Edmonton council extends Downtown CRL, ending two days of council, community debate

Edmonton city council has extended the Capital City Downtown Community Revitalization Levy for another 10 years, ending two days of community presentations and council debate.

“A thriving downtown is the economic engine of our entire city,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi in a statement issued after the vote Friday evening. “The CRL has proven to be an effective tool for attracting investment in our downtown core. The extension of the CRL will allow us to build more housing downtown, support arts and culture organizations, and provide additional capacity for the high-quality events and amenities that Edmontonians have embraced.”

Article content

The decision came after a day of deliberations where council considered two motions that would have delayed a decision on extending the levy, as debate continued amid uncertainty over whether the province would approve the plan without including two controversial projects tied to Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG).

The extension of the CRL allows the city to borrow against future tax revenue until 2044, funding major revitalization projects in the city’s core.

Two motions on the table

The first motion, introduced during Friday’s public hearing, was to refer Bylaw 21158 back to administration and direct the mayor to seek written confirmation from the Government of Alberta on which of the listed catalyst projects must be included for the province to support the revised CRL.

A second motion, added during the debate, was also to refer the bylaw back — this time directing administration to return after council has considered the master agreement between the City of Edmonton and OEG. The agreement outlines the terms of their public-private partnership and is central to understanding the commitments tied to the proposed developments.

Article content

Article content

OEG projects at the centre of dispute

The moves came as councillors continued to grapple with public and political pressure around the $624-million Downtown revitalization package.

While the proposal includes a broad range of projects, from transit infrastructure and attainable housing incentives to the Winspear Centre expansion, the two OEG-related projects, a $250-million event park and infrastructure for the Village at Ice District, divided council and the community.

Supporters urge action

Despite the controversy, supporters of the bylaw continued to make their case during Friday’s public hearing, with speakers urging council not to let the momentum for Downtown revitalization slip away.

Joumana Ghandour, general manager of the Westin Edmonton, called the bylaw “a smarter, more affordable way to revitalize our core,” emphasizing the economic ripple effect of cultural and public-space investments Downtown.

Article content

“Projects like the Winspear expansion and Oilers Fan Park aren’t just cultural venues. They’re drivers of Downtown’s comeback directly impacting my day-to-day business,” she told council. “Any further delay risks losing hard-won momentum, and with it the surge in potential occupancy for my business, jobs, investment and community vibrancy that this development will deliver.”

Similar support came from Beryl Bacchus, executive director of iHuman Youth Society, who highlighted the impact spaces like the Winspear Centre have on at-risk youth.

“It is more than a concert hall. It’s a gateway to connection, culture and understanding,” she said. “Being a friendly neighbour means more than just sharing space. It means opening doors for young people from marginalized, computed communities.”

Viet Nguyen, founder of Boodang Music Canada, said Downtown Edmonton’s lack of flexible outdoor event spaces is frustrating “not just for us, but for the hotels, restaurants and shops that depend on those thousands of visitors.”

Article content

“On a festival weekend, we bring up to 7,000 to 10,000 people a day. That kind of foot traffic is rare in most Canadian cities outside of Toronto or Vancouver, and it makes a tangible difference,” he told council. “So saying no to investment isn’t a strategy.”

Cheryll Watson, chairwoman of the Downtown Revitalization Coalition, echoed that sentiment, urging council to rise above ideology.

“Unfortunately, the majority of the speakers opposed to this decision have not had the benefit of being educated about how this proven investment mechanism works,” she said. “What we need from council right now is not ideology, but sound investment judgment.”

What the CRL has funded so far

Created in 2015, the CRL allows the city to borrow against projected increases in property taxes in a defined area to help fund strategic redevelopment. The current CRL is set to expire in 2034. The proposed 10-year extension would push that to 2044, allowing the city to finance new “catalyst” projects and finish existing ones.

Article content

City administration said the CRL has already helped drive more than $4.7 billion in private investment Downtown, including three new office towers and thousands of residential units. But with construction costs rising and post-pandemic recovery stalling, officials argue additional investment is needed to maintain momentum.

However, councillors including Andrew Knack and Michael Janz have previously pushed back against the inclusion of the OEG projects, questioning whether public funds should be used to support private developments linked to a billion-dollar company.

That’s the heart of the current motion — to determine whether the province’s support is conditional on the full slate of projects or, if some, like the OEG developments, could be removed without sinking the deal.

Previously, administration cautioned that changing the project list could restart the entire provincial approval process, potentially delaying implementation and putting the extension at risk. Kalen Anderson of BILD Edmonton Metro told council on Thursday that the deal “is a package. Picking and choosing pieces could cost us the whole thing.”

Article content

cnguyen@postmedia.com

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with council’s decision

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters.

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun

Article content