Edmonton Construction 13 (November 2015)

[240glt]

Originally Posted by kcantor

you should also ask him if he remembers what the bridge that was never built on/to dantzer’s folly would have cost per lane compared to what was spent per lane to replace walterdale...

I doubt my dad would know about anything that specific, and Vince has been dead for 15 years, but I'll give it a shot...

[Vixx]

Originally Posted by 240glt

I was talking with my father about civic issues a while ago while I was visiting the folks in BC, He is a retired attorney and recalled that the city of Edmonton has had a bit of a storied history of corruption, and that Edmonton had a "wild west" mentality when it came to regulations and such. Based on my experiences with the city I can believe it.

I could see it. Edmonton has a storied (but very interesting) history and just taking a drive around certain cluster 🞵🞵🞵🞵 areas will indicate to one that something went very wrong once upon a time.

The city's errors will always be scarred in the urban fabric, but there's a ton of opportunity to get some things right and to move past some of the mediocrity Edmonton has had to put up with for years. The city has come a long way, but there's so much more work to do its daunting.

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by s211

And still was able to get a park named after him.

I don't think it's Hawrelak-related, but I seem to recall the siting of YEG being driven by corruption.

Sorry! Off-topic. Let's just hope the Province doesn't empty downtown Edmonton.

He got the park, but a lot of older Edmontonians preferred to refer to it as Mayfair.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Jaws

He got the park, but a lot of older Edmontonians preferred to refer to it as Mayfair.

As does my family!

[s211]

Originally Posted by Vixx

I could see it. Edmonton has a storied (but very interesting) history and just taking a drive around certain cluster 🞵🞵🞵🞵 areas will indicate to one that something went very wrong once upon a time.

The city's errors will always be scarred in the urban fabric, but there's a ton of opportunity to get some things right and to move past some of the mediocrity Edmonton has had to put up with for years. The city has come a long way, but there's so much more work to do its daunting.

The City has got to stop over-promising without any ability to deliver with any credibility.

Edmonton has a great history of wild dreams and plans, with little follow-through. That goes for both the private and public sectors.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Historically, Edmonton has always suffered from short-sighted planning and lack of vision. It's everything from not closing YXD after EIA opened to falling several decades behind LRT expansion to a lack of a good north-south route through the city to the lack of historical preservation to a "good enuff" mentality. Many positive strides have been made for the past couple of decades, but that same short-sighted planning and lack of vision continues to undermine such initiatives.

[Vixx]

^
^

It's in part due to being a boom-bust city for a long time. When the economy was hot, people were flocking here like mad and so much mediocrity was filled in to "temporarily" meet demand, with a mentality of "we'll come back to it later". A lot of mediocre designs have stayed ever since. Luckily the city is seeing a steady but healthy increase of population, which won't put as much pressure on officials to put out garbage around the city.

And like you said s211, the city has a long history of these grand plans with little follow through. I forgot if it was posted here or reddit, but the city's plan many decades ago to create a grand boulevard entering the city would've been a landmark staple. Nothing materialized as usual (there was a detailed explanation why it never followed through, I'll try to search for it later) but this is just one of many examples where the city had a good idea, but hurdles and 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 mentality meant much never got off the ground.

[Coldrsx]

www.twitter.com/ianoyeg

[s211]

I'm curious: is there a temp below which they don't pour concrete in Edmonton? Having some exposure to poorly poured concrete in below-zero temps here in Vancouver, I wonder what kind of witch's brew they pour below freezing in Edmonton to avoid expansion/contraction issues.

[Coldrsx]

I was always told -25C is the absolute coldest you would want to pour. They place multiple additives/accelerators to ensure it will continue to meet the desired spec. Keep in mind that they will hoard and heat these pours to bring the curing exposure to a much more reasonable range.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

I was always told -25C is the absolute coldest you would want to pour. They place multiple additives/accelerators to ensure it will continue to meet the desired spec. Keep in mind that they will hoard and heat these pours to bring the curing exposure to a much more reasonable range.

Interesting. Thanks for the information. A science of a sort.

[Black Star]

LED lights in Downtown Edmonton.


https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1292096


P.s...that Ian guy looks suspicious

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Stantec's light-up plans sounds exciting

[Coldrsx]

I had a preview; they will indeed be exciting.

[Black Star]

^Yeah...can't wait to see it.

IMG_4419 by BLACK STAR III, on Flickr


IMG_4415 by BLACK STAR III, on Flickr


IMG_4418 by BLACK STAR III, on Flickr

BMO Fenced off for demo...Yay.

IMG_4410 by BLACK STAR III, on Flickr


IMG_4412 by BLACK STAR III, on Flickr

[Coldrsx]

Nice shots.


www.twitter.com/ianyeg

[dancinb]

I was thinking about all the construction on 102 ave that will be ongoing for the next couple years (at least):

- Library
- LRT
- Encore
- BMO
- Corners tower

Going to be a busy couple years!

I was also wondering... wasn't the Winspear supposed to do an expansion of sorts? Whatever happened with that?

[Coldrsx]

^Concept complete, awaiting Provincial funding.

[Coldrsx]

Enbridge signage complete, Scotia mech/reclad/glazing a bit clearer in this shot.


www.twitter.com/ianoyeg

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by s211

The City has got to stop over-promising without any ability to deliver with any credibility.

Edmonton has a great history of wild dreams and plans, with little follow-through. That goes for both the private and public sectors.

I don't think we are any different than any other major municipality as it pertains to this. Just look at Toronto and its plans to expand the subway system, there are countless examples that one can pull from every municipality.

As for corruption, nothing holds a candle to Montreal. Case closed.