ChazYEG said:
I think I understand her logic, I just don't think it is completely applicable to Edmonton.
If you reduce empty retail spaces and add more housing, you also tend to create a better environment for the remaining retail areas by increasing population. One thing she doesn't consider, however, is the climate, for example. Also the size and function of the cities she's comparing are not even remotely comparable.
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Yes, the logic makes sense in theory, but in addition to our climate this particular area of downtown is really not that attractive now for any other type of development either.

You can easily see this by the long vacant BMO/Tegler lot just south of City Centre. However, fortunately other areas of the downtown core do seem to be attracting some residential development.

Sadly the last decade has been extremely disruptive particularly for retail in City Centre which had to endure the frenetic shuffling around of tenants by the previous owner, COVID and nearby LRT construction that dragged on.

The remaining retail tenants really don't need more disruption now, so hopefully any redevelopment of the mall can be done in a way to minimize that.
 
David A said:
You can easily see this by the long vacant BMO/Tegler lot just south of City Centre. However, fortunately other areas of the downtown core do seem to be attracting some residential development.
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David A said:
The remaining retail tenants really don't need more disruption now, so hopefully any redevelopment of the mall can be done in a way to minimize that.
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I feel like the current state of ECC is one of the reasons for the low attractiveness, but you do have a point here. If something like was proposed by a few here was done: concentrate all current tenants in the East side of ECC and redevelop the west side into residential, maybe then it would be more realistic to have more success, on both fronts. A smaller, but busier and more vibrant ECC East would probably have a much safer feel than it currently does, and could do wonders for the area. And the West side is also closer to ICE District and other recent residential developments, so could make more sense. You could still keep some street facing retail bays in the podiums of the new developments, which I feel like would be filled relatively quickly depending on the success of the residential development.

Also, to your second point, concentrating the retail on the east side could be done with minimal disruption. Landlord could provide the current west side tenants with some time to prepare the stores on the east before moving them in, which would mean no interruption of business, and only start the redevelopment process after they've all moved.

This could possibly also result in a relocation of the movie theatre, if well planned, into a street facing area around ICE District, which could also be very beneficial and start changing the whole vibe from bank District to Entertainment District.
 
Gus Haynes said:
I'm not sure if this is a short-term aberration, but I noticed that, starting tomorrow night, Landmark City Centre is bringing back late-night (e.g. 10pm) screening times. I don't think they've done that since the pandemic. Kind of nice to see.
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Looks like it was just a short term or maybe a trial to see how many tickets they could sell. This week it’s back to 7-730 being the last showings for the night.
 
There is a common misconception here as well as elsewhere that retailers rent space when in fact they don’t.

Retailers occupy space but in reality they pay for right to be in front of the footsteps that walk past - and hopefully walk into - that space.

Without those footsteps the rent could be zero and there would still be no interest from retailers.
 
Markyeg said:
Looks like it was just a short term or maybe a trial to see how many tickets they could sell. This week it’s back to 7-730 being the last showings for the night.
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I noticed. :(

During this period, they also trialed earlier start times on Mondays/Wednesdays/Thursdays (where they didn't normally schedule matinees). Those are gone now, too.
 
yeggator said:
That’s what I’ve been saying. Although Ian O’s significant other vehemently disagrees with me cause she says the western half of the mall is nicer.
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The western half should be demolished. Save Delta and the parkade on the north side of the lot if necessary but everything else must go.

Build two residential towers ala Encore on the 103 St side of the lot, and a mixed-use tower on the SE corner to preserve the pedway connections to Manulife and City Centre East. Delta and the cineplex could relocate into the lower levels of the mixed-use tower.

City Centre West has been a huge gap in our skyline forever. Time to fill that gap. But with Edmonton's luck, demolition would proceed and then we'd be left with another Tower 101 lot until kingdom come, lol.
 
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.crystalised. said:
The western half should be demolished. Save Delta and the parkade if necessary but everything else must go.
Build two residential towers ala Encore on the 103 St side of the lot, and a mixed-use tower on the SE corner to preserve the pedway connections to Manulife and City Centre East. Delta and the cineplex could relocate into the lower levels of the mixed-use tower.

City Centre West has been a huge gap in our skyline forever. Time to fill that gap. But with Edmonton's luck, demolition would proceed and then we'd be left with another Tower 101 lot until kingdom come, lol.
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A better option rather than demolishing the whole west side, would be to only just demolish the former Bay space which is already vacant, leaving the hotel, movie theatres, partly occupied remaining space and parkade.

This would also be much less disruptive and also allow the Pedway connections to be maintained. Demolition would involve costs, so I doubt would be undertaken until there was a solid plan to build a residential tower here.

Given the long empty Tower 101 lot just to the south of the mall, I am skeptical anyone credible is eager to build a residential tower in this area right now.
 
David A said:
A better option rather than demolishing the whole west side, would be to only just demolish the former Bay space which is already vacant, leaving the hotel, movie theatres, partly occupied remaining space and parkade.

This would also be much less disruptive and also allow the Pedway connections to be maintained. Demolition would involve costs, so I doubt would be undertaken until there was a solid plan to build a residential tower here.

Given the long empty Tower 101 lot just to the south of the mall, I am skeptical anyone credible is eager to build a residential tower in this area right now.
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Is that empty lot truly indicative of a lack of eagerness to build in the area? Falcon 1 just went up mere blocks away...
 
Yes, this was over 4 years ago. Sadly, it goes to show how long we have been talking about this without anything happening. Although it is good to look back at past ideas which may still have merit.

Perhaps something like this may eventually happen, but downtown and this area in particular has a lot of stigma attached to it because of the problems over the last few years.

So if this does go ahead anytime soon it will not be by the cautious conservative types that generally are involved in investing in such projects.
 
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