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Opinion: Downtown Edmonton is turning a corner — now comes the hard part

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There’s a tendency in conversations about downtown Edmonton to dwell on what’s missing. But the data tells a far more constructive story. Quietly and steadily, billions of dollars have flowed into the core, reshaping not just the skyline, but the trajectory of the city itself.

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There’s a gap between what people say about downtown and what investors are actually doing. Nearly $4.7 billion in projects have either been completed or are underway, reflecting sustained investment activity and continued confidence. That figure includes renovations and isn’t a pure measure of new construction, but it still signals something important: sustained activity, continued commitment, and a market that, despite the noise, is still betting on downtown’s future.

More telling is where investors have actually put money on the table. Since 2019, downtown has seen approximately $1.93 billion in completed property transactions across office, multifamily, retail, post-secondary and hotel assets. That is real capital changing hands, arguably the clearest signal that sophisticated investors see long-term value in the core.

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