Edmonton Construction 9 (2008-08)

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Kevin_foster

Thanks WCO, I havent seen that much rebar since my college days on white ave

haha... awesome!

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

A visual of our problem

Well, the one on the lower left will soon be replaced with a 3-level u/g parkade with a park on top. And, I think that we'll see the Baccarrat one gonzo in a couple of years as well. And, the Mayfair site on 109 and Jasper.

Its the area around BP's...that's the heart of it.

[CMD UW]

A number of the boutique businesses along 124 Street "The Block to Shop" had their merchandise for sale on the sidewalk today. It was great, there were people shopping, browsing, etc. It really animated the street. Great work folks! I must give these entrepreneurs credit as they have done well with marketing the High Street portion of 124 Street.

[ue]

That's great to hear CMD, I definitely need to go to that stretch more often. Though High St is at 125 St and 102 Ave in case you didn't know. But you're right Block to Shop has been advertised well. Now let's just spread that all the way to 111 Ave (without holes like 102-104 Ave and just south of 107 Ave). That area definitely makes a great "2nd" urban destination.

What will our next one be though? I feel we need to catch up a lot compared to other cities in terms of cool urban streets. Jasper Ave is shaping up, and 104th Street is turning out really cool but neither are 'there'. Places like 118 Avenue and the Quarters have lots of potential, but have barely started.

[0773|=\]

^We have a lot of 'potential' sites. As it stands we've got Whyte, Garneau, and 124th. Jasper, 104th St and Alberta Ave are likely the next places to get going.

Places where the potential is there... I'd say a few pockets along 111/112 Ave (around the stadium, historic Highlands district--although that one is much smaller), Stony Plain Road is starting to take some shape, and the Old Fort Road district is getting some heavy investment right now. I also hope that Olde Towne Beverly improves. That's a corner of the city that I think the vast majority of Edmontonians don't even know about.

[ue]

I agree with you 0773|=\.

But Garneau? I don't know. I know you're referring to 109th St, but I kinda felt it as more of a 'neighbourhood strip', not an area that all people in the city necessarily go to.

I think East Whyte and sections of the North Edge like 105 (Columbia) and 107 Ave. will be next. Argueably I'd also say Chinatown (97 St to the east, 101 St to the west, 105 Ave to the south, 109 Ave to the north) and the Little Italy Village also have great potential, just need a little bit more cleaning up and some more middle class citizens.

We have a crazy amount of potential, but most hasn't happened yet.

I can see Fort Road getting a huge revamp soon, with Station Pointe, but the economy needs to come back. The area has a lot of potential, but honestly right now it's quite gritty.

Strathearn Heights and VFTC could also really take off. Strathearn could easily turn into a vibrant community centred neighbourhood, but I think VFTC will just add density to Glenora, not necessarily vibrancy per se.

Personally I think the Quarters has the most potential. It's truly a blank slate, but also has a lot of neat stuff like the East Jasper Block in it. It is filled with history. Put in a solid 10 years into it, and it could rival Whyte Avenue.

Alberta Ave has been seeing some signs of revitalization, so that's helping. But I think it's going to be a slow start.

Stoney Plain Road has so much potential, probably the only 'west end' urban street I guess. but it's still quite sketchy, and the new shopping centre with a Giant Tiger doesn't really help too much I'd say.

Then we've got spots like 99 St, 102 Ave, the Highlands, Olde Towne Beverly, northern fringes of 124st, Gateway Boulevard, 97 St, Little Italy, Norwood boulevard, etc.

Jasper Avenue is only really missing 2 things to me right now, a few restaurants with big patios & some more retail. Then it would be a great stretch. Give it another 5 years I'd say.

104th St just really needs to push north of 102 Avenue. It has great potential, and the old brick buildings really help, but it's still 5-7 years off I'd say.

[Kevin_foster]

Awesome day at Laurier Park today. My little mans first bday party...

I've spent so much time there this year - love laurier park and the offleash north of there as well :>

Cold, you ever bring Monster to the offleash there?

[0773|=\]

^^ EE:

I think Garneau serves more than just the local area around it. First of all, you have the university population that goes there. Second you have a high level streetcar that treats Garneau as a destination for tourists. Third, you have several places, not the least of which is the Garneau theater, (there's also the Sugar Bowl, Remedy Cafe, and High Level Diner) that serve the entire city, because they're simply that good. You could almost fuse its territory with Whyte ave, though in a few years, the boundaries of those two areas may be even less distinguishable. I'd say Garneau gets the nod as more than just an "up-and-coming" district, it's "there" because it does what it does very well.

[0773|=\]

Originally Posted by Kevin_foster

Awesome day at Laurier Park today. My little mans first bday party...

I've spent so much time there this year - love laurier park and the offleash north of there as well :>

Cold, you ever bring Monster to the offleash there?

Ahhh... Laurier...

Great park, and the best part is it's not as utilized as Hawrelek, Murphy, or Rundle, so it's a nice place to have a picnic avoid the crowds. I wonder if this park will see any changes in the future on account of the Zoo being renovated/expanded.

I do wish on occasion when biking through the off-leash area that the dogs wouldn't feel the need to investigate the spokes on my wheels...

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by Kevin_foster

Awesome day at Laurier Park today. My little mans first bday party...

I've spent so much time there this year - love laurier park and the offleash north of there as well :>

Cold, you ever bring Monster to the offleash there?

Great park indeed and yes he has explored it a few times

[CMD UW]

Originally Posted by edmontonenthusiast

That's great to hear CMD, I definitely need to go to that stretch more often. Though High St is at 125 St and 102 Ave in case you didn't know. But you're right Block to Shop has been advertised well. Now let's just spread that all the way to 111 Ave (without holes like 102-104 Ave and just south of 107 Ave). That area definitely makes a great "2nd" urban destination.

What will our next one be though? I feel we need to catch up a lot compared to other cities in terms of cool urban streets. Jasper Ave is shaping up, and 104th Street is turning out really cool but neither are 'there'. Places like 118 Avenue and the Quarters have lots of potential, but have barely started.

Yes and no. While 125 Street is known as thee High Street, the 'peripheral' neighbourhood is also dubbed 'High Street'.

I'd say the next area that has alot of potential is the block north 107 and 109 Aves along 124 Street. There are some new shops that have opened and some reinvestment in properties as well.

104 Street is well on its way, there are some vacant lots that will be developed to help fill in the voids.

I would also say that 109 Street and Jasper area will improve tremendously once The Pro building is completed and the Mayfair site developed. The new retail will help liven up that portion of the block.

[ue]

I agree about 109 St north of the river. Since 124th is probably 'there' I'd say, 109th St/Jasper area will probably be the next area to take fold. the Intact will be done soon, Mayfair should start sooon, as should the parking/retail for Azur. That's pretty tremendous. That area will look so dense.

The only part that bothers me in 124th is between 102 and 104 Avenues really. There's a few galleries, but otherwise it's dull. It doesn't help MEC just has a blank wall facing it.

I like that Edmonton has so many neighbourhoods to work with. We may get jealous at Calgary, cause if you look a lot of there areas have gentrified and developed, like 11/12 Ave SW, Inglewood, Bridgeland (well starting), Kensington, 17th, 4 St SW, Stephen Ave, and Marda Loop (sort of started, but not there). But I like that we have many more areas to work with.

Rossdale could be a easy, small area to develop/revitalize (even just by Colds plan a while back) could go a far way.

Jasper Ave despirately needs more retail, and too many storefronts have parking lots in front of them west of 109th which bothers me. It kills the streetlife.

But, I've never heard 124th St called High St officially, just incorrectly by some. High St is officially 125st/102ave. The area of 124th St nearby is either the Block to Shop or the Gallery Walk district.

[CMD UW]

The MEC street activity is focused on 102 Ave, and it does so very succesfully. Yes, more glazing along 124 Street would have been better. However, I believe MEC does a great job animating that portion of the block.

While the retail bays between 102 and 104 Ave are occupied, the types of tenants there aren't great for generating an animated streetfront. A better / increased mix of restaurant / lounges with patios would definately improve the situation.

[ue]

Yes. I agree. That's probably the dullest section of 124 St. Which doesn't help IMO for someone checking out the place for the first time. They stop at the Block to Shop and are amazed, then go one block north...not so amazed.

I think the art galleries are fine there (maybe if they made more throughout 124th) as they act as a sort of mini attraction, but we need that mixed in with boutiques, interior design studios, big restaurants, cafés/teahouses, microbreweries, bars, and bookstores.

[240glt]

EDC June 23 agenda: http://www.edmonton.ca/city_governme...ne23Agenda.pdf

[Daveography]

Originally Posted by CMD UW

Yes and no. While 125 Street is known as thee High Street, the 'peripheral' neighbourhood is also dubbed 'High Street'.

AFAIK, only that little strip mall on 102 Ave. at 125 St. is called "High Street," not any real street or district in Edmonton.

"High Street" is just a generic name given to a shopping strip on a relatively major street, originating from the UK. It is basically the English version of calling a street "Main Street" whether or not that is the street's real name.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_street

[feepa]

Refering back to a few posts - what about the retail on 101 street north of 105 ave? I bet over the next 20 years, we wont even recognize this bustling street, as downtown pushes north, and the north edge takes off.

101st Street has my bet to have the biggest turnaround over present day conditions. 107th will also have its coming up, but it will take longer...

[ue]

107th Ave I know used to have much more variety than now. So it could certainly go back to that I'm sure.

101st? Maybe, but I feel it's secondary and much too close to 97th St which has much more potential, as a major artery, home to Quarters, Downtown, Chinatown, crosses the Yellowhead, Northtown, Northgate, and actually goes outside the city. That's just my opinion. But 101st could develop into a nice smaller scale street like 21 Ave NW in Portland vs NW 23rd.

105 and 107 Ave will likely be the main strips of the North Edge.

[Daveography]

Having lived just off 107 Ave., I can tell you "The Avenue of Nations" is successful in its diversity, but an utter failure in its community. If anything, that diversity is what is holding it back from greatness: the community is made up of so many different ethnic groups that have so little common ground - to say nothing of common language - that they have not been able to come together for the betterment of their neighborhood.

Now having said that, I think some of these groups are starting to coalesce into smaller areas, which I see as being a good thing; in particular, the Somalis are really starting to shape the area around 107-110 St. and it is quickly becoming known as "Little Mogadishu." I would like to see more of this from the local Vietnamese, Koreans, Sudanese, and other groups; come together and form some real communities, start up, invest in, and support more local businesses and activities, and reach out to and form networks with the other communities and the city as a whole.

[feepa]

105 AVE will never be a main strip.