The Edmonton City Council chamber was packed Wednesday morning. That's because city councilors debated Prairie Sky her gondola proposal.
56 speakers signed up to share their thoughts onan estimated $155 million developmentthat Old He stretches from Stratcona to the edge of downtown Did.
As the project progresses, there will be 5 stations and 19 towers, all of which will be located on city land.
The city administration has reached an agreement with the developer to use the city's land for this project. It is now up to the aldermen to decide whether to approve the deal.
Prairie Sky Gondola agreed to pay approximately $1.1 million annually to lease and operate public land.
Both citizens and city councilors spoke out on the deal on Wednesday.
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Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, president and CEO of Prairie Sky, described the conference as a "quite critical decision-making process." called a moment.
READ MORE: Gondola developer will pay $1.1 million annually for land in Edmont
Discuss the financial feasibility of the proposal, tourism opportunities, and the archaeological evaluation to be conducted on Rossdale lands.
Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation former Chief Yes, and Cameron Alexis, current CEO of indigenous tourism company Tribal Chief Ventures, told the council that the project has value for indigenous tourism in the region. and both counts. Erin Rutherford asked about integration with Edmonton Transit Service.
A developer rep confirmed that there was no integration and the user would not be able to use her ETS transfer or gondola pass.
Rutherford expressed concern that gondolas keep passengers away from public transportation.
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Even if the council approves the land contract, the project is not a completed deal.
READ MORE: 'The day has come' for Alberta to embrace urban gondola projects: developers
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Prairie Sky Gondola Chief Strategy Officer Bob Black must meet, including engagement with the public and Indigenous groups He told alderman there was still a long list of conditions.
An archaeological evaluation of the land west of Rossdale where earlier bones were found would also be necessary. We haven't evaluated it," Black told the council about the evaluation.
"My family is not an archaeological project," said one Indigenous speaker whose ancestors are buried in the Rossdale Native Cemetery.
Cody Sharphead, an Aboriginal and archaeological background, led the evaluation.
That would include the use of ground-penetrating radar, Black said, preferably by an Indigenous-owned company.
} READ MORE: Company Behind Edmonton Gondola Project Will Incorporate Rossdale Power Station
Tombs Discovered, Which Will Change Project I guess. However, they did not say that the project would be canceled in such circumstances. I have repeatedly said yes.
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They said the project was "unobtrusive", especially the beauty of the river valley at night. It was also confirmed that private security and audio-visual security are available at all stations.
City officials told city councilors on Wednesday that the only costs identified were indirect costs in the form of staffing.
Many public presenters endorsed the Gondola project, but some were hesitant. Ritchie Mill owner Scott Hughes expressed concern about the impact the gondola will have on land deals and the historic building business.
Edmonton resident Chelsea Boos said the city should return the land to the indigenous community and not to the private company that builds the gondolas. Drainage researcher Jacqueline Noga also expressed concern about changes in the river's environment and the potential for flooding. She finds Rossdale on a floodplain.
The next phase of the project involves risks to developers in that the project may be abandoned. They said they were prepared to absorb the risk if it happened.
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