Posted Apr 27, 2010, 9:36 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,480
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Great post, RTA, I agree. It's a mixture of both sides (business and consumer) and one or the other or maybe a little of both will eventually need to give in a little for things to actually change. And I think they are, not overnight, no, but there have been some examples. Sobey's took a big step in building an urban format grocer in the Warehouse District, steps from the Financial District. Despite the controversy, we got a new state-of-the-art Art gallery that is actually quite decent in my opinion. What about the new businesses opening on 104th Street? They're taking a risk as it isn't as high profile a spot as say Jasper or 104 Ave or 101 Street or Churchill Square. The farmers' market helps and continuing people's knowledge of the place, though. What about the brand new EPCOR Tower? Taking a huge leap and stunningly will become the tallest tower in the city. Despite all the construction updates, this building is not talked or hyped enough! It actually looks good (over the hyped ICON's) and hello...first major brand new commercial high rise in how long? Over 20 years by the time it's completed.
I still think Downtown could be a LOT better, and it's happening, slowly but surely. It's not like it's going to turn into Dubai over night and become a big construction site of change, progress, and style.
The Warehouse District has the potential (along with Jasper west of the CBD) to become even more vibrant than Whyte ave. It could host chains which will make suburbanites realize there is some places to go in a cool, urban atmosphere or after a event, it will be steps from the Financial areas of the Downtown where workers can easily walk for a lunch or a little shopping break or a 15 min break, and will host residential to keep it alive and whatnot into the night and on weekends. And that's in the Downtown proper!
It's shocking, though, that the super-dense Oliver still hasn't supported a vibrant urban street (and 124 Street is not vibrant, yet) for how many people are in that area.
I think people need to realize that the heart of Downtown's (aka the Financial area, think 101 St/Jasper ave) across North America (not all; most) will likely NEVER be the vibrant hubs of the city they once were 50+ yrs ago. They've been disrupted by commercial buildings and zero residential along with unfriendly pedestrian experiences. The Warehouse District and McKay Ave, although apart of the Downtown proper, are no 101/Jasper and have loads more potential.
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