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In the heart of downtown Edmonton, a major urban renewal project is underway. The Warehouse District, located between Jasper Avenue and 104 Avenue and between 102 Street and 109 Street, is becoming the city's most appreciated and eclectic neighbourhood. A first wave of revitalization occurred in the late 1990s, when the city invested $3.1 million CAD into street improvements on 104 Street NW including sidewalk widening, street furniture and planting new trees. Ever since, the former brick warehouses lining the street have gradually been repurposed into lofts and offices with retail storefronts now home to designer shops, wine bars and trendy cafes.
The 1997 implementation of the city's downtown plan, where developers would receive a $4,500 CAD incentive for each of the first thousand units built in the area, further translated into brand new condominium projects planned for the area's numerous parking lots. However, all new buildings must meet the city's criteria for urban design in the Warehouse District. This specifies how recent construction should reflect the historical elements of the surrounding heritage structures. Highrises are thus required to rise from a brick podium ranging between two and six storeys in height depending on the street, where stores at ground level are required to face the street directly in order to enhance the pedestrian experience.
A project such as Ultima, currently under construction in the Warehouse District on 103 Street NW, between 103 and 102 Avenues NW, is illustrating the changes the neighbourhood is experiencing. A recent photo update on our Forum about this Westrich Pacific-developed 109-metre, 32-storey condominium tower shows how it was designed to meet the street while complementing the neighbouring historic structures, as seen in the picture above. The two three-storey protruding elements covered in red brick will serve as a catalyst for street-level activity by adding several retail units, while reinforcing the existing street wall and preserving the scale of the area.
Above, the tower section of the building rises in a more conventional form, with the glass and metal materials and designs usually found in contemporary buildings. Future residents will benefit from wide and developing entertainment and dining options. During the spring and summer months, a farmers' market also animates 104 Street NW on Saturdays, attracting residents from all parts of the city. While the downtown population is growing thanks to a series of revitalization efforts and growing selection of urban amenities, the city will soon have to face the issue of the lack of parks and green spaces in the core — a crucial element to retain families with children in the central districts.
We will come back with more updates on some of the projects currently changing the face of Edmonton. Meanwhile, further information and renderings of Ultima can be found in our Database file, linked below. If you would like to join the discussion, visit the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
