HIGH LEVEL’S NEXT LEVEL?
Connecting MacEwan University to Whyte Avenue with vibrant pathway will take work
Architect David James, left, marketing and tourism specialist Gillian Thomson, architect Michael Rivest, intern architect Michael Zabinski, intern architect Izak Bridgman and landscape architect Keith Dieterman walked the High Level Line west of 109 Street near 99 Avenue last week. The group of young professionals is pitching ideas for a proposed linear park stretching from MacEwan University to Whyte Avenue.
A dream to transform the High Level Bridge into an urban park and streetcar corridor that reaches from MacEwan University to Whyte Avenue is about to get its next big push.
The young professionals behind the High Level Line concept are incorporating as a non-profit this spring, recruiting a larger board, launching a series of public events and meeting with landowners along the line as they work to build momentum.
Between pilot projects, promotional T-shirts and plenty of talk this summer, they hope to take their vision of a linear park to the next level. The backbone — the old rail line and multi-use trail that connects to the High Level Bridge — is already there, they argue. Someone just needs to fill in the missing links and improve the space to really connect the two cultural hearts of the city
There are obvious challenges to selling the idea. But with consulting engineers now saying the top of the High Level Bridge cannot be used for a future LRT line, the concept doesn’t have to compete for the turf with other transportation initiatives.
Postmedia sat down with six core members of the team to learn more about what they ’re pitching for the High Level Line.
Their unsolicited work is meant to start people dreaming about the possibility, said intern architect Michael Zabinski, imagining how this kind of green connection could support new development of underused pieces of land nearby.
“There’s opportunity for every piece of land.”
“It’s pretty pie-in-the-sky, but not entirely,” added landscape architect Kevin Dieterman.
“Even having this conversation on the table could help influence the developer,” said architect Michael Rivest.
They plan to start this summer by building a life-size “track shack” — a retail space, market stall or ice cream shop that can move on the streetcar rails to support recreation along the park. That could build interest and demonstrate what else could be done by using the tracks.
Even New York’s now famous High Line park, they say, started as a simple group of volunteers, an idea, then a not-for-profit organization. The next step is to refine the idea with public and landowner input, building interest before they take it to the city.
HEART OF MACEWAN
Starting at MacEwan University, the designers want to place this new walking and streetcar connection in the heart of campus.
The Robbins Health Learning Centre has a perfect hole in it already at ground level, where streetcar tracks and a walkway could punch through and connect with the new shared-use path along 105 Avenue.
“It’s really about driving right into the heart of the campus and capitalizing on that student body, on that employment hub,” said Dieterman.
“If you’re leaving class Friday afternoon in the spring, it’s beautiful and you want to take the trip to Whyte Avenue for the evening ? You’re going to take the line. Take the streetcar for a bit, have a bite to eat, walk the rest of the way to the next stop, catch the streetcar and go.”
A safer intersection for pedestrians at 110 Street and 104 Avenue would be critical. The design team is even hoping it could be raised slightly to slow down traffic and emphasize the pedestrian connection. South of 104 Avenue, a better park could stimulate mixed-use development where the singlestorey Best Buy is now.
“Vancouver, or Calgary even, is starting to do it,” Zabinski said. “These big box stores are lifted off the ground. (You) slip some smallscale retail underneath and you can have the best of both worlds. Parking underground and residential above and all of a sudden you have this really vibrant community.”
MacEwan’s Stuart MacLean, vice-president of facilities, said the park would make a key northsouth connector and it’s important to talk about it now while plans for the west leg of the Valley Line LRT down 104 Avenue are being finalized.
Pedestrian upgrades to 104 Avenue are key, he added.
“Right now with six lanes of traffic, it’s a formidable barrier.”
RAILTOWN CORRIDOR
A simple shared-use path already runs alongside newer condos along the Railtown corridor west of 109 Street, following the path of the former railway line.
But if it was moved to one side, the community would have space for an ice rink and other activities.
“It’s just kind of a big field right now,” said Rivest.
The single-storey shopping centre at the corner of Jasper Avenue and 109 Street will eventually be redeveloped. That could give more space to the park if the developer builds higher and leaves more green space, using the park amenity to sell condos above a grocery store.
The team would also love to see an aspen forest developed around the boardwalk just north of this open space, where the corridor is very narrow.
“It’s a respite from downtown,” said architect David James, arguing the native species would block out and tone down the otherwise busy environment.
Track shacks could make this a truly Edmonton idea, playing on the idea of the summer park Green Shack program, the team said. They could be used for recreational equipment, a market or ice cream sales along the park, as long as a rail spur is provided to set them up out of the way. Then they can roll back down the track to storage when they’re not in use.
JASPER AVENUE
The rail line used to cross Jasper Avenue on a bridge just west of 109 Street. There’s a shared-use path still following the corridor to the north and south here, but crossing Jasper Avenue can be a puzzle for those not used to the area.
“There’s no obvious way to get between the two,” said Gillian Thomson, marketing and tourism specialist.
There aren’t even signs to warn users the path starts again just behind the parking lot. This would reconnect it.
High Level Line designers would reinstate the bridge but with wide pedestrian stairs to draw people down onto the street and into the shops below. It could be built at the same time the parking lot is redeveloped.
South of Jasper Avenue, the team would like to see the track raised to the level of 109 Street to give more space for a pop-up market. The track shacks would shine here, providing services at the site where the High Level Line comes close to the existing LRT line near Grandin Station.
GRANDIN JUNCTION
Dreaming big here, the team saw how well the legislature connects with the reflecting pools and park north of the building over the cars below. Wouldn’t it be great if that park continued west, they said, connecting over vehicles driving south onto the High Level Bridge?
Try walking from Constable Ezio Faraone Park to the legislature grounds now.
“It’s a very busy, dusty vehicle experience,” said Rivest.
To cross 109 Street as a pedestrian means following at least three crossing lights and braving two uncontrolled crossings with fairly high-speed traffic and blind corners.
Developing Constable Ezio Faraone Park could mean a zip line or skiing on the slope, or just more space for an area already heavily used by people strolling, doing yoga and running the stairs.