Stadium Yards builds community connections
A new development taking shape on the east side of Edmonton’s downtown core is transforming derelict rail yard lands into a connected and vibrant, transit-oriented community.
Situated on the site of the former Muttart lumber yard, Stadium Yards will be a mixed-use village that integrates high density with thoughtful, transit-oriented urban planning brimming with architecturally significant designs, starting with conceptual design of the community’s two plazas done by celebrated Montreal landscape architect Claude Cormier, the design brilliance behind the Dog Fountain plaza in Toronto’s refurbished Distillery District.
The 2.8-hectare (seven-acre) redevelopment is a joint collaboration between Brookfield Residential, Rohit Land Development, the City of Edmonton and the Province of Alberta, the two government groups kicking in significant dollars — $14 million and $30 million respectively.
“Integrating compatible land uses to increase the quality of life is essential to the health and well-being of people, ecosystems and economies, or in other words to the sustainability of our cities,” says Erik Backstrom, senior planner with the City of Edmonton. He has been working on the project since its conception back in 2012.
Much of the development will include the upgrading of the surrounding infrastructure, including revamping the aging Stadium LRT Station, which borders Stadium Yards and the construction of two crossings — one pedestrian and one street crossing — across the LRT tracks ( both crossings opened earlier this month), allowing pedestrians a safe thoroughfare from Stadium Yards through to two major amenities, Commonwealth Stadium, and Commonwealth Recreation Centre.
“The crossings are a real benefit. Now the sports district is connected to the River Valley and our development is right in the middle. People can now literally walk across the tracks to the stadium,” says Marty Pawlina, marketing manager, land development at Rohit Group.
Rohit will be executing all of the vertical development, starting with a six-storey, 260-unit, amenity-rich, purpose-built rental project, one that builds in plenty of lifestyle programming.
“It will be almost like a hotel with a concierge and the highest levels of finishing and lots of social programming, all included in the rent,” says Pawlina, who calls the type of lifestyle “renting plus.”
Rohit chose to build the first phase of development as rental so that it could define the culture and experience in the community.
“If we are selling, we can’t predetermine the culture. This way we can define the experience and tone for the whole development,” says Pawlina.
Rohit is working with the city to create an “abundant community,” one that reduces urban isolation.
“It’s about creating larger spaces where community can gather to play bocce or barbecue,” adds Pawlina.
Buildings will be mid- to lowrise, all designed to human scale. And costs will be affordable, targeting the budgets of the recently graduated professional.
Walkability here will hit the top of the charts with Save On Foods only 200 metres away, not to mention sporting facilities and the river valley practically on the doorstep.
Stadium Yards borders an LRT station that is one stop from downtown.
The new Stadium Station revamp, which includes replacing the underground concourse with at-grade access to the station, will increase passenger safety, comfort and connectivity and integrate architecturally with the surrounding development and amenities.
“It’s the next logical step in transforming the area into a more urban, attractive place to live and visit,” says the City’s Backstrom.
In addition to residential development, Rohit will also be developing 7,500 square feet of commercial space including a High Street with restaurants, cafes and services, all with a local flavour.
At final build out, Stadium Yards will feature 700 to 1,000 multi-family homes.
Possessions will be available summer of 2020.