Edmonton Construction 13 (November 2015)

[Mikemike]

^It was supposed to connect Chinatown and little Italy. Which was important for some reason.

I'm guessing that the 84st and LRT ROW improvments and maybe Stadium Road are part of the $12M or so that the city will spend on the area as part of their TOD agreement with Brookfield?

[Coldrsx]

Your worship and Councillors
C/O office of the City Clerk
3rd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB
T5J 2R7


Re: Item 5.3 and 5.4 – Bylaws 17620 and 17621 – DC2 – ‘Mezzo’

With regards to the above items before you on April 18th, I would like to formally extend my support for the proposed development and encourage you all to do the same.

This proposal has garnered much attention from both supporters and those in opposition, rightly so, for Old Strathcona is perhaps our most unique and historically sensitive neighbourhood. No one in this city wants to damage or do harm to this wonderful area that many of us like to enjoy be it for theatre, a festival, shopping or a patio pint; however we need to recognize that there is a place for high-quality, thoughtful additions to the area that will enhance the community and ensure long-term viability and vibrancy.

We only have to look to cities such as Toronto, Boston, San Francisco, Montreal, or Vancouver to see that old and new, low and mid-rise, can exist in harmony and compliment each other while ensuring that a strong sense of community and neighbourhood continues. This development would dramatically improve the urban design and use of the site and although taller than adjacent buildings, is not going to ‘overshadow’ or be detrimental to what we currently love to enjoy, the character of this area and Whyte Avenue.

I hope that we can look past certain misconceptions and recognize that all neighbourhoods change over time and that high-quality, thoughtful developments such as this can and will contribute to the area, its character and its enjoyment.


Sincerely,

[240glt]

Originally Posted by Mikemike

^It was supposed to connect Chinatown and little Italy. Which was important for some reason.

I'm guessing that the 84st and LRT ROW improvments and maybe Stadium Road are part of the $12M or so that the city will spend on the area as part of their TOD agreement with Brookfield?

That is an odd reason for that stretch.. But I guess they're trying to achieve some synergy with the nice little area of 95 North of 107, and the busy Chinatown district on 97 south of 107. Two very different areas with different feels though.

Yes, $14 mil actually I believe is for improvements directly on the site, so the pedestrian oriented roadway connecting Jasper and Stadium roads, and whatever servicing may be required. Brookfield will be required to move on at least a portion of the project within the next two years or that funding will expire

The LRT improvements are not part of that budget, those funds are coming from a capital budget to improve the aesthetic of the line and pathways (or as I like to say, finally finish the line) and I believe Stadium road and the Jasper ace improvements are coming from the neighbourhood renewal budgets

[240glt]

^^ it's funny though you use Vancouver as an example.. The best, most vibrant and popular streets in Van like Denman and Davie have practically no development higher than 2 stories. Those streets are full of businesses and people. Just north of there in Coal Harbour, they've built vertical suburbs with streets that were practically empty at 5 pm on a sunny Friday afternoon

So the "urbanista" is not 100% correct, and the people against the proposal are not 100% correct, there is some nuance there

[s4.audios]

But there are taller towers a block off Denman and Davie just like 81st is a block off Whyte no?

[240glt]

Oh for sure, and those towers are almost all older buildings from the 70's. So they've been there for a while without materially impacting those streets in any way. That's why I'm indifferent on this one, as long as the shadowing has been considered, I don't have an opinion. If they were to build this right on Whyte it'd be a much different story

I brought up Coal Harbour area because it's an example exactly the type of thing that needs to be avoided (vertical suburbs) which also occurred in Lotusland

[EdmTrekker]

Originally Posted by 240glt

I'm rather indifferent to this project, my only comment relates to the last time I was in Calgary in late Nov, walking 17th on a brisk sunny afternoon, the several 4-6 story developments that have cropped up on the south side of the street made a significant impact on the walking experience. Where the sun was able to reach the sidewalk, it was pleasant. Where it was shaddowed it was very cold and uninviting, we found we'd rush right through those blocks with little interest in the shops and such, and observing others on the street the feeling seemed widespread

Exactly and why patios with south and west exposure are full and those in shade don't make a ton of money.

[Daveography]

The calm before the pour...

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Originally Posted by 240glt

Oh for sure, and those towers are almost all older buildings from the 70's. So they've been there for a while without materially impacting those streets in any way. That's why I'm indifferent on this one, as long as the shadowing has been considered, I don't have an opinion. If they were to build this right on Whyte it'd be a much different story

I brought up Coal Harbour area because it's an example exactly the type of thing that needs to be avoided (vertical suburbs) which also occurred in Lotusland

Sorry, but what's wrong with Coal Harbour? If I had the money, I'd move there in a heartbeat. Close to downtown, close to Stanley Park, plus a busy seaside promenade that Edmontonians should kill to have in some parts of the river valley.

[Coldrsx]

^many MANY things.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Elaborate, pretty please?

[Daveography]

In other non-12'-raft-slab-related updates...

Hendrix crane coming down:



(More)

NorQuest Singhmar:



(More)

Bad-stitch Symphony:



(More)

Ultima - tube coming off, remaining walls going up:



Fox Two - podium topping off, tower should rise soon



(More)

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by Daveography

The calm before the pour...

I will be down in the morning to see the pour. But it ws quite wild to be down in that pit earlier. You get a true sense of scale then.

[Black Star]

Dam incredible. So much iron bent in such a short period of time.

[middeljohn]

Got some more info on Symphony. The neighbour's parkade is in danger of sinking into the excavtion site, so they're bringing in structural engineers to assess. Estimated 3 month delay.

[Black Star]

Thats crazy.

No studies on this before hand!

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by Black Star

Thats crazy.

No studies on this before hand!

This is a risk that can pop up once you start construction. When there are existing structures that are being impacted by new construction activities geotechnical engineers can only work off of assumptions. It's unfortunate but a reality in that type of context.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Raft slab concrete pour at Stantec today

https://twitter.com/concrete_merc/status/721349217487167489

Jason Mercier ‏@concrete_merc 3h3 hours ago

@abconcretepump pumping with #pride for @PCLConstruction on the @Stantec #raftslab in #yeg 3000 meters @IceDistrict

[Daveography]

More here: http://skyrisecities.com/community/threa...opment-stantec.23658/page-5#post-1106463

[Black Star]

Originally Posted by CMD UW

This is a risk that can pop up once you start construction. When there are existing structures that are being impacted by new construction activities geotechnical engineers can only work off of assumptions. It's unfortunate but a reality in that type of context.

Did not know this. Thanks.