Edmonton Construction 11 (November 2011)

[Black Star]

^ Yes...When In Rome.....

[Daveography]

I understand the need to get a fresh injection of people in the neighborhood, but this really is bad design for such a high visibility location that will command amazing views; view which residents will be able to see only by looking out through small punched windows.

Can't we find some kind of compromise between getting fresh feet on the ground and having good design, rather than constantly trying to pit one against the other? People do form impressions on aesthetics, and as it is peoples' impressions of Edmonton are poor. I can't see how perpetuating those poor impressions by not only building but also defending crap designs does anything positive for desirability or livability of our city as a whole, no matter how many towers we build or where.

[s211]

Originally Posted by RTA

I understand the need to get a fresh injection of people in the neighborhood, but this really is bad design for such a high visibility location that will command amazing views; view which residents will be able to see only by looking out through small punched windows.

Can't we find some kind of compromise between getting fresh feet on the ground and having good design, rather than constantly trying to pit one against the other? People do form impressions on aesthetics, and as it is peoples' impressions of Edmonton are poor. I can't see how perpetuating those poor impressions by not only building but also defending crap designs does anything positive for desirability or livability of our city as a whole, no matter how many towers we build or where.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by RTA

I understand the need to get a fresh injection of people in the neighborhood, but this really is bad design for such a high visibility location that will command amazing views; view which residents will be able to see only by looking out through small punched windows.

Can't we find some kind of compromise between getting fresh feet on the ground and having good design, rather than constantly trying to pit one against the other? People do form impressions on aesthetics, and as it is peoples' impressions of Edmonton are poor. I can't see how perpetuating those poor impressions by not only building but also defending crap designs does anything positive for desirability or livability of our city as a whole, no matter how many towers we build or where.

and that is a fair counterpoint... but economically and socially it's not realistic nor fair to say that the area should languish until which point that it's viable to sell units at a rate that would support such nice things as curtainwalls.

The design is what it is. I called up the development chair with BSCL when this thing first came out to ask if they wanted us to provide any support for changes to the project and they indicated that they were just happy to see 3.8 hectares of abandoned industrial land returned to active use so we left it alone. Not sure what difference it would have made anyways.. this thing was always going to be a huge, hulking complex.. I am just glad it got scaled back to what it is.

It's a question you can ask about 104st, Oliver, anywhwhere else that has flourished despite crap architecture... does the end justify the means ? I'd say the answer is yes.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by s211

If saying no to hillbilly architecture makes me a snob, send me my certificate.

We already know you're a snob.. pretty sure you got your certificate a long time ago

[ScottieA]

Originally Posted by s211

If saying no to hillbilly architecture makes me a snob, send me my certificate.

Hillbilly architecture? Edgewater does not apply.

This, however, does:

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by RTA

I understand the need to get a fresh injection of people in the neighborhood, but this really is bad design for such a high visibility location that will command amazing views; view which residents will be able to see only by looking out through small punched windows.

Can't we find some kind of compromise between getting fresh feet on the ground and having good design, rather than constantly trying to pit one against the other? People do form impressions on aesthetics, and as it is peoples' impressions of Edmonton are poor. I can't see how perpetuating those poor impressions by not only building but also defending crap designs does anything positive for desirability or livability of our city as a whole, no matter how many towers we build or where.

I think you will find that good design comes with competition. Who are the competitors locally for this building? Ultimately, it will put pressure on the ones who want to differentiate themselves from Edgewater. And for Edgewater, we lose an eyesore empty lot. Edgewater isn't as bad as that empty lot.

[CMD UW]

The Icon podiums were done fairly well imo. The towers, meeeeeeeeh.

Edgewater, until we see better (more clearer) renderings there's not much to comment on imo.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by ScottieA

Hillbilly architecture? Edgewater does not apply.

This, however, does:

Glorious I want to build one of my own on our leased lot at Pigeon up the road from all the million dollar cottages

[240glt]

Originally Posted by Xelebes

I think you will find that good design comes with competition. Who are the competitors locally for this building? Ultimately, it will put pressure on the ones who want to differentiate themselves from Edgewater. And for Edgewater, we lose an eyesore empty lot. Edgewater isn't as bad as that empty lot.

What was especially bad about that lot for those who live in the area was the massive homeless camps that always seemed to crop up in the back corner of the lot where all the trees and bushes were.. it was always filthy dirty with garbage and abandoned shopping carts all over the place, It was overrun with weeds and miscelaneous leftover piles of concrete and steel, the Stadium liquor store was unpleasant becuase it always had a bunch of rubbies begging for money outside of it.. since construction has started all that has 100% stopped.. so already the neighborhood is a much nicer place to be.

It's not easy for people who only see the area for a split second at 60 kph to appreciate that though

[Xelebes]

For anyone who is following Skyline development in Glenora and may have heard rumours of some cloudy money, here's some more smoke for the story:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2013/07/24/edmonton-davidoff-extortion-kidnapping.html

Two men are facing charges after prominent Edmonton businessman Alexander Davidoff was kidnapped and held for ransom on Sunday.

. . .

Davidoff, 62, is president of Glenora Skyline Development and of Design Jewellers Ltd.

[s211]

Originally Posted by 240glt

We already know you're a snob.. pretty sure you got your certificate a long time ago

[s4.audios]

Yes yes you are right the affect of having this development move forward and it's scale is great for the area. But it is still disappointing because even for a "shitty" design, it shouldn't be acceptable as a "2013 shitty" design. My concern is that when it is complete and new onlookers view this development without knowing when it was built, it will seem as so it was built in the same era as it's neighboring residential towers.

It reminds me of the development behind save on foods on 109; I forget the name, but it makes me cringe every time I drive by and see '2002' engraved in the stucco slab of the buildings.

[ScottieA]

Originally Posted by Xelebes

For anyone who is following Skyline development in Glenora and may have heard rumours of some cloudy money, here's some more smoke for the story:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2013/07/24/edmonton-davidoff-extortion-kidnapping.html

Just because he got kidnapped by some bozos trying to extort money out of him doesn't prove that there's shady money around.

I would be very careful about saying things like that for legal reasons.

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by ScottieA

Just because he got kidnapped by some bozos trying to extort money out of him doesn't prove that there's shady money around.

I would be very careful about saying things like that for legal reasons.

Oh I know. Just that I've known some to speculate on that and if there's anyone still speculating on that, they can get their squirrel on.

[Black Star]

The Icon towers are a dam travesty save the podium.

I don't need better rendering of Edgewater to decide if there decent. Brutal.

[Kevin_foster]

Were all indirectly saying the same thing about edgewater

- the design is less than desirable
- the density is nice
- neither is good enough without the other.

Let's all just call it a 5/10.

Goddamnit edmonton.

[Spliff]

But Edmonton is a 5/10 kind of town.

That's what makes it special. If Edmonton became Portland or Vancouver North, it wouldn't be E-Town.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by Kevin_foster

Were all indirectly saying the same thing about edgewater

- the design is less than desirable
- the density is nice
- neither is good enough without the other.

Let's all just call it a 5/10.

Goddamnit edmonton.

Excellent summation IMO

[rapid_business]

...moving on. Here is from an early round this AM. Pearl is making quite the impression on me and the Oliver skyline!