Great Canadian Skyline Thread II - Page 318

HomeInMyShoes · #**6341** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 8:46 PM**

^^So, so pretty and ugly at the same time. Radisson and the building across the street with their two blank concrete walls, forming the gate between the cool Exchange district and the rest of downtown.

Definitely a quintessential image of Winnipeg from my memory of living there.

GreaterMontréal · #**6342** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 9:01 PM**

• Video Link

Wpg_Guy · #**6343** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 9:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

What is that big blank wall? I get that they aren't going to put windows on a wall right on the property line, but put a mural or an advertisement or something there, that look horrible. Great looking area aside from that though, Winnipeg definitely has some character.

I Agree, the blank wall is horrible. The 17 floor highrise building is called the Kensington Block it was built in 1973, it replaced the original Kensington Block after it was destroyed by fire in 1972. The plot of land is very narrow and the back of the building I presume holds the elevators and mechanical. I always assumed the architects anticipated in the future there would be another highrise built next to it, the Hample building next door and the Avenue building sat empty for years, thankfully they were recently renovated into 75 rental residential units. In the past there have been banners that have hung off the blank wall but nothing in recent years. Hopefully one day someone can come up with something creative to do with that space as no high-rise will ever be built next to it disguising the blank wall.

Original Kensington Block (left)

Early 2000's before redevelopment of the Avenue block

Rendering of next door redevelopment completed in 2012.

Under construction, August 1974

March 1975

Front of building is glass curtin wall

Source: http://winnipegdowntownplaces.blogspot.ca/2010/12/487-portage-avenue-kenisngton-building.html

Coldrsx · #**6344** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 9:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Another 10 years of growth in Edmonton at about the same rate as is happening right now will help close the gap, but Calgary is still on another level. Where Edmonton can beat us and we won't be able to catch up, is continued development along the south side of the valley in Strathcona. Calgary's skyline will eventually cross the river into Sunnyside and Bridgeland (already starting to see some mid rise there), but we will never have anything like the second skyline in Edmonton.

There is not a ton of high-rise land left on the south-side. Where I see us having an edge is the amount of potential for residential in the core where you have office towers. We probably have room for 20+ residential towers in the middle of our Downtown.

Calgarian · #**6345** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 10:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

There is not a ton of high-rise land left on the south-side. Where I see us having an edge is the amount of potential for residential in the core where you have office towers. We probably have room for 20+ residential towers in the middle of our Downtown.

Where we will add residential stock to the core will be conversion of older office buildings, but yeah, Edmonton has far more space to work with in that regard. For the south side, do you think it will just be 1 layer of highrises along the valley edge? Strathcona has some decent urban bones and could become a great neighbourhood if higher density buildings become more common. I know there is a lot of history in that area, so lots of buildings would be protected I imagine.

Coldrsx · #**6346** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 11:37 PM**

^there will be some, but few and far between given the zoning/ARP and exceptionally vocal community leagues.

Coldrsx · #**6347** Posted **Jan 23, 2018, 6:05 AM**

https://app.box.com/shared/static/xdqfif3r4vwksp58223pl7qd0jsdkbj6.jpg
TheGreatestX on C2E

Nite · #**6348** Posted **Jan 23, 2018, 6:30 AM**

Toronto

Sunrise Skyline Toronto by Alex Gow, on Flickr

mcminsen · #**6349** Posted **Jan 23, 2018, 8:42 AM**

West End skyline as seen from Kits Beach Park, Vancouver, Jan.22 '18, my pic

Martin Mtl · #**6350** Posted **Jan 23, 2018, 3:01 PM**

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeRfeqHjoVS/?tagged=livemontreal

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeRX3gwnT9D/?tagged=livemontreal

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeRSk4fnGwd/?tagged=livemontreal

WhipperSnapper · #**6351** Posted **Jan 23, 2018, 3:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Another 10 years of growth in Edmonton at about the same rate as is happening right now will help close the gap, but Calgary is still on another level. Where Edmonton can beat us and we won't be able to catch up, is continued development along the south side of the valley in Strathcona. Calgary's skyline will eventually cross the river into Sunnyside and Bridgeland (already starting to see some mid rise there), but we will never have anything like the second skyline in Edmonton.

Edmonton will actually have to pick up the pace to close the gap. Calgary is still outbuilding Edmonton. Having a limited amount of highrise zoned land in the core over a massive supply is what pushes heights higher.

240glt · #**6352** Posted **Jan 23, 2018, 4:48 PM**

^ Also Edmonton would not have had the volume of construction it has if the market had driven demand rather than a vanity project. On the commercial side there's significant vacancy and unsold condo volumes are growing rapidly.

We'd still see some condo and apartment development but not likely the volume we've seen, and not the type of product that they're attempting to sell here.