Demolition plans of Oilers arena at Northlands Coliseum set by city of Edmonton
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
It's been a while coming, but the time is here to bring down the old Northlands Coliseum, which has been sitting empty the last 8-years, at a cost of $1M annually.
Work is expected to begin next summer, according to a city report, and will take about two years to finish, which, according to Ward Metis counsellor Ashley Salvador, has already begun.
«The $35 million has already been set aside," Salvador said. "Council has prioritized the demolition of the coliseum. It was baked into our four-year budget."
In order to secure provincial funding of up to $55M, the city had to spend its own $35M for site enhancements related to the Coliseum demolition, or other public infrastructure projects within the Exhibition grounds, according to Global News
The Northlands demolition funding is also tied-in with infrastructure projects like the new Event Park and Village that is planned for the Ice District.
Salvador anticipates that some of the $35M will be used to replace the Coliseum LTR system.
«The transit centre has been on the list for quite a while," she explained. "It's one of the more concern stations for safety and the design of it. That is part of the overall Exhibition lands plan is to eventually replace that station. I'd like to see that accelerated.»
Projects that are included in the redevelopment of the area are green spaces, event spaces, and 2500 units of affordable, and rental housing.
It's sad to see an old building with so many memories attached to it become reduced to dust, but the new era of the Edmonton Oilers - and their beautiful new arena - makes it very much worthile.
TRENDING NOW
