‘We know there’s a will’: Residents rally against Highlands infill

Highlands residents rallied in their neighbourhood, calling on the City of Edmonton to put a pocket park in a transit loop that may be rezoned for infill housing. (CTV News Edmonton/Darcy Seaton)

Residents rallied in Highlands Saturday afternoon against a proposed infill development in the area.

While the area has seen infill development pop up in recent years, there is one piece of land community members aren’t willing to part with.

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Highlands resident Yvette Cioran said she’d like to see the transit loop on 112 Avenue and 61 Street turned into a “heritage pocket park.”

“This park is very relevant to the story of Edmonton,” said Cioran at the rally. “It’s an extension of the streetcar story.”

Back in the day, a streetcar stopped in the northeast Edmonton neighbourhood. The line was a connection for people in the area to get downtown.

Residents received notices in the mail from the city saying it was looking to sell the property that currently serves as a cul-de-sac and transit loop. The city is also looking to rezone it for housing.

Cioran said she reached out Ward Métis councillor Ashley Salvador, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood MLA Janis Irwin as well as the mayor about her idea for a park, but said she has yet to hear back.

“I’m doing my best to reach out,” said Cioran, adding that she did hear back from city administration, but they said none of their departments saw a use for the site.

Cioran’s vision for the pocket park will commemorate the history of the streetcar, similar to Alexander Circle in Glenora.

“It could be the start of something really great and I’m hoping that people can get behind it so we can save this beautiful little park.”

Residents reached out to the Edmonton Railway Society about refurbishing a streetcar to put in the park. A representative said it could cost upwards of $100,000.

“I think that’s doable,” said Cioran. “I think there’s a lot of people in living memory (whose) faces light up when you talk about the streetcar, and I think those people would be more than happy to donate to this.”

A public hearing on infill development and rezoning will be held at city hall on Monday where Ward pihêsiwin councillor and mayoral candidate plans to move a motion for a moratorium.