Edmonton Construction 11 (November 2011)

[Keats82]

Nice to see Mayfair South almost done, which means North can (hopefully) start soon.

Maybe it's just my thought at the moment, but I wonder how that unique fold / corner on the north face of the south tower would look facing the street. I suppose we'll be seeing more of it tho than originally planned...

Looking forwards to seeing some renders soon.

[Keats82]

Originally Posted by ue

I'm baffled as to why more hasn't started downtown. I realize the economy isn't where it was in 2005-2007/8, but the Alberta economy is still chugging along decently. If new communities out in bumblefuck can continue or start, I see no reason why there can't be more than 1 residential building in Downtown Edmonton proper under construction.

Why haven't any one of the numerous condos proposed around 97th Ave (Raintree, Parkwood, etc.) started? Why isn't a new condo constructed around 99th or 100th ave so Omega isn't so lonely? Ultima? The 104 St/102 Ave corner has been the site of many proposals, why hasn't anything begun? It isn't as if there is a lack of spaces to build new apartments/condos/lofts Downtown (like say, Oliver, which does have a bunch of spaces, just not near as many). One just needs to take a stroll down such bustling downtown corridors as 102 Ave, 107 Str, and 100 Ave.

There just seems like so much talk and so little action. Maybe if we got a few more decent condos going during the boom, I'd be less bitter. However, I realize the shift in mentality from suburban to urban city was not as far along as it is now.

I think it's coming tho - Ultima, "Icon 3 and 4", Pearl, Quest still needs to fill up... Not to mention WatersEdge, Mayfair, etc. But it would be nice to see more start. I think a lot of the projects that haven't gone ahead have been explained to me as "land swaps", or just upping the land value to make a buck.

Maybe we'll get some surprises this year?

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by ue

Really? I didn't know it was 98%! I was thinking it was maybe 95 or 96%, maybe 97%, but most certainly not 98%!

Sarcasm aside, yeah, I realize most growth was and still remains in the suburbs. But why hasn't that changed a bit more? Why isn't there more construction going on in a downtown of a city supposedly on the verge of boom? Really, just 1 building and a whole lotta talk about a dozen and a half other projects? That's all Edmonton can manage? Can't expect downtown to revitalize with that amount of enthusiasm with building new buildings and filling up old holes.

Oh, and even if suburban growth has been the same for the past five years, there still was more condo construction during the boom. Yes, we are not in a boom, but I would expect at least a couple more residential projects underway.

Cause it's much more expensive much more risky? incase you haven't looked out the window over the last 3 years there aren't a whole lot of people willing to finance 60M projects. Sure things look like they are about to boom....but there are still big concerns...

[Kevin_foster]

From an email:
Federal defence minister Peter MacKay is announcing a new $54 million home for our troops. A new 8,000-square-metre headquarters will be built in Edmonton for Land Force Western Area.

Sent at 11:14am on March 23, 2012

Visit http://630ched.com for more details.

[rapid_business]

Here is an image of the project:


More information can be found here.

[mcc16]

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/homes/homes/6314764/story.html

[Kevin_foster]

Originally Posted by mcc16

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/homes/homes/6314764/story.html

Whaaa, I had no idea this was part of the Cambridge building. How cool...

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Kevin_foster

Whaaa, I had no idea this was part of the Cambridge building. How cool...

Scotch just seems to taste better up there It is a killer space.

[Hallsy's Toupee]

"rickzilla" in the comments section of the article - bitter ex-Manasc employee?

[ue]

Originally Posted by SHOFEAR

Cause it's much more expensive much more risky? incase you haven't looked out the window over the last 3 years there aren't a whole lot of people willing to finance 60M projects. Sure things look like they are about to boom....but there are still big concerns...

Yes, that makes sense. However, a new residential building downtown need not be a swanky new high-rise condo. It could be the sorely needed townhouses or walkups or mid-rise condos/apartments.

Not to pull the evil "Calgary card" but just taking a quick look at the Construction thread, here's some high-rise residential construction in Downtown/Beltline area...

- Keynote III
- Cala
- The Drake
- Lumino II
- Luna
- Mustard Seed Tower
- Oi Kwan Place
- Waterfront III
- Waterfront IV

In a similar area in Edmonton, you get

- Mayfair I
- The Pearl
- Boyle St Renaissance (this is pushing it, however, as this is more of a low-rise development)

And this isn't even counting the numerous projects underway outside the Central City in Calgary, such as in Bridgeland, University City, and numerous TODs. The most Edmonton's got in this area is some talks of the next phase of Century Park finally going ahead (which I recall being rumoured last year as well).

[240glt]

^ have you bought your condo yet ?


I wouldn't worry about it too much. If the demand is there, some more projects will go.

There's lots in the pipeline.

[s4.audios]

A more attractive downtown should increase demand in our city. I believe the city really needs to step up and get going with the facelifts; redo jasper ave already it is taking way too long.

On another note, looking at Manaasc website reminded me of the associated engineering building reno. Any news on this ever happening? I would put this as top priority.

[Coldrsx]

'Any news on this ever happening?'

maybe, eventually

[s4.audios]

What's the story on qualico? Please don't say maybe eventually

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by ue

Yes, that makes sense. However, a new residential building downtown need not be a swanky new high-rise condo. It could be the sorely needed townhouses or walkups or mid-rise condos/apartments.

Not to pull the evil "Calgary card" but just taking a quick look at the Construction thread, here's some high-rise residential construction in Downtown/Beltline area...

- Keynote III
- Cala
- The Drake
- Lumino II
- Luna
- Mustard Seed Tower
- Oi Kwan Place
- Waterfront III
- Waterfront IV

In a similar area in Edmonton, you get

- Mayfair I
- The Pearl
- Boyle St Renaissance (this is pushing it, however, as this is more of a low-rise development)

And this isn't even counting the numerous projects underway outside the Central City in Calgary, such as in Bridgeland, University City, and numerous TODs. The most Edmonton's got in this area is some talks of the next phase of Century Park finally going ahead (which I recall being rumoured last year as well).

And two years ago they had a handfull of stalled projects with bankrupt owners, we didn't have any.

[ue]

^ Yeah, because we barely did anything. Uniconic towers, Vivashitty, and the Quest for something better not being found. While I'm not advocating for overbuilding, I hardly think Calgary getting more projects underway, with a few stalled sites (some of which ended up going ahead IIRC) is that bad.

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

'Any news on this ever happening?'

maybe, eventually

This is the problem. It's all talk. Everything might happen, eventually, one day, who knows when, but hey, it might happen.

I realize certain projects take awhile to plan, such as the unbearably slow Arena talks. However, I do think if Edmonton had more happening, more construction and changes to see, there'd be a lot less complaining because, regardless of how long Project X is taking, Project Y and Project Z are still chugging along and changing the city for the better.

[kcantor]

Originally Posted by s4.audios

What's the story on qualico? Please don't say maybe eventually

what else can one say then? it sure beats saying we won't be there even eventually...

besides, at least we have proven - on more than one occasion over the past 60 years - that we will indeed be there and building when "maybe eventually" does arrive.

and while we have a bit of seasonal work and some tidying up left - including the last little bit of leasing - the last "maybe eventually" on the table is turning out pretty darn well from our perspective. despite ue's posting, there's just a little bit more behind us than all talk)...

[s4.audios]

The response is definitely better than nothing; I was just hoping someone has some real inside scoop with detail. But if it's all I can get then I'm good with it.

[ue]

^^ Oh, I'm sure there's a whole lot more going on behind the scene. But understand where I, and 99% of people outside this forum are coming from. We don't hear or see from developers or architects directly about how soon or far along certain projects may or may not be. We hear little chirps from you guys that could turn out to be something or nothing, but otherwise it's the official announcements. And even that can go nowhere. Strathearn was officially announced, even approved, but so far no action otherwise.

Until shovels are in the ground and things get built, people, such as myself, are just going to see a lot of talk and no action, even if things may be on the contrary. We are not in the business and therefore are only going based on what you guys are allowed to say and what the official, public information says. That isn't the whole picture, but that's what we've got. So from my end, it looks like nothing is happening.

[Coldrsx]

Don't be fooled, a lot is happening, but things take time and financing.