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“It makes more sense for this to be open green space rather than a six-storey, 1,000-stall parkade,” he said.

That’s not the only parking that will be affected by the plan.

The university currently owns most of the parking lots along Columbia Drive and 105 Street; it plans to replace them with new buildings that will accommodate expanded course offerings and eventually increase enrolment numbers.

Those buildings will incorporate below-grade parking if required, MacLean said.

As well as the construction of new buildings, the university will look to change its frontage.

Most people rightly consider the clock tower entrance off 104 Avenue as the main way to enter MacEwan. However, future development of the west LRT line will consume some of the street frontage, which means the university will look to 105 Avenue and the construction of an atrium to re-front the university.

‘Making MacEwan more accessible’

The plan also includes infill along the north of 105 Avenue. Currently the buildings on that side of the university operate more as a service entry. Under the redevelopment plan, the area will be developed and expand campus to the north, reclaiming the frontage right to the street edge.

“The key piece is to all of this is making MacEwan more accessible,” MacLean said.

The re-prioritization of transportation in the area, in the short term, will focus on pedestrian enhancements, including scramble crosswalks, possibly raised to curb level.