New Life on the Avenue
June 01, 2011
Fifty years ago Alberta Avenue (118th Ave.) was the fashionable place to shop in Edmonton. A slow decline saw a reversal in fortunes for the street, and Alberta Avenue became one of the least favoured addresses for business, an area known for crime not high fashion.That has changed, and Alberta Avenue is once again becoming a choice destination for people from across Edmonton, through the hard work of organizations such as the Alberta Avenue Business Association and Arts on the Ave.
The City of Edmonton and the community are working together on a neighbourhood revitalization project to improve both the social and physical aspects of this area. Streets, businesses and green spaces are being improved, fostering a vibrant community life on the Avenue once more.
In recent years Alberta Avenue has become known as a destination for arts lovers, with diverse offerings at places such as the Avenue Theatre, the Carrot and the former Alberta Cycle Building (right next to my office).
Alberta Avenue is also becoming a destination for those who enjoy good food. There are restaurants and bakeries to satisfy every taste and appetite, with it seems more opening each week. A sampling of what is available can be found online in the “Taste of The Avenue” brochure (at www.avenueinitiative.ca). On the Avenue you will find more than 40 food options, including the Thursday farmers’ market. If you want to travel the culinary world you can do so, with offerings from Mexico, Portugal, East Africa, Italy, the Middle East, China, Asia, Spain, the Caribbean, Poland and Vietnam all located in just a few blocks.
I think the revitalization of Alberta Avenue is a great thing for our community.
What do you think?