Edmonton Construction 9 (2008-08) - Page 254

Coldrsx · #**5061** Posted **May 5, 2009, 5:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMD UW

Do you want your sippy cup now?

no but i would like an airplane bag to deposit my feedback to the developers/designers of Currents.

bulliver · #**5062** Posted **May 5, 2009, 6:06 PM**

To me, Currents' design is miles ahead of SEC, but is still completely redundant given that SEC is 5 minutes down the freeway. Currents is suposedly designed to be 'pedestrian friendly' but really, can you see anyone walking their shopping cart home filled with crap from Walmart or Home Depot?

They should have just designed for small scale shops, banks, and restaurants, and left the big-box crap for SEC.

240glt · #**5063** Posted **May 5, 2009, 6:12 PM**

"pedestrian friendly" is more of a tag line than actual practice. Along the same lines as "Urban village"

bulliver · #**5064** Posted **May 5, 2009, 6:15 PM**

^ Exactly. Meaningless marketing drivel.

Coldrsx · #**5065** Posted **May 5, 2009, 6:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulliver

To me, Currents' design is miles ahead of SEC, but is still completely redundant given that SEC is 5 minutes down the freeway. Currents is suposedly designed to be 'pedestrian friendly' but really, can you see anyone walking their shopping cart home filled with crap from Walmart or Home Depot?

They should have just designed for small scale shops, banks, and restaurants, and left the big-box crap for SEC.

miles ahead of pathetic is still miles behind thoughtful

ue · #**5066** Posted **May 5, 2009, 6:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulliver

To me, Currents' design is miles ahead of SEC, but is still completely redundant given that SEC is 5 minutes down the freeway. Currents is suposedly designed to be 'pedestrian friendly' but really, can you see anyone walking their shopping cart home filled with crap from Walmart or Home Depot?

They should have just designed for small scale shops, banks, and restaurants, and left the big-box crap for SEC.

Urban style Home Depots do work - there have been a few in Vancouver and Chicago. People can walk to them if they need small supplies that fit in a plastic bag, otherwise there is delivery as a large portion of the people in urban areas don't own a car.

But the way Currents has done it is nothing special and is redundant of the typical suburban big box plaza of blah. There is nothing pedestrianized about it. It may be a step or two ahead of other suburban areas, but overall it's just as bad. The houses look the same, the roads are planned out the same, and still the power centres are relatively the similar. The Currents does have one small compact area with only I believe street parking - but lets face it - right outside of that little section is parking lots, meaning one can easily just park behind the building big deal. It fails to be truly urban IMO like it says it will be "putting a little city in the suburbs".

240glt · #**5067** Posted **May 5, 2009, 6:29 PM**

Quote:

Urban style Home Depots do work - there have been a few in Vancouver and Chicago. People can walk to them if they need small supplies that fit in a plastic bag, otherwise there is delivery as a large portion of the people in urban areas don't own a car.

So.... basically useless to 90% of the people who need to go to a hardware store.

This is why I shop at Totem now. It's one of the few real hardware stores left. Those Home Depots are becoming glorified Bed Bath & Beyonds.

I'm not saying that people who live in dense urban environments don't need to buy a hammer or some picture hangers or some new drapes, but trying to justifiy these as hardware stores is a fucking joke, as are 'urban' home depots.

Kevin_foster · #**5068** Posted **May 5, 2009, 6:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

miles ahead of pathetic is still miles behind thoughtful

my thoughts exactly

MrOilers · #**5069** Posted **May 5, 2009, 7:01 PM**

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Mandel+challenges+Muni+backers/1565797/story.html

Quote:

Edmonton mayor challenges City Centre Airport backers

By Gordon Kent, edmontonjournal.com May 5, 2009

EDMONTON — Mayor Stephen Mandel took aim at supporters of the City Centre Airport on Tuesday and demanded they explain how keeping the facility open will make a Edmonton better place.

“Please understand that environmental costs will have to be paid either way. Don’t tell us that your business status entitles you to special consideration, and that treating you like every other Edmontonian is somehow an affront,” Mandel said in notes for his annual state of the city speech.

“Explain what you know better, what you see for the future and why we have to listen … and if you can't do this, then maybe, just maybe, it's time to let go of the past and move forward."

These were strongest comments yet on the issue by Mandel, who has refused to state publicly whether he’d like to close the 217-hectare airport and redevelop the land.

But in his speech he also challenged arguments that medevac service to Edmonton would be hurt without the facility, saying “don’t scare people with health issues that are taken out of context by not looking at the whole time it takes to initiate and complete a medical transfer.”

As well, Mandel urged the city to rein in sprawl, suggesting tax breaks and incentives to spur transit-oriented development and calling for expansion of LRT lines across Edmonton and out into the capital region.

[email protected]

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

ue · #**5070** Posted **May 5, 2009, 7:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240glt

So.... basically useless to 90% of the people who need to go to a hardware store.

This is why I shop at Totem now. It's one of the few real hardware stores left. Those Home Depots are becoming glorified Bed Bath & Beyonds.

I'm not saying that people who live in dense urban environments don't need to buy a hammer or some picture hangers or some new drapes, but trying to justifiy these as hardware stores is a fucking joke, as are 'urban' home depots.

That's more of an issue about hardware store chains, all I'm saying is hardware stores can work in a true urban form, and the way that Windermere did it wasn't it, even though they are trying to be more urban.

The reason why I said Home Depot is because that's what there. If it was a Rona, Totem, or other I would have said that.

bulliver · #**5071** Posted **May 5, 2009, 7:10 PM**

Quote:

“Please understand that environmental costs will have to be paid either way. Don’t tell us that your business status entitles you to special consideration, and that treating you like every other Edmontonian is somehow an affront,” Mandel said in notes for his annual state of the city speech.

“Explain what you know better, what you see for the future and why we have to listen … and if you can't do this, then maybe, just maybe, it's time to let go of the past and move forward."

Attah'boy Mandel...

dancinb · #**5072** Posted **May 5, 2009, 7:14 PM**

All this talk of pedestrian-friendly is gnawing at me...

<rant>
Why is it that people will drive to the ends of the earth to find the parking spot closest to the 200,000 sqft big box store but they're okay to meander to the back of the 200,000 sq ft big box store to get a loaf of bread?

Is the extra minute it takes to walk from the middle of the parking lot really going to make that big of a difference in the grand scheme of spending 1.5 hours in Walmart or Costco or Home Depot? It can't possibly be because their legs can't carry them the extra 100 paces each way, can it? Beacuse I'm sure once they got to the checkout line, they still had the energy to go back (and probably RUN!) into the store to pick up that last small item they forgot and didn't think anything of it!

Since when did walking not become a viable and acceptable mode of transportation...unless it's to get somewhere you absolutely cannot take your car? ie. the frozen foods section

COME ON PEOPLE!!!
</rant>

naidoo · #**5073** Posted **May 5, 2009, 7:48 PM**

way to go Mandel

Kevin_foster · #**5074** Posted **May 5, 2009, 8:25 PM**

Whoo Mandel!

Kevin_foster · #**5075** Posted **May 5, 2009, 8:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancinb

All this talk of pedestrian-friendly is gnawing at me...

<rant>
Why is it that people will drive to the ends of the earth to find the parking spot closest to the 200,000 sqft big box store but they're okay to meander to the back of the 200,000 sq ft big box store to get a loaf of bread?

Is the extra minute it takes to walk from the middle of the parking lot really going to make that big of a difference in the grand scheme of spending 1.5 hours in Walmart or Costco or Home Depot? It can't possibly be because their legs can't carry them the extra 100 paces each way, can it? Beacuse I'm sure once they got to the checkout line, they still had the energy to go back (and probably RUN!) into the store to pick up that last small item they forgot and didn't think anything of it!

Since when did walking not become a viable and acceptable mode of transportation...unless it's to get somewhere you absolutely cannot take your car? ie. the frozen foods section

COME ON PEOPLE!!!
</rant>

I've always thought this as well.

However, perception is a b*tch! Most people dont get it.

I always, always park the farthest out - regardless of what store I am. The 10 seconds it takes for me to walk the extra distance is shorter than the time I drive around from lot to lot looking for a spot a few meters closer.

I also benefit from less door dings and scratches

240glt · #**5076** Posted **May 5, 2009, 9:40 PM**

Got my April copy of On Site Magazine today, & they list the 40 top contractors by volume. Edmonton's got a pretty decent showing:

Rank & volume (millions)

1) PCL- $6,110
8) Churchill Corp- $847
11) Lockerbie & Hole- $601
13) Clark Builders- $550
19) Dawson Wallace- $295
26) Voice- $207
29) Chandos- $176
35) Delnor- $140

It's worth noting that Ledcor doesn't release their numbers but if they did they'd easily be in the top 5, So really 9 of the top 40 contractors in Canada are Edmonton based

Daveography · #**5077** Posted **May 5, 2009, 9:55 PM**

^ I thought Ledcor was based from Vancouver?

Also, is this top in Canada, or North America?

Jasper and one o nin · #**5078** Posted **May 5, 2009, 9:58 PM**

We are lucky to have Mandel - can you imagine Bill Smith's position on the CCA?

240glt · #**5079** Posted **May 5, 2009, 10:00 PM**

^^ you're right, it is headed out of Vancouver but was founded in Edmonton, & they've still got a pretty massive fab shop down near Leduc

This list is tops in Canada

^ The sound-offs in the Journal are hilarious. Some of the anti-closure folks should be wearing tin foil hats

rapid_business · #**5080** Posted **May 6, 2009, 12:06 AM**

/\ I'm not even going to look.