Edmonton Construction 9 (2008-08) - Page 315

Kevin_foster · #**6281** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 3:05 PM**

The one thing that I find ugly about Edmonton (or any northern city) are the roads - the cracks, the tar, the sand, the potholes, the cracked sidewalks.. It makes things look very run down.

But we can't avoid these things as we have the heave-ho of frost to deal with; it's a never ending battle. The best we can do is repair when necessary, sweep early spring and plant lots and lots of greenery to distract from the otherwise, dirty cracked sidewalks.

Coldrsx · #**6282** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 3:09 PM**

^agreed.

Let's make them out of super high density plastic or polymer

240glt · #**6283** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 3:41 PM**

Job No 87617482-001: To change the use from general warehouse to residential sales centre and to demolish (320 m2) of the building.
9160 - JASPER AVENUE NW
Plan RN37A Blk 2 Lots 1-3
REDLEAF ENTERPRISES INC.

BOYLE STREET

Job No 87621098-001: To change the use from a personal service shop to a speciality food service and to construct interior alterations.
10140 - 117 STREET NW
Plan 7261AB Blk 17 Lot 90
1016274 ALBERTA LTD O/A BLISS BAKED GOODS

OLIVER

Job No 87621862-001: To Change the Use froma a Personal Service Shop to a Restaurant (COCO DI) with 140 seats & to Construct Interior Alterations.
11452 - JASPER AVENUE NW
Plan B3 Blk 14 Lots 80-82
COCO DI RESTAURANT

OLIVER

Job No 87570678-001: To Change The Use from General Retail to A Specialty Food Service (BUBBLE JUICE)
10154 - 82 AVENUE NW
Plan I Blk 69 Lot 3
BUBBLE JUICE, WAI-WEN CHAN

STRATHCONA

Ponza · #**6284** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 3:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shodan

City centre facility's closure cost pegged at $180 million
Consultant's report cites convenience, connectivity

Ryan Cormier
Edmonton Journal

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

In the last of duelling reports on the fate of the City Centre Airport, one commissioned by the Alberta Enterprise Group estimates a possible closure will cost current users $180 million in time and other costs over the next decade.

The report on the airport's economic viability projects a $26-million loss this year that creeps up annually until reaching nearly $35 million by 2018.

Roughly two-thirds of those losses are in terms of the time it takes to reach the Edmonton International Airport over the city centre location. The Alberta Enterprise Group has lobbied city council to keep the airport open.

The key benefits to keeping the City Centre Airport operating are convenience and connectivity, said Peter Morris, chief economist of Ascend Aviation Insight, the London-based author of the report.

"You have got one of the best-connected airports to the city centre anywhere in North America," Morris said. "Why would you want to lose that?"

The calculation of a dollar figure on lost time equals roughly$100 an hour for an average business person, which he said was a conservative estimate, Morris said.

http://www2.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=96b9dda2-39ec-43bb-81e4-8a0faa129861&sponsor=

The report is complete drivel. All of the cost's they quote are meaningless. In the new age of the BB a business person is never in down mode so an extra 15 minutes of travel time to the international is irrelavent. They can still send email, attend conf calls, view presentations, etc. They are assuming a business person is 100% in down mode during travel time.

I hope the public and more importantly city councel are not fooled by this fear mongering.

Surrealplaces · #**6285** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 3:55 PM**

I agree completely.

Having spent alot of time in Atlanta, and having been to pretty much every U.S. city over a million, one thing I've noticed consistently is the big difference between the high end neighborhoods and low end ones. Canada's cities are definitely much more melded together. Atalanta and Buckhead is a great example.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlguy33

In regards to IKAN104's comment, everything's relative isn't it?

Whenever I visit Edmonton, nothing ever really looks that bad to me. Even when I try to look at things objectively and not from my biased E-town fanatic perspective. I have been in areas of the city my friends said were "ghetto" and they make the ghetto areas of Atlanta seem third-world by comparison. One thing you see in American cities is a wide disparity between rich and poor. From my observations, Edmonton doesn't seem to have the same wide disparity. Less extreme between rich and poor areas. The upscale areas of Edmonton are certainly very nice, but not to the outrageous extremes you see in say, Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood. On the other hand, the poor areas don't look as bad as Atlanta's do either. Maybe this is true in all Canadian cities and maybe not, since my travels in Canada have been very limited.
Just an observation of mine. Does anyone agree?

S_B_Russell · #**6286** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 5:25 PM**

Bistro Praha to rise again in Edmonton’s Icon tower

BY LIANE FAULDER, EDMONTONJOURNAL.COM

EDMONTON — The Bistro Praha will rise again in a new location with the same old flavour.

According to former manager and new owner Milan Svajgr, the Bistro Praha will relocate in Tower 2 of the new Icon condominium project on 104th Street at Jasper Avenue. Svajgr said he and his sister Sharka Svajgr, a longtime server at the old Bistro Praha, have purchased the business from the original owner, Milada Cikanek.

The old Bistro Praha sustained extensive damage after a fire in the Ramsey Building in March.

“We would have liked to stay in that building but nobody knows what’s happening there, there was so much water damage,” said Svajgr.

He said he has signed a lease and paid a deposit, but can’t get into the building (which is still under construction) until March of 2010. Still, that gives Svajgr time to continue working on restoring the furnishings rescued from the old location.

“We’re slowing fixing all the furniture and getting ready,” says Svajgr. “We’re stripping the tables and refinishing them and they will look much better. We pretty much saved everything, including the artwork.”

The new Bistro Praha will be located on the main floor of Tower 2, so there will be a view of the 104th streetscape, which pleases Svajgr. He says there is a brick finish on the outside of Tower 2, which will be reminiscent of the old space — a fixture on Rice Howard Way for more than 30 years. The menu will remain the same.

“It’s a very nice space, the whole street is very nice,” he said.

Svajgr expects most staff from the old Bistro Praha will join the new business.

“Its pretty sad for everyone but in another way it’s exciting to start fresh. We just wish it would happen faster.”

[email protected]

For more on Edmonton’s food scene, check out Liane Faulder’s blog, Eat My Words

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Bistro+Praha+rise+again+Edmonton+Icon+tower/1732006/story.html

noodlenoodle · #**6287** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 5:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240glt

Job No 87621098-001: To change the use from a personal service shop to a speciality food service and to construct interior alterations.
10140 - 117 STREET NW
Plan 7261AB Blk 17 Lot 90
1016274 ALBERTA LTD O/A BLISS BAKED GOODS

OLIVER

Job No 87621862-001: To Change the Use froma a Personal Service Shop to a Restaurant (COCO DI) with 140 seats & to Construct Interior Alterations.
11452 - JASPER AVENUE NW
Plan B3 Blk 14 Lots 80-82
COCO DI RESTAURANT

OLIVER

Woohoo! More Oliver retail. I love my 'hood. Baked goods! The return of Coco!
With Praha hitting the Icon and Coco going to the vacated Elkhorn Ranch space, what does this mean for the burnt out building on RHW?

S_B_Russell · #**6288** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 5:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by noodlenoodle

Woohoo! More Oliver retail. I love my 'hood. Baked goods! The return of Coco!
With Praha hitting the Icon and Coco going to the vacated Elkhorn Ranch space, what does this mean for the burnt out building on RHW?

I'm increasingly worried that RHW is going to look like downtown Bagdad if nothing is done tout de suite.

S_B_Russell · #**6289** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 6:07 PM**

Did anybody else hear KCantor's comments from City Hall today regarding closing City Centre airport? Classic stuff! I'm all for dog parks!

rapid_business · #**6290** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 6:21 PM**

/\ No, please share. I did see him in the council room picture that was in the Journal this morning though. haha

S_B_Russell · #**6291** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 6:42 PM**

"You don't even have to sell it to be further ahead," says Ken Cantor with Qualico Developments. "Just make sure that general aviation is adequately relocated -- and there are options for it -- and turn it into the continent's largest off-leash dog park in the city, we'd be further ahead."

http://www.630ched.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1106861

Kevin_foster · #**6292** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 6:52 PM**

^ awesome.

Also, Villeneuve Airport is only about 5km further from the core than the International Airport is...

naidoo · #**6293** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 6:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by IKAN104

Drive a few blocks away from the theme park area and you see the real Anaheim. Above ground power lines, plenty of thrift stores, empty lots, bad pavement, poverty and graffiti.

Drive into Los Angeles and you see homeless people sleeping in tents or cardboard boxes. Graffiti is everywhere, even on the the signs along the fast moving highways.

These are things we complain about in Edmonton but after what I saw in beautiful California, Edmonton has no homeless problem and Edmonton has no graffiti problem. (Also, the weather in Edmonton was better

)

I loved my trip to California but I am glad to be home!

I agree in full, writing from my shack of a place in Berkeley, CA. Other than UCB itself, the town itself is really run down. There are some beautiful parts around the East Bay, but for the most part I'll be glad when I get home to Canada in about a month.

240glt · #**6294** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 7:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin_foster

^ awesome.

Also, Villeneuve Airport is only about 5km further from the core than the International Airport is...

Villeneuve is actually a pretty decent facility, and less than 10 minutes from the city limits. I did some work there a few years ago, From my place close to downtown it took me about 25 minutes to get there.

Now IMAGINE how fast you could get there if there were no TRAFFIC LIGHTS on the YELLOWHEAD!!

tallisgood · #**6295** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 7:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by S_B_Russell

Bistro Praha to rise again in Edmonton’s Icon tower

BY LIANE FAULDER, EDMONTONJOURNAL.COM

EDMONTON — The Bistro Praha will rise again in a new location with the same old flavour.

According to former manager and new owner Milan Svajgr, the Bistro Praha will relocate in Tower 2 of the new Icon condominium project on 104th Street at Jasper Avenue. Svajgr said he and his sister Sharka Svajgr, a longtime server at the old Bistro Praha, have purchased the business from the original owner, Milada Cikanek.

The old Bistro Praha sustained extensive damage after a fire in the Ramsey Building in March.

“We would have liked to stay in that building but nobody knows what’s happening there, there was so much water damage,” said Svajgr.

He said he has signed a lease and paid a deposit, but can’t get into the building (which is still under construction) until March of 2010. Still, that gives Svajgr time to continue working on restoring the furnishings rescued from the old location.

“We’re slowing fixing all the furniture and getting ready,” says Svajgr. “We’re stripping the tables and refinishing them and they will look much better. We pretty much saved everything, including the artwork.”

The new Bistro Praha will be located on the main floor of Tower 2, so there will be a view of the 104th streetscape, which pleases Svajgr. He says there is a brick finish on the outside of Tower 2, which will be reminiscent of the old space — a fixture on Rice Howard Way for more than 30 years. The menu will remain the same.

“It’s a very nice space, the whole street is very nice,” he said.

Svajgr expects most staff from the old Bistro Praha will join the new business.

“Its pretty sad for everyone but in another way it’s exciting to start fresh. We just wish it would happen faster.”

[email protected]

For more on Edmonton’s food scene, check out Liane Faulder’s blog, Eat My Words

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Bistro+Praha+rise+again+Edmonton+Icon+tower/1732006/story.html

That's great news! Thank you. Can't wait to enjoy my wiener schnizel cordon bleu (or maybe the goose) whilst gazing down at 104th St.

Airboy · #**6296** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 7:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240glt

Villeneuve is actually a pretty decent facility, and less than 10 minutes from the city limits. I did some work there a few years ago, From my place close to downtown it took me about 25 minutes to get there.

Now IMAGINE how fast you could get there if there were no TRAFFIC LIGHTS on the YELLOWHEAD!!

Villeneuve has all the potential as Springbank

240glt · #**6297** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 7:54 PM**

^ they're basically identical airports, located in the same proximity to their respective cities. Probably the only reason that Villeneuve isn't as busy is because of the Muni. More traffic at Villeneuve will mean more funding for improvements and upgrades.

Coldrsx · #**6298** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 8:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by S_B_Russell

I'm increasingly worried that RHW is going to look like downtown Bagdad if nothing is done tout de suite.

to be honest i am thinking the opposite and that it now gives RHW the chance to reinvent itself. We seriously need some new life there and perhaps we will now not only have cocodi's on jasper, praha anchoring 104 but the potential of 2-4 new places on RHW.

win win

Kevin_foster · #**6299** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 8:03 PM**

Maybe all the pro-muni's could move there too??

Kevin_foster · #**6300** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 8:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

to be honest i am thinking the opposite and that it now gives RHW the chance to reinvent itself. We seriously need some new life there and perhaps we will now not only have cocodi's on jasper, praha anchoring 104 but the potential of 2-4 new places on RHW.

win win

Parking lot on RHW has got to go, otherwise it will always look crappy. That building is the berlin wall of berlin walls

Some ideas of mine including wrecking ball to the parking building, creating a mirror of it's commerce to the north west with 4 or 5 patios facing west, 2 or 3 facing north and possibly widen the sidewalks and close off traffic to RHW from 8am to 6pm