Edmonton Construction 11 (November 2011)

[Coldrsx]

check 311 or edmonton.ca

[ue]

Thanks. I've done some searching (not on edmonton.ca or 311) but all that pops up is something 6 months ago about potentially opening in 2012 sometime.

[240glt]

Love the idea of the neon museum , still wish it was going to be in the 97th st and Jasper area

[Coldrsx]

I wish it was more random around the downtown... say a dozen installations around the core to make sort of a walking tour of sorts and surprises in more than one area.

[ue]

We already do stuff like that with the painted utilities boxes on Whyte Ave. It just seems random and unorganized. It doesn't hit you the same way as if it were all confined to one location. Having a Neon Museum would act as another destination or thing to do downtown. Having it scattered randomly diminishes that. Unless it is focused on a block or two, it would be too all over the place for the neon signs to be a destination.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

I wish it was more random around the downtown... say a dozen installations around the core to make sort of a walking tour of sorts and surprises in more than one area.

No offense, bro, but that would be kinda silly. How would one distinguish a "museum" sign from that of a real business? Imagine a person new to Edmonton seeing a sign for Mike's News Stand on a building but no newstand! If I visited a city's downtown that was full of neon signs for non-existent businesses, I would think the place was a joke. One location, one museum, no confusion is the way to go.

[Keats82]

If done in a way where:

a) the signs were placed in specific locations to further augment the aesthetics of already culturally significant areas
b) placed on a route that tourists and everyday citizens could follow / enjoy on their commutes
c) fell in place with current and future expansions of LRT / mass transit
d) were spaced close enough so that one could see several from different corners / intersections
e) each sign were to have a plaque with consistent design to distinguish them as part of a heritage series / tourist attraction
f) the signs were placed on buildings that suited them individually, architecturally and aesthetically
g) placed in a way as not to compete visually with local retailer's branding

If done properly, it could really enhance any city. I think it all boils down to a desire from the city / community to maintain and enhance their public spaces. I think I would be foolish to say that many cities do not work with interested groups in a variety of ways; through funding, bylaws, and community engagement.

On the flip side, one centralized display for the signs allows for an attraction of it's own, and I'm curious if plans have changed slightly with the addition of the arena.

Now that I did some brain storming, I'm starting to like Ian's suggestion...

[Keats82]

Is anyone aware of what is going on at the NW corner of 104th Street and 82 Ave, the parking lot / train tracks on the north side? I drove by there today and the entire area is sectioned off with what looked like wood panel / fencing.

Moar buildings?

[CanadianCentaur]

Originally Posted by Keats82

Is anyone aware of what is going on at the NW corner of 104th Street and 82 Ave, the parking lot / train tracks on the north side? I drove by there today and the entire area is sectioned off with what looked like wood panel / fencing.

Moar buildings?

I think you're confusing this with the location of the building with the Second Cup on the corner that's been renovated with a grey Art Deco-ish facade.

That's actually at the NE corner of 103 St and Whyte Ave. I did notice that wood panel fencing last week. This is across 103 St from the Old Strathcona Hotel.

[Keats82]

Oh sorry, I might have meant 103 Street - I'm talking Gateway Blvd north, pass Whyte Ave. On the NW corner of the intersection, the second block east of the Second Cup, is where the wood paneling / fencing is.

[Keats82]

Right, directly across from the Strathcona Hotel.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

I think that's gonna be public washrooms there.

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by Keats82

If done in a way where:

a) the signs were placed in specific locations to further augment the aesthetics of already culturally significant areas
b) placed on a route that tourists and everyday citizens could follow / enjoy on their commutes
c) fell in place with current and future expansions of LRT / mass transit
d) were spaced close enough so that one could see several from different corners / intersections
e) each sign were to have a plaque with consistent design to distinguish them as part of a heritage series / tourist attraction
f) the signs were placed on buildings that suited them individually, architecturally and aesthetically
g) placed in a way as not to compete visually with local retailer's branding

If done properly, it could really enhance any city. I think it all boils down to a desire from the city / community to maintain and enhance their public spaces. I think I would be foolish to say that many cities do not work with interested groups in a variety of ways; through funding, bylaws, and community engagement.

On the flip side, one centralized display for the signs allows for an attraction of it's own, and I'm curious if plans have changed slightly with the addition of the arena.

Now that I did some brain storming, I'm starting to like Ian's suggestion...

Just put it all in an alley. You may have to hire a security guard to keep the street rats away at night...but most buildings do anyways.

[angelvs]

Off-topic, but this struck me as rather interesting:

http://www.theavenuemovie.com/

[MrOilers]

I think something like the neon museum (or some other collection) would be cool if it was divided and set up up in the underground pedways near entrances to each of the underground LRT stations.

It might entice people to hop on or off the LRT at a different station and explore a little bit.

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by angelvs

Off-topic, but this struck me as rather interesting:

http://www.theavenuemovie.com/

Which reminds me, does anybody know anything about the movie being filmed currently in Edmonton? We got notices about 104 street being used for filming and there appear to be a bunch of trailers at the old brewery in the valley that look like they are filming related.

also icon 2 grocery store is coming along, most of the floor has been tiled.

[dancinb]

^ My buddy is working as a Grip on a movie right now...I assume it's the same one you're talking about. It starts filming on Thursday and goes for 2.5 weeks if I remember right. Not sure what it's about but he's certainly working a lot of hours in these three weeks!

[Coldrsx]

Downtown Winnipeg is getting 2 more, albeit smaller, hotels... that makes 3.

Edmonton, step it up.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Downtown Winnipeg is getting 2 more, albeit smaller, hotels... that makes 3.

Edmonton, step it up.

What's downtown Edmonton occupancy and REVPAR like? Edmonton seems to specialize in those industrial business park-ish motels, which suggests that's where the money is.

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Downtown Winnipeg is getting 2 more, albeit smaller, hotels... that makes 3.

Edmonton, step it up.

Its pretty clear everything is in a holding pattern until the arena is uc.