City Airport Slated to Close

"If you're in a bad situation, don't worry it'll change. If you're in a good situation, don't worry it'll change" - John A. Simone Sr.

In a decision made yesterday, city council voted 10 to 3 in favor of a gradual closure of the City Centre Airport, starting with the dismantling of Runway 16/34 which could begin as early as next year. The remaining Runway 12/30 and the infrastructure located on the west side of the airport would see a similar fate at a later date to be determined by city council. According to the motion, the final closing date of the airport would be set at a time when council requires the land in order to meet its development goals.

"Eventually, we'll have to set an end date," said Mayor Stephen Mandel. "It's not an immediate closure. It's not going to happen in the morning."

In response to the decision, Councillor Tony Caterina, one of the three councillors who voted against closing the airport, voiced concerns on the decision itself, and the means by which the airport is planned to be closed;

"It leaves a lot of people hanging on both sides, which is exactly what we didn't want to do and I think the most critical part about this is that we've sent a message .... Edmonton council has sent a message to the rest of Alberta and into the Territories that we are not concerned about their concerns," Caterina said Wednesday.

Those who operate out of the east side of the airport, among them the Alberta Government, Transport Canada, Airco and the RCMP, would be the first to feel the impact of the closure of Runway 16/34 and the accompanying infrastructure. Some may choose to relocate to the west side of the airport for the remainder of time which it will remain open, although, with the seeming inevitability of a complete airport closure, one could only guess that east-side airport tenants would be cool to the idea of moving to the west side, only to have to move again at a later date.

Aside from the uncertainty this decision has created for the company which I fly for and the implications it makes of the fate of my co-workers and myself, I find the rush to develop the land occupied by the airport while undeveloped lots sit empty in the area surrounding the downtown, disappointing. With both sides having put out their share of propaganda, now that the decision has been made we can only hope that the benefits of closing the airport that, to some, looked enticing on paper match evenly the reality we will all soon be faced with and that those benefits will serve Edmonton as a whole, not just those who sit on City Council.