'A win, win, win': Massive addition to proposed gondola plan pitched to councillors
If Edmonton does go ahead with a new gondola over the North Saskatchewan River, a local businessman has a grand idea for what to surround it with on the southern edge of the valley.
Scott Hughes, co-owner of the Ritchie Mill office building, has commissioned a design that includes two mixed-use towers and a second-floor gondola stop built atop underground parking and surrounded by park space.
He's proposing that it be built on the northern tip of End of Steel Park, which is across the street from his building on the corner of Saskatchewan Drive and Tommy Banks Way.
Prairie Sky Gondola wants to build the 2.5 kilometre line from downtown to Old Strathcona and officials with that company are set to meet with city councillors Wednesday to discuss land agreements.
"I'm suggesting let's do a community high rise, mixed market housing so it's affordable. Let's build something with the gondola attached to it so it can be a true transit-oriented development and then we have something that's a win, win, win," Hughes explained to CTV News Edmonton Tuesday.
Hughes said he is not involved with Prairie Sky, instead he's getting involved over concerns that gondola infrastructure will swallow up the parking spaces he needs to run his business.
The design he's proposing includes a skywalk between towers and enough parking for residents and nearby businesses. Hughes said the financials haven't been sorted, but he's interested in taking a financial stake, if the city and gondola company do the same.
"I've been in commercial real estate for over 25 years, my whole career. So once we get the vision and we get the commitment from everybody, we'll make it work from a financial standpoint," Hughes stated.
"Whether the gondola gets approved or not, this is something that we want to provide the community as an idea to develop housing."
Hughes sent a letter Monday outlining his proposal to city councillors and said the feedback he's received so far has been positive.
Prairie Sky Gondola President Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson told CTV News Edmonton Tuesday night that he was unaware of Hughes' proposal, but that he would have more to say on Wednesday.
Prairie Sky has promised that the gondola, which is proposed to be built and running by 2026, will "never cost the city or its taxpayers any money, either directly or indirectly."
The company's website states that if conditional approval is received from council it will start "environmental, geotechnical, archeological, palaeontology and heritage impact assessments as well as design and public and Indigenous engagement."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.