In Development Episode 32 - Restoring Multicultural Vibrancy to Edmonton’s Chinatown with Hon Leong

04/06/23 • 58 min

In this episode, Ryan and Olivia sit down with Hon Leong to chat about all things Chinatown. Hon dives into the changes and challenges Edmonton’s Chinatown has seen over the recent years: from dwindling foot traffic and small business engagement, to advocating for a vibrant and multicultural hub for the future. Hon also discusses the sensitive topic of social disorder in this area and how he hopes “housing first” and City resources such as the Community Revitalization Levy can create positive outcomes. Listen to the full episode as Hon tells the audience about Chinatown’s development plans, how this cultural centre in Edmonton compares to other cities in Canada, and how Edmontonians can become involved with this integral component of downtown revival.

Hon Leong is the Chair of the Edmonton Chinatown Transformation Collaborative (CTC), a collective formed in 2018 by a group of passionate advocates and organizations who continue to share the goal of preserving Chinatown as a culturally significant and celebrated location in Edmonton. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant by training and is now a real estate developer running his company at LPY Holdings Ltd., with a focus on local community development. Hon was motivated to join the CTC through his childhood experience growing up in Chinatown. He sees Chinatown as part of his Chinese-Canadian identity and considers it to be a cultural asset that should be well preserved.

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In Development Episode 31 - Creating Solutions for Active Transportation with Stephen Raitz

In this episode, Ryan and Olivia chat with Stephen Raitz, Chair of Paths For People and Law Student at the University of Alberta. Stephen outlines the group's current advocacy work, including: active transportation for all, sustainability and equity when it comes to the public realm, and public funding for community infrastructure. Stephen also dives into how P4P is involved at the municipal level through The Bike Plan, Vision Zero Street Labs, District Plan, and Zoning Bylaw Renewal.

Listen to the full conversation to hear about Stephen’s passion for the intersection of law and planning, his thoughts on transportation disruptors, the future of active transportation, and how Edmontonians can get involved through positive discourse and a solutions-oriented mindset!

Stephen Raitz is a Registered Professional Planner who has worked within the Edmonton region and is now currently a Law Student at the University of Alberta. He has been a part of the Paths For People Board since 2018, always equipped with a lot of enthusiasm for ensuring that everyone can walk, roll, or cycle around our city safely. Stephen is also an improviser with Rapid Fire Theatre.

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In Development Episode 33 - Transforming Neighbourhoods Through Quality Infill with Jill Lange

In this episode, Ryan and Olivia chat with Jill Lange of Ace Lange Homes. Jill shares her experience of growing up in the home-building industry and how she has seen the Ace Lange business and infill in Edmonton evolve over the years. When it comes to home-building, Jill and the rest of the Ace Lange team operate under the motto of “do it right, or not at all”, emphasizing quality, sustainability, and strong relationships with their clients. Listen to the full episode to hear Jill’s thoughts on the Zoning Bylaw Renewal’s impact on missing-middle housing, upcoming Ace Lange projects, and Jill’s aspirations for shifting the infill narrative towards neighbourhood rejuvenation.

As one of Ace’s 4 grandchildren, Jill is part of Ace Lange Homes’ 3rd generation of ownership. The legacy of the Ace Lange company is about honesty combined with a demand for quality in home construction. The family is passionate about new home building and focuses on creating the best experience for homeowners. Jill has grown up in the business and predominantly oversees the initial stage of the build including land development, plan design, pricing and permitting.The opportunity to capture the homeowners vision for their home, align it with the City of Edmonton’s bylaws for building, and then see it become their dream home is a very rewarding experience for Jill. She is proud of the contribution her family’s business has made to the City over the last 60 years and is eager to see what comes next for development in Edmonton. In her free time, Jill loves being active with her two sons and listening to live music.