Proposed Rezoning | The Baron

Proposed rezoning on the northeast corner of Whyte Avenue and 105 Street to allow for a mid-rise mixed-use building.

A planning application has been received to rezone 8207 105 Street NW. The applicant’s project name for the proposal is The Baron (this site is also referred to as the Archibald Block, where “When Pigs Fly” is).

https://www.edmonton.ca/residential_neighbourhoods/neighbourhoods/8207-105-street-nw.aspx?utm_source=virtualaddress&utm_campaign=thebaronrezoning

Strathcona Community League opposes this development for the following reasons:

The proposed 9-11 (tbd) storey building itself is ill-suited to this site for a variety of reasons, but the most critical issue is that currently this site is part of the DC1 zoning that protects the heritage core of old Strathcona.  The intent of this zoning is to put strict controls on the forms of development that can happen in this area, with greater scrutiny of proposals than is typical elsewhere in the city.  All the other recent developments that have happened in this area (Crawford Block, Strathcona hotel, Raymond Block, etc.) have been zoned as “sub-zones” within this DC1 heritage zone (restrictions are still applicable, but specific and targeted exceptions have been made for extenuating circumstances).  

This development would remove this site from the DC1 zoning, making it instead a DC2.  It carves out a chunk of our heritage protected zone for the sake of bypassing the controls that come with it. For example, the approval of the DC1 sub-zone for the Raymond Block — which did not follow ARP/Plan Whyte — was expressly understood as not setting precedent for future rezoning applications, and was only allowed due to the expense of remediating the brownfield site, and the benefit of filling in a large missing piece in the Whyte Ave streetscape.

The proposed rezoning and development concept (height, form, massing etc…) is contrary to the recommendations of Plan Whyte (now included in the Strathcona ARP), which aims to strengthen the heritage character of the corridor.  The heritage character of the area, and along Whyte Avenue itself will be further eroded.

The Archibald Block is in the heart of the Provincial Heritage Area which the City of Edmonton requested, and committed to providing stewardship to preserve the area.  It is far from apparent how this application strengthens the historic identity of the area.

If you share the league’s concerns, it is critical that the city hears from community members.  If Council is to uphold the intent of the existing DC1 zoning to protect Strathcona’s heritage, they need to hear its importance from the community.

Please provide your feedback to Andrew McLellan

Also letters to Mayor and Council as well as to Leela Aheer, Minister of Culture would further express concern regarding this proposed development.