6. Progress Report No. 1 re The Civic Center Study.
May 31, 1961.
The rural population is of especial importance to Edmonton: they sell their • produce in Edmonton (thus providing the basis for the city's biggest industries) and then spend a good deal of the money thus obtained buying machinery, equipment and consumer goods from the city merchant. Apart from its historic significance, therefore, the Market Square is valid as a symbol of the important relationship between Edmonton and its agricultural hinterland. But the present building is obsolete, however, and occupies the site of the proposed new hotel which is such a vital key to the whole Civic Center development. East of the City Hall there are four small blocks between 99 and 97 Streets and between 102A Avenue and the new 104 Avenue which could well be developed as a new functionally modern market square, architecturally integrated with the proposed Legal Building described in the preceding section. Two important, powerful components of such a square, which is really conceived as a downtown shopping center designed to cater especially to agriculture, are the existing Woodward 's Uarehouse store and the Army and Navy main store. Admittedly the latter is on the east side of 97 Street but is a busy and successful operation, whose management has already indicated that the new Market Square proposal has their approval. The present blocks are very small and wasteful of street area. One possible arrangement would be to close 98 Street between 102A and the new 104 Avenue, and to create a mall on 103 Avenue. Considerable parking would be a necessity. The parking area provided could be used in the daytime for the Market's use, and in the evening for the Art Gallery proposed later in this report. 7. The Court House In spite of an addition completed seven years ago, the courthouse facilities are somewhat inadequate and either an extension or a new building will be required in the next few years. It is therefore reasonable to expect that the land south of the present building will be used for this purpose.