Edmonton Construction 9 (2008-08)

[newfangled]

Originally Posted by etown

What is that?

I was stuck in traffic on the James Macdonald Bridge the other day and looked up to see the Hotel Mac parkade (I think). I had never noticed it before. A prime piece of real estate at the top of the valley that is just a blank concrete wall. Unbelievable.

It's the Macdonald place parkade. The reason you've never noticed it is because there's a 20 storey building on top of it that has plenty of windows, and on the Jasper side the parkade has streetfacing retail and offices. Crisis averted.

[Hardhatdan]

Originally Posted by Shodan

Is that part of the Hotel Mac D annex?

Pretty sure its the parkade for the McDonald apts and I think that is a swimming pool on the the top of it.

[etown]

Originally Posted by 240glt

Uh, yeah, it's been there for forty some odd years. Why are you even pointing that out ?

Honestly, I've never even noticed it before.

well I guess that's why, because I've lived here most of my life and never noticed before either.

It is somewhat interesting (to me anyway) since such a big deal was made out of knocking down the disastrous addition to the hotel mac, yet this managed to survive the wrecking ball.

[rapid_business]

/\ people need to park somewhere. It stays until the land value rises enough to warrant redevelopment with U/G parking.

[Coldrsx]

Biked from downtown to riverside to strathearn to whyte to university to downtown last night for some unique shots. Will post tonight.

[Jasper and one o nin]

New-velodrome boosters urge fast council decision Current facility falling apart, cycling club says
The city should decide soon whether to again recommend putting an indoor velodrome in Argyll Park, because the current facility needs millions of dollars worth of renovations, says the co-chair of the group behind the project.

David Embury of the Argyll Velodrome Association told a council committee Monday his group is willing to make some short-term upgrades so the outdoor site can be used next year, but without major work it will eventually have to close.

“Five years ago, we estimated the track had a life of 10 years. Today, almost five years later, the facility is in need of repair and will not make it to 10 years,” he said. “Without a major upgrade the facility … it will be forced to close.”

The velodrome put up for the 1978 Commonwealth Games beside the Mill Creek Ravine was closed from 1989 to 1996 when a botched city repair job left the 333-metre track unusable.

A bicycle club finally fixed the structure. The velodrome association wants to build a regulation 250-metre covered track and indoor recreation centre on the site that could be used year-round.That $32-million proposal was approved by city council last year.
The decision was overturned in February by a judge who agreed with the Argyll Community League that councillors hadn’t properly deemed the site essential as required by Edmonton’s river valley bylaw.

City officials are now looking at four potential locations, including the Argyll land. But Embury said one suggested site at Edmiston industrial park near 178th Street won’t work because it’s far from the city centre and has too much competition from nearby fitness and soccer centres.

His volunteer group wants a recommendation in a month on which of the other three properties the city will support.

But community services general manager Linda Cochrane said site assessments won’t be completed until next year.

Many Argyll residents oppose putting the velodrome in the park near them, saying there’s little transit and road access and such a big year-round facility would disrupt their neighbourhood.

[Coldrsx]

^amazing location, amazing potential facility, solid design... do it.

[ExcaliburKid]

Some good news for the Valley Zoo:

Project Information: PRE-QUALIFICATION OF GENERAL CONTRACTORS - VALLEY ZOO - SEA MAMMAL EXHIBIT

The Valley Zoo - Sea Mammal Exhibit will be a new facility located within the existing Valley Zoo site on 13315 Buena Vista Road in Edmonton, AB. The new exhibit will include the construction of a new exhibit with the primary focus to re-house the South American Sea Lions while creating an exhibit that will provide for the future exhibition of polar sea mammal species. The work includes all architectural, structural, civil, mechanical and electrical work for the construction of the facility including site work, utility connections, landscape and fencing.

[Simon Speichert]

I live within 500 metres of the velodrome. On the other side of the ravine, mind you, so my opinion isn't one of the "many" (cough) being sought after.

There is no way this facility is going to generate the kind of traffic these people are talking about. We're talking about track cycling here, people.. it's not particularly popular. Sure, there might be big meets a few times a year, but it's quite factual that there is already lots of traffic in the neighbourhood for the existing velodrome and BMX track, the rugby club, and the rest of the Argyll sports fields.

These folks should also remember that they've got an essentially mothballed elementary school on site. What generates more traffic, a fully-enrolled elementary school or a facility for a niche sport?

[CMD UW]

EDC Minutes from the Sept 1 Meeting.

http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/EDCMinutesSept1.pdf

C.3. The Pearl - Rezoning Application #82921524-001, LDA08-0367 (DC1 to DC2)
Brinsmead Kennedy Architecture - Brad Kennedy
11949 - Jasper Avenue NW; 11955 - Jasper Avenue NW;
11959 - Jasper Avenue NW; 11961 - Jasper Avenue NW
Site legally described as:
Lots 17-18, Block 19 Plan 3549AE; Lots 16-17, Block 19, Plan 3549AE;
Lots 15-16, Block 19, Plan 3549AE; Lots 14-15, Block 19, plan 3549AE

P. Odinga read the comments of the Development Planner.
MOVED: K. Prins

Motion to table

- Need to see the lane vehicular access (no Jasper Avenue access) in this concept consider the following:
- Continuous retail on Jasper Avenue, tower entry on Jasper Avenue and improved weather protection on Jasper Avenue
- Wind Statement concerns need to be addressed
- The drive through should be eliminated
- Define the purpose of the park, private and gated or public and have the landscaping reflect its use
- In order to support the height the building form, and materials, need to be of an exceptional quality, the DC text needs to reflect a commitment to this quality
- Correct the DC2 text on public art location

SECONDED: A. Fris CARRIED
FOR THE MOTION: B. Golightly, B. Allsopp, A. Fris, S. Kaba, K. Kerr, A. McCready, T. Muller, K. Prins

P. Butler and H. Shaheen entered the meeting.

C.4. Mondi - Development Permit Application #88694410-001
Mondo Properties Inc - Max Raimondi
11703 105 Avenue NW; 11725 105 Avenue NW
Site legally described as:
Lots 113 - 114, Block 17, Plan 22RS; Lot 115, Block 17, Plan 22RS
P. Odinga read the comments of the Development Planner.

MOVED: P. Butler

Motion of support with conditions

- Administrative walk-on required.
- Lower the main floor level to conform with the bylaw
- Provide the details for the exposed walls of the parkade
- 2 meter landscape setback maintained on the south side to conform with the bylaw
- Improve the design of the front entrance, the details should reflect the images provided
- Balcony railings should conform to precedent, review welded screen railings in the Seattle example
- Visitor bicycle parking should be provided and secure bicycle parking to be provided for residents within the parkade
- Commitment to sustainability target required

SECONDED: H. Shaheen CARRIED
FOR THE MOTION: B. Golightly, B. Allsopp, P. Butler, A. Fris, K. Kerr, A. McCready, T. Muller, K. Prins, H. Shaheen
AGAINST: S. Kaba

[s211]

Originally Posted by CMD UW

- In order to support the height the building form, and materials, need to be of an exceptional quality, the DC text needs to reflect a commitment to this quality

They're gettin' religion!

[Kevin_foster]

^ what is the Mondi?

[Inspector77]

In order to support the height the building form, and materials, need to be of an exceptional quality, the DC text needs to reflect a commitment to this quality.


We don't read this every day. Good to hear.

[Coldrsx]

as promised... a link to my bike ride

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=4469617#post4469617

[Coldrsx]

A few project specific updates:

Millcreek townhomes


Quest


Icon


CCIS


EPCOR


Telus Toll

[Inspector77]

Great shots.......................From the guy in the Oilers Shirt.

[Shodan]

City pulls York Hotel licence
Downtown tavern got 1,226 visits by police, paramedics, liquor and fire inspectors in 2007-08

Gordon Kent
Edmonton Journal

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

One of Edmonton's mos notorious taverns could be forced to shut down in two weeks after the city announced Tuesday it's pulling the business licence.

The York Hotel, 10401 96th St., has been the source of two or three times the number of police calls as other bars in the area and wasn't doing enough to deal with the problem, chief licensing officer Randy Kirillo said.

There was suspicious behaviour, violence that staff didn't seem to be able to control, and no evidence they were screening for banned patrons or taking sufficient steps to keep out weapons, he said.

In one incident, a person who drank all day at the bar to celebrate a birthday died later that night of alcohol poisoning, he said.

"When I read the report of the Public Safety Compliance Team, from the get-go my proposal was to cancel the business licence, and so that's what I let the owners know I was doing," he said.

"We have a situation where, if past behaviour is any predictor of what will happen in the future, the risks we're looking at are of death or severe injury."

Police, fire and ambulance staff, as well as liquor and fire inspectors, went to the three-storey brick hotel 1,226 times in 2007-08 compared to 1,344 trips to West Edmonton Mall, according to statistics from the compliance team, set up last year to keep tabs on places where liquor is served.

While there were 120 fewer calls last year than in 2007, the York still drew three times more visits than the Mount Royal Hotel, just two blocks south on 96th Street.

The decision to cancel the York's nightclub licence takes effect Oct. 6.

However, it will be put on hold if the owners appeal to the city's community standards and licence appeal committee.

The 40-room hotel and the restaurant can continue running.

The bar "operated within its own unique niche of social disorder," Kirillo said, adding one beat officer stated he saw little or no change over seven years.

"We will have one less place in the city of Edmonton where behaviour that's unacceptable everywhere else is taking place."

The York's management couldn't be reached for comment, but police commission member Coun. Tony Caterina said he's glad the city has acted.

"They make everybody else look bad. The majority in the...industry are good operators, but you have the few who, they can't comply or won't comply."

While bar owners often claim they shouldn't be responsible for violence involving patrons outside their establishments, "that argument doesn't wash, because they had a direct effect on what happens on the outside," Caterina said.

Last year, the city pulled the licence of The Windmill Bar&Grill in Mill Woods following 65 calls to police by the community, and also suspended the licence of Smokin' Joe's Roadhouse for three months.

[email protected]
© The Edmonton Journal 2009

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[240glt]

City sublets West's healthiest

Office space returned to market as subleases nearly triple from last year

Edmonton's sublet office market nearly tripled in size in the third quarter compared to the same period last year.

But other Canadian cities are faring worse in the recession with substantially more space returned to the market as subleases, according to a CB Richard Ellis report released Monday.

"Despite a noticeable year-over-year increase, Edmonton's sublet market as a percentage of total vacant space continues to be the healthiest of all Western Canada markets surveyed, even though it has risen from five to 14.7 per cent, year-over-year," said the National Office and Industrial Trends Third Quarter report from the commercial real estate firm.

Edmonton's office market vacancy rate rose in the third quarter to 8.3 per cent from five per cent the same period last year.

By comparison, Calgary's office vacancy rate soared to 13.1 per cent in the third quarter, up from 4.7 per cent, year-over-year. Sublet space as a percentage of total vacant space rose to 40.7 per cent, up from 25.6 per cent in the same quarter last year.

"We haven't seen the significant negative impact that Calgary has from the gas business, but our vacancies are up, so it's the best in a slumping economy," said Dave Young, an Edmonton-based senior vice-president and managing director.

"We've seen some pullback from some of the engineering firms and survey companies, people that have been extremely busy over the last three to five years."

Edmonton may see the office vacancy rate rise more substantially in 2010 and 2011, Young said. "If the commodity prices remain where they are, we are going to see some challenges in the office market.

"When you look into 2011, the new Epcor(Tower) is coming online, and the old Epcor building will be vacated. It doesn't take a lot of space in the downtown core coming back onto the market to negatively impact vacancy."

Nationally, vacancy rates rose in Canada's commercial real estate sector for the third straight quarter.

"During the third quarter, the overall vacancy rate continued to climb, up from 6.3 to 9.4 per cent, year-over-year," said the report. It pointed to relatively few new jobs created in Canada's white-collar industries and the addition of new inventory in two of Canada's three largest office markets.

"Canada's downtown office market is doubly burdened by a surplus of space, with buildings currently under construction and a swell of inventory that will continue to be added to the market--a reality not fully reflected in this quarter's vacancy numbers," said John O'Bryan, CB Richard Ellis vice-chairman.

Vacancy rates are expected to continue climbing in the fourth quarter and well into 2010, the report said.

"These conditions of burgeoning space are expected to negatively impact vacancy rates for some time, at least until economic fundamentals are restored and employment figures resume in sectors that typically occupy downtown office space."

Third-quarter vacancy rates rose most noticeably in the markets with the biggest downtown office markets: Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/City+sublets+West+healthiest/2019167/story.html

[Coldrsx]

23 avenue bridge is now black

[mcc16]

Pics by me

Icon from afar









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