David A
Senior Member
Yes unfortunately it is a fairly long list. Around half of dozen of these are also on the we used to have downtown list.
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- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
IanO
Superstar
Making that list reminded me just how far we have fallen and how embarrassing things are here.
archited
Senior Member
^ and yet the embarrassment continues...
buildings
Active Member
^^what's embarrassing is your company's dream to make the 101st lot a parking lot.
Glenco
Senior Member
Iano is correct our downtown is embarrassing. Have you ever tried to explain to visitors why there are so many empty gravel lots downtown? Westrich cannot create demand for a 60 story mixed use building they can only respond to it.
So what is the over under for a 10 year timeline for development of this lot? I will take the over.
So what is the over under for a 10 year timeline for development of this lot? I will take the over.
_urbanite
Senior Member
Lack of demand to build anything there doesn't mean we should accept another parking lot because the developer needs holding revenue to justify their purchase.
All we're asking for is a temporary use that adds value to workers, residents and visitors passing through the area. A parking lot with a sea can coffee stand isn't good enough.
Glenco
Senior Member
You mean like the temporary park on Jasper at 102 street. It is a magnet for crime and social disorder
IanO
Superstar
The embarrassing comment was in reference to the retail discussion.
Glenco
Senior Member
I appreciate what you are saying but explaining to visitors why there is no retail and you are better off going to Southgate on the LRT if you want to risk navigating the stairwell to get to it.
David A
Senior Member
Yes, as always, those who already live downtown, nearby or visiting are forgotten here. One reason it is so hard to attract more residents downtown is because of the lack of retail.
You can't have a very good downtown lifestyle in Edmonton if you have to go to Southgate for decent retail, so then you might as well just live elsewhere instead.
IanO
Superstar
That's the conundrum; it's ridiculous that a city of this size has such a lack of retail in its core. Time to change this and bring a few key amenities, services and retail options back, but that wont happen until ECC sorts itself out, but I am hopeful.
The other issue resulting and compounding this is that if you dont walk to retail, you probably also dont pop into City Market for groceries and DeVines for wine etc. etc.
This is a very serious threat to other businesses.
The other issue resulting and compounding this is that if you dont walk to retail, you probably also dont pop into City Market for groceries and DeVines for wine etc. etc.
This is a very serious threat to other businesses.
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Kosy123
Senior Member
'Light at the end of the tunnel': 2025 saw signs of recovery in Edmonton's office market
As office vacancy rates ended the year at pre-pandemic levels, market watchers are predicting a more bustling downtown in 2026.
edmontonjournal.com
Some good news about downtown on this one. CBRE in its 2025 outlook predicted that downtown core vacancy would rise to 23.6% but we ended the year at 20.9%.
More conversions too according to CBRE coming this year.
David A
Senior Member
With two financial institutions now beefing up their presence downtown, perhaps that will put some pressure on some of the bigger banks which don't seem to have a strong presence downtown.
IanO
Superstar
Popped into The Common for an event tonight (thanks Situate!) and am reminded how much I love its vibe from both inside and the street. More Commons.
Kosy123
Senior Member
CN Tower is officially off the inventory for financial office space, and a confidential 170,000 sq ft transaction somewhere in the core. 2026 might be a really good year for downtown if these trends continue.
