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Edmonton Residents Concerned Over Proposal For Downtown 'Mega-Bars'

"It would be absolutely horrible."
Google Maps

Downtown Edmonton residents are concerned over a proposal to open two massive nightclubs in their neighbourhood.

The Downtown Edmonton Community League (DECL) was notified last week of two proposed developments, Metro News reported. The first would be a 600-seat bar on 104 Street and 102 Avenue, the second a nightclub that could hold 1,400 seats on 109 Street and 102 Avenue, Metro News reported.

Many Edmontonians consider 104 Street to be the heart of downtown. The area is home to cozy, historic apartment buildings and small shops and restaurants.

"It's literally three to four times what exists on the street right now," Chris Buyze, president of the DECL, told CBC News.

Edmonton's 104 Street might soon be home to a 600-seat bar. (Photo: Google Maps)

Residents of the area took to social media to express their distaste for the projects.

"Part of the reason my husband and I chose to live on this wonderful street is the uniqueness of shops and restaurants. This really seems to be a greedy money grab and will drain a lot of character from the street," wrote one commenter on Facebook.

"My wife and I live on 104 and we are horrified by the proposal. It would be absolutely horrible for the thousands of people that live immediately above," added another.

The area is just blocks from Edmonton's currently under-construction Ice District, which Buyze says would be a better fit for the establishments.

“We expect those things at maybe Ice District or Jasper Avenue. But on 104 Street, where you literally have thousands of residents and new residential coming, something of that scale, it’s going to cannibalize what’s happened on the street," he said in an interview with Global News.

The DECL has submitted a letter asking the City of Edmonton to reject the proposal and is asking residents to do the same.

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