Garneau Neighbourhood Renewal

Al-Terra served as Prime Consultant and provided engineering design, public engagement, and landscape architecture services to the Garneau Neighbourhood Renewal project. The aim was to revitalize the road infrastructure making it suitable for all users for the next 30 to 50 years. The team consulted City policies including Vision Zero, and design elements of the Neighbourhood Renewal projects. The resulting project included traffic-calming features to improve walkability while preserving the character and mature boulevard trees within the community.

The Garneau Neighbourhood was one of the last neighbourhood renewal projects to be completed around the University of Alberta (Belgravia, Mckernan, Queen Alex, Strathcona). This is a part of the south side bike network plan that completed several connections to surrounding neighbourhoods including the east/west connection on 83 and 84 Avenues between 111 and 112 Streets, and north/south on 110 Street between Saskatchewan Drive and 76 Avenue. Parks and open space improvements include the creation of a new park at 107 Street along the rail corridor, and significant improvement to Braithwaite Park with the addition of a dog park and a new entry feature.  New LID features were introduced at several locations that increase the resiliency of the City’s drainage infrastructure. The project improved walkability and accessibility for the neighbourhood with the identification of primary walking routes with wider sidewalks, and tactile walking surface indicators at crossings.

Innovative designs were developed for street integrated LID facilities that used chicanes as planting beds that function both as traffic calming as well as storm water management. Designing bike lanes in limited space with utilities and competing public needs to accommodate as many users as possible without compromising safety (i.e. parking bays, facility types). Designing and constructing all missing link sidewalks in the neighbourhood. 

During the project, Al-Terra consulted with various stakeholders, including local businesses, residents, churches, schools, the University of Alberta, and neighbourhood residents. We employed Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) to address and accommodate accessibility challenges. The Garneau project also required coordination with adjacent developments and businesses. This includes the Maclab development on 86 Avenue, the Beljan development off 109 Street and redevelopment around businesses on 88 Avenue through the Corner Stores Program. This project benefited from engaging the public with design opportunities, options, trade-offs concept and final design.