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This site is now available as a direct result of the new surface parking requirements that made this site unviable and a very positive step forward towards seeing more sights get developed. I hope this site and the one to the north get purchased by the same group and an 'L' shaped development.
 
Ian, so how did the Edmonton real estate convention go? What tales of future construction of downtown high-rise towers were told?
 
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Good overall, cautious optimism here. Notables:

-Tim Shipton spoke about ICE 2, MacLofts, partners going to be brought in to make it happen.
- Safety/experience/perception was very top of mind and communicated in nearly every session.
- Need to focus on more entertainment offerings in the core to drive demand.
- We need to tell Edmonton's story better and are still largely getting passed by ($/volume) due to a variety of factors that we collectively need to work on.
- Post-secondary housing - watch of it!
 
-Tim Shipton spoke about ICE 2, MacLofts, partners going to be brought in to make it happen. - EXCELLENT! Partner = GoA
- Safety/experience/perception was very top of mind and communicated in nearly every session.
- Need to focus on more entertainment offerings in the core to drive demand. - NEW Event Center and Fan Park - Check!
- We need to tell Edmonton's story better and are still largely getting passed by ($/volume) due to a variety of factors that we collectively need to work on.
- Post-secondary housing - watch of it! - Massey Ferguson, Parks 2 - Check!
 
I've heard the 'we need to tell Edmonton's story better' so often for almost two decades since my career started. What isn't being said? Who needs to say it? The business community? Tourism? Executives? The City? What's the story gap and why is it so difficult for us compared to Calgary or other cities in Canada? What if we are saying the right things but people (i.e Torontonians), are stubbornly fixed in their mindset on (to them) little, boring Edmonton?
 
Friendmonton said:
I've heard the 'we need to tell Edmonton's story better' so often for almost two decades since my career started. What isn't being said? Who needs to say it? The business community? Tourism? Executives? The City? What's the story gap and why is it so difficult for us compared to Calgary or other cities in Canada? What if we are saying the right things but people (i.e Torontonians), are stubbornly fixed in their mindset on (to them) little, boring Edmonton?
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Edmonton needs an extensive PR campaign. Like, really. Spend some money selling the city to outsiders, showcasing what we have going for us. That is what cities like Calgary and Vancouver so, and very well, for example.
As a city (proximity to the mountains notwithstanding), Calgary doesn't really offer much better of a proposition than Edmonton, if at all, so they lean heavy on what they have, and MARKET IT. We don't. For example: I've seen ads propping up Calgary in airports of cities that have direct flights there, (and even in cities that don't).
It's not the word of mouth that I am worried about, it's the absolute lack of organized, intentional and extensive campaign to attract people here to live and visit. Business community, government, etc, should all be in on it.
 
IanO said:
Good overall, cautious optimism here. Notables:

-Tim Shipton spoke about ICE 2, MacLofts, partners going to be brought in to make it happen.
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Is this contingent on the servicing remaining in the downtown CRL extension? Do they have any plans to proceed if Council rejects it - or at least plans to really up their PR and lobbying game before the June public hearing?
 
Friendmonton said:
I've heard the 'we need to tell Edmonton's story better' so often for almost two decades since my career started. What isn't being said? Who needs to say it? The business community? Tourism? Executives? The City? What's the story gap and why is it so difficult for us compared to Calgary or other cities in Canada? What if we are saying the right things but people (i.e Torontonians), are stubbornly fixed in their mindset on (to them) little, boring Edmonton?
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I think we have to truly believe in ourselves first and I’m not so sure that that sentiment is prevalent.
 
CplKlinger said:
Is this contingent on the servicing remaining in the downtown CRL extension? Do they have any plans to proceed if Council rejects it - or at least plans to really up their PR and lobbying game before the June public hearing?
Click to expand...

The current OEG event space (a blank canvas) has been transformed into multiple types of venues for sports, music, amusement, festivals etc. It's done well and has helped create a proof of concept.

Edmonton and area fans have helped make the Oilers an incredibly profitable franchise for Katz since he bought the team. Does the city really have to put money into building this event centre that Katz will own and profit from? I think the proposed event centre will be a success - does the city really need to get involved in this financially? I want to see investments in downtown - just not sure Katz needs city money for this particular one.
 
TAS said:
The current OEG event space (a blank canvas) has been transformed into multiple types of venues for sports, music, amusement, festivals etc. It's done well and has helped create a proof of concept.

Edmonton and area fans have helped make the Oilers an incredibly profitable franchise for Katz since he bought the team. Does the city really have to put money into building this event centre that Katz will own and profit from? I think the proposed event centre will be a success - does the city really need to get involved in this financially? I want to see investments in downtown - just not sure Katz needs city money for this particular one.
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To clarify, I'm asking about the residential component - ICE District 2. I'm curious if they are moving ahead regardless of the outcome re: the CRL extension, or if it's conditional on that help.
 
Glenco said:
I think we have to truly believe in ourselves first and I’m not so sure that that sentiment is prevalent.
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Might be an unpopular opinion but I always say Edmonton suffers from a chronic case of goodenoughism. Every event seems to be kinda phoned in (minus the Folk Fest but that one's old and deeply rooted). Nuit blanche, when we hosted it, was a series of small installations spread all over an unhospitable downtown with poor signage. The various parades seem to all be kinda meh with only the occasional outstanding float or costume. Art is often too small scaled or placed in locations that don't support full engagement (Talus dome, for one, would do SO well with a lot of foot traffic, and yes, I know why it's where it is, but it just doesn't work). I honestly don't understand why this is the case. I've lived here for the better chunk of my life since immigrating to Canada and I love it, it's home (the current embarrassment over the provincial government's shenanigans notwithstanding) but I wish we could manage to do something large scale, punchy, and full of WOW! So I guess it's hard to expect us to believe in ourselves when all things point to a weird aw-shucks-it's-just-lil-ole-me attitude.
 
ADob said:
Might be an unpopular opinion but I always say Edmonton suffers from a chronic case of goodenoughism. Every event seems to be kinda phoned in (minus the Folk Fest but that one's old and deeply rooted). Nuit blanche, when we hosted it, was a series of small installations spread all over an unhospitable downtown with poor signage. The various parades seem to all be kinda meh with only the occasional outstanding float or costume. Art is often too small scaled or placed in locations that don't support full engagement (Talus dome, for one, would do SO well with a lot of foot traffic, and yes, I know why it's where it is, but it just doesn't work). I honestly don't understand why this is the case. I've lived here for the better chunk of my life since immigrating to Canada and I love it, it's home (the current embarrassment over the provincial government's shenanigans notwithstanding) but I wish we could manage to do something large scale, punchy, and full of WOW! So I guess it's hard to expect us to believe in ourselves when all things point to a weird aw-shucks-it's-just-lil-ole-me attitude.
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I've been thinking about this a good deal, and I think a lot of it comes down to the talent of the people we attract, particularly in cultural and white-collar jobs. Edmonton has talented people, to be sure, but it isn't a magnet for them, and since arriving I've already heard a number of smart young people talk about wanting to move to Montreal (especially those interested in culture) or Vancouver. I'd imagine that part of why (for example) the caliber of graphic design is so much higher in Toronto or Montreal is that in those cities, good graphic designers are practically hanging from the trees.
 
Friendmonton said:
I've heard the 'we need to tell Edmonton's story better' so often for almost two decades since my career started. What isn't being said? Who needs to say it? The business community? Tourism? Executives? The City? What's the story gap and why is it so difficult for us compared to Calgary or other cities in Canada? What if we are saying the right things but people (i.e Torontonians), are stubbornly fixed in their mindset on (to them) little, boring Edmonton?
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Everyone! I am cautiously optimistic the business community is coming around some and realize they have a key role in this. Tourism? Heck we closed our visitor information centre years ago. Tourism is not a priority of the city and the province has focused on the past a lot on promoting the mountains.

I don't know if Torontonians or others elsewhere are as much stubbornly fixed in their mindset, as uninterested or uninformed. So we need to come up with some good messaging that shifts thinking and perceptions.
 
ADob said:
Might be an unpopular opinion but I always say Edmonton suffers from a chronic case of goodenoughism. Every event seems to be kinda phoned in (minus the Folk Fest but that one's old and deeply rooted). Nuit blanche, when we hosted it, was a series of small installations spread all over an unhospitable downtown with poor signage. The various parades seem to all be kinda meh with only the occasional outstanding float or costume. Art is often too small scaled or placed in locations that don't support full engagement (Talus dome, for one, would do SO well with a lot of foot traffic, and yes, I know why it's where it is, but it just doesn't work). I honestly don't understand why this is the case. I've lived here for the better chunk of my life since immigrating to Canada and I love it, it's home (the current embarrassment over the provincial government's shenanigans notwithstanding) but I wish we could manage to do something large scale, punchy, and full of WOW! So I guess it's hard to expect us to believe in ourselves when all things point to a weird aw-shucks-it's-just-lil-ole-me attitude.
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I feel the unhospitable downtown when it is empty and dead is a big part of the problem here. I have been to many parades over the years and some have been very good, and draw nice crowds to fill downtown and elsewhere, although sadly there have been so few in the last decade. We actually need to have more, particularly downtown. After about 8 years or so, there will finally be a Pride Parade again this year, so that is one good thing.
 
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