[Daveography]

Word is Edmonton Motors downtown is shutting down and consolidating in the west end (source). That's a massive set of properties right on Jasper Avenue that will likely come up for development soon.

 

[archited]

About a month ago I had an email exchange with Harrison Wolfe, President of Edmonton Motors. He confirmed that the dealership is moving but that he had no intentions of selling or developing the land. Used car sales, anyone?

 

[Daveography]

@archited That would be very disappointing.

In general, it's very disheartening to see local families and entrepreneurs that own valuable central lands who would rather just sit on them underutilized or vacant than building up the city they live in, bring pride to their hometown, and leave a lasting legacy for themselves and their descendants.

 

[archited]

I agree @Daveography -- I had actually sent a fairly lengthy email to him underscoring those very points, but he insisted he was not interested in a development move. I think he believes that the land value will continue to soar as projects take shape around his site. I wrote back suggesting that a well designed project value would likely treble that potential increase... still no interest. Ah well, you can lead a horse to water...

 

[Daveography]

Looks like there's movement on these lands after all:

E. UPCOMING APPLICATIONS, CONFLICTS AND REGRETS (October 16, 2018)
Edmonton Motors Site - Pre-Consultaon - Anna Moir - Stantec

https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/PDF/EdmontonDesignCommittee_Oct02_2018_Agenda.pdf

 

[archited]

Arguably, this is the best construction site in Edmonton... very encouraging that it is in the hands of Stantec.

 

[Daveography]

@archited Anna is a great person to have on the file, too. So far my favourite planner at Stantec.

 

[archited]

Noted @Daveography!

 

[Daveography]

Only just heard, apparently there's an open house on this one this evening.

5:30pm - 8:00pm
Grace Lutheran Church (9907 114 St.)

This must be developer-driven, nothing has been released by the city on this.

 

[archited]

Are you attending, @Daveography?

 

[Daveography]

@archited Will try!

 

[Daveography]

First phase will be two towers south of Jasper Ave on 115 St: 43s and 35s
Pangman is one of three partners (other two don't wish to be named yet), architect is Kirkor.
Speaking with John Day, he is very bullish about this project, has been meeting with the community quite a bit before this open house.

 

[MetroEd]

^cool. i hope all 5 of those towers get built in the near future!

 

[archited]

Now, you want to talk about uninspired design...
This looks like another one of those "good enough for Edmonton" efforts.

 

[Moderne]

I like the podiums, but the bland towers are turning into a John Day forte lately, with Augustana and J22 being incredibly boring as well.