There are no Council or Committee meetings this week. Activity will resume at City Hall on July 29th, when the Agenda Review Committee will meet to set the agendas for the week of August 11th.
Council has decided not to reduce the current cap of eight units for mid-block infill housing in mature neighbourhoods, following a narrow 6-5 vote. Instead, Council backed Mayor Amarjeet Sohi’s motion to delay a decision and launch further public consultation, with findings to return in early 2027. Absences from two Councillors, including Mayoral hopeful Tim Cartmell, influenced the outcome. The proposed reduction to six units had support from several community groups and developers, but concerns over housing affordability, construction impact, and zoning stability made the issue contentious. Opponents of the reduction warned it could open the door to even tighter limits, while supporters said it would show Council is listening to communities. The debate is expected to be a key issue in the next municipal election, especially as more infill applications are being submitted under the current bylaw.
A plan to turn the shuttered Beverly Motel in Edmonton into transitional housing has sparked pushback from the local business association, which says the project will hurt efforts to revitalize 118th Avenue. Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA) wants to open 17 units in the renovated building, offering six-month, abstinence-based stays for people recovering from addiction. The group argues the project will help get people out of encampments and off the streets, but the Beverly Business Association claims it will make the area less safe and less appealing to visitors. Some residents, however, say they would rather see unhoused neighbours supported than shuffled along. The appeal will be heard by Edmonton’s Subdivision and Development Appeal Board on July 24th, while the NCSA maintains it has a good track record managing similar housing in the city and insists the community needs more supportive services.
Edmonton is launching a six-week pilot program in August 2025 to test debit, credit, and mobile tap payments on its public transit system, aiming to improve convenience for riders. Participants will trial the new system, which is being introduced alongside existing Arc cards, not as a replacement for them. Many riders have expressed frustration with Arc cards and are interested in the new tap option, especially given that 20,000 Arc cards have been reported lost since their introduction in 2021. City officials say the delay in implementing open payments was due to prioritizing support for seniors, students, and low-income users first. Transit ridership is steadily increasing, reaching 61.9 million rides in 2024, up from 53.5 million in 2023. The City hopes to make tap payments available to all riders later this year, though no firm date has been announced. Interested riders can sign up to participate in the pilot through the Arc website.
The company that owns Edmonton City Centre Mall and three connected office towers has entered receivership due to nearly $140 million in outstanding debt. A court has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers to manage the properties, which include TD Tower, 102A Tower, Centre Point Place, and the mall itself. Montreal-based lender Otéra Capital initiated the legal action after missed payments dating back to December 2024. The property has faced ongoing challenges, including the loss of major tenants like Hudson’s Bay and Sport Chek, and broader downtown struggles exacerbated by remote work trends. Downtown advocates stress that the mall’s future is vital to the recovery and revitalization of the city’s core. The mall remains open during the receivership process.
An Edmonton homeowner, Jody Steen, discovered an unauthorized encampment set up in his driveway, which left behind a large amount of hazardous debris. Although the group has since left, Steen is concerned about potential drug paraphernalia and contamination, making him hesitant to clean it up himself. The city informed him that, since the mess is on private property, the responsibility for cleanup - estimated at $1,500 - falls on him. Steen expressed frustration over the lack of support and fears the financial burden could become a recurring issue as homelessness in his area worsens. He noted that the number of encampments in back alleys has increased, prompting him to dispose of his garbage elsewhere for safety. The city acknowledged the challenges faced by homeowners but clarified that its cleanup support does not extend to litter or hazardous debris on private property. Steen hopes to warn other homeowners and is calling for more action from municipal and provincial authorities.
