Building Great Neighbourhoods

Calder has been chosen for neighbourhood renewal beginning in spring 2021 with anticipated completion in 2023.

Construction Update - Spring 2021

Neighbourhood Renewal construction in Calder is scheduled to start mid to late June. To prepare for year 1 of construction:

View the final designs (23MB) for the neighbourhood
Watch a video that answers key questions
Understand what to expect during construction

Construction will consist of removal and replacement of public sidewalk, curb and gutter, and street lighting, as well as reconstruction and paving of the roads. Please view this scope map to see the 2021 project area.

The City of Edmonton and EPCOR are also working together to construct Low Impact Development (LID), which will help with stormwater retention and help mitigate flooding.

Please watch your mailbox for construction bulletins that will provide more information along with details on landscaping and access. For special concerns or access requirements, such as DATS, please contact the Construction Project Manager, Courtney Beamish at 780-499-3679.

The City thanks residents and property owners for their patience as we make these improvements.

Local Improvement Decision

Residents in Calder had the opportunity to participate in the Local Improvement decision.

Property owners were mailed a local improvement package dated January 25, 2021 which included information about the sidewalk reconstruction Local Improvement and a form for those who wished to petition against. The 30 day petition period has since expired. Since the City did not receive majority (50% +1) petitions against the Local Improvement, sidewalk reconstruction will take place in all project areas over 3 years of construction for the neighbourhood.

If you have questions regarding the Local Improvement process specifically, please contact LocalImprovement@edmonton.ca.

Neighbourhood Reconstruction

Learn more about what you can expect in your neighbourhood during construction.

About the Project

The Neighbourhood Renewal program will rehabilitate roads, replace street lights, curbs and gutters, repair sidewalks, and connect missing sidewalk links where possible. Other opportunities to improve parks and public spaces were also explored.

Cost sharing opportunities were available through the Local Improvement process for sidewalk reconstruction and decorative street light upgrades in the neighbourhood. Arterial roads and alleys were not included in the scope of work.

A series of public events were held by the project team which gave residents the opportunity to provide regular feedback on the different stages of the project including design.

Please watch your mailbox for correspondence from Building Great Neighbourhoods and Open Spaces about the Calder Neighbourhood Renewal Project.

Calder Neighbourhood Renewal

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Frequently Asked Questions

What will happen before construction starts?

Construction is scheduled in Calder over 3 years starting in spring 2021. You may see a few activities in your neighbourhood prior to construction, including:

Utility companies completing their work before construction begins. This minimizes cutting into the street after it is reconstructed.
Trees being pruned if they are in the way of the construction equipment. If a tree on private property requires pruning, the City will notify the property owner.
Existing street lights being removed and installation of new pole bases. The underground cabling system is also replaced at this time.

When will the road near my property be constructed?

The Construction Staging Plan shows what areas of Calder are being constructed in which year. The Contractor is responsible for setting the schedule for when a specific road is to be constructed. Typically the Contractor will work in an east to west direction through the neighbourhood.

How can I help prepare for construction?

Marking all underground sprinkler systems
Removing plants and flowers before construction so they do not get damaged
Pulling back any mulch, rocks or landscaping alongside the City sidewalk

If you have special access requirements, such as DATS, please advise the Delivery Project Manager, Courtney Beamish, during construction as soon as possible.

How long will the road be closed?

Typically, a street will be under construction for 2 -3 weeks. However there may be some items like landscaping and roadway paving that take a bit longer. This is because it is more economical to do larger areas at a time. To complete all work items in front of your house, it could take up to 8 weeks.

In certain areas, the City and EPCOR will be constructing Low Impact Development (LID) to help reduce the effects of surface flooding. Construction of LID varies on the size and complexity. A large area, such as a whole block could take a month to install, in addition to the other construction activities.

During construction there may be times when the street may be open for traffic and others where it may be reduced. Prior to any construction starting on a street, the contractor will deliver notices of the coming work. This notice and any street signage will let you know when any closures are intended to happen.

How do I access my home during construction?

Access to businesses, residences and alleys will be maintained where possible. All residents are asked to access their homes through the alleys during construction (where possible). If you have specific access requirements, such as DATS, please advise the Delivery Project Manager, Courtney Beamish. Emergency access will be maintained at all times.

Where do I park during construction?

Certain areas of the neighbourhood will be restricted from parking during construction. “No Parking” signs will be posted in these areas. These signs will be posted at least 24 hours before the restriction. You may park on any unrestricted street in your neighbourhood.

Please be patient with your neighbours, as they may need to use some of the parking spaces available on your street when their street is under construction. And when it's your turn, they will return the patience.

What are the impacts to my property?

The lawn and landscaping at the front of your property on the City right-of-way will be disturbed during the construction of sidewalks. When we remove the old sidewalk, we take away about 50cm to 1m of sod on the back edge of the sidewalk.

A space is created to put the forms in place to pour the new sidewalk. This could mean that part of your landscape may be impacted. We will let you know in advance if we need anything moved. We may need to remove part of the connection from the public sidewalk to your house. If we do, this will be replaced.

The public sidewalk is poured first, followed by the connection links to private sidewalks and driveways. If the sidewalk is poured and the sod has not been placed yet, we are just waiting for a larger area to work on. It is more cost effective to sod a larger area at one time.

Once the sod has been laid, we encourage you to water the sod regularly to promote healthy growth. Pulling weeds before they mature and spread seeds is very helpful.

How does the City protect trees?

The City places significant importance on the protection and preservation of trees in neighbourhoods. The design and construction of sidewalks and other infrastructure incorporates the need to protect trees and construction may be adjusted to accommodate this. This may include constructing sidewalks around tree roots to preserve the health of the tree.

Why is a sidewalk being installed in front of my house when there wasn’t one before?

The City is committed to providing a safe and integrated mobility network that is not just for people who drive. Sidewalks provide linkages to key destinations such as schools, businesses, shopping and transit both within a neighbourhood and between neighbourhoods.

By providing routes for people to use that are not just a road, there are other potential benefits which include reduced road maintenance (potholes and snow clearing), reduced greenhouse gas emissions, ability to age in place, better public health, safer and more vibrant streets.

The sidewalks also support the City’s The Way We Move goal of making active transportation a preferred choice for more people making it possible for the transportation system to move more people more efficiently in fewer vehicles.

In addition the design adheres to the Complete Streets Guidelines which promote a network that provides travel options for users of all ages and abilities that are safe, universally designed, context sensitive, and operable in all seasons (including winter). These options accommodate the needs of the present and future and contribute to the environmental sustainability and resiliency of the city.

Other neighbourhoods may only have sidewalks on one side of the road due to different and unique technical challenges of the time, and older City Design and Construction Standards. Calder will be built with the most recent standards, to ensure the infrastructure remains current and relevant for the next 40 years.

What is the cost of sidewalk reconstruction?

Property owners pay 50% of the cost of sidewalk reconstruction based on the length of sidewalk in front of your property for a typical rectangular lot. Different shaped lots have a different method to calculate the cost. The exact cost for the Local Improvement will be included on your tax notice the year following the sidewalk reconstruction.

What was the decision for decorative street lighting in Calder?

Property owners in Calder had the opportunity to upgrade to their community’s choice of decorative street lights through a community-initiated Local Improvement process.

The community submitted their choice of decorative lighting to the City for consideration before the set deadline.

In August 2020, the City sent an Expression of Interest (EOI) package containing estimated costs, asking registered property owners to indicate whether or not they supported the Local Improvement and to return the EOI to the City by November 15, 2020. The EOI package included a form with a “yes” or “no” indication for responses.

In Calder, more than 50% +1 of the received responses were not in support (“no”), so the decorative street light Local Improvement process concluded.

Upgrades to the existing street lights will still be made and include:

New shorter galvanized poles to bring lighting below the canopy
New underground wiring
New foundation
Energy efficient LED lights

Project History

Preparing for Construction - February 2021

Beginning in spring 2021, Calder will be experiencing Neighbourhood Renewal construction. Planning and design for renewal are now complete.

The final neighbourhood designs were developed based on feedback received throughout the public engagement process since June 2019, and also considered City policies, programs and technical considerations. The final neighbourhood designs include:

Upgraded residential streets, including measures to slow traffic
Improved connections for people who walk and bike
Enhanced park and green spaces

Learn More

With public events postponed and physical distancing a priority, we are committed to delivering project information and meaningful online public engagement opportunities. To engage with us:

View the final designs (23MB) for the neighbourhood
Watch a video that answers key questions
Ask the project team a specific question
Understand what to expect during construction
Learn about the Local Improvement process and cost-sharing for sidewalk reconstruction
View information about Low Impact Development (LID)

Thank you for participating virtually as we adjust our practices for COVID-19.

Community Feedback on Final Design - November 2020

Thank you to everyone who engaged with us virtually during the Community Feedback on the Final Design stage of the project as we adjusted our engagement practices as a result of COVID-19. The design included traffic calming measures, sidewalk and crossing enhancements, bike facility enhancements and traffic changes in the neighbourhood and improvements to parks and open spaces.

The online survey and Ask A Question tool closed on November 30, 2020 and we appreciate everyone who took the time to provide their feedback, including through paper copies of the survey, emails and phone calls received by the Project Manager.

The feedback gathered will be used to improve the Calder neighbourhood.

Reference Materials:
Final Design Video
Bike Facilities
Community-led Projects
Parks
Placemaking
Streets and Connections
Traffic Calming

Engagement Summary

Project Update - October 2020

The City is working to improve your drop off experience in front of Calder Elementary School and St. Edmund Catholic School. The Calder Renewal project team has arranged for a test run for 1-way traffic flow on 130 Avenue and 118 Street (proposed traffic change map).

The changes will allow more room for buses and vehicles to move along the street and will add an additional drop-off zone in front of St. Edmund. Parking will be restricted on school days in some locations to create the space needed for vehicles to flow more efficiently.

Traffic flow changes began on August 24, 2020. Traffic flow along 130 Avenue and 118 Street was changed from 2-way travel to 1-way travel. The traffic flow was changed to westbound only on 130 Avenue starting at 117 Street and southbound only on 118 Street through to 129 Avenue.

The City intends to keep the traffic measures in place until renewal construction begins.

See the latest issue of the Calder Renewal Newsletter.

Project Update - July 2020

Thank you to everyone who engaged with us virtually during the Community Feedback on Draft Design stage of the project as we adjusted our engagement practices as a result of COVID-19. The design included traffic calming measures, sidewalk and crossing enhancements, bike facilities in the neighbourhood, and park and open space improvements.

The online survey and Ask A Question tool closed on July 18, 2020 and we appreciate everyone who took the time to provide their feedback, including through paper copies of the survey, emails and phone calls received by the Project Manager. Your input is important as we move toward finalizing the design and the scheduled 2021 construction start date for your Neighbourhood Renewal.

The project team will review all of the feedback provided, along with technical information and City policies and programs, for consideration into the final design. This design will be shared in fall 2020.

Draft Design Package

View the Draft Design (21MB). It includes all of the proposed improvements for pedestrian sidewalks and crossings, bike facilities and routes, traffic congestion and calming, parks and open spaces, placemaking to meet your neighbours and the historic celebration of the neighbourhood’s rail, street car and Indigenous past.

Videos

These videos offer a simulation of the potential changes to the traffic on 129 Avenue and the proposed traffic flow adjacent to St. Edmond Catholic School (along 130 Avenue) and Calder Elementary School (along 118 Street) drop-off areas. The videos show the new curb lines, road functioning and overall experience for people who walk, bike and drive.

129 Avenue Bike Facility and Commercial Area Improvements:

Presentations

Thank you to everyone who attended one of our 3 online presentations on July 7, 9 or 11 2020. During the presentations, the project team walked through the proposed 129 Avenue Corner Store enhancements, school traffic flow improvements and upgraded bike routes and facilities for Calder.

For information on the Calder neighbourhood renewal schedule, as well as other information, please see Issue #4 of the Calder Renewal Newsletter - June 2020.

Decorative Street Lighting Option

At the January 2020 event, there was interest in further conversation about decorative street lighting in Calder. Standard street lights will be replaced as part of the Neighbourhood Renewal process. However, property owners in each neighbourhood undergoing renewal have the opportunity to upgrade to their community’s choice of decorative street lights through a community-initiated local improvement process.

Community volunteers lead the campaign to select a decorative option for street lights. The City can provide support by sharing the options available and assisting with gathering feedback at upcoming community engagements on the options.

Please contact Laura Shewchuk at Laura.Shewchuk@edmonton.ca or 780-944-0728 and read the Cost-sharing Opportunities handout if you are interested in learning more. The decorative option would need to be determined and submitted to the City by Thursday July 2, 2020.

Project Update - January 2020

Thank you to those who participated in the January 23 and 25, 2020 Exploring Options and Trade-offs engagement events where we asked for your feedback on design options for neighbourhood renewal.

Event Materials:
Display Boards (26MB)
Project Overview

See the latest issue of the Calder Renewal Newsletter.

Project Update - September 2019

Thank you to those who participated in the September 14 community walk where we explored topics like traffic, connectivity, open/park space, and placemaking (creating public spaces that promote health, happiness and well being). The community walk was followed by a workshop, where we discussed opportunities for the future of Calder.

Event Materials:
Walk and Workshop Map and Observation Points
Walk and Workshop Slide Deck

What We Heard

Project Update - July 2019

Community Visioning Engagement Summary

Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback throughout the public engagement activities for the visioning phase of the Calder Neighbourhood Renewal. Your input is important—it helps us understand what matters most to your community and what improvements are needed in your neighbourhood.

See a summary of our engagement activities since May 2019:
Community Visioning Engagement Summary

Get involved and help shape the future of Calder
It’s not too late to volunteer for the Calder Community Engagement Advisory Group (CEAG). The CEAG reflects the diverse makeup of the community, helps refine the City’s approach to engagement throughout the project and ensures that people know their input is heard and valued. Our first CEAG meeting will be held in mid-August.

Project Update - June 2019

Building a Community Vision Together

Thank you to those who joined us at the Calder Neighbourhood Renewal Visioning Workshop on June 25, 2019. At the workshop, participants shared thoughts and local knowledge that will contribute to the community vision and guiding principles, and will help shape the future of the neighbourhood.

Read the April issue of the Calder Community Newsletter.

Event Materials
Display Boards
Youth Feedback Board

For More Information

Mr. Courtney Beamish

Title	Delivery Project Manager
Telephone	780-499-3679
Email	courtney.beamish@edmonton.ca

Title

Delivery Project Manager

Telephone

780-499-3679

courtney.beamish@edmonton.ca