[bodsbods9090]

Yesterday was deadline for first round of student housing incentive applications. City is looking to move quickly on this and have decisions within 3 weeks I think I read.

It is possible a second round won't be needed if the money is fully allocated in this first round - big projects like Falcon 2 could possibly secure a good portion of it.

Again, if lots of interest, maybe city should consider some more money into this fund.

Looking forward to seeing the list of recipients - I'd also like to see full list of projects not successful and where they are.

Oh, and if OEG receives any more government money like from this fund, my head will explode from anger.

Was going to say something but you beat me to it.

Looking forward to what comes of this.

 

[CplKlinger]

I’m not suggesting we need government workers to prop up businesses downtown.

I’m suggesting that the work culture of government jobs vs startups/finance/law/tech are pretty different and the former is much of our DT workforce. I’m also not making a moral claim on work/life balance, time with family, etc.

Jobs and workers that require more grind, networking, attract driven young people without kids, and pay higher salaries are what make many downtowns lively. If we swapped out 5000 gov workers for 5000 google employees, or investment bankers, you’d see a difference in time people leave work, busyness of restaurants/bars, and activity downtown. Attracting more non gov workers downtown is key.

Same way a college town has better campus vibes than a big city commuter uni like the UofA/Macewan.

Sorry for the tone of my response, and misunderstanding what you meant. I thought you were saying that government workers should be in the office for 50-80 hours a week haha. I agree completely that a greater diversity in employers would be good to have as well.

I really don't think private businesses are making the decision to have workers return to the office more based on some desire to support the downtown or downtown businesses, although that may be a result.

It is also be better for vibrancy if those working downtown do not pack up at 4:00 or 4:30. I am not sure how much of that is government vs. private sector workers, but I suspect it is more of the former.

Private businesses no, but Ontario's government stated that as the reason for their RTO order. I was moreso speaking about the many downtown advocates and prominent voices (including the head of UAlberta's Cities Institute, see the screenshot below) saying that other governments should follow suit in order to revitalize downtown.

 

[IanO]

 

[buildings]

what are these rando pics?

 

[archited]

^ Pinkie-up time at the Citadel!