Edmonton Construction 13 (November 2015)

[Urban recluse]

It would all come down to what Oxford wants. I cannot help but think with all of the developments in the area, they are pondering...

[GreenSPACE]

https://twitter.com/JoshStock/status/850388048772702208

[rapid_business]

SE corner of 109th ST and 105 Ave?

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by rapid_business

SE corner of 109th ST and 105 Ave?

Not quite, directly west of the existing pool and gymnasium.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by esquire

Has there been any discussion about the possibility of developing that space? With all the action going on in the area you would think resurrecting the old proposals from the 80s would be on the table.

You mean developing towers on top of the mall? it only makes sense if the structure is already there, otherwise ripping apart the mall to add in the structure and all the mechanical and electrical systems would be massively expensive and quite intrusive to the operations of the mall.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

You mean developing towers on top of the mall? it only makes sense if the structure is already there, otherwise ripping apart the mall to add in the structure and all the mechanical and electrical systems would be massively expensive and quite intrusive to the operations of the mall.

Yes... I'm presuming that there are already building pads there.

[itom 987]

The question was asked a couple of years back and those in the know told us that no provisions had been made for a tower on the mall.

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by esquire

The reason I ask is because there is a new tower here in Winnipeg about to start this spring on top of an early 80s mixed use project at Portage and Main, Winnipeg Square.

Given the years that have passed, I never would have thought something would ever materialize on that pad... if that can happen here, then I certainly see something happening at ECC West if the Ice District takes off.

The difference with the site in Winnipeg is that the parkade was already built and they are simply building on top. That's not the case with ECC.

[240glt]

Well is is quazi-done at City Centre west. The footings are there, as well as some infrastructure such as the egress stairwells, primary power distribution and some other elements that were intended to support the towers

But it won't happen with that infrastructure, it's too out of date and probably not what you would design nowadays.

People should also remember that Oxford is only a 50% owner of the complex, the CPPIB is the other owner. And anyone who's dealt with them knows that they are very due diligent and risk adverse

[Urban recluse]

Well a re-cladding of the exterior would be a great consolation.

[EdmTrekker]

Originally Posted by 240glt

Well is is quazi-done at City Centre west. The footings are there, as well as some infrastructure such as the egress stairwells, primary power distribution and some other elements that were intended to support the towers

But it won't happen with that infrastructure, it's too out of date and probably not what you would design nowadays.

People should also remember that Oxford is only a 50% owner of the complex, the CPPIB is the other owner. And anyone who's dealt with them knows that they are very due diligent and risk adverse

Risk adverse and they invested in a pig with retail getting pennies and empty stores instead of dollars because the range of stores and aesthetic is pathetic.

[kcantor]

Originally Posted by EdmTrekker

Risk adverse and they invested in a pig with retail getting pennies and empty stores instead of dollars because the range of stores and aesthetic is pathetic.

cppib bought 50% of oxford's entire portfolio, not ecc alone. you need to separate the nominal risk ecc represented in regard to the overall acquisition (pretty small) and the real risk ecc represents for additional investment dollars (100%).

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Tale of two convention centres needs a smarter ending
http://edmontonjournal.com/business/loca...onvention-centres-needs-a-smarter-ending

This coming Tuesday, at precisely 3:45 p.m., Edmonton city council is scheduled to go behind closed doors for a private meeting about a private report. I can’t tell you what the private report says. I can tell you it’s called “A Model for Integration of EXPO Centre and Shaw Conference Centre.”

And about time.

It makes absolutely no sense to go on running our two major events facilities in competition with each other. They have to be managed together, with one booking calendar, so that we can attract the greatest number of events, large and small to the city, making the most efficient use of our physical plant and the most efficient use of our marketing dollars.

Beyond that, why should the city, which has already deferred Northlands’ loan payments until this July, simply forgive the debt and leave Northlands in charge of the Expo Centre? If the city is going to end up on the hook for the cost of the Expo Centre, the city shouldn’t hesitate to take over the management of the facility.

Makes sense to me.

[sdimedru]

Was down at MEC today, didn't have time to look closer but The Mclaren... that's how sidewalk access and job shacks should be done right? How is it not a standard requirement?

Anyways, at a quick glance it seemed well done

[s211]

Originally Posted by itom 987

The question was asked a couple of years back and those in the know told us that no provisions had been made for a tower on the mall.

Correct. It was the ultimate snake oil show that 555 put on, and a desperate-for-any-development council didn't catch on. There were no provisions for tower development on the site, which differs from Manulife 2 which does have provisions.

And yes, the towers were originally designed to be higher than the height limit, again making the proposal flimsy to begin with.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

Damn that mall needs redeveloping.

Which begs the question of "redevelop with what?" I agree, the old Eaton Centre should be put in the dust bin, but the hard part is what to replace it with isn't an easy equation.

That and I'm sure there will be claims that the mall has value as a going concern above and beyond land value, making the economics of redevelopment muddier.

[Black Star]

80-storey tower could jeopardize plans for the Quarters, concerned residents say!!

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2017/04/08/80...for-the-quarters-concerned-residents-say

[Hallsy's Toupee]

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-ne...-edmontons-former-downtown-remand-centre

An Edmonton city councillor wants to see the mothballed Remand Centre in the city’s downtown demolished.

Four years after prisoners were moved from the facility to its high-tech replacement in suburban northwest Edmonton, the building remains mostly unused while the province continues to mull its options.

“Ideally, I would like to see it knocked down and something new resurrected on the site,” said downtown Coun. Scott McKeen. “There have been a lot of proposals, but how expensive would it be to retrofit?”

Past suggestions for the provincial facility have included turning it into artists’ spaces, affordable housing or a homeless shelter.

While McKeen said he wouldn’t object to a housing project, he wants to avoid adding another outreach-only centre for Edmonton’s vulnerable population to the area.

“I know (Chinatown business owners) will be extremely skeptical if the remand (centre) gets used for outreach and social services again,” McKeen said. “We need to do proper permanent housing facilities.”

[Urban recluse]

Originally Posted by s211

Which begs the question of "redevelop with what?" I agree, the old Eaton Centre should be put in the dust bin, but the hard part is what to replace it with isn't an easy equation.

That and I'm sure there will be claims that the mall has value as a going concern above and beyond land value, making the economics of redevelopment muddier.

Perhaps redeveloped was not the right word, although if a developer wants to buy it, demo it, and replace it with a mixed-use tower, great!

As a mall it works, but an addition atop the Bay would be great, as well as recladding the exterior. It looks like that old pair of shoes that just need to go.

[canucklehead2]

I'd love to see an Art Deco recreation of the old Eaton's store facade with a clean minimalist modern interior much like The Core in Calgary. The last remaining marble/brass Trump/Ghermizian 80's touches either need to be brought back in a big way or gone for good. Have to say I was pleasantly surprised with the new East-side 3rd-floor food court though...