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Economic uncertainty could stall Riverlands dream
11/12/08
A recent Government of Alberta newsletter has Mayor Morris Flewwelling all aglow about the golden possibilities for Red Deer on its plans to turn the Riverlands into another River Walk, like the one that made San Antonio a major international tourism destination point.
“River Walk will be a mix of Granville Island, the Champs Elysees in Paris, and the Grand Canal in Venice,” said Flewwelling in the article.
But the mayor goes on to say in the piece his children may be involved in building some of the project.
“This won’t in a few years. It will be a 30-year project in terms of construction.”
Flewwelling’s vision is certainly ambitious, and quite complex, even mind-boggling when one considers all the components – from housing to tourism.
And last week the city issued an even rosier media release to announce it had received strong public support following an Oct. 8 open house into the grand plans for downtown.
Red Deer citizens told the city they are supportive of high density residential development, pedestrian and bike friendly streets, and water features in the Riverlands district.
For the Riverlands district in particular, residents told the city it has to be unique to the city, and not a copycat of anything else in the world.
“People feel strongly that if a major tourist facility is built, it must be authentic to our community and our history,” said project consultant Lorne Daniel.
Either next month or in January city council is expected to unanimously endorse the update to the Greater Downtown Action Plan, which of course includes the Riverlands redevelopment.
Earlier this year Flewwelling and senior city hall officials were all gaga about starting times for the Riverlands redevelopment, particularly when an ambitious vision was unveiled in June by renowned B.C. planner Michael von Hausen.
City officials were even saying construction for the much-debated canals could begin as early as 2010.
And just two months ago Flewwelling was regaling the fact that developers were knocking down city hall doors to get a piece of the potentially lucrative Riverlands pie.
But there is concern now. The economic turmoil that has blasted world financial markets to pieces since September has trickled down to Red Deer. The mayor is now admitting funds are tight, which will almost certainly have an impact on construction timing for the revitalized downtown.
Earlier this year city manager Craig Curtis said government funding may not be necessary to get construction started in the Riverlands because the city was hoping to get huge revenues from the sale of lots to developers from the 27 city-owned acres of land in the Riverlands.
But developers just don’t have bundles of cash stuffed away under their mattresses. They need banks to put up the cash, and financial institutions have tightened up.
“I would think that provincial and federal funding might tighten up considerably, especially in Alberta where the recent dive in the price of oil is obviously going to curtail some provincial spending” conceded Flewwelling.
“I would also think that private development would also be dampened or curtailed. If we are looking at a public private partnership with corporations or developers I think they will be pretty cautious with their money as well.”
All of this is not to portray doom and gloom onto the city’s grand vision.
In fact, it may be the best news possible for Red Deer’s River Walk. Hopefully the pause will give city officials and urban planners time to rethink what will ultimately go into the Riverlands.
There is lots of talk about The Ark, but no one seems to know what should go in the structure, which is already being labelled as the project’s Big Wow.
But key project movers and shakers, notably Jack Donald and Ken Mandrusiak, believe The Ark won’t be wow enough and are lobbying for a bigger and better idea, something closer to their original San Antonio inspired vision.
There is also concern the wrong emphasis is being made about future Riverlands housing plans.
The city is aiming to integrate different levels of housing, from high end to affordable, into the district’s tourism and recreational components.
But Donald in particular is adamant that putting affordable housing into a tourism area is just a bad idea that could serve to drive away potentially lucrative tourism dollars.
These are serious issues city officials and the urban planners have to study further. And it is now appearing more and more likely they will have lots of extra time to mull it over.
While the sudden downturn in the economy may be worrisome on one hand, on the other there is the unexpected luxury of having sober second thought.
This pause just might just be the right tonic to make the Big Wow as perfect as it can be- and that is something everyone wants.
jbachusky@reddeer.greatwest.ca 403-309-5456
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