Edmonton Construction 13 (November 2015)

[Makenosmallplans]

Originally Posted by bulliver

Listening to a traffic report. Talked about a closure next weekend for a "crane installation". 100 Ave between 107 and 108. What would that be for?

I heard the same... couldn't figure it out as I work in that area. Blue Cross? North Petroleum Plaza? can't be Il Portico parking i lot (i wish something was happening there).

[Coldrsx]

New mechanical for a building is my bet.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Harrison

You sound like it's a done deal. I am sure that something will be worked out with the developer to save it or incorporate it into the development somehow.

Not a done deal, but the 'developer' is not intending on saving any part of it and there will be no 'incorporation'.

[s4.audios]

Originally Posted by mcc16

Knoxvilles getting ripped to the ground will be a happy day for me. Just walking near it is a horribly trashy experience...

It is so incredibly sad that Edmonton has so little to save that you guys get sentimental for crap like the mirador... My god that's sad. It's getting super repetitive and old quickly. "Oh, there tearing down slightly old, obscure building that has mild architectural interest but can be found in great supply elsewhere in North America... In this case probably in some shit town in New Mexico. It must be saved!"

I haven't been in Edmonton for a little under a month again, but last I saw Hendrix it is much better in person. You can't see the materials properly in photograph.

I kind of have to agree here regarding El Mirador. Yes it's kind of unique but definitely not worth saving in such a prime location such as Capital Blvd. Buildings worth saving have to have a strong architectural presence of an era in the city and have relative presence to a neighbourhood. If the list is small then so be it, yah the city f'd up and now we got to live with it. Instead I'd rather focus on Mandel's no crap architecture for new development and have new builds that will one day have historic designation.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Originally Posted by s4.audios

I kind of have to agree here regarding El Mirador. Yes it's kind of unique but definitely not worth saving in such a prime location such as Capital Blvd. Buildings worth saving have to have a strong architectural presence of an era in the city and have relative presence to a neighbourhood. If the list is small then so be it, yah the city f'd up and now we got to live with it. Instead I'd rather focus on Mandel's no crap architecture for new development and have new builds that will one day have historic designation.

Not necessarily. As others have mentioned, buildings worth saving can also be ones that add a bit of character to the area. Theoretically if Capital Blvd is turned into another Yaletown, El Mirador would be a nice break from that monotony of high rises. Or just imagine El Mirador repurposed for retail. Imagine a couple of eateries overlooking that courtyard. Lost opportunity there if you ask me.

I agree that there should be more stringent maintenance rules on ownership of heritage properties. If it was up to me, if an owner can't be bothered to maintain and preserve a heritage building then they should be levied heavy fines or expropriated. As it is, a certificate of heritage preservation is not worth wiping your ass with in this city. We've got instances of buildings being held hostage until the COE coughs up dough (McDougall Church, Molson Brewery).

El Mirador:
http://yegishome.ca/news/2004/08/05/a-touch-of-spain-in-edmonton

[Baronmine]

EEEK! I live in El Mirador! Gonna be alot of upset people!
Don't forget that this is home to a number of people, and every one of us love this building.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Originally Posted by bulliver

Listening to a traffic report. Talked about a closure next weekend for a "crane installation". 100 Ave between 107 and 108. What would that be for?

They are installing a new sign on the building on the SW corner of 100 Ave and 107 St. Probably the (new?) name of the building.

[kcantor]

Originally Posted by mcc16

Knoxvilles getting ripped to the ground will be a happy day for me. Just walking near it is a horribly trashy experience...

It is so incredibly sad that Edmonton has so little to save that you guys get sentimental for crap like the mirador... My god that's sad. It's getting super repetitive and old quickly. "Oh, there tearing down slightly old, obscure building that has mild architectural interest but can be found in great supply elsewhere in North America... In this case probably in some shit town in New Mexico. It must be saved!"

I haven't been in Edmonton for a little under a month again, but last I saw Hendrix it is much better in person. You can't see the materials properly in photograph.

Originally Posted by s4.audios

I kind of have to agree here regarding El Mirador. Yes it's kind of unique but definitely not worth saving in such a prime location such as Capital Blvd. Buildings worth saving have to have a strong architectural presence of an era in the city and have relative presence to a neighbourhood. If the list is small then so be it, yah the city f'd up and now we got to live with it. Instead I'd rather focus on Mandel's no crap architecture for new development and have new builds that will one day have historic designation.

i think that's exactly the kind of thing that was said about the carnegie library and the tegler and the law courts and the pentecostal tabernacle...

buildings that were considered small and with real presence and as being not really outstanding in that there's much better examples elsewhere...

so instead of not having the best examples - after all, there's always something better somewhere else - we end up with no examples at all. i'm pretty sure that's not how things are supposed work.

[Coldrsx]

Hi League Civics Directors, Secretaries and Presidents of Mature Neighbourhoods,

Please pass this message along to your league board and committee members (and perhaps to a couple of members who have shown an interest in getting involved in redevelopment discussions on behalf of the league).
It is very important that your league be represented at a Mature Neighbourhood Overlay (MNO) Workshop organized by EFCL.
WHY
In early 2016, the City will begin reviewing proposed changes to the MNO – the special regulations for low density housing developments in mature neighbourhoods.
In the past, changes to regulations have been initiated by the building and development industry. Leagues have merely reacted to the proposals. This time, if leagues get involved early, we will also be making proposals and setting the agenda for the city’s review.
The EFCL will be taking the outcome of the workshops to the City and encouraging them to review what leagues want reviewed, and consider changes desired by leagues.
Furthermore, by examining the MNO together we will come to understand the MNO deeply and will be well prepared to articulate our positions during the City’s MNO review process.
Make sure your league has a strong voice!!

WHEN & WHERE- 3 dates to choose from
6:30 pm to 9 pm, Monday, Nov. 16 - Calder Hall, 12721-120 Street

6:30 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday, Nov. 18 - Allendale Hall, 6330-105 A Street

6:30 pm to 9 pm, Tuesday, Nov. 24 - Forrest Terrace Heights Hall, 10150-80 Street

REGISTER NOW: Contact Bev Zubot by email or by phone at 780-437-2913 - please specify which date you prefer.

Optional Activity before the workshop
To get you thinking about your neighbourhood characteristics and what you desire to keep, go for a walk and take a photo or two of your neighbourhood. Bring the photos to the workshop to illustrate the desired characteristics for your neighbourhood.
See you soon!
I look forward to seeing many of you at a workshop in the next 2 weeks. It is always very rewarding to get together with awesome community leaders to share our stories and perspectives.
Best regards,


Bev Zubot
Planning Advisor
[email protected]
Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL)

[mcc16]

Originally Posted by kcantor

i think that's exactly the kind of thing that was said about the carnegie library and the tegler and the law courts and the pentecostal tabernacle...

buildings that were considered small and with real presence and as being not really outstanding in that there's much better examples elsewhere...

so instead of not having the best examples - after all, there's always something better somewhere else - we end up with no examples at all. i'm pretty sure that's not how things are supposed work.

You're comparing tegler and Carnegie to mirador? So I guess with that reasoning we just have to give the "Venetian" 80 years until its faux European crap architecture is appreciated.

I fully understand what is being said about downtown becoming a generic highrise neighbourhood a la yaletown...(I was super disappointed by berlin for this reason) But I think it is actually laughable how desperate we are to save anything because of our past mistakes. Is it everyone's dream for downtown Edmonton to become this museum for uninteresting, somewhat old, mismatched crap...because now I'm picturing your downtown Edmonton vision akin to our old story land valley zoo...

http://yegishome.ca/news/2004/08/05/a-touch-of-spain-in-edmonton

[EdmTrekker]

Ken, "what" has Qualico restored in any of your developments in Edmonton? Your firm is doing lots of building - was there anything ever worth saving?

[kcantor]

Originally Posted by EdmTrekker

Ken, "what" has Qualico restored in any of your developments in Edmonton? Your firm is doing lots of building - was there anything ever worth saving?

most of what we have been involved with has been green field (i.e. newcastle) or brown field (i.e. station lands, allendale). first edmonton place was built on the corona hotel site but i don't know if it was in any better shape than the cecil by the time it was acquired and demolished, particularly given the original had already been destroyed once by a fire before being redone and having two additions tacked on to it.

[EdmTrekker]

Ken, thank you for that. Being a home boy I am all too familiar with Corona and spent my weekends in the bar there - our go to place with the BEST rock bands. I was devastated to see it go particularly the loss of Jumbo the premier restaurant with all the furnishings, walls and tableware made for it imported from Hong Kong along with the Chefs - god we had the most amazing food there - classy Chinese with the price point to boot. While I have never lived in the Mirador - I sure visited it a lot to see friends, artist studios, attend a wicka gathering once with a lady friend (ditched her after that) and went with some girls to see a fortune teller. Back then the place had "the" vibe and housed some interesting people for sure. I do know it's in rough shape and a lot worse than the Corona Building. We called it a fire trap years ago and it still is - frankly I am amazed it is still around.

[s4.audios]

Originally Posted by mcc16

You're comparing tegler and Carnegie to mirador?

Haha I was going to say the exact thing. There are buildings in the UW District I am 100% behind not touching; El Mirador is not one of them.

For what it's worth, I don't know what Yaletown used to be like but I airbnb'd there for a week last year and absolutely loved it. Exactly what I envision UW to be like in a couple decades.

[mcc16]

Yaletown is great, but the problem with places like that are they start to feel a little to monotonous (not really the word I mean but can't think of a better one right now) and I think that what the fear is in Edmonton... If we tear everything down then we will just have a very standard downtown that could be in any big city around the world. Vancouver, Toronto, berlin, London, and I assume New York (never been there, don't want to) all have areas that feel very similar to eachother... Just dull, polished, clean, functional but lacking any real interest. But please tell me you can compare the mirador to something like this:

https://instagram.com/p/7ky9DwLZGc/

The mirador is an insult

I apologize for using an Instagram link but I don't have my lap top with me so don't have access to the original photo...

[Daveography]

^ What's the point of comparing El Mirador to buildings that we don't have and have never had? We can't save what doesn't exist in our city, but we can at least try to save the little pieces of uniqueness that we do have, before we have none left at all.

[Daveography]

Forgot the DSLR today, but still snapped some smartphone photos on today's walk.

NorQuest Singhmar Centre:



Five Oaks:





Hendrix peeking up:



MacEwan Centre for Arts and Culture (looking fantastic):

[hilman]

Great shots, MacEwan is looking really good.

[Jasper and one o nin]

I like that MacEwan is not being architecturally consistent with any of their new buildings. NAIT's CAT building was reworked to be more consistent with the HP Centre, Spartan, and main campus building. The result is a relatively plain, uninspiring and inward facing building. Opportunity lost IMO.

[GreenSPACE]

+1 on the great shots!