Edmonton Construction 11 (November 2011)

[Coldrsx]

ITC is flying on Beth... hopefully they get more work in town.

Man does CWB on 122-123st look odd.

[Coldrsx]

Strathearn DC2 passes 12-1, Councillor Sloan opposed. I'd love to know why for it is one of the best infill plans I have seen to date.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

^ Sloan is such a waste of oxygen

[Black Star]

Sloan..... 12 of your peers can see the light...yet you want to halt a major infill project(which is not financially tied into the LRT funding). Because funding for the LRT is not complete!!!

This woman has more problems than a math book. IMO she is not emotionally healthy enough to make proper decisions for this city. Its actually disturbing really.

[Coldrsx]

Strathearn article. Nice foresight Sloan... Argh

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/...redevelopment+project/8608116/story.html

[Coldrsx]

Spacing Edmonton pushes readers to think critically about how they can shape the public spaces that surround their everyday lives. And as a result we want to facilitate a discussion that poses the following crucial questions to Edmonton’s candidates for mayor and council:

How will YOU support the development of communities as opposed to new neighbourhoods?
How will YOU encourage infill development and curb urban sprawl?
How will YOU encourage transit ridership, bicycle ridership and walkable neighbourhoods?
How will YOU support locally owned businesses, locally grown food and locally made goods?
How will YOU support downtown vibrancy?

http://spacing.ca/edmonton/2013/06/26/come-to-the-spacing-edmonton-party-zombie-wall-edition/

[rapid_business]

Originally Posted by BLACK STAR

Sloan..... 12 of your peers can see the light...yet you want to halt a major infill project(which is not financially tied into the LRT funding). Because funding for the LRT is not complete!!!

This woman has more problems than a math book. IMO she is not emotionally healthy enough to make proper decisions for this city. Its actually disturbing really.

I'm actually trying to see her political angle on it. Skyline isn't in her ward, so it isn't to show the Glenora residents her toughness against density and infill. Nor is any major rumored or planned increase in density. There is the zoning changes proposed along the WLRT as you enter the Jasper Place and Meadowlark neighbourhood that has gotten a lot of push back from the community, and I assume she is pandering to that, but who knows?

[kcantor]

Originally Posted by rapid_business

I'm actually trying to see her political angle on it. Skyline isn't in her ward, so it isn't to show the Glenora residents her toughness against density and infill. Nor is any major rumored or planned increase in density. There is the zoning changes proposed along the WLRT as you enter the Jasper Place and Meadowlark neighbourhood that has gotten a lot of push back from the community, and I assume she is pandering to that, but who knows?

??? strathearn is a long ways away and on the other side of the river from skyline and glenora (and wlrt/jasper place and meadowlark...).

which only makes "the angle" that much more difficult to discern...

[240glt]

Given that this project will displace a lot of lower income people, I hope there will be a provision for some attainable housing so that some of these folks don't get forced out of their neighborhood. That's my only concern for what otherwise looks like a pretty good plan

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by 240glt

Given that this project will displace a lot of lower income people, I hope there will be a provision for some attainable housing so that some of these folks don't get forced out of their neighborhood. That's my only concern for what otherwise looks like a pretty good plan

The market shall provide. As long as the city allows more density where people want to build it. Trying to keep costs low if the city constrains supply is a mug's game.

[240glt]

^ Strathern is already a pretty diverse neighborhood. I see no reason why they could not write something into the DC2, or have Cornerstones pick up some units

Given the extremely poor market for "higher end" condos in this city, one would think that a lot of the redevelopment at the site will end up being in the "average" price range or rentals anyways.

[MalcolmTucker]

Requiring societal goods to be born by individual developments is inefficient. Now for bonusing a case could be made, but in the base case it just distorts the market more and leads to less supply in general (by increasing the cost of development).

[ccw219]

Originally Posted by 240glt

^ Strathern is already a pretty diverse neighborhood. I see no reason why they could not write something into the DC2, or have Cornerstones pick up some units

Given the extremely poor market for "higher end" condos in this city, one would think that a lot of the redevelopment at the site will end up being in the "average" price range or rentals anyways.

Agree on both counts. This would be an excellent spot for Cornerstones.

As for our lack of market for "higher end", we may see this as a blessing one day, as gentrifying central neighborhoods retain a more mixed quality than what you may see elsewhere (Vancouver comes to mind). I'd also anticipate something more moderate as well.

[craner]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Report back tomorrow to Council for City Tower RFP.

Anything to report on this yet ?

[Coldrsx]

^nothing public yet no.

[mick]

I could be wrong, but I thought the Strathearn up-zoning included some provision for non-market housing. It was a rather large increase in density, and as 240 said, given the history and current use of the site, a provision for some percentage of non-market housing was a no-brainer.

[Coldrsx]

Edmonton’s office vacancy rate perfectly balanced


BY BILL MAH, EDMONTON JOURNAL JULY 3, 2013 2:38 PM

0

STORYPHOTOS ( 1 )



Edmonton downtown skyline
Photograph by: Bruce Edwards , Bruce Edwards/Edmonton Journal
EDMONTON - Both tenants and landlords have reason to smile at Edmonton’s office market, according to a new report.

The city has an overall office vacancy rate of 8.7 per cent, with downtown at 7.2 per cent and suburbs at 11.3 per cent, according to Avison Young’s second quarter 2013 Edmonton office market report.

Cory Wosnack, a principal with the commercial real estate services firm, said 8.0 per cent is considered a balanced market which benefits both tenants and landlords.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/...html?cid=dlvr.it-twitter-edmontonjournal

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by mick

I could be wrong, but I thought the Strathearn up-zoning included some provision for non-market housing. It was a rather large increase in density, and as 240 said, given the history and current use of the site, a provision for some percentage of non-market housing was a no-brainer.

'Affordable housing-

There is a regulation in the proposed DC2 for the owner to provide the
opportunity for acquisition of 5% of dwelling units as affordable housing through a private organization or the City. Further, the owners have an agreement in principle with Habitat for Humanity to sell additional units, partially completed.'

[240glt]

Further, the owners have an agreement in principle with Habitat for Humanity to sell additional units, partially completed.'

And that's a really good idea. Some aspects of building are more condusive to using volunteer labour and donated materials than others. If the builder can build units to lock-up and sell them to H4H for fitup at a reduced price (which they can easily accomplish using their current methods) It'd probably be a win-win for everyone

[Coldrsx]

I can say without a doubt that the guys behind this development are sincere, genuine and wanting to build a fantastic development that they can be proud of, the community will benefit from and enjoy and that will be a model for future TOD projects.

The owner of the current site is part of this group and his family has been exceptionally proud of how they have maintained and run the current housing on the site.