Edmonton Construction 13 (November 2015)

[Clearshades]

Originally Posted by EdmTrekker

Where is South Jasper ... it runs East to West.

I was refering to areas south of Jasper becoming activated...

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by EdmTrekker

Scotia Place and Enterprise Square are south of 101 Ave unless you meant 100 Ave South? But that would exclude the block between Jasper Avenue and 100th Ave, MacDonald Drive etc.

Ahem good sir, but Jasper is 101.

Anything south of 101 is SOJA.

[EdmTrekker]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Ahem good sir, but Jasper is 101.

Anything south of 101 is SOJA.

Yikes - of course. Thank you for the memory jog.

[DAVEinEDMONTON]

[QUOTE=mcc16;8990351]The detail on the windows and little roofs is really cute (excluding The first little tower with the fake windows). I know you all hate this one and probably don’t wanna see any more photos of it, but I still think it will be successful but ONLY if they stick to the plan of lots of programming in the parking area…


I love this project and it is turning out better than the renders. The quality of the materials of the different façade styles and shades of brick and accents is really looking good.

The little white housings that are intrusive to some look like the Dutch style of houses that have that upper anchor to hoist things into the upper floors. In this case, however, they have been used to provide clever hidden accent lighting to the project.

I look forward to seeing what types of retail shops actually open up in this complex. Would be a nice place to go on a summer's evening for coffee or dessert with the late sunsets being able to provide light to the complex in the evenings.

It could also be considered a very clever reclad as it took a tired old warehouse and used the footprint and two of the walls and the roof as part of the redevelopment.

[stefanYEG]

Yeah, I hated this thing based off the renderings but after seeing it in person I hate it less. Dare I say I actually kind of like it a little?! It’s significantly better than what it replaced or a generic strip mall. Parking is no good. I wish they would have mirrored and flipped the L shape and tucked parking in behind while bringing the storefronts closer to the street. I’m no expert though so I’m not sure if that would have even been possible.

[Coldrsx]

Augustana

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Wandered up and down Whyte Ave this afternoon. So many stores have come and gone that I've lost track. I wish Gord Lacey would post here, he was C2E's expert on Old Strathcona.

[Coldrsx]

Expect news on the old A&N site along with the corner.

[mcc16]

Originally Posted by stefanYEG

Yeah, I hated this thing based off the renderings but after seeing it in person I hate it less. Dare I say I actually kind of like it a little?! It’s significantly better than what it replaced or a generic strip mall. Parking is no good. I wish they would have mirrored and flipped the L shape and tucked parking in behind while bringing the storefronts closer to the street. I’m no expert though so I’m not sure if that would have even been possible.

They incorporated quite a bit of the previous warehouse that was on the site… That’s why it is set up as it is. Entire north and west walls are original (I think)... There was a mural going up today on the blank west wall that faces the bike trail. Looks like something simple and floral possibly

[mcc16]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Expect news on the old A&N site along with the corner.

Is the corner considered historic? I can’t really remember what it looks like. I don’t think I’ve actually been inside that building since it was “the attic”

Maybe somethings similar to the other end of the block where remedy is but with the corner incorporated if it’s historic?

[_Citizen_Dane_]

Originally Posted by mcc16

Is the corner considered historic?

Totally. It's not a designated Municipal Historic Resource, but it is listed on the City's Inventory of Historic Resources for being either architecturally or culturally significant and as being worthy of potential designation. It was built as the Royal Bank of Canada's Southside Branch on a standardized suburban plan used through the country. The Dominion Bank had initially bought the plot and used it for a time, though by 1916 the R.B.C. is listed as owning it. Tom Monto's book Old Strathcona: Edmonton's Southside Roots has this to say about it: "the Royal Bank Building replaced the Rutherford Block, which A.C. Rutherford had built in 1899. The Royal Bank Building stands on on the southwest corner of 104 Street and Whyte Avenue, where it is surrounded by the Army and Navy Store. An old night deposit box on the front of the building today harkens back to the building's bank use. The building's offices upstairs have housed a host of illustrious southsiders in its history. For example, in 1935, it housed the offices of Frederick Keillor (of Keillor Road fame), physician John A. McPherson and the law firm of Young & Bisset."

I honestly also doubt that complete demolition of it would be considered (I hope). It's a big brick building located right on the main intersection of Whyte, in the heart of the Old Strathcona Provincial Historic Area. I'd think anything less than a facade retention would cause quite the stir.

Here's two pictures, one from ~1920 and the other from 1949. A matching addition was added to the south around 1950.

[Coldrsx]

Thanks for the history lesson.

I suspect that the facade will be retained at the very least and incorporated into something of a low/mid-rise.

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Thanks for the history lesson.

I suspect that the facade will be retained at the very least and incorporated into something of a low/mid-rise.

As one of the most prominent / important corners in the City, I hope whatever eventually gets built here is of the highest quality. Raymond Block and Southpark are decent, but not near the quality required for this corner imo.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

Thanks for the history lesson.

I suspect that the facade will be retained at the very least and incorporated into something of a low/mid-rise.

I'm picturing.... something like Southpark... a mere facade retention would be a middle finger to the area's designation and guidelines.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Harrison

As one of the most prominent / important corners in the City, I hope whatever eventually gets built here is of the highest quality. Raymond Block and Southpark are decent, but not near the quality required for this corner imo.

Anybody know who has plans for the site? That might be most telling.

[oiler-dude]

Originally Posted by s211

Anybody know who has plans for the site? That might be most telling.

I saw a post on Skyrise Cities saying that Edgar Developments acquired it along with the Army & Navy building, and that early (private) renders "look very nice."

[s211]

Originally Posted by oiler-dude

I saw a post on Skyrise Cities saying that Edgar Developments acquired it along with the Army & Navy building, and that early (private) renders "look very nice."

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

[mcc16]

Edgar is Hendrix/mclaren? I met someone at Christmas time that Worked with Edgar dev. in some capacity and had also mentioned they had another building coming up on 124 near the McLaren that was ready to go pretty quick. I wonder if that’s still the plan. I can’t remember if they said it was the lot directly beside the McLaren ?

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by mcc16

Edgar is Hendrix/mclaren? I met someone at Christmas time that Worked with Edgar dev. in some capacity and had also mentioned they had another building coming up on 124 near the McLaren that was ready to go pretty quick. I wonder if that’s still the plan. I can’t remember if they said it was the lot directly beside the McLaren ?

I believe this is the McElheran's Furniture site. The tower there would sandwich the Atomic Zombie building against the Maclaren.

[Coldrsx]

South of MacLaren is Cidex and one other.

Edgar has the old MEC parking lot.