[archited]

^^^^ That, along with the washrooms, could go underground with a nice glass dome illuminating all of the subterranean elements. In fact other underground elements could include a bowling alley, a pool hall, an Arctic-centric + Alberta Lakes + Alberta Rivers and Streams public aquarium. This park could be vertically stacked so that there were 3 layers of "happenings" with plenty of room for passive viewing. These all don't have to come out of a City budget -- Occupancy tenders could be called pre-design for many of the elements that would attract outside investment (but, of course, the City Admin. won't think of that which brings us full circle back to "planters and benches").

 

[CplKlinger]

Here's some interesting info from the admin and company presentations about the proposed Westrich development at yesterday's public hearing.

 

[IanO]

Transformational!

 

[God]

7 towers going up in that area counting Edmonton motors.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

I am excited, but on the flip side I can't help but be pessimistic for now, sorry. 7 proposals are whats currently there.

 

[David A]

Transformational!

It makes sense with much of 104 St being developed already, that 106 St could be one of the next. It is within easy walking distance of the downtown core, close to LRT and good bus service on Jasper Ave. Having a good size park right close by will surely add to its appeal.

 

[IanO]

106st to 108st from Jasper to 102 Avenue will take 10-15 years, but it will become pretty impressive.

 

[ChazYEG]

106st to 108st from Jasper to 102 Avenue will take 10-15 years, but it will become pretty impressive.

Agreed. Especially if we can get the BP site to be developed as well.
For me, the next big part of Downtown I wanna see developed is 105st to 107st from 99ave to Jasper.

 

[IanO]

I'm fine with the BP site as I like the building, patio and beams inside.

There are other issues to deal with way before this guy.

 

[ChazYEG]

I'm fine with the BP site as I like the building, patio and beams inside.

There are other issues to deal with way before this guy.

It's a tiny building surrounded by parking lots, on our main street.
Unless it has historical value, it needs to go.

 

[CplKlinger]

It's a tiny building surrounded by parking lots, on our main street.
Unless it has historical value, it needs to go.

I'd personally be fine with that parking going and the BP staying, as long as they could renovate the exterior so that the patio opens to the park instead of the street. Or maybe both, given that the street will be incorporated somehow. It'd be nice to have a restaurant along the park that could both draw people in, and extend their stay. The parking lots need to go for sure, but I don't think the BP is a big issue in relation to that. Of course, I'd rather have a restaurant inside the podium of a tower, but I'd also rather see the parking lots be prioritized for development over the BPs (if it came down to an either-or choice, which I'm not saying it has to).

 

[IanO]

You'd be better to take it down than trying to renovate it given its layout and back of house.

 

[tkoe_]

This project can't start soon enough. That block of Jasper looks terrible and even construction hoarding would be better than the acres of empty parking lots.

 

[bodsbods9090]

I am excited, but on the flip side I can't help but be pessimistic for now, sorry. 7 proposals are whats currently there.

5 actually. Parkview is The Parks building currently dug out.

 

[Stevey_G]

Edmonton downtown has a large volume of problems. Eliminating these lots as soon as possible and having a couple of developments take place will resolve the most visually unappealing area of the entire community.

I just hope the city doesn’t interfere with/constrain the project based off its ideas of best planning practices. I also hope the city realizes that an area like this can easily be ghettoized and that it should be treated with the same level of security measures as the legislature grounds.