In Development Podcast

In this episode, our hosts chat with Lisa Drury from the City of Edmonton about the new Priority Growth Area (PGA) rezoning project. We dive into how the project came about, the selection process for areas being rezoned and how the public was engaged during its development. This episode provides a great opportunity to learn the nuances of the proposal before it goes to public hearing on May 20th, 2025. More information & the ability to leave comments or request a chat with a planner can be found on the City’s website here: edmonton.ca/PriorityGrowthAreaRezoningLisa Drury is a Senior Planner at the City of Edmonton with over ten years of municipal experience. After graduating with a Master of Science in Planning at the University of Toronto, Lisa worked in several municipalities in Alberta and Ontario. She began her career working in long range policy planning and transitioned to working in current planning prior to coming to the City of Edmonton. She enjoys exploring the City, playing sports, learning new skills and getting involved in her community.

In this episode, we reconnect with Alkarim Devani to talk about how Edmonton and Calgary are faring when it comes to pushing for a better policy and regulatory environment with regard to infill development. We learn more about mddl, an expert organization in middle housing whose mission is to build capacity from top to bottom for "missing middle" and reduce barriers to delivering this kind of development. We glean insights from Alkarim on how to tell the positive story of infill and work across communities to push for better.Alkarim Devani is co-founder of RNDSQR, where his passion for design and innovation drives his vision of redefining what it means to be a developer. Alkarim’s work building RNDSQR has garnered national and international recognition and is a frequent guest lecturer at The University of California, Berkeley, and The University of Calgary. In addition, Alkarim is a dedicated and active member of the community and development industry. He regularly contributes his time to numerous volunteer organizations as well as several industry-led boards and communities including D.Talks and Calgary Housing Company. Alkarim’s work has gained a multitude of media attention and frequently been the recipient of The Canadian Architecture Awards, MUDA Awards, American Architecture Prize, and the BILD Awards. Alkarim transitions into the next stage of his career with mddl to use his in-depth experience with middle housing to help scale the delivery of housing across Canada.

In this episode, we dive into what goes into operating that great local coffee shop that often features prominently in many visions of local redevelopment. Antonio Gomez and Peter West both operate coffee shops in Edmonton, but also have backgrounds in design and planning respectively. We chat about how community connects within coffee shops and how design and planning intersects with successful local commercial spaces across Edmonton.Antonio Gomez, born and raised in Mexico, is a seasoned designer and entrepreneur. He completed his university studies at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) branch in Michoacan, living and working in his home country until 2011. In that year, Antonio immigrated to Canada where he a few years later established Space Squared, a design studio specializing in residential design, where he currently serves as the head designer. In addition to his work at Space Squared, Antonio is a proud co-creator, designer, and co-owner of Boxcar, a coffee shop located in the Calder community in northern Edmonton. The coffee shop occupies a small residential building, which was also designed by Antonio, reflecting his integrated approach to design and community.Peter West is a former urban planner turned entrepreneur and is the owner of Coffee Bureau with his wife Cristiane. After years spent serving coffee in Edmonton and Toronto, Peter felt compelled to create a small but impactful cafe in an effort to marry a desire for better urbanism and a better coffee shop experience downtown. Today Peter and Cris operate a location on Jasper Avenue as well as a new shop on 123 Street and 102 Avenue.

Join us for a special year-end episode of In Development as we reflect on 2024 and look ahead to 2025. In this engaging and competitive episode, our new podcast host Stephen challenges our existing hosts to a heart-pounding elimination challenge to find out which one of them will remain in the new year. Topics include...Edmonton’s new Zoning BylawThe Housing Accelerator FundDistrict Plans and Priority Growth AreasThe Infill Infrastructure FundMore!Don’t miss this festive, informative, and entertaining look at the year that was.Happy holidays from the In-Development team! We’ll see you in 2025!

This episode features two passionate Edmontonians, Jay Downton and Erin Murray-Green, who are involved with River Valley Company and River Valley Hospitality. These ventures focus on creating community-oriented amenities in Edmonton’s river valley, including the beloved Little Brick Café and Umpreheville Block. Jay and his team are helping to build a more vibrant and accessible river valley experience through redeveloping commercial sites into unique destinations.Jay Downton is a passionate Edmontonian and entrepreneur dedicated to enhancing the Edmonton community. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Nation Network, a global sports media network, and serves as the President of Oodle Noodle, a staple in the Edmonton food scene. Jay’s deep connection to Edmonton and its iconic river valley inspired him to co-found River Valley Company and River Valley Hospitality.Erin Murray-Green is a design enthusiast and a maker at heart. She started her design career in the realm of industrial design and furniture making, then pivoted to architecture and tackling creative challenges at a greater scale. As an architect, she has a meticulous approach to design that is grounded in a solid understanding of site context, community and desired outcomes.

This episode’s guests visit us virtually from Calgary for a discussion all about building missing middle housing across Alberta. Studio North’s Matt Kennedy discusses building missing middle housing in the mountains and translates lessons learned from this context to apply across the province. Matt shares more about the Astor project in Banff, which exemplifies how to balance design excellence with affordability and meet the needs of a local community.Check out the Aster project here: https://www.studionorth.ca/banff-aster-affordable-housingSee the sneak peak of the Aster documentary: The Aster Banff - Affordable Housing Project - Documentary TrailerMatthew's career began with a passion for craftsmanship, starting as an apprentice finishing carpenter during his high school years. He honed his skills and pursued higher education at Dalhousie University, where he earned a Master's in Architecture. Matthew sees how architecture influences human experiences. His focus goes beyond aesthetics; he aims to design spaces that bring delight, beauty utility to enhance daily life. Presently, Matthew is intent on merging construction knowledge with architectural innovation to produce efficient, affordable, and beautifully crafted buildings. His goal is to create environments that positively impact the lives of the individuals and families who inhabit them, underscoring the profound effect of architecture on our well-being.

The guests on this episode of In-Development are familiar faces! Mariah Samji and Sean Sedgwick join forces to talk about the past, present, and future of IDEA. As Mariah moves on from her role as Executive Director of IDEA, she discusses the legacy and impact the organization has had on the City as well as herself personally. Sean shares what drew him to IDEA and what he hopes the organization can do moving forward. Together, they stew on the challenges, opportunities and future outlook of infill development in Edmonton.Mariah Samji served as the Executive Director of the Infill Development in Edmonton Association (IDEA) from 2017 to 2024. Driven by a passion for creating inclusive spaces for everyone, she pursued a career in city planning. During her time at IDEA, Mariah worked with the infill community to establish the Builders Education Program, launched IDEA’s annual Infill Symposium, organized numerous events to connect and educate people to make infill easier, started a podcast on redevelopment, contributed to reducing unnecessary infrastructure costs, and collaborated with local experts to implement policy changes that positioned Edmonton as a leader in infill development across Canada.Sean Sedgwick is the new Executive Director of the Infill Development in Edmonton Association. Sean’s fascination with urban infrastructure and development led him to turn his passion for urbanism from a hobby to a career with the Masters in Urban and Regional Planning program at the University of Alberta. Sean's experience includes a number of years spent working in technology service and support helping to educate and mentor clients and coworkers. He also has a diverse academic background bridging the studies of space and human behaviour, and a personal passion for music and graphic design. He is thrilled to bring these passions to IDEA and put them to use in service of building a better Edmonton.

Join us for a dynamic episode of the In Development podcast as we sit down with Chelsea Whitty and Jordan Riemer, two innovative urban planners making significant impacts on Edmonton's urban landscape.Jordan Riemer is an Urban Planner in Edmonton who specializes in merging equity and land-use considerations into transportation planning. With a background that includes six years at DIALOG, Jordan has been involved in major projects such as the Valley Line West LRT and the Yellowhead Trail Freeway Conversion Program, showcasing his expertise in solving complex city-building challenges.Chelsea Whitty is an Associate at DIALOG, where she excels in urban design, sustainable integration, and public engagement. Her portfolio includes significant projects like Kinistinâw Park and the MacEwan University Campus Master Plan, demonstrating her commitment to creating thoughtful and resilient urban environments.In this episode, we delve into the transformative projects shaping Edmonton's future. Jordan discusses his work on the Valley Line LRT and Edmonton's approach to Sustainable Urban Integration (SUI), emphasizing how innovative transit design can enhance community connectivity and accessibility. Chelsea Whitty shares insights into her projects, focusing on the importance of public engagement and collaborative urban design.Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in urban planning as Jordan and Chelsea share their experiences and visions for Edmonton's growth. Discover how their collaborative approaches and innovative thinking are driving positive change in the city.Tune in to learn more about the exciting projects redefining Edmonton's urban landscape and the passionate planners behind them.

Join us for an engaging episode of the In Development podcast as we welcome Puneeta McBryan, CEO of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association (EDBA). Puneeta stepped into her role in December 2020, navigating the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a leader and connector, she collaborates with government bodies, the private sector, arts and cultural organizations, post-secondary institutions, and social services to foster vibrancy and economic prosperity in Edmonton's downtown. Her efforts have earned her recognition as the Inspired Leader of the Year by IABC Edmonton, one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 by Edify Magazine, and the recipient of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Community Impact Award.In this episode, Puneeta shares her journey from the field of marketing and communications to leading the EDBA, offering insights into the evolution of downtown Edmonton since her last podcast appearance in April 2022. Listeners can expect to hear about significant changes, including the impact of new projects like Warehouse Park and the High Level Line, and how these developments contribute to downtown’s resilience.Puneeta delves into the current state of downtown, discussing the flourishing tech industry, the effects of hybrid work models, and the importance of BIAs in enhancing the downtown experience. She also addresses the challenges of residential development, safety concerns, and the ongoing efforts to create a vibrant, inclusive community.Tune in to learn more about the dynamic landscape of downtown Edmonton, the strategic initiatives of the EDBA, and Puneeta’s vision for the future. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on urban development and community building.

Join us for an insightful discussion on urban development as we connect with Clarence Wong, Vice President at Investec Consulting. Born and raised in Edmonton, Clarence's background includes a BSc in Civil Engineering and a Master of Engineering Degree in Construction Management from the University of Alberta. His 20-year career spans consulting and public service, with experience in Transportation Planning, City Planning, and leading roles in both Provincial and Municipal levels.In this episode, Clarence shares his journey from working with the City of Edmonton to his current role at Invistec, outlining the differences between the public and private sectors. Listeners can expect to hear about some of the challenges, but also opportunities, that emerge in balancing municipal needs with private development interests. Clarence provides a deep dive into the decision-making processes, highlighting the distinct motivations and objectives that drive each sector.Edmonton's City Plan comes to the forefront of the discussion as Clarence touches on some of the collaborative efforts required to meet densification goals,  such as removing barriers and creating incentives to catalyze infill development. He shares valuable insights into the infrastructure requirements from an engineering perspective, emphasizing the holistic life cycle approach needed to create vibrant communities.Tune in to learn more about the dynamics of public and private and the role each sector plays in building inclusive, sustainable communities.