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Edm. Journal Op-Ed:

Opinion: Edmonton should say no to subsidizing Daryl Katz — again​


Last week, Edmontonians were surprised to learn of an agreement between the City of Edmonton, the Government of Alberta, and OEG Sports and Entertainment (OEGSE), formerly Oilers Entertainment Group, regarding the extension of the Capital City Downtown Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) and new “catalyst projects” in the downtown core. These projects include $68.2 million for infrastructure site servicing at Village at Ice District, as well as $250 million for an event park beside Rogers Place.

I think it's a garbage situation for everyone except Daryl Katz. The City needs the funding, the Province is refusing to be smart about their portion, and the "it's this deal or no deal" approach is making this a taxpayer problem - especially with skyrocketing assessment values and a projected multi-year provincial deficit.
 
I completely and wholeheartedly disagree. The ICE District almost in solo fashion has made Edmonton downtown come alive. Adding to that with more ventures in the entertainment/hospitality space is paramount to success. Without Katz there is no ICE district (and thinking back likely no NHL team either); without ICE District downtown Edmonton would be a barren, shuttered place; without a downtown Edmonton would have zero oomph on almost any level.
 
archited said:
I completely and wholeheartedly disagree. The ICE District almost in solo fashion has made Edmonton downtown come alive. Adding to that with more ventures in the entertainment/hospitality space is paramount to success. Without Katz there is no ICE district (and thinking back likely no NHL team either); without ICE District downtown Edmonton would be a barren, shuttered place; without a downtown Edmonton would have zero oomph on almost any level.
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I don't think the article argues that the ICE District isn't critical to Downtown. I think it's more of a criticism of the way the Province has decided to restrict the funding arrangement.
 
archited said:
I completely and wholeheartedly disagree. The ICE District almost in solo fashion has made Edmonton downtown come alive. Adding to that with more ventures in the entertainment/hospitality space is paramount to success. Without Katz there is no ICE district (and thinking back likely no NHL team either); without ICE District downtown Edmonton would be a barren, shuttered place; without a downtown Edmonton would have zero oomph on almost any level.
Click to expand...
There were other sites and other proposals for a downtown arena - including one on the post office site and one for the quarters - that were quite well developed and feasible. Kudos to OEG and Daryl Katz for taking the idea and running with it but it needs to be remembered that he has profited handsomely - and continues to - from that decisions and from the considerable leverage provided to him by the CRL and by the City lease for Edmonton Tower etc. etc. etc.
 
archited said:
I completely and wholeheartedly disagree. The ICE District almost in solo fashion has made Edmonton downtown come alive. Adding to that with more ventures in the entertainment/hospitality space is paramount to success. Without Katz there is no ICE district (and thinking back likely no NHL team either); without ICE District downtown Edmonton would be a barren, shuttered place; without a downtown Edmonton would have zero oomph on almost any level.
Click to expand...
I suppose it is hypothetical to say what downtown would be like without ICE District, but I also feel it would be more bleak. Restaurants and bars downtown have been one of the few bright spots over the last several years and without the events, probably a number would not be around.

A common and easy criticism is to try demonize someone because they are well off, instead of focusing on whether what is being done will benefit the area or not. Its part of the fake populism now so often pedaled by by our US controlled local media that you might expect in the Sun, but the Journal really is the same thing now, owned by the same company. Standards have slipped.
 
The Journal has done more than enough boosterism for the Ice District project. Consider how many columns David Staples devoted to boosting the concept of a deal before it happened! The occasional rebuttal piece is fine, imo.
 
Andy Grabia was the lone dissenting voice at Committee last week, and actively campaigned against the original arena deal.
 
Michael Janz looks like Elon Musk next to Andy Grabia. And as we all know, Janz is a hardcore NDPer who hates private enterprise.
 
kcantor said:
There were other sites and other proposals for a downtown arena - including one on the post office site and one for the quarters - that were quite well developed and feasible.
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Ah yes, but Daryl had the NHL team that made the whole scheme feasible and he brought along a major hotel group and a major office component. In short, he had the Royal Flush. And now he has the earned experience to make the next 3-building phase viable.with entertainment and housing. Is he wealthy? -- if I had his money I would burn mine. Is someone else going to step in and one-up the guy? As my father used to say "hope" in one hand and "s4!t" in the other and see which gets filled first.
 
archited said:
Ah yes, but Daryl had the NHL team that made the whole scheme feasible and he brought along a major hotel group and a major office component. In short, he had the Royal Flush. And now he has the earned experience to make the next 3-building phase viable.with entertainment and housing. Is he wealthy? -- if I had his money I would burn mine. Is someone else going to step in and one-up the guy? As my father used to say "hope" in one hand and "s4!t" in the other and see which gets filled first.
Click to expand...
Yes, there were probably others with ideas, plans or locations, but they did not step up and make it work perhaps either because their plans were not as good or they did not commit the funds.
 
Ryan Jespersen Show ended today with him saying 'a recognizable politician with a big announcement' will be on the show tomorrow morning.

Him using word 'recognizable' makes me wonder if it's a former politican or current.

Not sure if municipal or federal.
 
Sarah Hamilton is making an announcement tomorrow. I imagine it will be her. She's announcing her intentions for the municipal election.
 
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