administrative and regulatory barriers to

make it increasingly easier to ‘make things’ here.▪ Strategically integrating our efforts with partners to

advance regional competitiveness and collaboration to improve our shared position in the global marketplace.

▪ Spurring economic development and international events through strategic infrastructure investments.

▪ Focusing on high-quality design in our public spaces and publicly-accessible places.

▪ Advancing the idea of mobility as a service in Edmonton while being technology agnostic.

▪ Harnessing, managing, and manipulating data through a smart city lens.

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the world.










daily needs.



small business.








culture flourish.



within the region.
















climate change.















THE FOLLOWING CITY BUILDING OUTCOMES ARE SOME OF THE CONDITIONS THAT MUST BE IN PLACE IN ORDER TO CREATE A CITY THAT CAN ‘CATALYZE AND CONVERGE’:






culture flourish.Edmonton’s commercial areas support a diverse economy


small business.


opportunities and supports to grow a diverse and resilient economy.








resilient economy.



att 1 city moves and levers for change - city of edmonton€¦ · building edmonton is a collective...

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