Edmonton Construction 9 (2008-08)

[CMD UW]

Yes, AIMCo is moving into the Professional Building. Aloooong with ING, who also just signed three floors.

[Coldrsx]

I am more looking forward to solid and appropriate retail in that base... that area desperately needs it.

[tony0911]

^ Second cup, Tapas place, Healthy fast food restaurant, and Rexall all confirmed.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by tony0911

^ Second cup, Tapas place, Healthy fast food restaurant, and Rexall all confirmed.

i knew one of those and was guessing a food.... but that is pretty good. However, i was really really hoping for a retail. We need some more pockets of clothing or shoes or ____ outside of malls. I was hoping for things like a :

-Running room
-lulu lemon
-gravity pope
-american apparel

places that will bring people to the streets other than eating times.

[Coldrsx]

Rec centre's price tag soars
'It's unfortunate it costs more money, but the demand from the users just hasn't gone away'
Gordon Kent, The Edmonton Journal
Published: 2:31 am
The cost of completing the southwest recreation complex with an arena has climbed $8 million following last spring's decision to put the skating area on hold because the project was too expensive.
Last April, the city ended unsuccessful negotiations to make the facility a private-public partnership and approved a $106.3-million budget to build the rec centre and design a four-rink arena.
Construction of the arena was put off for six months while a financing plan was created. City manager Al Maurer estimated at the time that going ahead with both parts of the project would cost $152 million, saying "it's my recommendation to council that's too much money." But documents for the 2009 budget show that adding four sheets of ice at the site near Terwillegar Drive and 23rd Avenue is now expected to cost $53.7 million, indicating the price for the entire centre has increased to $160.1 million.

Email to a friend

Printer friendly
Font:

The cost was estimated to be $90 million last fall.
Joe Yurkovich, vice-president of the Terwillegar Riverbend Advisory Council, doesn't like to see the price tag rise again but says hockey groups and others feel Edmonton needs new rinks.
"We're obviously disappointed that the budget continues to go up, but from our perspective the site does accommodate it. I expect there are some synergies from having four sheets of ice," he said Tuesday.
"It's unfortunate it costs more money, but the demand from the users just hasn't gone away. It's a tough issue as a taxpayer." Although his organization is trying to find donors to offset some of the cost, that work has been hampered by the lack of information about what can be offered in return for contributions, such as naming rights, Yurkovich said.
The provincial government gave a $10-million grant during an official sod-turning ceremony last June.
The multi-purpose complex is due to be finished in the spring of 2010. The arena could open a few months later.
Coun. Bryan Anderson, whose ward includes the facility, said the latest cost figure is the result of contractor Stuart Olson learning more about the number of pilings needed to support the structure on the unstable soil.
The estimate probably would have been the same last spring if all the information had been available, he said.
"Council was getting more and more nervous about the size of the total bill. Al (Maurer's) comment about putting it out to tender and getting a better price was an afterthought." The scheme is supported by numerous groups that use ice because they don't feel they have enough space and want the city to carry out its plan to create 10 rinks in 10 years, he said.
The proposal must be approved during December budget debates to go ahead next year. Anderson said he's concerned his colleagues might go along with the suggestion of Mayor Stephen Mandel to save money by building rec centres with fewer amenities.
"I don't think that's necessarily wise." [email protected]


© The Edmonton Journal 2008

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=17693298-f45f-498b-b95e-82bb86a10942

[Coldrsx]

great idea for an area that needs an identity....

Movie magic comes to Stony Plain Road
Mari Sasano, edmontonjournal.com
Published: 10:50 am
EDMONTON - It's the end of November, and in Edmonton that means only one thing: winter is on its way.
There is no denying our latitude this time of the year as the sun sets at 4:30 p.m. Grumble if you will, but there are ways to take advantage of nature's cruel joke by celebrating the darkness and making a party of it.
The Stony Plain Road and Area Business Association is doing just that, with a clever event called Storefront Cinema.

Email to a friend

Printer friendly
Font:

Along Stony Plain Road, between 151st and 154th streets, businesses' windows will be turned into movie screens for one night on Saturday, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with bonfires and hayrides (to and from Jasper Place Transit Centre) to help keep you warm.
As for the films, they could not have found a more appropriate curator than Patrick Ares-Pilon. His family used to run a movie theatre in Saskatchewan in the '40s and '50s, and he has adopted its name, The Tivoli, for his collection of family films and photos, taken since the 1920s.
A student at the Faculte Saint-Jean, he runs his Tivoli Theatre on the side. And as it turns out, he has a connection to the Stony Plain area.
"I'm personally attracted to Stony Plain Road," he says. "My grandfather had a chiropractic office there, and he was quite involved in the community - he was alderman of the town of Jasper Place for a few years. It has been an interesting process for myself, learning about the area."
Unfortunately, since Stony Plain Road's glory days as the main strip of the town of Jasper Place, most of us are more likely to drive right by on our way to West Edmonton Mall than to explore what the area has to offer.
With events like Storefront Cinema, there's a chance to reintroduce Stony Plain Road to those who might have otherwise passed it by, says Ares-Pilon.
The films encompass genres from animation, drama, documentary and experimental shorts, with each venue featuring a theme.
Programs will be repeated about four times throughout the night so that you can wander from screen to screen. The three blocks will be closed to traffic.
It's a similar strategy that has seen areas like Whyte Avenue in the '80s and, more recently, Alberta Avenue, transforming from seedy, run-down areas to walkable, safe and enjoyable places as arts festivals find homes there.
See Thursday's Journal for columnist Todd Babiak's take on Stony Plain Road's movie night.


© Edmonton Journal 2008

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=51fbf7d2-a000-4583-856e-6ca9b0ee69d7

[Coldrsx]

Edmonton's proposed tax hike down to 9.4 per cent
Gordon Kent, edmontonjournal.com
Published: 11:08 am
EDMONTON - City staff have cut the proposed 2009 tax increase to 9.4 per cent from about 12.5 per cent mainly due to reduced inflation and fuel costs, says a report released today.
Higher fees and lower spending have led to a $23.7 million drop in the amount of taxes expected to be needed next year since the budget was prepared last summer, says the report.
While Edmonton's economy is expected to grow at a slower-than-anticipated rate in 2009, officials are concerned that the volatile stock market could hurt the $85-million financial stabilization fund.

Email to a friend

Printer friendly
Font:

The fund could take a $30-million hit to cover this year's projected deficit.
To protect it from dropping too low, the report suggests possibly putting a hold on hiring people for some new jobs next year and diverting that money into the fund.
A decision on whether to take this move, which the report says will lead to service cuts, will be made before council sets the mill rate in the spring.
Mayor Stephen Mandel released proposals last week that he says would cut the 2009 tax hike to 2.6 per cent.
Several of those reductions, including a $9 million lower estimate for the cost of fuel and a lower anticipated inflation rate, are part of the administration report.
Debate on the budget resumes next week.
[email protected]


© Edmonton Journal 2008

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=5204de50-68db-4052-a39b-97e85bca878f

[danby]

good news for professional building!!

What about devonian??

[Wooster]

I'm in Edmonton right now for work. It's been a few years. Impressed with what's happened on 104th. The urban sobeys lives up to its hype. Lots of great potential in this area.

[Shodan]

Anthony Henday delay 'just bad planning,' Taft says

The Edmonton Journal

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette is heading off criticism his government is not fully supporting the city's efforts to open an interchange on Anthony Henday Drive at 137th Avenue.

"In my mind we're doing everything we can. We really like our partnership with the city and we collaborate with them on most things we possibly can," he said Tuesday afternoon at the legislature.

Municipal politicians in Edmonton and St. Albert expressed anger earlier this week, saying the province was leaving both cities with a $5-million to $10-million tab.

The provincial government is putting a bridge across the Henday and has provided the dirt for on-ramps. But the cost of paving access to the bridge will be left to the cities, which may put the project on hold for years.

This summer, the province awarded a $1.4-billion contract to get construction of the Henday from Yellowhead Trail to Manning Drive completed.

On Wednesday afternoon, Ouellette said he has met with mayors of Edmonton and St. Albert about the overpass.

"We had an agreement. It never, ever was planned to be a full interchange," he said. "There's no development west of the Anthony Henday on 137th, and it would be a complete waste of taxpayers' money to build something when it's not needed."

The provincial government is footing the bill for "flyovers," but municipalities have the responsibility for local roads, Ouellette said.

Liberal Opposition Leader Kevin Taft called the holdup "frustrating and disappointing.

"If this had been handled properly from the beginning, this wouldn't come up. It's part of a remarkable culture of not planning, and this is what happens. It's like building a house and not putting a door on it. It's just bad planning and so the taxpayer is on the hook over and over."
© The Edmonton Journal 2008

Copyright © 2008 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.
CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.

http://www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=b730ad49-70fc-454d-819a-c52dbc42f3c0&sponsor=

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Wooster

I'm in Edmonton right now for work. It's been a few years. Impressed with what's happened on 104th. The urban sobeys lives up to its hype. Lots of great potential in this area.

Sobeys made a massive shift in feel all day/ night long. Once Icon's retail opens and people move in we should see more things want to move into the area... including more condos hopefully.

if you have time for a pint, PM me.

[Kevin_foster]

Isn't it amazing how ONE grocery store can make ALL the difference for an entire city block? An entire downtown?

Let's learn from this people. Downtown revitalization could be way easier than we think.

[Coldrsx]

^urban husbandry my friend.... little changes make big differences.

[Coldrsx]

while in Boston at Greenbuild I had the pleasure of going to a session 'greening Toronto's public housing'......... if you want to see the right way to redevelop/develop public housing, clicky

http://www.regentparkplan.ca/

[240glt]

Looks like they'll be on the tower portion of Icon 2 very shortly.

Quest is above grade with the posts for the main level in. This tower will move quickly now, as it's only a 1 story podium

[Coldrsx]

^yah noticed both at lunch... and CWB is beginning to rip up their entrance area.

[240glt]

^ Ah yes, they're doing an asthetic upgrade around the outside aren't they.

You meeting up with Josh ? It'd be interesting to get some inside scoop on the Jasper Ave re & re.

[Coldrsx]

^not sure, waiting for a PM.

[basilbrush]

Originally Posted by CMD UW

Yes, AIMCo is moving into the Professional Building. Aloooong with ING, who also just signed three floors.

Is that a relocation or an expansion for ING?

[Strangelove]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

i knew one of those and was guessing a food.... but that is pretty good. However, i was really really hoping for a retail. We need some more pockets of clothing or shoes or ____ outside of malls. I was hoping for things like a :

-Running room
-lulu lemon
-gravity pope
-american apparel

places that will bring people to the streets other than eating times.

With their two Old Strathcona locations, I imagine Gravity Pope is probably pretty comfortable on the south-side, although they have looked at property downtown in the past. Same with fellow Whyte ave staple Colour Blind. They were looking at the Cambridge building a few years ago.