Aquarium, artificial lake, parking lot? Edmonton mulling future of old coliseum site

When it comes to bringing Edmonton's dead coliseum back to life, almost everything is on the table.

The future of the abandoned Northlands Coliseum remains unclear but there are more than a few ideas about how to revive the former home of the Edmonton Oilers.

Anadministrationreport outlining the progress of the development project, and ongoing public consultations, will be submitted to the city's urban planning committee on Tuesday.

After the 80-hectare property was shuttered in January, with no development plans for its future in place, residents were asked for their ideas.

Since then, through open houses andonline surveys, the city has received 104 competing pitches, ranging from an amusement park to a homeless shelter.

"It's a real wide range, pretty exciting range of ideas," said Lyall Brenneis, manager of the Edmonton Exhibition Lands initiative.

"Some people are talking about introducing a boating or artificial lake facility, an aquarium, festival grounds, a medium-sized soccer facility, or relocating Telus Field."

• City receives 62 proposals for redevelopment of Northlands Exhibition Lands

The final fate of the buildingwhere the Oilers built theirdynasty in the 1980sremains undecided.

It's unclear if the old building can be saved from the wrecking ball, but there is an appetite for redevelopment,saidBrenneis.

'Trying to find that sweet spot'

One pitch would see the old building transformed into a sun-filled atrium. Another proposal would see the site re-purposed into a year-round urban farming "incubator"with aquaponics and vertical vegetable gardens.

Architecture firm Agora Borealis proposed to renovate the site into a "village" that would house 700 families, a hotel, and senior and student residences. In that plan, the former ice surface would beturnedinto a recreation area.

Other proposals include:

• Indigenous culture and wellness centre
• Tobogganing and beginner ski hill
• Large parking garage/LRT park and ride
• Solar and wind renewable energy generation site

"There are competing interests," Brenneis said in an interview with CBC Radio's Edmonton AM.

"That will be the fun part of this project, is trying to find that sweet spot We're hoping to really find out what Edmontonians are looking for."

• City report urges council not to rush Coliseum decision
• More options on the table for Northlands Coliseum, mayor says

The city will presentthe pitches to the public at a pair of open houses Thursday at the Edmonton Expo Centre from 1 - 3 p.m., and 5-8 p.m.

Submissions will be evaluated, with a final plan expected to go to city council early next year.

The former Northlands exhibition lands property is prime real estate,Brenneissaid.

He has high expectations for its second life in north Edmonton.

"It's really an exceptional site," Brenneis said. "It's close to downtown, with accessible transportation on an LRT line, it's anchored by a beautiful park in the south end. It's in a mature area of the city with thriving neighbourhoods around it.

"There's lots of momentum in the area."