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Edmcowboy11 said:
I hope we start seeing more movement in the Quarters. Cidex has been a start for the area but I thing we need at least a couple other developers who will take some of the properties out of the hands of the long time/current owners of the lots, who are happy to just let these lots sit while they earn a passive amount of money from the parking lots.
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Except we have had developers/development in addition to Cidex commit to and complete projects in the Quarters for decades including the Brighton Block,, the Pendennis, the City Market Building, the Army and Navy, Jaffer’s two buildings, the Double Tree, National Cappuccino, the Goodridge Block, the Chinese Elders, The Quarters Arts Collective, Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective etc.

At the same time we’ve lost Brittany’s, The Nook, The Hardware Grill, the market, etc. We even lost the police recruitment centre and a cannabis store!

Many of those long time/current owners and their families would be quite happy to see their holdings developed or redeveloped by themselves (many of them are quite capable and experienced) or by partnering with/selling to a developer.

The problem isn’t a lack of developer interest, the problem is a lack of viable demand for the commercial, retail, and residential spaces that they and the Quarters need for development to proceed.
 
The city comes up will all these plans, like Moses coming down from the mountain with commandments that everyone is expected to follow and then seems surprised when for some reason things don't turn out again and again.

I think there is a disconnect here and we need to spend more time addressing the real problems and barriers to development and less time in the theoretical world.
 
^from that ARP

"7.7 RCMP Barracks
The relocation and redevelopment of the RCMP barracks will be encouraged in order to help introduce new uses into the area which will enhance the safety and security of the neighbourhood."

How old is some of this? The Grierson Institution hasn't been used as an RCMP barracks since the 70s.
 
David A said:
The city comes up will all these plans, like Moses coming down from the mountain with commandments that everyone is expected to follow and then seems surprised when for some reason things don't turn out again and again.

I think there is a disconnect here and we need to spend more time addressing the real problems and barriers to development and less time in the theoretical world.
Click to expand...
This brings to mind the framed plaques and awards in Planning’s boardroom for “Best Unimplemented Plan”. I kid you not…
 
Not sure if this is related, but weren't there a couple of other projects called The Hive that did not go ahead elsewhere?
 
Gronk! said:
edmonton.taproot.news

Elev and Five Oaks launch student housing project called The Hive

Student-housing matchmaker Elev has teamed with renowned architect Gene Dub's Five Oaks Inc. to open a housing development for students in the Quarters called The Hive.
edmonton.taproot.news edmonton.taproot.news
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Well, it's something, and if it works, it could be a good start to things, but I'm taking anything involving Dub with a huge grain of salt nowadays. He's made a lot of noise over the years about doing things here, but not much has come of it.
 
^ Gene Dub projects in Edmonton (off the top of my head): Edmonton City Hall, Millwoods Library, The Edge, The Encore tower, Quarter's Hotel, JP Library, the new velodrome at Coronation park, 7th St. Lofts. CIty Market Apt. Charles Camsell hospital conversion, Alberta Hotel rebuild, the McCloud Building restore. not.much.has.come.of.it.
 
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buildings said:
^ Gene Dub projects in Edmonton (off the top of my head): Edmonton City Hall, Millwoods Library, The Edge, The Encore tower, Quarter's Hotel, JP Library, the new velodrome at Coronation park, 7th St. Lofts. CIty Market Apt. Charles Camsell hospital conversion, Alberta Hotel rebuild, the McCloud Building restore. not.much.has.come.of.it.
Click to expand...
On the positive side, he seems to focus on unique, interesting and thoughtful projects that are positive for the community. But some do seem to take a very long time to come to fruition, such as the Hospital one.

This one seems like it may be more straightforward than some of the others, so hopefully it will proceed fairly smoothly and quickly.
 
The only projects that Gene Dub "slow walks" are those in which he is owner, the reason being that he prefers to develop them from cash flow (other owned projects) rather than mortgage or project financing. I have made this point several times but it doesn't seem to register. To put it in a more personal context if you own a house and want to develop a garage on your property but do not wish to "finance" the project, you might choose to start with building a slab foundation and pay for that out of savings, then, when you have accrued some more savings, you might invest in framing and a roof, and so on until you have built the garage -- all without affecting your house mortgage. The result is a fully owned garage that does not add to monthly payments but definitely takes more time to build.
 
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