Downtown arena drawing business to Edmonton's inner city

Thecommercial area northeast of Edmonton's new Rogers Place arena has seen better days.

For-leasesigns hang over broken windows and darkened doorways of vacant storefronts.

Home to several social-services agencies, the area is a gathering place for people battling addictions,mental health issuesand homelessness.

Many businesses have struggled in the past to attractand maintain regular clientele, but now the strip of abandoned stores north of the old casino is seeing new life.

Macarons & Goodies French Bakery,one of the businesses taking a chance on the area,opened its doors not long after the arena did.

Owner Akram Hasni has more than a geographic connection to Rogers Place.

"I am the executive pastry chef for Rogers Place," hesaid. "I opened the arena three months ago and this business two months ago."

Hasni believes the arena and the traffic it brings will make his venture a success.

More businesses 'coming soon'

"We want to take the benefit of the expansion and development of the new city centre," he said. "When I see the spot I said, 'This is the future.' "

There are signs down the block suggesting others have the same idea. On the corner of 101st Street and 105th Avenue, a banner on a building reads "Sabbs Restaurant & Lounge coming soon."

It's a location where other restaurants have failed. On a recent morninga man huddled in the doorway,trying to spark a lighter in17 C weather.

But rather than thinking ofthe less fortunateas obstacles to business,Hasni worries about them and hopes he can help.

"They are part of the community and we try to give them jobs if possible," he said. "Sometimes they come here and they ask to remove snow and we always give them this opportunity. We really want to contribute to solve this problem."

Communication is key, he said.

"Try to talk to them in a nice way. We offer them some breakfast or something and they are very friendly actually."

Hasni also wants to be there for those suffering from more trivial issues, such as the ups and downs of being an Oilers fan. He hopes those people willstart or end their evenings with a pastry or a good cup of coffee.

"I think so many people walk by and they will be happy to see some business open, especially late night," Hasni said.

Scott McKeen, city councillorforthe area, isn't surprised aboutthe impact of the arena.

"It's sort of a super catalyst for development," McKeen said. "Business follows crowds, especially crowds on the street, and there's just going to be a lot of people walking to and from events at the arena and so that encourages that sidewalk-level retail and hospitality."

'Dreaded gentrification'

McKeen expects the area will be redeveloped in a way unrecognizablefrom the old Central McDougall.

"There's certainly good news in that, but there's also concerning news," he said. "We've had a lot of affordable housing in that area so the dreaded gentrification happens.

"This is where you need really good government policy to make sure that there's affordable housing so that you're not displacing people."

McKeen isn't sure what the changing community and demographics meanfor the shelters in the area but he doesn't believe they're the solution anyway. He's a proponent of supportive housing.

"The shelters do what is essentially emergency relief, they do outreach," he said. "I think over time the model we'd like to get to is one where you don't have to do outreach services for the homeless because the homeless have homes."

Despite the growing pains, McKeen agrees with Hasni that the arena will have an overall positive effect.

"The more people we get on the sidewalks, especially at night in the downtown, the more that creates the sense of vibrancy and the sense ofsecurity to draw even more people downtown."