Last week at City Council, we debated two big decisions that could reshape downtown — and impact your tax dollars for years to come.

1. The Downtown Office Shuffle

City administration wants to sell two aging downtown office towers — Century Place and Chancery Hall — and move 1,350 staff into the Edmonton Tower and other city-owned spaces. The proposed cost? $22.7 million.

The argument: These buildings are old, expensive to fix, and we need less space with hybrid work. Selling them could reduce long-term repair and operating costs.

But here’s where I hit pause:

• Costs don’t add up: The Chamber of Commerce flagged the $22.7 million as high — especially the $5.2 million just for moving offices. That's about $16,800 per employee being moved. Movers they consulted said a similar move should cost around $1.1 million.
• Market timing is off: With a 20% office vacancy rate, we’re trying to sell in a buyer’s market. Admin is uncertain what the buildlings might sell for — possibly less than we’re spending to move.
• Payback plan is shaky: The project relies on savings and future building sales to pay back the moving costs. Even their own analysis admits the timeline is uncertain.
  

2. The Winspear’s Unfinished Symphony

The Winspear Centre needs $33.4 million more to finish its expansion by 2026. Design changes and Covid-related delays and inflation have pushed the project’s cost to $118.2 million.

They’ve raised 72% of the funds. They know a loan for a not-for-profit organization is high risk so they haven't asked for one. So any City support would be a straight-up grant, which could mean a tax hike. No one thinks a tax hike is the right solution.

One funding option might be the Downtown Community Revitalization Levy (CRL). City Council has sought Provincial approval on this option - time will tell.

Here’s Where It Gets Messy

These two projects are connected:

• The Winspear’s new underground parking is tied to Century Place’s parkade.
• Changes to Century Place could impact the Winspear’s operations and its expansion.
• The City also invested in a District Energy plant that is intended to provide heat to all three buildings.

Where I Landed at Council

We made progress last week. I pushed for — and got — more transparency:

✅ Council will now see the detailed building condition reports.
✅ Admin must report back with all sale offers before anything is finalized.
✅ Century Place can’t be sold until the Winspear’s parking situation is sorted.

Where We Go From Here

1. On the office moves: Let’s be clear — $22.7 million needs a full cost-benefit review. We owe it to you to make smart, responsible choices with your money.
2. On the Winspear: I support downtown arts and culture; we need honest conversations about how to do that. We must explore every funding option, remembering that a tax increase is the one solution no one asked for. 
3. On both: This is about more than buildings. It’s about building better. That means planning smart, thinking long-term, and not making decisions in silos.

Let’s get this right—for the future of our downtown and the future of our city. We need to build it better, build a better Edmonton, and find ways to do that. Without raising taxes.

What do you think? Message me on social or send me an email — I want to hear from you.

Talk soon,

Tim