Did you know that there are 1.48 parking stalls per resident in Edmonton's densest neighbourhood?
Neighbourhood renewal is a once in a generation opportunity to shape how residents move and live, and the deadline to submit feedback on Wîhkwêntôwin neighbourhood renewal is fast approaching.
Currently, there are 26,927 parking spaces (including over 2100 on-street parking spots) for 18,180 inhabitants, and the current plans prioritize shortcutting traffic and keeping on-street parking over making improvements to the quality of life of Wîhkwêntôwin residents. In one of Edmonton's most bikeable and walkable communities, we’re being asked to shape its streetscape around a tiny fraction of parking instead of realising the walkable, bikable community we already live in.
Even the City's own guiding principles contradict their neighbourhood renewal plans. For example, more space for pedestrians builds healthier, vibrant communities, yet "Approving parking-retention options on 100 Avenue locks in narrower promenades and reduced public space for decades." The city also states “Guiding Principle 3 says "roads should minimize shortcutting". Retaining two-way permeability on 103 Avenue across 13 blocks contradicts that direction.” Even on Victoria Promenade, drivers are being prioritized over the majority of people who use the space. “The design options explicitly included ‘no on-street parking’ and ‘wider promenade.’ There are already 139 on-street stalls in the adjacent blocks and over 2,000 off-street stalls. Choosing otherwise is not a constraint—it is a policy choice.”
The City defined high-ambition options going into this planning process. The opportunity cost of not selecting them is generational. On-street parking is 8% of total neighbourhood supply. Yet it dictates corridor design across five major streets in the latest designs.
Let the city know that you want Wîhkwêntôwin to be a community where more people can walk, roll, bike, and play. The survey closes Saturday February 28th at midnight.
Take the survey at engaged.edmonton.ca/buildingwihkwentowin and you can find more information at Building Great Neighbourhoods as well as this detailed analysis by YEG Bike Coalition.