Bottle depot critical to Boyle Renaissance balks at city offer

Owners of a downtown bottle depot on land vital to Edmonton's revitalization plans say the city isn't offering what the business is worth.

The city already owns the block beside the Quasar Bottle Depot, including a small walk-up apartment building. But it needs the depot at 9510 105 Ave. to get the Boyle Renaissance project under way.

"They're just not really offering the price for the business, they've been offering really the price just for the property," said manager Shera Sandhu.

"It's taken us 15 years to be established here ... so people know the name."

The Boyle Renaissance development — between 95th Street and 96th Street, from 103A Avenue north to the LRT tracks — will include affordable housing, a new school and a community hub.

For now, the business will continue to be an important meeting place for the homeless who bring in 90 per cent of the bottles, Sandhu said. 

"More than anything else, it's just for them somewhere they can get together, meet up," said Shera Sandhu. "Sounds strange, but it's ... more to just say 'you're still here? Yeah. I'm still here, Fred. I'm still here, John.'"

Most days, dozens of bottle pickers come through the doors at the depot with the day's finds. Other than social assistance, bottle picking is Nick Hanna's sole source of income.

"Where we sleep is just right over here," Hanna said, gesturing in the direction of homeless shelters just west of the depot. "Our area routes are around this area."

When the city finalizes its purchase of this property, Hanna and others face a longer walk to a collection of depots scattered around downtown.

But Sandhu says that could be some time yet.

"I suppose one day, you are going to have to move," he said. "If they put a condition on you, they'll move you."

The city hopes to start construction on Phase One of the Boyle Renaissance Project by the fall.