Stop the Destruction of Dunluce

Petition Against Neighborhood Renewal Plan

To Mayor Sohi and City Councillors of Edmonton:

We are writing to bring to your attention the concerns of our community regarding the ongoing Neighborhood Renewal project in Dunluce. As residents, we appreciate the City’s efforts to invest in infrastructure renewal and understand the importance of maintaining vibrant neighborhoods. However, we believe that the proposed changes do not fully reflect the needs and priorities of the people who call Dunluce home.

This petition represents a significant level of concern among our community members, with nearly 50% of the approximately 1,650 households opposing the proposed changes. It is important to note that this effort has been entirely volunteer-driven, and we have not yet reached all households. From the 700 homes we have contacted, only 28 were fully in favor of the City’s entire plan. Support for our concerns continues to grow as more residents learn about the proposed plans. In addition, we have received encouragement from residents in other Edmonton neighborhoods and have the support of distinguished Edmontonians, including our current MLA and more than one Federal candidate. This level of backing reflects the broader significance of these issues for our community and beyond.

Our group has been urging the reconsideration of how this Renewal project has been handled for over a year, but many of our concerns have not been taken seriously. Many of us feel that the City’s current approach has overlooked the voices of residents. This lack of responsiveness has the potential to become a major issue in this year’s election, as residents demand greater accountability and engagement from their elected officials.

We also wish to highlight that our group has taken extraordinary measures to raise awareness about the Renewal plans. Many Dunluce residents were still unaware of these plans until our volunteers informed them. This has been a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, conducted entirely by dedicated community members. Our efforts have demonstrated a far more thorough outreach than the City’s own initiatives, underscoring the importance of genuine community engagement.

We strongly feel that the current Renewal project has not adequately considered the diverse perspectives of the people most directly impacted. Many residents are concerned that the proposed changes may negatively affect the character, livability, and accessibility of our neighborhood. While we have raised these concerns with City Councillors and the Administration, we feel that they have not yet been addressed in a manner that satisfies the expectations of the community. Our goal is to work collaboratively with the City to ensure that Dunluce’s renewal reflects both current and future residents’ needs.

In light of these concerns, we respectfully request the following actions:

Comprehensive Review: Conduct a thorough review of the renewal plans, ensuring that resident feedback is meaningfully incorporated before finalizing contracts. While we recognize the need for infrastructure repair, we believe these updates should maintain the community’s character by replacing roads and sidewalks “like with like.”
Enhanced Community Consultation: Facilitate additional opportunities for in-person consultation with residents. We have repeatedly invited City planners to observe areas of contention firsthand, but these requests have not been accommodated. Meaningful engagement requires a direct understanding of our neighborhood’s unique needs, which cannot be fully captured through online surveys or general data analysis.
Delay in Implementation: Postpone the current renewal plan until a more inclusive, transparent, and community-driven process can take place. Many residents feel that previous engagement efforts, such as online surveys and open houses, did not allow for genuine input. We also urge the inclusion of the Dunluce Community League, which is closely connected to the residents, in future consultations to ensure their voices are heard.

We also want to stress that this petition is not the end of our opposition. If the City’s response does not adequately address our concerns, we will continue to explore other ways to oppose these plans. We are steadfast in our commitment to protecting the interests of our community and ensuring that the renewal process is fair, transparent, and inclusive.

We are committed to ensuring that Dunluce remains a vibrant, cohesive, and welcoming community for all residents. By collaborating with us, the City can develop a renewal plan that balances infrastructure improvements with the needs and wishes of the current residents who have invested in and supported this community for decades.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your response and the opportunity to work together toward a solution that benefits everyone.

Sincerely,

Stop the Destruction of Dunluce Committee

(The Committee of Concerned Residents of Dunluce)