Edmonton Construction 11 (November 2011)

[Airboy]

Looking at the River Plan.
I have no problem with the boat launches but the placement of the docks has them in locations that will get high debris accumulation during high stream flow events. It’s also interesting in that these docks will need to be supervised constantly. The Rowing Club dock, which I believe is the only dock currently on the river in Edmonton, is constantly monitored and the ERC is on the River Forecast emergency call list for high stream events. The ERC dock has had some significant damage over the years by logs ramming it when it was not pulled in fast enough. And by A-holes setting is adrift.

But I look forward to more river access, as a river user for over 35 years it is nice to know there are other location I can get on and off the river with more ease.

[Shodan]

Fixing old before building new
New suburban schools aren't a top priority for public board

David Staples
Edmonton Journal

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The thousands of families living in outer Edmonton suburbs without schools nearby had best not get their hopes up.

Yes, the provincial government has just announced a $2-billion spending program to build 50 new schools and modernize 70 old ones across the province.

Over the next three years, more than $500 million will be spent to kick start that construction and renewal process...

dstaples@ edmontonjournal.com
© Edmonton Journal 2013

Copyright © 2013 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.
CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.

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[Airboy]

New RAM Site Activity.

The test girders have been removed from site yesturday. A large C-can is moving onto the site of last falls demo.

[Coldrsx]

'When the issue was last debated in 2012, the final vote was 5-4 in favour of modernizing older schools first. Leading that push was trustee Heather MacKenzie.

"We view maintenance of our existing buildings as key to sustaining them and keeping them open," she said.

Eight new schools had just been built, MacKenzie said, and it was finally time to spend dollars on fixing up older ones. "Each new school that we received guts a number of other schools in the district that are already under-maintained."

It doesn't hurt kids in new suburbs to bus a half-hour to an existing school, MacKen-zie said.

Trustee Michael Janz led the fight against making modernization the priority.

"As a board, if we pass this, we're collectively baiting the 'burbs," Janz said. "We're telling people out there that our existing maintenance needs trump our new needs."

Fixing up an old, underutilized inner-city school does not mean students will flock to it, Janz said.'

Tough situation, but for new neighbourhoods, schools should not be expected. Yes they are integral components to a complete community, but many of us grew up in the burbs without a school nearby and supported an area school by means of a 20-30 mins bus ride.

I truly hope we see more support for schools already built, but that said, if there is a lack of enrolment we do need to think about mothballing or closure where appropriate.

[240glt]

If they're going to close a school with zero intent of re-opening it then there needs to be a plan to deal with the site. My friend owns a house across the street from the abandonned Ritchie school and it is absolutely apalling at how that site has been left to wither. School board must be held more accountable for these sites.

Parkdale school was de-programmed but it now 100% leased with some really interesting programming in place. We hope that we'll see that school open again one day

[bulliver]

Fixing up an old, underutilized inner-city school does not mean students will flock to it, Janz said.

It probably would, if they slowed down building schools on the edge of a farmer's field.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by bulliver

It probably would, if they slowed down building schools on the edge of a farmer's field.

It would also help if the district provided some more diverse and specialized programming at the inner city schools.. made each one a centre for a specific discipline or something like that.

Parkdale School got shut down because the enrollemnt was low and falling. But there are lots of kids in the catchment area. However the programming that the disctrict offered was geared towards kids with socio-economic difficulties. For the growing number of middle class families in the neighborhood, that meant shipping their kids off to other schools.

[Coldrsx]

^ Grandin Elementary is very successful because of that... offering French and Spanish.

http://www.grandin.ecsd.net

[Airboy]

Massive amount of earth is being removed at 137 ave and Messier/St Albert Trail. NW corner. Based on how deep they are going I don’t see this as another Costco or Big Box.

Interesting to see. One group hauling from the excavation and another neighboring site is hauling in fill.

[Coldrsx]

Yeah, noticed that the other day... confusing.

[Kevin_foster]

Overpass/Underpass maybe? Weren't they putting in massive steel supports on the NW corner perhaps 2-3 years ago?

[SHOFEAR]

A lot of that area was old wetlands filled in many many years ago (haha...cold that will make you giggle). As you can imagine, what was accepable fill (chunks of concrete, material with high organics or contaminated) for whatever the previous use was may not be suitable for a modern development.

just a guess.

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by SHOFEAR

A lot of that area was old wetlands filled in many many years ago (haha...cold that will make you giggle). As you can imagine, what was accepable fill (chunks of concrete, material with high organics or contaminated) for whatever the previous use was may not be suitable for a modern development.

just a guess.

I remember the wetlands, but even so, the amount and size of the excavation is quite something. So the clean fill pile a couple of 100 meters to the north is probably for that. As for the overpass rumour, this is too far to the NW to be part of the roadway.


Also drove by the old Holes location. Demo is well under way. Kinda sad to see it go.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by SHOFEAR

A lot of that area was old wetlands filled in many many years ago (haha...cold that will make you giggle). As you can imagine, what was accepable fill (chunks of concrete, material with high organics or contaminated) for whatever the previous use was may not be suitable for a modern development.

just a guess.

Haha nice timing.

Makes sense.

[240glt]

Crane base is going in at Ultima as i type

[Black Star]

sweet........

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by 240glt

Crane base is going in at Ultima as i type

Raft slab and a bunch of rebar, didnt see crane yet.

[angelvs]

Sounds like utility work on 96 street will be wrapping up and streetscaping from Jasper to 102A Ave will start work in June.
Awesome looking plan too, should be images and probably a video online in a week or so from what I'm told

[GreenSPACE]

^Great to hear. I wanted to go to the open house but couldn't make it.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Raft slab and a bunch of rebar, didnt see crane yet.

It was sitting on a flat deck north of the Grand at 4pm