Barnaby
Senior Member
Anything in Griffintown would be more comparable location wise to Stantec (lower floors) or Falcon. Homelessness in Griffentown is basically non-existent compared to by the Qualico lands.
- Thread starter Daveography
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constance_chlore
Senior Member
Right, but that's something you have to take into account when considering "why are new builds in Montreal nicer than those in Edmonton?" (The Switch might not be the best comparison since it is—surprisingly!—pretty nice.)
And then there's the fact that Montreal just has a larger population of white-collar young professionals who see it as desirable to live centrally, even in areas like the Quartier Latin and the Village that do have higher homelessness.
Kosy123
Senior Member
We kinda said all the same thing when this first opened, fully expecting that this was gonna lease up badly because Hope Mission and George Spady (before it moved) were right there. That's essentially plopping something right by the closest thing we had to DTES in Vancouver.
Nahhhh Qualico basically proved us wrong on that one lol
archited
Senior Member
Going back y-e-a-r-s, for the 15 months of research before I opened my venture in Fashion Retail -- The Great Canadian Short Story -- a project that focused on upscale "haute couture" for a location in Old Strathcona specializing in one-of-a-kind garments for petite-sized women, I spent time in each of Montreal, Vancouver and San Francisco to suss out expert fashion designers. I think that Montreal has always been the centre of Canadian fashion, nearly on par with Paris and Milan globally; it was (and I imagine still is) evident on the street in what people wear. Same, same for San Francisco with an emphasis on alternative wear. I met some very creative people through that exercise.
There is today a strong design current running through indigenous fashion design, speaking again to the concept WInPEx for the Rossdale area, a BIG win for Edmonton -- in pictures this is what I mean...
There is today a strong design current running through indigenous fashion design, speaking again to the concept WInPEx for the Rossdale area, a BIG win for Edmonton -- in pictures this is what I mean...
constance_chlore
Senior Member
Honestly if I worked downtown, I would totally live in this area. (Well, in this development specifically—I probably wouldn't buy a house in the nearby part of Chinatown.) Yeah it's a little sketch, but it's hard to imagine a more walkable area.
yeggator
Senior Member
The development very much feels like a wall between downtown and the homelessness problem just north of it. Good or bad? Depends on who you ask but it certainly would insulate residents from it.
YegBrad
New Member
I happen to commute on the Metro Line, so when I saw this project on this forum I thought, hold on, I've never seen this building before.
I'm always apprehensive of building renders, especially with this one, so I walked on over and took a couple of photos around. This would be March 2026, somewhere around 4PM.
There were security guards patrolling that middle area between The Switch and Epcor tower. While it was chilly out, it felt overly liminal, 0 foot traffic coming in and out of Epcor or the Switch that I saw. To be fair, being an aimless punk building spotting likely didn't help.
I could see directly north of the Switch there was a group of people huddled in an alley, and a lineup for the nearby Hope Mission. The businesses on that street, 101 street, looked pretty derelict too.
I think it's in an awkward spot: the area was clearly being developed heavily, and in the future there will be more buildings around. But as it stands right now, it looks like 1400 a month to hug that weird, casino-and-parking-lot intimidating part of Downtown I remember growing up.
I'm always apprehensive of building renders, especially with this one, so I walked on over and took a couple of photos around. This would be March 2026, somewhere around 4PM.
There were security guards patrolling that middle area between The Switch and Epcor tower. While it was chilly out, it felt overly liminal, 0 foot traffic coming in and out of Epcor or the Switch that I saw. To be fair, being an aimless punk building spotting likely didn't help.
I could see directly north of the Switch there was a group of people huddled in an alley, and a lineup for the nearby Hope Mission. The businesses on that street, 101 street, looked pretty derelict too.
I think it's in an awkward spot: the area was clearly being developed heavily, and in the future there will be more buildings around. But as it stands right now, it looks like 1400 a month to hug that weird, casino-and-parking-lot intimidating part of Downtown I remember growing up.
Attachments
MacLac
Senior Member
Hmmmmm…….”145 units…..” for Switch Phase 1? I thought we were going off of 285 units?
Avenuer
Senior Member
BOMA is wrong, there are 285 units in Phase 1.
MacLac
Senior Member
Ok good….what's wrong with them? That inept at gathering the facts?
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IanO
Superstar
Former proposal for the site (Stantec option I believe).
IanO
Superstar
Hearth and Hive Food Company | Organic Bakery and Healthy Gourmet Meals in Edmonton
Hearth and Hive Food Company – Edmonton’s go-to for natural and organic bakery goods and healthy gourmet meals. Enjoy fresh, locally sourced, chef-prepared dishes made with wholesome ingredients. Order online or visit us today!
www.hearthandhivefood.com
Job Type
Sign Development Permit
External ID
651176393-002
Location
10423 - 101 STREET NW Plan 2321876 Blk A Lot 1
Description
To install (1) Fascia Sign(s) limited to On-premises Advertising (Hearth and Hive)
Applicant
BEHRENDS BRONZE INC.
Development Category
Date Created
March 19, 2026
Status
New
Development Permit Decision Date
Development Permit Decision not yet made*
Development Permit Decision Date Published on this Webpage
Neighbourhood
DOWNTOWN
thommyjo
Senior Member
Currently in CN, moving to epcor? Or is this the switch?Hearth and Hive Food Company | Organic Bakery and Healthy Gourmet Meals in Edmonton
Hearth and Hive Food Company – Edmonton’s go-to for natural and organic bakery goods and healthy gourmet meals. Enjoy fresh, locally sourced, chef-prepared dishes made with wholesome ingredients. Order online or visit us today!
Job Type
Sign Development Permit
External ID
651176393-002
Location
10423 - 101 STREET NW Plan 2321876 Blk A Lot 1
Description
To install (1) Fascia Sign(s) limited to On-premises Advertising (Hearth and Hive)
Applicant
BEHRENDS BRONZE INC.
Development Category
Date Created
March 19, 2026
Status
New
Development Permit Decision Date
Development Permit Decision not yet made*
Development Permit Decision Date Published on this Webpage
Neighbourhood
DOWNTOWN
ADob
Active Member
That's some good looking baked goods. Those prices, though, make me extra happy my husband bakes for us!
Dubas
Active Member
it's in the EPCOR lobby near the elevators