As downtown Edmonton is undergoing a major facelift with the construction of highrise buildings that are bringing thousands of new residents to the once quiet business district, other areas of the city are experiencing a similar population growth. South of the North Saskatchewan River, the increasing popularity of the historic Old Strathcona neighbourhood, recognized for its preserved Edwardian architecture and diverse entertainment, shopping, and eating venues, is now attracting a growing number of real estate developers.

Revised design for The Mezzo, image via WestOak Development and RAW Design

Eager to address the need for more housing options in the area, WestOak Development is proposing the construction of a 16-storey residential building known as The Mezzo at the corner of 81 Avenue and 105 Street, immediately south of the busy thoroughfare. After early renderings unveiled in 2015 created turmoil with concerns regarding the building's height and design, architect RAW Design has recently come up with a revised version of the project. Changes include the reduction in size of the formerly yellow-toned protruding structure crowning the building, while the tower portion of the facade now boasts a more traditional look, with punched-in windows positioned in a symmetrical alignment. 

Early version of The Mezzo, image via WestOak Development and RAW Design

While The Mezzo's brick-covered base that imitates the area's local architectural style appears to be unchanged, additional red bricks were added to the upper portion of the building for more consistency throughout the tower. The developer's vision for the site will be examined by city council next month and remains subject to change, but the current scheme includes over 200 residential units with a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom dwellings, as well as townhouses and 25 social housing apartments boasting up to five bedrooms. Additionally, up to four retail spaces are planned for the podium's first floor, while a start-up office space will eventually occupy the entire second level. 

Current site conditions, image retrieved from Google Maps Streetview

Upon completion in 2018, The Mezzo will have replaced a derelict church, a parking lot and an abandoned house. For now, additional images and information for this project are available in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment below.