‘STEWARDS OF THE FOREST’
Robert Weinrich has received city approval to build his 4,300-square-foot dream home in Mill Creek Ravine Park, but not everyone is happy with the decision.
Edmonton city planners have approved a permit for a man to build a three-storey dream house in Mill Creek Ravine Park, sandwiched between the bike path and the creek.
It’s a spot that used to have a small bungalow — which burned down in 2007 — and was at one time subject to a failed expropriation bid by the city.
But owner Robert Weinrich said living there with his family of seven will make them the guardians of the ravine.
“I’ve got five children. They’ll all be stewards of the forest, that’s my dream,” said Weinrich, a retired construction businessman whose children are ages two through 15.
His driveway will cut across the bike path, forcing city officials to install a yield or stop sign for cyclists and dog walkers. But he’ll also be there to help if someone is attacked in the dark, he said, or to report late-night parties, bonfires and vandals.
Building anything in the river valley system is a highly controversial topic in Edmonton, a city that saw council chambers packed with opposition when the Alldritt Tower was approved on a sliver of parkland last summer.
But this spot — at the end of 93 Avenue off Scona Road, 100 metres from any other house — used to have a small single-storey bungalow.
When officials tried to expropriate the property in 2004, they got burned. Then-owner Michael Wild fought back, getting 5,000 signatures to support his Davidand-Goliath battle. A ruling from a provincially appointed lawyer called the city’s tactics “abusive.” City council dropped the case. Then the bungalow burned down and the long battle to get permits to rebuild led Wild to simply sell the land instead.
This time, city officials approved the development permit Dec. 21, but no city planners have been available for an interview on the topic this past week.
The permit includes variances for the house to be built closer than normally allowed under parkland zoning on all four sides of the house. That allows for the home to be built further away from the creek, city planner Anlin Wen said by email.
The community league is debating whether to appeal to the subdivision and development appeal board. There is a meeting scheduled for Jan. 17.
“It’s across the bike trail. It’s between the bike trail and the creek, right in the middle of the valley,” said Peigi Rockwell, chairwoman of the civics committee in Old Strathcona.
She’s shocked by the location and the size. “It really is a grandiose, tall building.”
Ron Chalmers, another member of the committee and a former Edmonton Journal reporter, said many people in the community support having a couple of private homes in the ravine to increase safety. They supported Wild and another family trying to rebuild after a flood in the past.
But this is “too much house for that site,” he said, calling it excessive, “way bigger” than what was there before.
The house is modern looking, 10 metres tall with a flat roof and two colours of stucco and pre-manufactured stone on the facade. It has a walkout basement onto the creek, large veranda and double garage.
According to elevations on record with the city, the floor area is nearly 4,300 square feet, not including the basement.
I know the city has been wanting to buy it for years ... but we can’t force them to sell it to us. BEN HENDERSON
Weinrich said it took him roughly 18 months to get a permit after submitting environmental and geotechnical studies and agreeing to build with concrete rather than wood to reduce fire risk.
Weinrich said he understands it’s a controversial build and some park users are upset. His survey markers were pulled out five times, he said. “I’ve been yelled at just for being on my property.”
But this is his dream, raising his children beside a quiet creek, even in the middle of Edmonton.
Local Coun. Ben Henderson said he thinks the city had little option.
“I know the city has been wanting to buy it for years ... but we can’t force them to sell it to us.
“I’m sure we’re not going through with this happily, but I don’t think there’s any legal right to say no unless we expropriate.”