[archited]

^ Last word from Lorraine Bodnarek -- Pendenis owner -- was that she had a prospective tenant for the ground floor.

 

[itom987]

I would consider Gibson Block to be one of Edmonton's "ambassador buildings". My definition for "ambassador building" are buildings that are known outside of their town/city. Other buildings include WEM, Legislature, HLB and Walterdale bridges, City Hall, Rogers Place, Muttart Conservatory and Stantec Tower. Images of Gibson Block are shown on the face of many promotional materials dealing with Edmonton. The same cannot be said for Pendeniss and Brighton Block.

 

[David A]

IMO it's not the women's emergency shelter that is of any particular issue here, and I can completely understand why they would preclude other ground floor uses, but just simply the unfortunate way that competing priorities of the City butting heads continues to hinder forward progress in the Quarters/east Jasper ave.

A beautiful structure with great ground level retail space is made unavailable (and worse, the mirrored glass makes it appear completely unoccupied) despite it being adjacent to untold amounts of money spent to improve the area in terms of the 96th st streetscape, the Quarters LRT stop, Kinistaw Park, etc.

I am glad someone realized this. Yes, for all its talk the city's efforts at revitalization here and elsewhere haven't accomplished much and at time even have been counterproductive.

The lease restriction on space specifically designed for retail and in a building in a prominent location that was fixed up is not helpful for the area at all.