It’s likely no shock to you that over the past few years, our city’s core has faced challenges that have impacted its vibrancy, from rising office vacancies to a heartbreaking mental health and addiction crisis playing out on our streets.

Downtowns across North America are grappling with similar issues, and cities, governments, and city builders across all sectors are working in lockstep to tackle them head-on. Can the same be said for Edmonton’s downtown?

Call us optimists, but we believe the challenges in our downtown present an incredible opportunity for transformation, growth, and innovation – one that the downtown community has yet to give up on. The release of our Downtown Investment Plan marks a significant moment in time – the future of downtown is not just possible but within reach, thanks to inspiring ideas and actions from the business and community sectors – BILD Edmonton Metro, Downtown Revitalization Coalition, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Edmonton Downtown Business Association, and NAIOP Edmonton.

Edmonton isn’t just any city; it’s one of Canada’s most northern major cities, and as such, our downtown serves a far larger purpose than just being the heart of Edmonton. It acts as the central hub for a vast region, providing services, culture, and opportunities for people across northern Alberta and beyond. Our city centre supports not only Edmontonians but also the communities that rely on its resources, institutions, and vibrant energy.

Let’s get real for a second. While downtown once contributed a substantial 10 per cent to the municipal tax base, this number now sits at a shocking 6.4 per cent, as of 2024. Our civic infrastructure and assets have begun to degrade in quality, and perceptions of safety and optimism in our downtown are the lowest they have been in some time.

Now is the time to act. Our plan envisions $427 million slated for public realm improvements, housing, and infrastructure. These investments are designed to draw residents, businesses, and visitors back into downtown, making it a place where people want to live, work, and thrive. And, we’ve included a hypothetical return-on-investment because every public dollar spent should have a return of twice its worth.

The most successful urban plans behave like business plans – articulating clear success metrics, and timelines. Our plan provides the private and community sectors a list of catalyst opportunities of civic, provincial, and national significance. Because resources are limited, our plan considers thoughtful phasing – short-, mid-, and long-term strategies – based on needs assessments, levels of funding support, and timing. Moving forward, we envision a planning process where the community and all orders of government can begin to take ownership.

What’s truly unique about this moment is the unprecedented rallying of Edmonton’s downtown community around one cohesive plan with practical solutions. This collective effort ensures that we’re not just reacting to the challenges but actively trying to reshape the core of our city. By investing in our downtown, we’re not just revitalizing a few blocks – we’re enhancing the experience and access for countless people who look to Edmonton as their urban core. This makes our downtown’s renewal a critical opportunity, not only for Edmonton’s future but for the entire region that depends on it. Let’s get downtown to it.

Originally published in The Edmonton Journal. Written by Alexandra Hryciw and Jason Syvixay.