Fire station with supportive housing? Edmonton councillors support unique project
A plan to combine a new fire hall with 64 units of supportive housing in southeast Edmonton received an early thumbs up from councillors Tuesday.
The Walker Fire Station was originally planned to be a standalone building on Ellerslie Road and Watt Boulevard SW, but a city committee unanimously approved the redesign to include affordable housing above the fire hall.
"I think we need to look at all the opportunities and options that are available for us to create more supportive, permanent supportive housing as well as affordable housing," Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said after the vote.
The change will increase the cost of the project from $24.5 million to $55.7 million.
The plans still need approval from council and setting aside money for it will be part of budget discussion in the fall.
City administrators looked at other projects in Calgary, Vancouver and in the United States and concluded that the concept "has a high likelihood of success."
A recent survey found there are at least 2,800 people without shelter in Edmonton.
The project could be completed as soon as 2027, and would include space for EMS as well.
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and Councillors Tim Cartmell, Michael Janz, Keren Tang and Jo-Anne Wright all voted in favour of moving the plan forward.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
Dozens of U.S. deaths reveal risks of injecting sedatives into people restrained by police
The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the U.S. over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.