What do you think of this project?

  • Total voters
    29
CaptainBL said:
Regardless of the reason, its another strike against the Ice District as an entertainment district to draw patrons and foot traffic.

Movie theater - cancelled
Retail options - limited at best
Casino - closed

The closer this phase gets to completion, the less it is looking like the unique entertainment option to draw people to downtown and the area as it was proposed . Its quite disappointing to see the execution of this project by the development group. For example, if lack of parking is really the problem, why cant the developer get creative and offer solutions like free parking validated by the casino? Because now they're in a situation where they are losing revenue from the casino and parking.
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Fixed that for you.
 
CaptainBL said:
Regardless of the reason, its another strike against the Ice District as an entertainment district to draw patrons and foot traffic.

Movie theater - cancelled
Retail options - limited at best
Casino - closed

The closer this phase gets to completion, the less it is looking like the unique entertainment option to draw people to downtown and the area as it was promised. Its quite disappointing to see the execution of this project by the development group. For example, if lack of parking is really the problem, why cant the developer get creative and offer solutions like free parking validated by the casino? Because now they're in a situation where they are losing revenue from the casino and parking.
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Agreed that parking is a huge issue. But it is a symptom of our car culture here. Hopefully the new LRT lines will help people go a car free.
 
I’m not sure the city will ever understand the requirements of free parking downtown to attract people from the surrounding areas.

When we lost the baccarat casino parking lot, most of the kids in university changed their gathering habits because they didn’t want to pay for parking and ended up going to the suburbs for nights out.

When the arena parking restrictions came into effect, all my friends stopped doing our Wing Wednesday tradition because none of us could understand when and when we wouldn’t be ticketed. And plenty of tickets were dished out.

It’s an automobile centric city with free or cheaper alternative options to downtown entertainment, who woulda thought these things would become a problem?
 
Those statements hold true for any city. If you are from North York or Burnaby or or or you often don't go Downtown due to distance, parking, costs, lack of convenience.

The difference maker is that most other Downtowns have enough residents nearby and visitors from local hotels to fill seats.
 
IanO said:
Those statements hold true for any city. If you are from North York or Burnaby or or or you often don't go Downtown due to distance, parking, costs, lack of convenience.

The difference maker is that most other Downtowns have enough residents nearby and visitors from local hotels to fill seats.
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Not particularly. Edmonton is a rather sprawled out city with low population density and a cold climate - not to mention being designed in a way that makes mass transit a rather impractical option for people. Burnaby, namely around Brentwood and Metrotown, are all built around their transit - in fact I know a few people who don't own vehicles.

They're two very different personalities of cities, one isn't better than the other, but asking people to come downtown but leave their cars at home is a little asinine. Therefore, asking people to come downtown when they care about paid parking, then charge them an arm and a leg for said parking, is going to lead to people finding different ways to spend their time.
 
Stevey_G said:
Not particularly. Edmonton is a rather sprawled out city with low population density and a cold climate - not to mention being designed in a way that makes mass transit a rather impractical option for people. Burnaby, namely around Brentwood and Metrotown, are all built around their transit - in fact I know a few people who don't own vehicles.

They're two very different personalities of cities, one isn't better than the other, but asking people to come downtown but leave their cars at home is a little asinine. Therefore, asking people to come downtown when they care about paid parking, then charge them an arm and a leg for said parking, is going to lead to people finding different ways to spend their time.
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Very particularly. It's the same the world over.
 
CaptainBL said:
Regardless of the reason, its another strike against the Ice District as an entertainment district to draw patrons and foot traffic.

Movie theater - cancelled
Retail options - limited at best
Casino - closed

The closer this phase gets to completion, the less it is looking like the unique entertainment option to draw people to downtown and the area as it was promised. Its quite disappointing to see the execution of this project by the development group. For example, if lack of parking is really the problem, why cant the developer get creative and offer solutions like free parking validated by the casino? Because now they're in a situation where they are losing revenue from the casino and parking.
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Yes, I agree.
Looking at the ICE District directory on their website is very disappointing. There's a bunch of restaurants, banks , a grocery store and some professional services offered or coming soon. The only entertainment to be had is scheduled Roger's Place events. That's not an Entertainment District in any sense.

Hopefully there's still some space available for lease to bring in something that'll draw people to the area for more than just a premium Roger's concert/event. People will come from other parts of the city if i there's enough interesting things to do and they'll keep coming back!!!

Totally agree on the parking validation. Spend money here. Get your tickets validated.

Valley Line LRT completion and eventually Prairie Sky Gondolas will offer other areas of the city with convenient and inexpensive transportation options to downtown, many never had before. I use the LRT from Century Park to go to Elks football games. Nothing could be easier.

Reminds me of a mall had a business in for several years. They just leased to whomever. They weren't selective and had multiple tenants offering the same thing. Customers would walk in , see the lack of variety and never return. That mall never recovered from it.

I just want to see the ICE District as a destination year-round. A place for our residents to enjoy on their time off, on the weekends or whenever. Not just for the concert goer or hockey fan. I know it's not 100 percent complete but I'm not seeing it shaping up to be that way. I know how important it is to get spaces leased but you have to have the right mix of tenants especially with a project such as this. Pardon the ramble...
 
It is unfortunate the direction the district has gone. To be an entertainment district my thought is there should be at least on or two bar/music venue like house of blue, hard rock cafe or sidetrack cafe, a bowling alley, a rec room style venue, a pool hall, a special novelty attraction (something unique to the area like the Ripleys aquarium in Toronto, or Wax museum like in L.A., and anything else that would be good for a fun night out.

Unfortunately all it has right now are some restaurants and a non entity casino. There is also (surrounding area) movie theater, retro arcade and future sports bar, but definitely not enough to declare itself a proper entertainment district.
 
buildings said:
I just don't buy this "lack of free parking" jag. I grew up in North York and never, ever did I drive downtown for an evening of fun. it was TTC all the way. Who drives to an evening of drinking?
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Except here we have a bunch of stubborn truck/car loving rednecks who bitch about no free parking all the time.
 
buildings said:
I just don't buy this "lack of free parking" jag. I grew up in North York and never, ever did I drive downtown for an evening of fun. it was TTC all the way. Who drives to an evening of drinking?
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This is definitely not the GTA. Free parking is like a birth-rite to many here.

However, I suspect going to the casino might involve not as much drinking and if not, perhaps they will call you a cab or Uber after they cleaned you out.
buildings said:
I just don't buy this "lack of free parking" jag. I grew up in North York and never, ever did I drive downtown for an evening of fun. it was TTC all the way. Who drives to an evening of drinking?
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This is definitely not the GTA! There are a number of people here who consider free parking almost a birth-rite.

I think that is changing somewhat as the city becomes bigger and those parking spots are not as easy to find, but I think the biggest challenge is getting interesting things downtown to draw in the suburban crowd, so it becomes worth making the trip.
 
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