Councillors throw support behind downtown Galleria project

For the first time, city councillorshavegiventhe proposed downtown Galleria project their full support.

While council has been interested in the idea of a downtown arts district for years, they have always hesitated to commit funds and take the lead on the project until now.

"We've been dipping our toe in this project for a long time," said downtown Coun. Scott McKeen on Tuesday. "I urge my council colleagues to go swimming."

• The Galleria project explained

The city's executive committee endorsed a memorandum of understanding with the Edmonton Downtown Academic and Cultural Centre Foundation (E-DACC), the group behind the Galleria.

The agreement will include plans for a new arts campus for the University of Alberta, new theatres, and an outdoor plaza, which will be built in phases.

"It's much more manageable now," Mayor Don Iveson said.

"We wanted to do it before but we couldn't see it coming together when it was $1 billion ...and sign on the dotted line now or it vanishes."

The deal also includedseveral failsafes to make sure the city makes its money back if the project doesn't go ahead.

So far the city has pledged $7.5 million to build a pedway between Churchill Station and the new development, which will also connect to the new Royal Alberta Museum, currently under construction.

In September, city council will debate another $50 million contribution from the downtown community revitalization levy to pay for land and a new 1600-seat performance theatre as part of the Galleria project.

"To gain $1 billion worth of infrastructure for $58 million with no requests to operate makes eminent sense to me," said Coun. Bryan Anderson.

Provincial money still needed

Before construction can begin on the first phase of the project, E-DACC needs the University of Alberta to sign on as a long term tenant, whose rent will be used to pay for other parts of the project.

The PC government did not commitany funds to allow the University tomove downtown in their budget, but E-DACC hopes the NDP will.

E-DACC director Jim Brown said he plans to use the city's support as leverage during their negotiations with the new provincial government.

"I think we can go forward saying the city supports this project and they want to see it happen," Brown said.

"We're going to go [to the province] at first opportunity."

Earlier this month council accepted that it will likely have to pay the province's $32 million share of the downtown arena, after moving forward on the project without a commitment from the government.

Brown said although the Galleria still doesn't have the provincial funding it needs, the city won't be left with the tab if the money doesn't come through.

"It's a different situation. It's the University that will need the support of the province," he said.

Iveson said he's optimistic the province will fund the project, which he believes would benefit the arts and post-secondary education.

"I think there's a lot to like about this project that the government will give due care and consideration to," he said.

If the government refuses to give the University the funds to move downtown E-DACC claims the project can still move forward, but a new long term tenant will be needed.