[MattPT]

Just noticed today. Astroturf on the small green spaces in front of the building. How did they get away from living landscaping? Anyways, it will look like trash soon enough.

This is tricky, because the alternative is real grass that is half dead in a few months after install from dog pee. I used to live near Vibe lofts, and it was a perfect example of this. Great landscaping…for like the first two months…then awful. But the turf can have its own challenges when it comes to odours from dog pee as well.

 

[Tropical]

Give me struggling grass over plastic any day.

I honestly would support any reasonable efforts to ban it in the fronts of buildings. Even if it's grandfathered in.

 

[fromyeg]

INS now looks to be open meaning all CRUs are now open. (Of note real grass along 84th Ave as well as some prairie grass.)

Also, the aforementioned AstroTurf in question:

I generally don’t like AstroTurf, but given how a lot of the grass near 112St looks I can see why they picked it.

An example from just off 112th:

 

[johnnyboy]

I understand it's much cheaper, but those astroturf squares could have easily been raised planters with enough room to sit on the edge. Unfortunately, that probably presents even more problems.

 

[strata]

I may be in the minority here, but I think the turf looks great.

 

[archited]

^ Count me in as well. It is better than looking at winter-scarred plots because of road salt applications or grass that can't deal with extremes in urban environments. Vacuum cleaner = one and done.

 

[ADob]

Ah, but not great for the environment, alas.

 

[IanO]

Typically not a fan, but in some circumstances it is the right option.

 

[fromyeg]

INS now closed down and sign gone 2 weeks after looking like it was finally open?

Not sure.

 

[David A]

INS now closed down and sign gone 2 weeks after looking like it was finally open?

Not sure.

I am beginning to wonder if INS is really flaky with all the locations they opened and then closed. You would think people still buy snacks, but maybe not with food being so expensive these days.

 

[Gus Haynes]

I'm pretty sure the convenience store sector is under a bit of pressure these days for reasons that you suggest. Consider all the locations that 7-11 has closed (not just in Edmonton, but also across the continent) in the past few years. The delivery apps pushed by the tech sector probably aren't helping, either.

Struggling consumers skimp on chips and cigarettes as convenience store sales slip | Fortune

Sales volume at U.S. convenience stores dropped 4.3%.

fortune.com

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/7-eleven-closure-stores-canada-9.7163624

 

[IanO]

INS was expensive and not great for smaller/mid-sized markets. I can see it working in the largest of cities, but that's about it.

 

[scyeg]

It's shocking to me that a convenience store would fail in this location. How many convenience stores are within walking distance of the U of A and the hospital? I know there are two Circle Ks on 87 Ave., one on the west side of the campus and one on the east, but that's it, right?

 

[Markyeg]

Some of the site locations for INS made almost no sense as well. Before closing, the one at WEM was beside the Dollarama.

 

[Tropical]

Some of the site locations for INS made almost no sense as well. Before closing, the one at WEM was beside the Dollarama.

I'm happy you noted this. I've thought for quite some time that Shoppers and Dollarama are the key reasons behind convenience stores shutting their doors.