New Arena for Downtown Edmonton

[Coldrsx]

Community Arena

380pairs of skates available, helmets, trainer sleds etc., moms and tots, shinny, fitness skating, community skates, learn to skate...

https://www.edmonton.ca/activities_parks_recreation/downtown-community-arena.aspx

[s211]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Arena District Local Advisory Meeting tonight.

-Rogers will now be humidified!
-More urinal conversions on the second level
-Operational modifications to improve the building
-Circulation improvements have been made
-Experience improvements
-77,000sqft plaza, up to 8000 people + year-round programming, skating rink with ice plant to extend the season, stage, AV.
-Opens spring 2020
-Significant work with various agencies, groups, to have positive impacts on both the surrounding community and community at large.
-COE washroom pilot project will continue and expand to Alex D Park
-27 major events/concerts/sporting between now and Oct 31 with an expected total attendance of around 260,000 people.

???????????????

[Coldrsx]

The Ice District Plaza.

[feepa]

Only a year late on the plaza, no biggie.

[Coldrsx]

Due to Tower B crane...

[s4.audios]

Am I crazy or does it look like tower b site is looking like its being prepped to stay grounded for the foreseeable future?

[Coldrsx]

Horse's mouth last night, construction commences this fall.

[feepa]

I'm sure there will be another large ask or two from katzco to the coe before the plaza is built.

[Vixx]

Tower B and the plaza really need to commence construction and finish. JW and Stantec are turning out to be solid towers that have dramatically changed the skyline, but the focal point of this project was to get a lively entertainment district live and inject life into downtown after hours.

Unrelated but, any rumblings of when 2.0 might get going? I realize it will be awhile with the economy being slower and the glut of condos coming online soon. The immediate North end of downtown needs some life though, it still is one of the crummiest parts of town.

[Hardhatdan]

Originally Posted by feepa

I'm sure there will be another large ask or two from katzco to the coe before the plaza is built.

Well don't complain about the timelines in one post and in another point a finger at the tax payer being asked for money in another.
As it stands everything outside the arena is privately funded. None of it has to be built unless its profit a land and the only dictator of the timelines is private funder.

[feepa]

The plaza was an agreed upon amenity that was to be supplied in the agreement for the arena.

I will complain about the timeline lies, and the fact that taxpayers are again being threatened to be on the hook, or Katz is pulling out.

[Albicaulis]

I will complain about the timeline lies (like 90% of construction projects), and the fact that taxpayers are again being threatened to be on the hook (who's threatening? please provide some sore of reference for these threats), or Katz is pulling out (again, where is Katz "pulling out").

I agree there are some legitimate reasons to grumble about the arena funding model (or any other arena funding model in North America for that matter), but this seems a tad dramatic.

[feepa]

https://globalnews.ca/news/4301593/ice-district-plaza-edmonton-oeg-mckeen/

[Albicaulis]

I think it's a bit early to call the results of a closed-door negotiation. I don't see anything in that article about putting taxpayers on the hook or Katz pulling out.

If that were the result of such a negotiation, I think we would all think less of City administration than many of us already do.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by feepa

The plaza was an agreed upon amenity that was to be supplied in the agreement for the arena.

I will complain about the timeline lies, and the fact that taxpayers are again being threatened to be on the hook, or Katz is pulling out.

Since Donnie Boy wants the suburbs to pay more for their infrastructure despite the fact that people from all over the city use suburban infrastructure maybe the downtown residents should pay more for the plaza.

[Hardhatdan]

Originally Posted by feepa

https://globalnews.ca/news/4301593/ice-district-plaza-edmonton-oeg-mckeen/

You want say over the timelines, but again are pointing the fact that is currently 100% privately funded with the opening date at the discretion of the Owner.
If the COE were a partner, they would have leverage over the opening and access.

It is not a part of the Arena agreement to my knowledge and was not included in the costs, it a private space, privately funded.

As far as the request for funding and partnership for amenities, I don't think the COE should be involved. If the Katz group wants the plaze to be less of amenity or attraction, that is their poor decision. If they want they can just make it asphalt paving, it will just reflect poorly on them but nothing is owed.

[kcantor]

Originally Posted by 240glt

Since Donnie Boy wants the suburbs to pay more for their infrastructure despite the fact that people from all over the city use suburban infrastructure maybe the downtown residents should pay more for the plaza.

agreed - too much of the multipoint plan is simply another order of shell games designed to hide the simple fact that they’re spending too much money too quickly and just don’t want to be held accountable for it.

[Coldrsx]

Is ICE District Revitalizing Downtown?

It may be hard to remember now but the initial announcement for Rogers Place was instantly connected to stories of a revitalized downtown core. Like many stadiums before it, the Oilers’ proposed new home was supposed to bring new venues and new areas for people to explore and enjoy. With these, of course, a renewed excitement was supposed to follow, and more development as a result.

ICE District was announced not long after Rogers Place and with it, the claim that it would “transform Edmonton and [become] the largest mixed-use sports and entertainment development in Canada.” Even today, ICE District’s own website claims that the area is “leading a major rejuvenation — and shakeup of commercial real estate — in downtown Edmonton.”

http://businessinedmonton.com/featured/ice-district-revitalizing-downtown/

[Coldrsx]

CRL update (with reduction in parking revenue impact)


www.edmonton.ca

[SHOFEAR]

Edmonton:

Spend tens of millions over the last handful of years with the war against the car. Then loose out on millions in parking revenues.