[David A]

Central Edmonton ‘Pit’ high-profile example of stalled construction eyesore

A large construction site in central Edmonton was supposed to be home to a condo tower last year. The site in Wîhkwêntôwin, however, has since become an unfortunate eyesore of a landmark.

www.ctvnews.ca

If they can't figure out what to do with it soon, just sell it off and let someone else more willing to develop it go ahead.

 

[TAS]

If they can't figure out what to do with it soon, just sell it off and let someone else more willing to develop it go ahead.

It was for sale earlier this year.

https://invest.jll.com/ca/en/listings/land/the-jameson-development-lands

 

[IanO]

It's certainly one of the 'key' sites in that area to get going on.

 

[SMayo]

over 3 years of the pit being abandoned and almost 4 years since they broke ground, I really wish the city had tools to make it financially punishing to do this to a neighbourhood.

 

[Garceyues]

over 3 years of the pit being abandoned and almost 4 years since they broke ground, I really wish the city had tools to make it financially punishing to do this to a neighbourhood.

Is it a matter of tools or political willpower? All they need to do is pass the appropriate legislation through a council vote, no?

 

[TAS]

It's hard to believe, if I remember correctly, that everything was well on it's way with this project with Clarke Builders as contractor and then deep into the excavation Open Sky was feeling bullish? and wanted to increase the number of floors by a few? and then it all went to h e double hockey sticks - unable to come to terms with contractor on extra work. And then new contractor found and apparently things back on track - but not for long before that business relationship fell apart. What a mess from Open Sky - if they still exist.

 

[Gus Haynes]

A true disasterclass.

 

[David A]

It was for sale earlier this year.

https://invest.jll.com/ca/en/listings/land/the-jameson-development-lands

It realize it was, perhaps they are as ambivalent or incompetent in selling it as they are in developing it.

 

[Vacs]

That pit is going to be a hard sell.

The shoring has an expire date even if it’s monitored. It’s more than expired now.

The only way to do this project now is fill the hole and start over. Not cheap so will have to be factored into the sale price of the land

 

[positive1]

That pit is going to be a hard sell.

The shoring has an expire date even if it’s monitored. It’s more than expired now.

The only way to do this project now is fill the hole and start over. Not cheap so will have to be factored into the sale price of the land

Out of interest, what is the expiry period for shoring? Is it a 2 year warranty or that sort of thing? I'm just interested to know what standards that's from or would it be part of a Contract?

 

[northlands]

Is there really a path forward for this site that doesn't include judicial sale?

 

[David A]

Is there really a path forward for this site that doesn't include judicial sale?

I hope not, both for the owners and the area. If you can't move ahead, stubbornly refusing to take your losses and move on likely just prolongs the problem and makes it worse.

 

[Avenuer]

Last I heard, Open Sky is looking at the feasibility of a 6-storey here, now.

lol

 

[thommyjo]

Last I heard, Open Sky is looking at the feasibility of a 6-storey here, now.

lol

Oof. Better than a pit I guess.

I also heard that they never paid the artist that drafted up a big alley mural for them. So the clown show isn’t surprising.

I’d love to see a few more highrises between 102 and 105ave. This felt like a good spot for interior. Then 104ave obviously has lots of potential.

 

[Vacs]

Out of interest, what is the expiry period for shoring? Is it a 2 year warranty or that sort of thing? I'm just interested to know what standards that's from or would it be part of a Contract?

It’s part of the engineering