[Daveography]

Story is up:

The Clancey by Wexford Developments Coming Soon to Downtown Edmonton | SkyriseEdmonton

City Rep Dave Sutherland takes an in-depth look at plans by Wexford Developments and DIALOG to construct a 28-storey highrise in the downtown core - The Clancey.

edmonton.skyrisecities.com

 

[archited]

Magnificently well thought out -- everyone should be able to see how architecture (especially in the downtown area) is progressively getting better and better with each new project. The bar of acceptability is getting higher and higher.

 

[Moderne]

Magnificently well thought out -- everyone should be able to see how architecture (especially in the downtown area) is progressively getting better and better with each new project. The bar of acceptability is getting higher and higher.

Honestly, it's about time. We've waited too long for quality as a city.

 

[Platinum107]

Hmm... not sure I am a fan of the name "The Clancey", but the tower still looks great!

 

[Kaizen]

@Platinum107 , you never know, it might grow on ya? It is an amazing project and I hope it see's the light of day.?

 

[Daveography]

C.2 Wexford Tower Ice District (Rezoning)
Michael Rivest - DIALOG

A.Zepp, J. Mills and C. Holmes left the meeting due to conflicts with this project.

MOTION: A. Benoit

Motion of Support with Conditions
The Committee strongly supports the design direction of this project, and in
particular the contemporary architectural response to the historic character of 104
Street Promenade and the planning context of the HA Heritage Area Zone.
In addition, the Committee supports the design of the western portion of the tower,
and in particular the setback and placement of balconies and entrance canopy, as an
appropriate alternative to a continuous podium along 103 Avenue.

The Committee does recommend that the Applicant continue to work with
Administration to address the following:
● Section 10 of the proposed DC Regulation (Contributions) - Establishing a
stronger level of financial commitment to adequately fulfill the community
amenity contributions identified related to public realm and public art.
● The Committee supports the opportunity to widen the 103 Avenue sidewalk.
If this widening cannot occur, the Committee recommends exploring a
setback for the main floor commercial units on 103 Avenue to accommodate
a Frontage Zone for greater public realm activation.
● Increasing amenity space to better conform to current best practice of 7.5 m2
per unit.

SECONDED: D. Brown

CARRIED

FOR THE MOTION: A.Benoit, D. Brown, S. Kaznacheeva, W. Sims, T. Antoniuk, D.
Deshpande

https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/PDF/EdmontonDesignCommittee_Minutes_May21_2019.pdf

 

[Daveography]

Rezoning is up at Council on September 23:
http://sirepub.edmonton.ca/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=2270&doctype=AGENDA (Items 3.10 & 3.11)

Notably:

RECOMMENDATION AND JUSTIFICATION
City Planning is in NON-SUPPORT of this application because the proposed design:
• does not adequately respect the architectural and historic character of the area;
• does not provide an appropriately sensitive and pedestrian-friendly interface on 103 Avenue; and
• does not adequately meet the intent of the Capital City Downtown Plan.

 

[Kaizen]

I don't get this, really?
Hoping Council overlooks this non-support, or am I missing something here. ?

 

[Daveography]

@Kaizen It makes sense from the perspective of box-ticking exercises. But if those boxes don't allow a high-quality development like this, then the boxes need to be adjusted.

 

[archited]

My gut tells me it will pass with room to spare... City Planners need to go back to school! Maybe a course or two in Economics would be useful.

 

[Daveography]

@archited It's just a canary in the coalmine of overregulation. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against regulations, but I'm for reviewing and keeping them up to date regularly.

 

[Daveography]

City staff raised concerns about the safety of passersby should objects fall from balconies, given that there would be little podium to prevent them from falling to the sidewalk.

Planners also told council that the design would not be congruent with the historical feel of 104 Street, even though the high rise will be located outside the district’s historical designation limits.

But council did not seem concerned that these issues couldn’t be mitigated, voting 11-1 to approve the project.

Council approves 60-storey condo near Hotel Macdonald in downtown Edmonton

City council side-stepped the advice of city planners to approve not one but both downtown high rise projects brought before it on Monday night.

edmontonjournal.com

 

[archited]

"Falling objects off balconies" -- hey Toronto, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles are you listening... ? ill conceived statements like this do nothing to make "Planning" appear like deep thinkers.

 

[Kaizen]

I recommend that Mr. Paquette "packs it" in and moves to Leduc so that he can view the changing skyline from afar if he so chooses

 

[Daveography]

@Kaizen I don't think that's fair, Councillor Paquette's comments are perfectly reasonable and valid. If you've never had a chance to meet with him, I suggest you do. He's a good and smart guy.