Edmonton Construction 9 (2008-08)

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by bulliver

I was downtown this afternoon to take photos, and I was actually surprised how many folks were out and about there on a Sunday afternoon. I lived here from 85-96 when downtown was perhaps at its sadest, and I agree with you and CMD UW that things are certainly changing for the better, but I just wish we could do better than 1 office tower every 20 years.

-EPCOR
------------
-devonian
-10830 jasper
-cecil place


but remember how far we had slipped and how long it has taken for us to get back to sea level.

I agree we need more people working downtown but i am also fine with more condos than office for as we have seen, it creates vibrancy outside 9-5.

[Coldrsx]

Membrane, not stucco, is the problem


THE EDMONTON JOURNALMAY 10, 2009


Re: "Thousands of Alberta homes could rot; Stucco covering linked to leaky walls; crisis could rival pine shakes scandal, expert says," The Journal, May 6.

It is not the acrylic stucco itself that is prone to failure, but the moisture membrane installed beneath the stucco which is crucial. People choosing acrylic stucco for their homes should steer clear of liquid-applied, polymer-based adhesives onto which insulation board is applied. In our climate, hot summers and cold winters cause significant expansion and contraction, resulting in the formation of hairline fractures in this type of membrane, trapping moisture. With continued heating and cooling, these cracks enlarge, trapping even more moisture and resulting in mould.

This problem is avoided by applying a building wrap, such as Tyvek or Typar, directly onto plywood sheathing, over which the insulation board is mechanically fastened.

For readers who want to learn more, an excellent website on acrylic stucco systems and their applications is at www.senergy.basf.com.

C. Malec, Mark's Stucco and Plastering Ltd., Edmonton

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/Membrane+stucco+problem/1581723/story.html

[ue]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

-EPCOR
------------
-devonian
-10830 jasper
-cecil place


but remember how far we had slipped and how long it has taken for us to get back to sea level.

I agree we need more people working downtown but i am also fine with more condos than office for as we have seen, it creates vibrancy outside 9-5.

no offense but only one of those is a 'tower'. we were weak in terms of new buildings for office in the downtown, but then again i'm glad we filled up all our empty space in existing buildings.

and i do agree, the amount of condos we've seen is very good, and will produce a vibrant mix between comm/res. i'd rather see more condo/retail buildings. i'd rather have edmonton be more like vancouver than toronto ... calgary seems to be taking that "toronto" route with their downtown ... with all the offices.

[Coldrsx]

"no offense but only one of those is a 'tower'."

depends who you ask

[240glt]

Job No 86343504-001: To construct an addition & to change the use of an existing residential bldg to a general retail store and residential units & to construct interior alterations.
10517 - 124 STREET NW
Plan RN22 Blk 23 Lots 6-7
AB DESIGN INC.

WESTMOUNT

[bulliver]

CCIS:


Epcor Tower is above ground. Will this be changed to 'Capital Power Tower' now?

[feepa]

so, I guess we have another poster that thinks the only way to measure growth downtown is through office towers? Anyone else see a problem with that? I mean, it would be nice to get brand new shiny office towers all over the place, but we could also have a bunch of towers that were started, and capped, ala Calgary.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by feepa

so, I guess we have another poster that thinks the only way to measure growth downtown is through office towers? Anyone else see a problem with that? I mean, it would be nice to get brand new shiny office towers all over the place, but we could also have a bunch of towers that were started, and capped, ala Calgary.

plus people seem to forget where we were, how much space we had vacant, where rates were at, what type of office market Edmonton is etc.

[bulliver]

^^ Give me a break, that's not what I said. I said "I just wish we could do better than 1 office tower every 20 years". I certainly don't think we should build towers that will sit empty, when I say something like the above, I mean that I wish Edmonton had a market that would support building more than one tower every twenty years.

[Coldrsx]

"I mean that I wish Edmonton had a market that would support building more than one tower every twenty years."

it does but we had to dig ourselves out of a rather large hole...

[Mercucio]

Ummm, further to edmontonenthusiast's post about Toronto's downtown - it is packed with condos and downtown dwellers. There is pedestrian traffic all the time.

Concorde Pacific, the same company that revitalized the Expo Lands is responsible for the development around Skydome and the southwest part of the core.

There are also many condo developments moving ahead in T.O.'s CBD.

So how is Calgary's downtown like Toronto's? Edmonton could only wish to have a downtown like Toronto's. Make no mistake. It's something to aspire to. Any of our three biggest cities are worthy of emulation in terms of their cores.

[TimB09]

I'd rather see more highrise condos downtown that will draw people downtown which in turn COULD lead to more offices moving downtown.

One thing I do notice is that condo prices downtown are quite higher than some of the outlying areas in Edmonton where there are condos. I understand there is a reason for that but one way to encourage first time home buyers who would like to move downton is to maybe lower prices a bit. I know it's only a wish on my part but if we hope to bring more people downtown, that would definetly be one way to do it.

Just my two cents.

[Coldrsx]

"So how is Calgary's downtown like Toronto's? Edmonton could only wish to have a downtown like Toronto's. Make no mistake. It's something to aspire to. Any of our three biggest cities are worthy of emulation in terms of their cores."

concur in full although i am disappointed with concord's redevelopment thus far.

[skookum.j]

I was sitting at the Starbucks patio in the Omega podium yesterday and was quite impressed with how much I felt like I was in a big city... just something about the scale of development at that corner, it just feels right. If the parking lot just west of there was developed it would definately enhance this.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by TimB09

One thing I do notice is that condo prices downtown are quite higher than some of the outlying areas in Edmonton where there are condos. I understand there is a reason for that but one way to encourage first time home buyers who would like to move downton is to maybe lower prices a bit. I know it's only a wish on my part but if we hope to bring more people downtown, that would definetly be one way to do it.

mmhmm... we need smaller units with entry/mid level finishes for 1st time buyers and more rental opportunities.

500-600 sqft 1bdrms and 750sqft 2bdrms

please and thank you

[240glt]

Resale condos are getting affordable. There are a couple of nice ones in & around Grandin for sale in high rise concrete buildings for well under 200k

YEah, would be nice to see some new units priced affordably.

[Coldrsx]

Edmonton sees biggest drop in house prices


BY BILL MAH, EDMONTONJOURNAL.COMMAY 11, 2009 11:33 AMBE THE FIRST TO POST A COMMENT


STORYPHOTOS ( 1 )



An Edmonton construction site.
Photograph by: John Lucas, The Journal, File, Calgary Herald; Canwest News Service
EDMONTON — Prices for new houses in the Edmonton area fell more year-over-year than in any other city in Canada during March, Statistics Canada said Monday.

The federal agency’s new housing price index said contractors’ selling prices decreased nationally by 2.4 per cent in March compared with the same month in 2008.

The biggest 12-month decline in new home prices was in the Edmonton census metropolitan area at 12.3 per cent, followed by Saskatoon at 11.2 per cent and Calgary at 8.7 per cent.

At fourth and fifth, Vancouver posted a 7.8-per-cent decline and Victoria decreased 6.6 per cent.

Edmonton and Calgary also posted the steepest monthly declines from February to March, at 1.2 per cent each. The national rate decreased 0.5 per cent from February to March.

“In Calgary and Edmonton declines were attributed to lower material and labour costs and lower lot prices from developers,” said Statistics Canada.

Among surveyed cities, the largest year-over-year increase was St. John’s at 20.8 per cent and Regina at 12.8 per cent.

[email protected]

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Business/Biggest+house+price+drop+Edmonton/1584893/story.html

[ue]

Toronto has yes, condominiums and lots of them. Lots of pedestrian activity and is really mixed use. Lots of neat stuff to do. It doesn't feel near as one use (office) as Calgary I suppose. But Toronto also has a large portion of the major banks, retail, insurance, electronic, and global offices (like TSX). It has lots of condo activity going on - i concur - but it is still home to major offices, which does make it MORE (not totally a) of a office city. Calgary is more an office city too but one could argue with the Eau Claire and East Village and nearby beltline it is a mix. One could argue Vancouver is a more office city in the CBD there, or whatever. But Calgary and Toronto are more of office cities, Toronto is more mixed use, but (IN MY OPINION) more of a office city, like Calgary. Edmonon seems to be taking route of Vancouver with a more residential downtown.

And I agree with bulliver, I read his posts, and he said nothing about just wanting office towers downtown feepa. I think we all agree it would be nice to have a few more office towers. I myself am more into mid rises but it'd be nice to have more than EPCOR Tower. Devonian, new ING? (Professional), etc. are mid rise not high rise.

Re drop in prices: surprised to see Saskatoon drop so much I thought it was boomin' over there. It seemed to be to an extent when i was theree .

[240glt]

From Wiki:

Buildings between 75 feet (23 m) and 491 feet (150 m) high are, by some standards, considered high-rises. Buildings taller than 492 feet (150 m) are classified as skyscrapers. The average height of a level is around 13 feet (4 m) high, thus a 79 foot (24 m) tall building would comprise 6 floors.

The definition is subjective of course.

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

plus people seem to forget where we were, how much space we had vacant, where rates were at, what type of office market Edmonton is etc.

You're absolutely right.

I know this has been mentioned multiple times, but driving down 104 eastbound this morning around Oliver Square, you can really notice Quest taking shape nicely. Like cold mentioned, this building will have a major visual impact on the skyline from 104 Ave.