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Miracle on 82 Street

December 09, 2010

City of Edmonton staff, citizens, local agencies, and businesses are collaborating to transform a troublesome alleyway into a festive community gathering place.

While the community-driven rejuvenation of the apartment building at 12035-82 Street instilled pride in the people who live there, the undesirable activity taking place in the alley behind their home continued to be a problem. Area residents asked the City to install lighting to address the issue.

“Instead of installing flood lights, we approached local businesses to donate outdoor holiday lights. Local businesses came through and now we’re taking that alley back!” said Kris Andreychuk, Community Capacity Builder with the City of Edmonton. “This is another example of community involvement being at the heart of positive change.”

Canadian Tire and City Lumber each contributed $1,000 towards the purchase of lights for the alley, the City of Edmonton Avenue Initiative kicked in $2,000, and Great Canadian Roofing donated staff time and a bucket truck to get the job done.

The merry band of City staff, community volunteers, and supporters from local agencies and businesses who put up the lights celebrated with bannock roasting, marshmallow toasting, free drinks donated by a local Mac's convenience store, and music by CommUnity Drumming. After the holidays, some of the lights will be used at community events, but the lights up in the evergreens will be left year-round.

This is just the first of a series of projects being developed to address concerns about illegal and negative activity in the area. To collaborate on long-term solutions, the Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (which includes the City of Edmonton, Edmonton Police Service, Family Centre, and United Way Alberta Capital Region) has partnered with Alberta Health Services, Arts on the Ave, Catholic Social Services, Edmonton Arts Council, and Homeward Trust.

The Alberta Avenue Revitalization Initiative began in 2005, as a result of a request by citizens for better lighting on 118 Avenue. The area had fallen into disrepair and crime was an issue. The ward Councillors for the area knew that better street lighting would help, but more had to be done to help turn the neighbourhood around. Through public consultation, residents and business owners created a vision for the community they want their neighbourhood to become: a community with safe streets and spaces, strong community life, thriving economy, and environmental well-being. 

A community steering committee guides initiatives and an integrated service team, comprised of staff from all City departments, supports the work. Alberta Avenue’s success story has spawned similar revitalization efforts in Jasper Place, McCauley and McDougall/Queen Mary Park neighbourhoods.

The approach to revitalizing Alberta Avenue is also an example of what the City wants to achieve through the Office of Great Neighbourhoods: all City departments working together with residents, businesses, community leaders and other stakeholders to shape the future of where we live.