Edmonton Construction 13 (November 2015)

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by technomad

Curious.. what mistakes that lead up to the last corporate exodus do you think Edmonton has learned from?

That was 20+ years ago. Klein and Reimer aren't around.

[technomad]

The absence of scapegoats isn't really an answer.. And the corp moves south started long before either of those two got to their Edmonton affecting positions of power.

Phrased differently, in what ways is Edmonton a better place for business than it was 20/30/40 years ago?

I suppose you could site council's willingness to bend over and subsidize nearly anything these days, but sooner or later you run out of other peoples money..

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by technomad

I suppose you could site council's willingness to bend over and subsidize nearly anything these days, but sooner or later you run out of other peoples money..

Exactly what every other jurisdiction does, especially south of the border. And what "mistakes" did "Edmonton" make before Klein and Reimer? The only one I can think of, is that they didn't kill the Muni in 1965...

[technomad]

And many of those places down south have run out of that money. Does Edmonton really need a larger scale Dell swindle?

I think you're on the right track with your muni comment though.. lousy transportation networks are frustrating and affect everyone in a company from the Executive level down to the mailroom. And Edmonton has continued to flounder in that regard on nearly every mode of transportation.

I thinks it's telling that you still haven't provided a positive improvement that Edmonton had made, just the absence of a negative..

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by technomad

And many of those places down south have run out of that money. Does Edmonton really need a larger scale Dell swindle?

I think you're on the right track with your muni comment though.. lousy transportation networks are frustrating and affect everyone in a company from the Executive level down to the mailroom. And Edmonton has continued to flounder in that regard on nearly every mode of transportation.

I thinks it's telling that you still haven't provided a positive improvement that Edmonton had made, just the absence of a negative..

I think it is easily more telling that you were the one that started out with the premise being that Edmonton is undesirable for a business like Amazon, and that major changes needed to be made. Other than the aforementioned public transportation/airport issues, I don't think this is the case.

[Coldrsx]

Building Edmonton now online
Edmontonians can now access status of City infrastructure projects online
September 8, 2017

The City of Edmonton has publicly launched Building Edmonton, an interactive online map, highlighting the capital infrastructure program being delivered by Integrated Infrastructure Services on behalf of the City of Edmonton.This web-based guide provides residents and businesses with information that was previously only provided to City Council about current infrastructure projects including facility, LRT, open space and transportation projects across the city.

The map provides critical project information, including scope, schedule and budget and will be updated on a quarterly basis.

“Our aim is to improve the access to information we’re providing the public on the many infrastructure project currently being undertaken by the City,” said Adam Laughlin, Deputy City Manager of Integrated Infrastructure Services. “It also provides a snapshot of the many, varied projects happening throughout the City and I hope gives Edmontonians an appreciation of how their City is changing and growing.”

The map is available at www.edmonton.ca/buildingedmonton. It is divided into two parts, standalone projects and composite programs which contain multiple project locations. The Building Edmonton map will enable citizens to click on a project icon to see the following details: project name, asset type, scope, budget, schedule, current project delivery phase and most recent quarterly update.

Projects on this map are at various phases in the delivery of a capital project, identified as concept design, detailed design and build. They are mapped accordingly to provide context for all of the work happening throughout the City.


For more information:
www.edmonton.ca/buildingedmonton

Media contact:
Holly Budd
Communications Manager, Integrated Infrastructure Services
780-221-1189

[Urban recluse]

http://edmonton.skyrisecities.com/news/2017/09/second-phase-meridian-plaza-proposed

[Coldrsx]

Would be great to have that lot filled, hoping the massing and final design are decent.

[Urban recluse]

I am hoping for a lot of glass.

[hilman]

https://twitter.com/vineshpratap/status/906244390816854016

[technomad]

Originally Posted by Jaws

I think it is easily more telling that you were the one that started out with the premise being that Edmonton is undesirable for a business like Amazon, and that major changes needed to be made. Other than the aforementioned public transportation/airport issues, I don't think this is the case.

And yet your stated reasons for thinking so remain at an astounding zero..

Edmonton having trouble attracting business is not just my opinion but a market reality. I can't think of any major business moves to Edmonton in recent years, especially not in the HQ sense..

Beyond the aforementioned transportation issues, there's that whole 7 months of winter thing that works against Edmonton in a huge way, especially in trying to attract business from the US.

That's why I've long said focus here should be on fostering entrepreneurialism vs. wasting time and money on near-hopeless poaching missions

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by hilman

https://twitter.com/vineshpratap/status/906244390816854016

I cannot wait to see this getting above grade.That podium is going to be massive.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Originally Posted by technomad

And yet your stated reasons for thinking so remain at an astounding zero..

Edmonton having trouble attracting business is not just my opinion but a market reality. I can't think of any major business moves to Edmonton in recent years, especially not in the HQ sense..

Beyond the aforementioned transportation issues, there's that whole 7 months of winter thing that works against Edmonton in a huge way, especially in trying to attract business from the US.

That's why I've long said focus here should be on fostering entrepreneurialism vs. wasting time and money on near-hopeless poaching missions

Waste of time and money? As head of EEDC, it is Brad Ferguson's job to attract businesses to Edmonton. Unlike bidding for the Olympics, it's not going to break the city's bank to submit a business RFP. And Mayor Iveson has already stated to the media that they will walk away if Amazon demands freebies and incentives. This will be nothing like Dell's call centre, this is a 2nd head office; and that was a different Edmonton - apples, oranges.

Even if there's a slim chance of winning the Amazon HQ2 bid (they'll be up against at least 4 Canadian cities and up to 49 US cities), EEDC still needs to submit an RFP and sell Edmonton's advantages to them. Stranger things have happened, so who knows? As one Great man said, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. This city needs to express interest in the Amazon HQ2 to demonstrate to the business community locally and globally that it is open to business. Otherwise, if you just roll over and say "what's the point?", what message are you conveying to them?

Just imagine if Edmonton beats the odds and wins this thing. We could get more flights, more white collar and tech jobs, filled office spaces (new or old), spawn some spinoff enterprises, a more diversified economy, etc etc.

If Edmonton submits a killer RFP but doesn't get the HQ2, it can still open the door to future business. Say, a distribution centre!

Just submit the bid, the worst that can happen is they say no.

[Vixx]

Originally Posted by Hallsy's Toupee

Waste of time and money? As head of EEDC, it is Brad Ferguson's job to attract businesses to Edmonton. Unlike bidding for the Olympics, it's not going to break the city's bank to submit a business RFP. And Mayor Iveson has already stated to the media that they will walk away if Amazon demands freebies and incentives. This will be nothing like Dell's call centre, this is a 2nd head office; and that was a different Edmonton - apples, oranges.

Even if there's a slim chance of winning the Amazon HQ2 bid (they'll be up against at least 4 Canadian cities and up to 49 US cities), EEDC still needs to submit an RFP and sell Edmonton's advantages to them. Stranger things have happened, so who knows? As one Great man said, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. This city needs to express interest in the Amazon HQ2 to demonstrate to the business community locally and globally that it is open to business. Otherwise, if you just roll over and say "what's the point?", what message are you conveying to them?

Just imagine if Edmonton beats the odds and wins this thing. We could get more flights, more white collar and tech jobs, filled office spaces (new or old), spawn some spinoff enterprises, a more diversified economy, etc etc.

If Edmonton submits a killer RFP but doesn't get the HQ2, it can still open the door to future business. Say, a distribution centre!

Just submit the bid, the worst that can happen is they say no.

Well said.

[EdmTrekker]

Originally Posted by Jaws

That was 20+ years ago. Klein and Reimer aren't around.

But Jean and Kenny are. And Iveson does not have the skill set or persona to be a champion and win the minds of the business community.

[EdmTrekker]

Originally Posted by hallsy's toupee

waste of time and money? As head of eedc, it is brad ferguson's job to attract businesses to edmonton. Unlike bidding for the olympics, it's not going to break the city's bank to submit a business rfp. And mayor iveson has already stated to the media that they will walk away if amazon demands freebies and incentives. This will be nothing like dell's call centre, this is a 2nd head office; and that was a different edmonton - apples, oranges.

Even if there's a slim chance of winning the amazon hq2 bid (they'll be up against at least 4 canadian cities and up to 49 us cities), eedc still needs to submit an rfp and sell edmonton's advantages to them. Stranger things have happened, so who knows? As one great man said, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. This city needs to express interest in the amazon hq2 to demonstrate to the business community locally and globally that it is open to business. Otherwise, if you just roll over and say "what's the point?", what message are you conveying to them?

Just imagine if edmonton beats the odds and wins this thing. We could get more flights, more white collar and tech jobs, filled office spaces (new or old), spawn some spinoff enterprises, a more diversified economy, etc etc.

If edmonton submits a killer rfp but doesn't get the hq2, it can still open the door to future business. Say, a distribution centre!

Just submit the bid, the worst that can happen is they say no.

x3

[technomad]

Originally Posted by Hallsy's Toupee

Waste of time and money? As head of EEDC, it is Brad Ferguson's job to attract businesses to Edmonton. Unlike bidding for the Olympics, it's not going to break the city's bank to submit a business RFP. And Mayor Iveson has already stated to the media that they will walk away if Amazon demands freebies and incentives. This will be nothing like Dell's call centre, this is a 2nd head office; and that was a different Edmonton - apples, oranges.

Even if there's a slim chance of winning the Amazon HQ2 bid (they'll be up against at least 4 Canadian cities and up to 49 US cities), EEDC still needs to submit an RFP and sell Edmonton's advantages to them. Stranger things have happened, so who knows? As one Great man said, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. This city needs to express interest in the Amazon HQ2 to demonstrate to the business community locally and globally that it is open to business. Otherwise, if you just roll over and say "what's the point?", what message are you conveying to them?

Just imagine if Edmonton beats the odds and wins this thing. We could get more flights, more white collar and tech jobs, filled office spaces (new or old), spawn some spinoff enterprises, a more diversified economy, etc etc.

If Edmonton submits a killer RFP but doesn't get the HQ2, it can still open the door to future business. Say, a distribution centre!

Just submit the bid, the worst that can happen is they say no.

Lots of words.. aaaand still not one mention of what these alleged Edmonton advantages might be

re: EEDC, I guess I just think that there's two types of economic development, imported and homegrown. And I think one of those is more likely to succeed here than the other.

[kcantor]

Originally Posted by technomad

Lots of words.. aaaand still not one mention of what these alleged Edmonton advantages might be

re: EEDC, I guess I just think that there's two types of economic development, imported and homegrown. And I think one of those is more likely to succeed here than the other.

so, let me take a step back for you and try and answer your question. off the top of my head:

top tier university and technical schools
good public education
good public health care
a strong banking system and relatively stable currency
a relatively strong political system at all 3 levels
a relatively open immigration system and relatively open borders
a reliable legal system including patent and copyright protection
a manageable weather climate (i.e. no hurricanes or tornados or earthquakes)
a stable electrical grid with good capacity
a strong arts and cultural community
a strong sports scene (professional and amateur)
good shipping connections with all modes of transportation
improving air passenger connections
a business day time zone able to make same day telephone connections to europe and to the far east
a relatively healthy multi-cultural and multi-lingual community to staff from/integrate with
relatively affordable housing
relatively good local transportation systems
etc.

i'm sure there's others.

and where would you integrate amazon with these things:

downtown west of the warehouse district
the quarters
northlands
blatchford
energy and technology park
south campus partnered with the u of a

you could even partner with eia and give them their own airport at villenueve

[jakethesnake]

Originally Posted by Black Star

Nothing wrong with this.

Protectionism is objectively bad for an economy

[Black Star]

Originally Posted by jakethesnake

Protectionism is objectively bad for an economy

Taking care of your own house is not bad for your economy.

Being a globalist is now bad for your economy. Wage disparity and cheap labor are sinking country's.