thommyjo
Senior Member
That feels like a critical site to redevelop soon. Would be a huge help to improving jasper ave.
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bodsbods9090
Senior Member
Well, Remedy is moving out of that building so maybe that's the first step?
Kosy123
Senior Member
I think the cannabis store is the only one left there retail wise, so maybe? It's the only project they have on their site besides the South Park one.
bodsbods9090
Senior Member
Here's hoping!
VaultBoy
Active Member
Yes please that would be such a nice spot right on Jasper that's desperately needed and brings in more residents. I would have no complaints
archited
Senior Member
I think they will have a hard time getting around the historically significant Paramount Theatre designation.
constance_chlore
Active Member
The Paramount is on the Inventory of Historic Resources rather than being a Municipal Historic Resource, so I don't think it has any real protection.
David A
Senior Member
I would love to see the Paramount kept, restored or reused, but at this point I feel that may not be likely. If what was proposed or something similar does go ahead, it would really help this area.
constance_chlore
Active Member
This is one instance where I personally wouldn't mind a bit of façadism. If someone's going to sink a bunch of money into restoring a historic theater, there's an obvious better choice.
archited
Senior Member
^ The history (recent as it is) alone justifies its retention.
_urbanite
Senior Member
I'm going to play devil's advocate here, but what exactly is worth preserving about the facade of this theatre? It's largely a blank, featureless wall.
I suppose the sign is cool, and the awning is interesting, so ok, incorporate that into a new building. But aside from that...
I suppose the sign is cool, and the awning is interesting, so ok, incorporate that into a new building. But aside from that...
constance_chlore
Active Member
_urbanite
Senior Member
Sorry, still not seeing why this is so important to save. That tyndall stone, Italian travertine and black marble can all be salvaged and used in a new building. It's historical significance only really matters if it continues to operate as a theatre (which frankly, won't ever be the case again). How will turning it into a facade of a new building pay tribute to that? The fact it's an example of international style architectural is a moot point; it's not a great example of it IMO
constance_chlore
Active Member
I don't think the historical significance of a structure goes to 0 if you gut the interior and build something else there. Like, I don't think the sole reason for keeping the façade of the Buena Vista building for the MacLaren (to take an example) should be thought of as aesthetic. That's not to say that we should recklessly gut old buildings, but especially for something like a theatre the façade is often the most distinctive part and keeping it might be the best compromise we can find. In this case, I actually think the blank wall is quite a distinctive statement in a typically high modernist way.
As for the rest, it's hard to distinguish what you're saying from "I don't think it has architectural value because I don't like it." I've heard and seen people say things like this (quite often!) about the old RAM, or the Legislature Annex building, or buildings that aren't under threat like the CN Tower or the Milner Building. Fine, not everyone likes everything, and I think many of us don't have the distance from this sort of mid-century modernism to appreciate it for what it is. But at the point where you begin saying these buildings don't have heritage value, the notion of 'Edmonton's built heritage' becomes extraordinarily thin.
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ADob
Active Member
And sadly, let's be honest, Edmonton's built heritage IS extraordinarily thin precisely because we, as a city, seem to lack respect for it. Watching the Giro d'Italia made us sigh with frustration and only-half-joke that if Edmonton had any Roman ruins, we'd have razed them down a long time ago and put a strip mall in their place.