Chinatown redevelopment to be considered by city council

The city'sexecutivecommittee will discuss the possibility of redevelopment in Chinatown on Tuesday.

The costof a strategic redevelopment planranges from $2.5 to $8.1 million.

Downtown city councillor Scott McKeen saysa plan is important because it will make sure businesses go in the right place.

McKeen also says there needs to be a plan in place before a decision is made on where to locate the Harbin Gate, the ornate archway at 102nd Avenue and 97th Street that must move because of LRT expansion.

The gate is an issue for sooner rather than later, McKeen said. Weve got to take it down for LRT construction... we dont want to have that stored away somewhere for 10 years.

Earlier this year, people in the Chinatown community called to move the gate to Jasper Avenue and 97th Street, where the first Chinese business in Edmonton was located 124 years ago.