Edmonton Construction 9 (2008-08) - Page 465

Coldrsx · #**9281** Posted **Nov 19, 2009, 7:56 PM**

Public Information Session on Proposed Zoning Changes and Plan Amendments 109 Street

November 16, 2009

Date: Thursday November 19, 2009
Time: 4 - 9pm
Location: Knox Metropolitan United Church, Gymnasium, 8307 – 109 Street

A public information session will provide interested citizens with the opportunity to discuss and provide feedback regarding proposed zoning changes and plan amendments along 109 Street between 62 Avenue and 88 Avenue.

The proposed changes would facilitate commercial and residential redevelopment that improves 109 Street and is compatible with surrounding neighbourhoods. Changes are based on recommendations from the 109 Street Corridor Study and the Residential Infill Guidelines.

For more information:
Doug Kostashuk

Title Planner
Telephone
780-496-6121

Email [email protected]

http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/news/2009/public-information-session-on.aspx

Coldrsx · #**9282** Posted **Nov 19, 2009, 7:56 PM**

2009 Urban Design Award winners etc...

http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/p...on-urban-design-awards-2009-winners.aspx

CMD UW · #**9283** Posted **Nov 19, 2009, 8:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

2009 Urban Design Award winners etc...

http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/p...on-urban-design-awards-2009-winners.aspx

I was there last night, it was a great event.

kcantor · #**9284** Posted **Nov 19, 2009, 10:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMD UW

I was there last night, it was a great event.

glad the event was great because i'm not so sure the awards themselves qualify as much better than pretty uninspiring overall... it's as if a series of awards were given for the sake of giving them, not based on the merit and the impact of the work. seriously, giving yourself an award for unimplemented design plans?

we b*&^h and c!&*&^%n ad infinitum about the dearth of quality projects in our city and then we put this out as representing award winning urban design in edmonton?

no wonder we have the reputation we do. it's one thing to recognize that not everything can be cutting edge/world class (i do that a lot don't i Coldrsx?), it's quite another to celebrate that fact in public. i can see the warehouse loft project as cutting edge urban infill and see merit in some of the others for what they are but "award winning"?

what are we going to give the ukrainium museum when it's actually done and not just the best looking sidewalk hoarding and storefront bracing we've managed for the past "x" years (particularly when compared with the arlington site hoarding?)? heaven forbid someone would want to be able to go into that award winning project and actually experience it.

and i quite like gene's rehab of the 7th street plaza lobby a lot but it's an urban fragment at best, not an award of excellence for urban architecture winner. shouldn't that require an entire building in order to qualify or at least a complete urban edge (something 7th street plaza still needs to address)?

and 6 out of 11 of the city of edmonton design award winners and honourable mentions go to the city of edmonton???? isn't that a little too much "look at me, i'm doing such a great job"?

CMD UW · #**9285** Posted **Nov 19, 2009, 10:28 PM**

These awards are formed via the RAIC. The specific categories and rules by which projects are to be reviewed / judged are spelled out by the RAIC.
http://www.raic.org/honours_and_awards/awards_urban/2010call/urban-submission_e.htm

I think this is a great event to honour projects that have acheived 'good' design. Overall the jury was impressed with the quality of submissions. They stated that Edmonton is in the right direction with respect to urban design, it just needs to continue pushing the bar.

To add, the City of Edmonton and / or their consultants took the time to submit projects that fit within the applicable categories. If you don't enter, you don't have a chance of being recognized. So I disagree with your perspective that there was any "Oh look at me" boosterism. FYI, the jury didn't know the names of the applicants (clients or designers) with each of the submissions.

kcantor · #**9286** Posted **Nov 19, 2009, 10:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMD UW

These awards are formed via the RAIC. The specific categories and rules by which projects are to be reviewed / judged are spelled out by the RAIC.
http://www.raic.org/honours_and_awards/awards_urban/2010call/urban-submission_e.htm

I think this is a great event to honour projects that have acheived 'good' design. Overall the jury was impressed with the quality of submissions. They stated that Edmonton is in the right direction with respect to urban design, it just needs to continue pushing the bar.

To add, the City of Edmonton and / or their consultants took the time to submit projects that fit within the applicable categories. If you don't enter, you don't have a chance of being recognized. So I disagree with your perspective that there was any "Oh look at me" boosterism. FYI, the jury didn't know the names of the applicants (clients or designers) with each of the submissions.

from the urban architecture section:

"A new building, a renovated building, or complex of buildings completed after January 1, 2003"

the emphasis is mine. how does the museum qualify as completed, how does the 7th street plaza canopy qualify as a building...

so yes, the raic sets out rules. i just didn't see them as being particularly well adhered to.

and yes, "if you don't enter you don't have a chance of being recognized" but by the same token that shouldn't mean "we'll recognize simply because it was entered". and for what it's worth, information on entering was not as easily or as readily available as you seem to assume but that's a completely different discussion.

i don't mean to disparage either the event or it's objectives but the results simpy seemed to have missed the mark, at least for me.

Kevin_foster · #**9287** Posted **Nov 20, 2009, 5:15 PM**

I came out of the Bell tower last night at around 9:30 and was at street level .. walking to the Sheraton - I realized:

- How Epcor is going to close off the North Edge nicely, and not as berlin-ish as I once thought. It almost feels like it's part of the CBD. And as tall as it is.. is going to have significant impact on the general feel of that part of town. The parking lot in front of it (south side) absolutely 110% has to go.

The caveat here I think is going to be how the baccarat lands are developed, it's a larger parcel of land could flow North very well into the Aurora district, which I will call the "real north edge"

- How nice it is to see so many towers u/c in our core - icon/Q/Epcor.. look forward to any ARENA ANNOUNCEMENT PLZ.

Channing · #**9288** Posted **Nov 20, 2009, 5:23 PM**

Patrick LaForge (President of the Oilers) was on the radio yesterday talking to Bob Stauffer about how they are currently doing final interviews on the lead architect for the new arena project.

They hoped to be done that a month ago, but it should be done soon.

Kevin_foster · #**9289** Posted **Nov 20, 2009, 6:28 PM**

Drove by Canada place yesterday... they are excavating for Alberta Hotel!!!

Daveography · #**9290** Posted **Nov 20, 2009, 8:46 PM**

Apparently the apartment building that was part of the lands to be redeveloped as "Vision for the Corner" (142 & SPR) has been sold to a numbered company. I don't know if the adjacent properties that were also supposed to be part of the development were included in the sale, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this pretty much means this project is dead and gone.

Kevin_foster · #**9291** Posted **Nov 20, 2009, 9:38 PM**

If that was the case, I would not be bothered. Although the development was good in theory, the design left something to be desired. The podium made me angry inside.

Although, how do we not know this #'d company isn't just another developer with bigger, better plans?

S_B_Russell · #**9292** Posted **Nov 20, 2009, 9:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin_foster

If that was the case, I would not be bothered. Although the development was good in theory, the design left something to be desired. The podium made me angry inside.

Unlike most of my former neighbours, I wasn't against the project, but, with that said, the design blew.

SHOFEAR · #**9293** Posted **Nov 20, 2009, 10:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTA

Apparently the apartment building that was part of the lands to be redeveloped as "Vision for the Corner" (142 & SPR) has been sold to a numbered company. I don't know if the adjacent properties that were also supposed to be part of the development were included in the sale, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this pretty much means this project is dead and gone.

Lots of the (large multinational) developers I do engineering work for have numbered companies for various projects.

Daveography · #**9294** Posted **Nov 20, 2009, 10:27 PM**

^ It wasn't so much the fact that it was a numbered company that piqued my interest as the fact that it was sold.

Kevin_foster · #**9295** Posted **Nov 20, 2009, 10:33 PM**

Let's critique...

from http://members.shaw.ca/vincentwansink

Mine? Podiums have to go. Brutal!!

ue · #**9296** Posted **Nov 21, 2009, 12:28 AM**

I like the shape and glazing look of the towers...but the orange looks just dumb. The street front should have some businesses in it too...so that it can cater to Glenora and area. The area is more suburban than further east but it should still have some 'urbanity'.

bigcitydude · #**9297** Posted **Nov 21, 2009, 5:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmontonenthusiast

I like the shape and glazing look of the towers...but the orange looks just dumb. The street front should have some businesses in it too...so that it can cater to Glenora and area. The area is more suburban than further east but it should still have some 'urbanity'.

i like the shape too, and i kind of noticed the orange as well, not my cup of tea.

wco · #**9298** Posted **Nov 21, 2009, 6:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigcitydude

i like the shape too, and i kind of noticed the orange as well, not my cup of tea.

This is orange cr*p. It doesn't matter wha part of the city you put it in, BZKA, BKA, ZKBA, ZKA, whatever....it is still cr*p. F*ck, it's like they are the only firm in town and the only one anybody is hiring...to design cr*p...

Don't think there won't be any white to surprise you....

christopherj · #**9299** Posted **Nov 21, 2009, 6:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin_foster

If that was the case, I would not be bothered. Although the development was good in theory, the design left something to be desired. The podium made me angry inside.

Although, how do we not know this #'d company isn't just another developer with bigger, better plans?

Or a # company owned by the same developer, to assist with either creditor protection and/or to assist with bringing in external investors.

bigcitydude · #**9300** Posted **Nov 21, 2009, 7:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wco

This is orange cr*p. It doesn't matter wha part of the city you put it in, BZKA, BKA, ZKBA, ZKA, whatever....it is still cr*p. F*ck, it's like they are the only firm in town and the only one anybody is hiring...to design cr*p...

Don't think there won't be any white to surprise you....

didn't our forward thinking mayor admit that they were using the same company for all the designs or something along those lines? might explain why a lot of the building designs look the same?