Spurred by changing retail and development patterns, as well as continuous suburban growth, greyfield sites can be found at the heart of most postwar suburbs in North American municipalities. Ranging in definition, greyfields are best described as an “underused, economically obsolete, retail tract located in an inner ring suburb that requires significant public and private involvement to curtail decline” (Feronti, 2003, p.11). However, tied to demographic trends and increased municipal urbanization, these vacated retail sites are positioned well for redevelopment. Yet, the redevelopment process of these sites is fraught with impeding and facilitating factors that can have significant implications for redevelopment options and viability. As such, research questions considered were: Do municipalities address greyfield challenges and opportunities? What factors impede and facilitate greyfield redevelopment? This thesis also asks these questions within the context of the City of Edmonton’s current policy and existing built form, and asked: How should greyfields be planned in the City of Edmonton? This thesis attempts to answer these questions through a review and analysis of existing literature, case studies (Belmar in Lakewood, Colorado and Century Park in Edmonton, Alberta) and through primary research conducted with key stakeholders. The research found that municipalities were largely unacquainted with the challenges and opportunities of greyfield redevelopment. Where support guidelines did exist, they were largely aspirational and lacked consideration for the unique impeding and facilitating factors of greyfield redevelopment. It was found that impeding factors to greyfield redevelopment ranged from administrative hurdles fraught with inexperience in greyfield redevelopment, to financial and land economic constraints. Facilitating factors were found in collaborative stakeholder consultation, municipal and administrative leadership, and a range of supportive fiscal mechanisms. Lastly, ten recommendations to facilitate greyfield redevelop within the City of Edmonton were discussed.

Edmonton, Alberta, like many other northern cities, has a history of overprotecting its citizens from the climatic elements. Through constructs of climate-control, like pedways and shopping malls, we have severed ourselves from outdoor life and fallen out of love with a season whose inherent beauty and unique attributes have the potential to play a pivotal role in the identity of the city. This thesis studies ways of using architecture and urban design to engage the city dweller across all four seasons. Through the adaptive reuse of the Rossdale power plant and its adjacent lands, the project aims to provide the city of Edmonton with a destination of climatic comfort that begins to thread the disconnect between its citizens and their northern surroundings.

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The purpose of this practicum is to develop a dynamic and flexible site plan and management strategy which allows Terwillegar Park, in Edmonton, Alberta, to evolve into a place rich in species biodiversity and of high ecological function; that challenges public perception of nature in the city while fostering environmental appreciation and stewardship; and which celebrates its unique identity within the North Saskatchewan River Valley. A review of the pertinent City of Edmonton municipal development plan, environmental goals/policy, parks planning and recreation planning documents are completed, as they apply to the long term planning and development of Terwillegar Park. The implied objectives derived from these documents will then be combined with a qualitative inventory and analysis, and ultimately reconciled through a site plan design and management strategy.

The purpose of this practicum is to develop a dynamic and flexible site plan and management strategy which allows Terwillegar Park, in Edmonton, Alberta, to evolve into a place rich in species biodiversity and of high ecological function; that challenges public perception of nature in the city while fostering environmental appreciation and stewardship; and which celebrates its unique identity within the North Saskatchewan River Valley. A review of the pertinent City of Edmonton municipal development plan, environmental goals/policy, parks planning and recreation planning documents are completed, as they apply to the long term planning and development of Terwillegar Park. The implied objectives derived from these documents will then be combined with a qualitative inventory and analysis, and ultimately reconciled through a site plan design and management strategy.

Spurred by changing retail and development patterns, as well as continuous suburban growth, greyfield sites can be found at the heart of most postwar suburbs in North American municipalities. Ranging in definition, greyfields are best described as an “underused, economically obsolete, retail tract located in an inner ring suburb that requires significant public and private involvement to curtail decline” (Feronti, 2003, p.11). However, tied to demographic trends and increased municipal urbanization, these vacated retail sites are positioned well for redevelopment. Yet, the redevelopment process of these sites is fraught with impeding and facilitating factors that can have significant implications for redevelopment options and viability. As such, research questions considered were: Do municipalities address greyfield challenges and opportunities? What factors impede and facilitate greyfield redevelopment? This thesis also asks these questions within the context of the City of Edmonton’s current policy and existing built form, and asked: How should greyfields be planned in the City of Edmonton? This thesis attempts to answer these questions through a review and analysis of existing literature, case studies (Belmar in Lakewood, Colorado and Century Park in Edmonton, Alberta) and through primary research conducted with key stakeholders. The research found that municipalities were largely unacquainted with the challenges and opportunities of greyfield redevelopment. Where support guidelines did exist, they were largely aspirational and lacked consideration for the unique impeding and facilitating factors of greyfield redevelopment. It was found that impeding factors to greyfield redevelopment ranged from administrative hurdles fraught with inexperience in greyfield redevelopment, to financial and land economic constraints. Facilitating factors were found in collaborative stakeholder consultation, municipal and administrative leadership, and a range of supportive fiscal mechanisms. Lastly, ten recommendations to facilitate greyfield redevelop within the City of Edmonton were discussed.

No description available.