[TAS]

With the planned disruption to downtown access arteries through the Bridge Renewal Program, I wouldn't be surprised if the downtown condo market is headed towards even more depreciation.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zPhTi1MBnKXM2dRXitoShBDoyecGKt5y/view

Will the same traffic disruptions negatively impact the downtown apartment rental market as well?

 

[policyenthusiast]

Will the same traffic disruptions negatively impact the downtown apartment rental market as well?

Hard to say, but if I had to guess I would say rental demand would decrease. With High Level bridge closed, U of A students wouldn't see downtown as a particularly viable housing location.

Even harder to say if the Strathcona-adjacent neighbourhoods have the capacity to handle the increased demand that might be generated from a downtown artery clog.

 

[David A]

Actually, it would seem to me that making it harder to drive to downtown might actually encourage some people who work there to live closer. So it could have the opposite effect.

I suppose there is also always the option of taking LRT instead, but for some commuters that is unfathomable.

 

[David A]

Hard to say, but if I had to guess I would say rental demand would decrease. With High Level bridge closed, U of A students wouldn't see downtown as a particularly viable housing location.

Even harder to say if the Strathcona-adjacent neighbourhoods have the capacity to handle the increased demand that might be generated from a downtown artery clog.

You can actually take the LRT from downtown to the U of A and that has been the case for decades. I suspect many students living downtown do that already.

And several new rental buildings downtown are very close to LRT entrances, so I don't think closing the High Level bridge would effect them much.

 

[policyenthusiast]

Actually, it would seem to me that making it harder to drive to downtown might actually encourage some people who work there to live closer. So it could have the opposite effect.

I suppose there is also always the option of taking LRT instead, but for some commuters that is unfathomable.

Agreed, it definitely could. One potential issue would be looking at the owned (non-rental) market, Downtown has lower suitability for families due to the shortage of single-detached and 3+ bedroom residences. Still, the commute-related inconvenience to young professionals could make it worth the move downtown.

I lived downtown myself for a few years, and I loved it. I still don't think it's somewhere I would stay in a family situation.

 

[David A]

This is a problem with recent downtown developments in most cities. Most of the recent developments in the GTA and GVA are very, very tiny condos.

At least here in Edmonton spaces are generally larger than there and some of the older condo buildings have very good sized units, but most are only two bedrooms.

 

[Tropical]

Hard to say, but if I had to guess I would say rental demand would decrease. With High Level bridge closed, U of A students wouldn't see downtown as a particularly viable housing location.

Even harder to say if the Strathcona-adjacent neighbourhoods have the capacity to handle the increased demand that might be generated from a downtown artery clog.

Interesting take - with the LRT connecting both so efficiently

 

[Gus Haynes]

Yeah... when I was at UofA, most of my friends didn't have cars, or (if they did), seldom used them. Even when I was in law school, I knew very few people who drove to class. I know the LRT gets a bad rap these days especially, but, as far as I can see, it's still used in a very robust way by students.

 

[policyenthusiast]

I had it brought up to me today that the Alberta Building Code requires secondary suites to have a separate heating system. Does anyone know if furnaces that have zone control (separate thermostats, shared furnace) qualify as "separate" systems?

 

[edm13]

I had it brought up to me today that the Alberta Building Code requires secondary suites to have a separate heating system. Does anyone know if furnaces that have zone control (separate thermostats, shared furnace) qualify as "separate" systems?

I don’t believe so

 

[Greenspace]

You can use something like an HRV or ERV that has heating, but might not be cheaper than a separate furnace.

 

[policyenthusiast]

You can use something like an HRV or ERV that has heating, but might not be cheaper than a separate furnace.

Thanks Greenspace. It's less of a cost issue and more of a "this seems like a Building Code oversight" issue. Multi-zone HVAC being acceptable for apartments and other multi-family structures but not for secondary suites is strange to me.

 

[Airboy]

I believe some of the secondary suites (Basement) at Blatchford were on the same HP as the rest of the residence. At least the ones I reviewed did. The Garage suites were only on the geo water lines.

 

[policyenthusiast]

I believe some of the secondary suites (Basement) at Blatchford were on the same HP as the rest of the residence. At least the ones I reviewed did. The Garage suites were only on the geo water lines.

Are you sure they were legal secondary suites? Or maybe the heating permit was inclusive of multiple furnace units? I'm not overly familiar with these permits but per the City:

I am very curious how the Blatchford units have one permit for two suites, it's not like the City could exempt them from the Building Code.

 

[archited]

^outdated regulation.