Malmo Hall Renovation and Expansion—Project Update

Please give us your feedback on the Malmo Community hall concept here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YHLWLPG

League Mission

The mission of the Malmo Plains Community League is to enhance the quality of life of people living in the Malmo Plains neighborhood by providing facilities and opportunities for sports, recreation, social, and community activities.

An Evolving Neighborhood

The Malmo Plains neighbourhood is located in south Edmonton, 9km from the downtown core. From the mid-1960s to 2004 the neighbourhood was comprised of 608 single-family homes and 530 townhome and apartment residences. In 2004, 99 condominium apartment residences were added. Currently under construction is a 611 unit apartment complex that will, in phases, increase the number of families living in the community by 50%. This infill of families will increase the size of community events to beyond the capacity of the current community centre building. More people in Malmo also increases the need for a more versatile building. There is no other recreation or community centre in, or planned for, the Malmo neighbourhood.

As the Malmo housing stock ages, and the new apartment development comes on stream, rental units will approach 75% of all residences in the neighbourhood. Our goal as a community league is to create a sense of belonging, involvement, and community with everyone--renters and home-owners alike. Key to achieving this goal will be the renovated and expanded Malmo Plains Community Hall.

History of the Malmo Hall

The Malmo community hall building was constructed in 1965 and renovated in 1980 and in 1995. A 2010 assessment of the building by Stantec Engineering revealed that the building, while structurally sound, has interior and exterior fixtures and finishes that require updating. This assessment has been confirmed independently by professional architects.

The Concept of the New Hall

The objective of the project is to create a community hall that, for the foreseeable future, serves the needs of an evolving, diverse urban neighbourhood. Driving this project is the desire to engage neighbourhood families, and especially youth, throughout the year. We envision a community hall that is a four-season venue for all manner of (a) outdoor sports and activities and (b) indoor community events and programs. We support the City’s goals for walkable communities, so we see the majority of hall users walk or ride their bicycles to and from the facility. Lastly, we see a hall that incorporates modern standards and technology for electricity and natural gas usage efficiency.

The project will see the renewal of the existing building, along with a new-construction expansion of the overall footprint. Key directions given to the architect include:

•    A main hall that is significantly larger than our current hall and is rectangular in shape.
•    The ability to hold multiple events simultaneously, without them disturbing each other.
•    A north-facing elevation that fits into the neighborhood, when combined with landscaping.
•    A south-facing elevation that allows engagement with the sand volleyball courts, skating rinks, and sports fields–perhaps with a courtyard or deck.
•    A design that supports the four-season, indoor and outdoor vision for the venue.

The concept drawings (PDF: Site Plan, Main Floor Plan, High Quality Rendering, Perspective) are intended to show general size and layout of the design, to be evaluated against the instructions given to the architect. The construction design is subject to change.

Project Funding

The budget is driven by the funds we can reasonably expect to assemble. Below is the budget for the project.

Source of Funds Amount
Malmo Plains Community League $225,000
Westcorp Property Management Inc. $200,000
City of Edmonton CLIP Planning Grant $25,000
City of Edmonton Major CLIP Grant $400,000
Province of Alberta CFEP Grant $100,000
Total Budget $950,000

Project Timelines

The timelines for the project’s remaining major milestones are below.

Major Milestone Date
Concept design completed by the architect 9/30/2016
Input to the concept received 11/30/16
City and Province grant applications submitted 12/31/2016
Construction design completed by the architect 4/30/2017
General contractor selected 6/30/2017
All funding in place 9/30/2017
Construction begins 10/1/2017
Construction ends 3/31/2018

Risks

The primary risks to the project are the denial of grant funding. Our mitigating strategy is to write the most compelling grant applications possible. Phasing the construction project is also an option.

A second key risk is our ability to incorporate in the final design the requirements placed on development on City of Edmonton parkland.

Annual Spaghetti Dinner, September 17

It’s a Malmo tradition! The annual Community Spaghetti Dinner will be held on Saturday, September 17, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Malmo Hall, which is located at 11525 - 48 Avenue.

Join us for good food, friends, and fun. Tickets are just $5 per person or $20 for a family. Drinks will also be available for purchase.

Everyone living in Malmo is invited to the dinner. You do not have to be a community league member to attend. Folks living in Michener Park and people new to Malmo are especially welcomed. We hope to see you there!

Invite your neighbours on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1158730777480541/

Here's a look from previous years:

Green Shack Program

School is nearly out and the dog days of summer are almost upon us. Families wondering how to keep their kids active and engaged all summer might want to check out the City of Edmonton's Green Shack program, which is returning to Malmo.

The free, drop-in style program will offer daily games, crafts, sports, music, drama and special events. It will operate in Malmo every Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. between July 4 and August 25 for kids aged 6-12. Kids under six are welcome as well, though they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

To find it, just check Malmo Park, behind Malmo School, for the literal green shack, which will be manned by a Program Leader and assistant leader-in-training volunteers. The program runs rain or shine, and leaders are trained to ensure safety and fun are at the top of the agenda every day.

Daily activities and special events are posted on the side of the shack each week, so check it out if you're interested in a fun, educational, active and FREE way to get your kids moving this summer. 

Movie night, sleepover, and pancake breakfast

Come join us for an evening (and morning) of fun, including a Family Movie Night and Sleepover in the Park followed by a fabulous breakfast and activities!   June 17 and 18, 2016 at Malmo Hall.  

Movie Night
June 17, 2016
9:00-11:00pm
Bring your own chairs or blankets.  Popcorn to be provided.

Sleepover in the Park
June 17, 2016
Set up your tent in the Malmo field and sleep under the stars.

Pancake Breakfast
June 18, 2016
9:00am-12:00pm
Bring $2 and get a wonderful breakfast.  Fun activities (weather permitting).

 

 

Easter Egg Hunt, March 26

Come join us at the annual Malmo Easter Egg Hunt this weekend.  Bring your Easter baskets, collect eggs outside left by our sneaky neighbourhood Easter Bunny, and exchange them for a treat.  Be sure to also check out the fun activities inside Malmo hall including colouring eggs and a visit from some cute Easter animals!

See you March 26 10am-12pm!  Check out how fun it looked last year:

An event at Malmo Plains Community in Edmonton, Alberta including an Easter egg hunt, petting zoo with baby goats and rabbits, egg dying, prizes and lots of fun!

 

 

Winter Carnival January 24th!

Enjoy some winter fun at the annual Malmo Community Winter Carnival this Sunday, January 24 from 1 - 4 pm!

- Free hay ride
- Fire pit
- Free skating
- Curling
- Glitter tattoos
- Hot chocolate
- Concession with hot dogs, candy, juice, tea, coffee, and water
- Fish pond
- and more!

Volunteers needed!  Please contact Amanda at ahprentice@gmail.com.

Malmo Community Hall (11525 48 Ave)

January 24, 2016, 13:00-16:00

Check out these photos from last year:

Introducing the New Executive Members

At the last Malmo Community Executive meeting, three new executive members were voted into the following positions:

Murray Whitby, President
I moved into Malmo with my wife, Marianne Rankin, in 1992. Our three daughters went to Malmo Elementary School, and then on to Avalon, and Strathcona High.  I bring to the role of President non-profit board governance experience, first as a member of the NorQuest College Board of Governors from 1997 to 2004, and currently as the Vice President of the McMan Youth, Family, and Community Services Association Board of Governors.  I look forward to working the everyone on the Malmo Plains Community League executive team.

Levi Bjork, Vice President
My name is Levi Bjork, and I have lived in Malmo Plains for a little over a year with my wife Natalie Van Deusen, our daughters Astrid and Emilia, and our dog and cat. I'm relatively new to Edmonton, having grown up in Minnesota and spent much of my adult life in Wisconsin before moving to Alberta in 2012. Since then, I and my family have fallen in love with Alberta, Edmonton, and our neighborhood of Malmo, and I am looking forward to staying here for many years. I have a background in law, but now I work for the government of Alberta in the areas of public policy and legislation. I am very excited to join the board of the Malmo Plains Community League to give back to this wonderful community.

Carrie Patterson, Secretary
Hi I’m Carrie Patterson. I am a licensed Hairstylist and am currently at the University of Alberta in my 4th year in the Faculty of Education. I grew up in Malmo and just recently moved back. This community has a special place in my family’s lives. My dad has lived in the same house in Malmo since he was 5 years old. I am excited to be able to give back to the community that has been a great place for our family.

Malmo Hall Redevelopment Survey - now online

The Malmo Community Center Hall is undergoing a face-lift, inside and out! By 2017, Malmo will have a new hall that will aim to meet current and future needs of our growing community. 

In our June newsletter, Malmo residents received a survey insert on yellow paper. Thank you if you submitted it by the June 30 deadline. If not, we have provided it to you online. Please take a few minutes to fill it out before July 31st, 2015.

Malmo Hall Redevelopment survey

Murray Tenove, IRCchair@malmoplains.com on behalf of your neighbors on Malmo IRC

Westcorp Golflands Development is Underway

Westcorp has initiated work to build phase 1 of their development.  This involves the 3.5 storey townhouses along the south and east perimeter, and and will include a small park in the SE corner. Construction on this phase will last around 18 months. Westcorp has developed a site logistics plan to mitigate some of the impact on residents which they have shared with adjacent neighbours and the community league.  If you have any questions or concerns about the construction, see the contacts provided in the logistics plan.