Edmonton Construction 11 (November 2011)

[Hallsy's Toupee]

The crane is now down at First & Jasper site.

[Black Star]

Kinda seems as though it just went up.....

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Edmonton's Whyte Avenue prays for angel developer
Outside help seen as key to drawing more foot traffic, evening shoppers

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/edmo...prays+angel+developer/7389138/story.html

The old gas station site at Whyte Avenue and 105th Street — left vacant and contaminated for 14 years — has been cleaned up, and is expected to go on the market before year end.

The Old Strathcona Business Association says they need a public plaza to give room for festivals, attract more pedestrians and bridge the day and nighttime crowds. But they first tried to convince the city to invest in the multimillion-dollar property, then tried unsuccessfully to fundraise enough to buy the land outright; now they are talking with every interested developer they can, hoping to sell them on the idea of a plaza to bring more pedestrian life to the avenue.

The business association came up with ideas for the plaza as part of a revisioning exercise with Seattle-based branding and urban development expert Roger Brooks over the summer.

Their plan calls for a sunny, open space with a summer splash park and winter skating rink. Realistically, the plaza would at minimum be ringed with shops, but it’s the size of four to six lots so there is a lot of space, said Davison.

“If you have restaurants in there, and a plaza, that would be wonderful. This would be a central gathering spot,” he said.

Festivals and art walks work well when they shut down the street, but Whyte Avenue is too much of a transportation route to close it often, he said. A plaza would give festivals a permanent, spacious home.

[mcc16]

Public plaza = stupid stupid stupid. There is a public plaza/park/library/stage one block north and east. This lot is right in the heart of the action on whyte, between its two busiest corners (gateway and 105st where they meet whyte.) the business association has to enter the 21st century and maybe *gasp* allow residential on the ave. 2 storey commercial/retail and 4 levels set back in the back of the lot closer to the lane. Of course this will never happen though. Everyone will complain about shadows, traffic, character of the neighbourhood, blah blah blah.

[MalcolmTucker]

Well, the Old Strathcona Business Association represents current businesses - why should we expect them to want to welcome more competition? A facility that draws people without retail would be their optimal use. Is it in the public's best interest? Probably not.

[Jasper and one o nin]

Edmonton vs St. Albert on HGTV's Urban Suburban

http://www.hgtv.ca/video/edmonton+river+...=2285742005#urbansuburban/video/season+2

[SHOFEAR]

108 street is making good progress.....jasper on the other hand....

[Airboy]

Demolition has begun at the Museum site.

[viajero]

Simons: RAM project looks like it's finally underway


BY PAULA SIMONS, EDMONTON JOURNAL OCTOBER 15, 2012 5:27 PM

EDMONTON - Crack out the champagne! Or at least the carbonated apple juice.

The construction of the long-awaited new $340-million Royal Alberta Museum is now underway, north of City Hall, on the site of the old post office.

Underway “officially” that is.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/edmo...like+finally+underway/7393779/story.html

About time!! This will transform that area significantly and hopefully will result in more pedestrian traffic and boost to businesses in the area (esp. 97st)

[Black Star]

IMG_0475 by BLACK STAR II,




8092018768_d5cc994caf_k by BLACK STAR II,

[kcantor]

Originally Posted by BLACK STAR

IMG_0475 by BLACK STAR II,




8092018768_d5cc994caf_k by BLACK STAR II,

not to be too picky because the ram has started with their hazardous and interior demolition but those photos are station lands' demolition. the two storey "east annex" was used for construction and trades offices for epcor tower and is being demolished - which was always part of our plans - now that it is no longer needed for that and it's hazardous abatement is also now done.

[Black Star]

Really lol....Two good stories then!!! Thanks for the info.

[Airboy]

Thanks Ken.the only joy I had today.

[EdmTrekker]

Paula seems to have her hands on at least 1 rendering of the new revised design. I do not understand why these are not being made public - after all...we are paying for it.

[Daveography]

Originally Posted by SHOFEAR

108 street is making good progress.....jasper on the other hand....

Jasper will be a while. Don't forget that that one is not just streetscaping, they are completely rebuilding the roof of Central Station over its entire length.

[Albicaulis]

Great to see the RAM "officially" underway.

I did some work on the environmental side of this project; the hazardous materials within the building and the contamination below it were extensive. Glad to see it taken care of.

[Jasper and one o nin]

So, at about 2014-15, there could be a plethora of cranes along and around the 104 Avenue.
The Museum could have 2 or 3;
The Arena - 2 or 3
Encore - 1
Ultima - 1
Fox - 1
New Office Tower - 1 or 2
New Hotel - 1
Macewan Centre for the Arts - 1 or 2

[Channing]

Originally Posted by EdmTrekker

Paula seems to have her hands on at least 1 rendering of the new revised design. I do not understand why these are not being made public - after all...we are paying for it.

http://www.infrastructure.alberta.ca/3655.htm

All those renderings are current (and new) I believe.

[MrOilers]

I hate to say it, but with the Alberta Infrastructure involved, I am afraid the new RAM will turn into another disorganized and delayed mess like the Centennial Plaza at the Leg has become.

[240glt]

^ AI was not responsible for that, the ministers involved with the project and Kasian share the blame for the massive delays