[David A]

Here's hoping, though I doubt the current owner really intends to sell; this is just a stunt to look good on advice from their lawyer's PR campaign. I hate to be a downer, but I suspect that any serious offers would be reasonable, and yet those reasonable offers will be refused...

My expectations are tempered for the time being, but it's nice to see the buzz in this thread lately. Lots of great ideas here. That's part of what makes Edmonton interesting and unique - it's a city that's always been full of potential. The resulting inspiration from this constant state of possibility is endlessly appealing.

Perhaps, but surely someone who has some vision and more resources can afford the price. It does not seem that high.

Potential is like an undeveloped lot in a high profile location, it is great but something needs to happen with it eventually to be realized otherwise it is not worth a lot.

 

[Offworld]

I fear the risk is we could end up just replacing one vacant lot with another or end up with two instead of just one in yet another attempt to wipe the slate clean.

If we should have learned anything from this debacle and various others in the past, it is we are too quick here to tear down things based on pie in the sky proposals that do not go ahead.

Pie in the sky were the plans to re-use City Centre in the first place.

 

[ADob]

Here's hoping, though I doubt the current owner really intends to sell; this is just a stunt to look good on advice from their lawyer's PR campaign. I hate to be a downer, but I suspect that any serious offers would be reasonable, and yet those reasonable offers will be refused...

My expectations are tempered for the time being, but it's nice to see the buzz in this thread lately. Lots of great ideas here. That's part of what makes Edmonton interesting and unique - it's a city that's always been full of potential. The resulting inspiration from this constant state of possibility is endlessly appealing.

This lot is doing nothing to improve his reputation. I honestly don't know why he even wants to keep it (or why he's in the development business in the first place, since he doesn't seem particularly good at it).

 

[inclusion]

Something similar to Mackenzie Tower/Alt Hotel, that was proposed on 104 ST, but make its height somewhere between Manulife and Legends would be my ideal fit. It would have to be rentals, as per the market.

Montreal has several hotels set up like this now. I don't see why it wouldn't work here.

 

[_urbanite]

Montreal has several hotels set up like this now. I don't see why it wouldn't work here.

Edmonton and Montreal are not even close to an apples to apples comparison. Much more limited demand for hotel rooms here vs Montreal, and you can't charge as much for a room here as you can there.

 

[inclusion]

Edmonton and Montreal are not even close to an apples to apples comparison. Much more limited demand for hotel rooms here vs Montreal, and you can't charge as much for a room here as you can there.

I meant the rentals side of the equation.

 

[David A]

Edmonton and Montreal are not even close to an apples to apples comparison. Much more limited demand for hotel rooms here vs Montreal, and you can't charge as much for a room here as you can there.

Of course, the very first important difference is Montreal is 3x the size of Edmonton. However, also just compare St. Catherine's street in downtown Montreal which remains a vibrant retail shopping destination to Jasper Ave.

When I went to Montreal in the early fall, I actually bought some clothes in nice stores in this area and looked at items in several others . We do not even have any of these stores in downtown Edmonton.

 

[BASE]

Of course, the very first important difference is Montreal is 3x the size of Edmonton. However, also just compare St. Catherine's street in downtown Montreal which remains a vibrant retail shopping destination to Jasper Ave.

When I went to Montreal in the early fall, I actually bought some clothes in nice stores in this area and looked at items in several others . We do not even have any of these stores in downtown Edmonton.

I get your point but the Helm and Henry Singer would probably like a word.

 

[David A]

I get your point but the Helm and Henry Singer would probably like a word.

I have no issue with either of those here. The places I went to were major national/international retailers with various price points, but I think lower than the two here and also there were many of them, not just two.

For visitors going to Montreal, downtown is a destination because it has many things to do, including very good shopping. People go downtown there because they want to as opposed to here where people visiting mostly come to downtown because they have to.

 

[BrettB]

True, and a lot of Montrealers live near Ste Catherine's and love going there, helping the retail situation. But if you go down to René Levesque, which is a massive stroad in the heart of downtown, your impression would much different. .

 

[Edmcowboy11]

Glacially slow the attitude of albertans is changing towards walking, at least within the cities.

 

[David A]

True, and a lot of Montrealers live near Ste Catherine's and love going there, helping the retail situation. But if you go down to René Levesque, which is a massive stroad in the heart of downtown, your impression would much different. .

Yes, that is a good point. I feel Jasper Ave used to be more like the former years ago, but it has become more like the latter.

However, we really don't have any strong retail street(s) downtown any more, maybe the closest is the one block of 104 Street north of Jasper Ave.

 

[northlands]

Imagine something similar on this site, given the central location with direct LRT connections to:
-RAH and Glenrose via Metro-line
-UAH, Stollery and Cross Cancer vis Capital Line
-Grey Nuns via VLSE
-Soon: Miz via VLW

“A new 283-ft-tall, 28-storey tower has since taken its place at 2538 Birch St. (previously addressed as 1296 West Broadway), and it is now set to reach full completion in early 2026.

……..

The developer is partnering with the province-wide First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) to turn these 200 units into the “Dunna’eh House of Healing,” which will provide temporary overnight medical accommodations for Indigenous people and families living elsewhere in British Columbia seeking medical services, diagnosis, and/or treatment in the Vancouver area.

This building is within very close proximity to the high concentration of provincial-level and specialized treatment facilities of the Vancouver General Hospital and BC Cancer Centre campus. It is also conveniently just two blocks east of SkyTrain’s future South Granville Station.“

New 28-storey Broadway rental tower pivots to Indigenous medical care hotel | Urbanized

Jameson Developments' rental housing tower at 2538 Birch St. on West Broadway in Vancouver will be turned into the Dunna’eh House of Healing.

dailyhive.com

 

[Edmcowboy11]

Well I'm just hoping that a developer will come along and buy the property and immediately or relatively immediately start planning and then building a multi-use tower that will enhance the area with potentially new residential maybe a hotel and hopefully some ground level retail.

 

[Agard]

It's such a shame that Regency's design will never be built, it was really beautiful and the perfect height for the site