Rice Howard Way could be Edmonton’s latest ‘entertainment district’

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Edmonton is one step closer to getting an entertainment district on Rice Howard Way, allowing alcohol consumption along the street, within the designated area.

The city’s community and public services committee on Monday voted unanimously for bylaw 20814 to be brought to council for consideration. That would amend the existing public spaces bylaw, 14614, to accommodate the new entertainment district.

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While alcohol consumption is prohibited in public spaces (unless a specific event allows it), the province’s Gaming Liquor Cannabis Act permits creating entertainment districts where public consumption is allowed. With the committee’s vote, the city is one step closer to getting its new entertainment district.

Alisa Laliberte, city branch manager for economic investment services, opened the presentation.

“(The entertainment district) is designed to create a more vibrant and safe Downtown by delivering impactful, long-term benefits including increased pedestrian traffic, improved business retention and attraction, reduced red tape, and an increased promotion of the Downtown area — all with little-to-no-cost to implement,” said Laliberte.

The proposed district on Rice Howard Way would permit people to buy alcohol at the restaurants in the area and patrons would be allowed to consume them throughout the entertainment district zone. The zone would be limited to Rice Howard Way, spanning from 100 Street to 101 Street with vehicle traffic allowed on 101A Street.

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Councillors asked questions the request to understand the plans for safety measures, cost and projected timeline. Laliberte and her peers fielded the councillor’s questions and provided some details on the district. While not expressly designed as one, Tom Girvan, director of downtown vibrancy for the City of Edmonton, said the proposal could be viewed as a pilot project.

Every Saturday, spanning from June 1 to Aug. 24, the area would be opened to the public under the entertainment district guidelines. To help facilitate a safer space, the area would have security hired from Hiregood, which has recently expanded its services to include security. The guards would be fully trained including their ProServe and ProTect training from Alberta Gaming Liquor Cannabis (AGLC). The space would be open from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Vehicle access will still be permitted on 101A Street but, should the bylaw be approved, a fulsome traffic plan would be created. However, planners expressed confidence that the area’s already-slow traffic isn’t likely to create a significant safety issue.

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With the chance to test the viability of the space over the summer, Girvan said the “opportunities are endless” going forward.

If the bylaw passed, it would allow the area to be rapidly activated as needed, should the demand arise, including as another space to celebrate the Oilers, said Ward Anirniq Coun. Erin Rutherford. Using $200,000 from the downtown vibrancy fund, the project wouldn’t need any additional funding.

The project received support from businesses in the area, including from Jordan Beatty, operations manager for the Sherlock Holmes Hospitality Group, who offered the restaurant’s support for the district.

“We’ve activated Rice Howard Way before, we’ve done it successfully, we’ve done it for families, for events and we’ve done it safely. And we really just want that opportunity to be able to do it again,” Beatty said.

Girvan pointed out that previous activations of the area left brick and mortar restaurants somewhat excluded. With the event licensing restrictions outlined by AGLC, liquor could only be served by one provider in a designated space with enhanced security, preventing nearby restaurants from benefitting fully from the events.

As further commitment to the success of the district, several businesses, including Sherlock Holmes, said they would increase their staffing to ensure a safe, efficient, rollout.

The committee voted in favour of the bylaw moving to city council for consideration. If approved, the first entertainment district use of Rice Howard Way would be June 1.

zdelaney@postmedia.com

Twitter/X: @ZacharyDelaney

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