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Red Deer City Council
Riverlands development
ready for debate
reprinted from Red Deer
Advocate (Laura Tester) September 3, 2011
A plan of how best to
develop Riverlands into a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood over the
next 20 years is going forward to Red Deer city council on Monday.
Elected leaders will be asked to give first reading of the 2011
Riverlands Area Redevelopment Plan. The plan area is defined by the
Red Deer River on the west, Taylor Drive on the north and east and
the West Park neighbourhood on the south.
The area redevelopment plan was crafted after the Greater Downtown
Action Plan was finished in 2008 following extensive public input.
Currently, Riverlands is a low-density commercial-industrial area.
The intent is to make the area into a thriving public area that's
pedestrian friendly.
Visitors would be able to be wined and dined, see various
entertainment and have the chance to stay at a prominent hotel
convention centre.
Plus, there would be a prominent riverwalk. The Red Deer River forms
the border for over a third of the greater downtown, and much of
that is in Riverlands.
Development would take bold steps to enhance and connect to the
river's edge, culminating in a central civic plaza projecting over
the bank with a bridge across the river to Bower Ponds.
"Riverlands will become the first truly 'smart growth' mixed-use,
high density, urban neighbourhood in the city," says the document.
The objective is to have 2,500 people live in Riverlands by 2031.
The majority of the area will be zoned to allow medium density
housing, with a height limit of 4.5 storeys.
This plan adds new ideas for major civic gathering space, as well as
arts and cultural venues. Plus, it looks at improved pedestrian and
vehicle connections between Riverlands and the rest of the downtown.
Some of the possible attractions include public art in prominent
locations and throughout Riverlands.
The city also envisions a year-round market within the former civic
bus barns. The landmark hotel/convention centre at the north end of
the plan area would include other businesses, including restaurants,
bars and shops.
The area redevelopment plan also encourages the development of
publicly accessible open spaces on private commercial or residential
lands.
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