They don't have huge setbacks from the street and half the property as surface parking. They might not be concrete and glass but I don't get how they are "suburban" developments.
That stretch of Jasper ave is rough despite it running through one of the most desirable parts of the city. Is it over speculation and over valuation of the land that’s stopping things from being built?
The owners of Silent Ice Centre own the Spruce Grove Saints, so they probably would rather offer the space they own to the UofA and not have to fight for ice time for the team they own.