IanO
Superstar
EXCEPT...that a lot of places have responded to this with lunch specials (some 2-1, discounts or VIP point cards) and many with happy hour specials that are pretty enticing.
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- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
bodsbods9090
Senior Member
Are people aware of those deals? Genuinely asking as I don't work downtown so I want to know if these places are making the companies around them aware.
IanO
Superstar
That's a good question, but certainly check their websites or ask as many have deals to get people back.
CplKlinger
Senior Member
Yes, because for a lot of them hybrid work allows for a better quality of life. Some people are more productive at home where there's less chatter; some get to spend more time with their kids when on breaks; people save money by commuting less; they can get more sleep because they don't need to commute; etc. Plus, this allows governments to save millions in lease and maintenance costs by consolidating office space. The solution is to have more housing downtown, not to force people out of a work arrangement that has shown success for employees and employers just because businesses feel entitled to a slice of their salaries.
itom987
Active Member
I'm not against working from home but someone still needs to be in the office on all working hours of the week. Some employees can work home in the beginning while others are home at the end, ensuring a steady presence at the office.
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Tropical
Active Member
100%. People over profit.
policyenthusiast
Active Member
Average annual productivity growth versus average weekly days in office (May 2024). Not sure if it's "people before profit" or "convenience before progress"
David A
Senior Member
Its not just the government. A friend needed something done and looked up a business nearby downtown and it looked like it was open. We got to the office building, the door was locked and a sign said we had to call for an appointment, which was not mentioned on line.
At least there was someone there and we could come back later, but it was a wasted trip and also it is in an area with paid parking only. Fortunately we were already downtown or nearby so not quite so bad.
IanO
Superstar
^^bingo.
David A
Senior Member
For those who have heard of the Fermi paradox, this is the downtown Edmonton paradox. A city of supposedly over a million, but downtown sure doesn't feel like except when big events are on or on a few other select days.
CplKlinger
Senior Member
That's a fair discussion to have, but much different than the argument that downtown businesses deserve a slice of those peoples' paycheques, and that the people who prefer a hybrid arrangement are the villans and somehow responsible for the failure of those businesses. Yes, hybrid work has changed a lot, but it's up to businesses and our cities to adapt (ie by fostering mixed-use and residential developments, or organizing events/initiatives to draw more people downtown); we can't be stuck in the past get all angry and entitled when people want to stick with an arrangement that they feel has improved their quality of life and made them happier.
Please note: I'm not saying that you said any of those things; these are just sentiments that I've seen expressed by many in the downtown business/advocacy community, both in Edmonton and in other cities, these past few years.
policyenthusiast
Active Member
Absolutely, centralizing retail and work in to certain parts of cities is what got us here, not the popularization of Zoom.
Still, we have to play the hand we've been dealt.
Kosy123
Senior Member
For all the doom and gloom, especially with City Centre's receivership news, we do have a few bright spots:
- Vacancy rates in downtown Edmonton have dropped from 9.5% in 2021 to 3-4%, even with the addition of at least a thousand residential units into the area.
- We have around 300 units under construction, and at least a few hundred more lined up if Westrich goes through with Lilac Park and their 106 St project
- $15 million for the Student Housing Incentive that could lead to a significant amount of student focused residential units.
- $35-50 million for the Attainable Housing Initiative that could lead from 2,400 to 7,000 units.
- Event Park and Ice District Phase 2 housing leading to 2,500 units.
- Transit expansion and LRT ridership growth. We've got a strongly monocentric LRT system that passes through downtown, so large sections of LRT ridership growth are correlated with increased downtown foot traffic.
- Vacancy rates in downtown Edmonton have dropped from 9.5% in 2021 to 3-4%, even with the addition of at least a thousand residential units into the area.
- We have around 300 units under construction, and at least a few hundred more lined up if Westrich goes through with Lilac Park and their 106 St project
- $15 million for the Student Housing Incentive that could lead to a significant amount of student focused residential units.
- $35-50 million for the Attainable Housing Initiative that could lead from 2,400 to 7,000 units.
- Event Park and Ice District Phase 2 housing leading to 2,500 units.
- Transit expansion and LRT ridership growth. We've got a strongly monocentric LRT system that passes through downtown, so large sections of LRT ridership growth are correlated with increased downtown foot traffic.
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TAS
Senior Member
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BrettB
Active Member
Still my favourite building downtown