[mcr]

Doesn't even need to be 100% brick like that. The Calgary example is great, enough brick to make a marked difference, but cost savings on the remaining material.

On the floor plan there is no obvious ramp to a parkade either, just the surface parking. If this is another Westrich project with little-to-no excavation (no issue with that), they really should use some of the savings on that on upping the materials, IMO.

 

[Offworld]

It's not a lot and it's facing an alley.

Any on-site surface parking is a lot; too much.

 

[constance_chlore]

Doesn't even need to be 100% brick like that. The Calgary example is great, enough brick to make a marked difference, but cost savings on the remaining material.

On the floor plan there is no obvious ramp to a parkade either, just the surface parking. If this is another Westrich project with little-to-no excavation (no issue with that), they really should use some of the savings on that on upping the materials, IMO.

There's an arrow that says "underground parking entrance" on the upper left of the floor plan. (But I agree, they could and should aim higher on the materials.)

 

[Barnaby]

My standards do loosen when the building is replacing a parking lot fwiw. Sorry @archited

 

[mcr]

There's an arrow that says "underground parking entrance" on the upper left of the floor plan. (But I agree, they could and should aim higher on the materials.)

Ah, yes! There is, missed that. Thanks

 

[archited]

My standards do loosen when the building is replacing a parking lot fwiw. Sorry @archited

No problem -- I just want people to know that I have seen and lived this movie before -- in the late '60s and through the '70s and '80s there was a building boom in Edmonton wrapped around stick-framed 3-storeys -- now they are 6 storeys -- same crap only larger and, ergo, "more permanent" -- very little that is design-worthy (and in your heart-of-hearts you know that) -- they may be replacing surface parking in some instances -- I would rather wait for the "better" replacement than settle for these monstrosities.

 

[constance_chlore]

No problem -- I just want people to know that I have seen and lived this movie before -- in the late '60s and through the '70s and '80s there was a building boom in Edmonton wrapped around stick-framed 3-storeys -- now they are 6 storeys -- same crap only larger and, ergo, "more permanent" -- very little that is design-worthy (and in your heart-of-hearts you know that) -- they may be replacing surface parking in some instances -- I would rather wait for the "better" replacement than settle for these monstrosities.

I think a lot of the three-storey walk-ups, at least in Strathcona and Wihkwentowin, look pretty nice? Maybe they're not great to live in (I wouldn't know, I've never had to) but I have a hard time feeling the force of this comparison from an outside perspective.

 

[archited]

^ The lack of care on the outside usually (not always) translates to the inside as well. Things like "popcorn" ceilings to hide poor drywall installations, lack of sound isolation (so whatever is going on in the overhead unit is "shared" with the one below), permeating odors in the common corridors from non-isolated trash chutes, cheap "plunger-type" elevators that are slow and frequently break down... you get the idea. If the rationale is to build cheaper and maximize profits well the limits are typically not well defined. I am not advocating for extreme upper-end living standards; I get that there has to be affordable housing, but when some of the sub-market housing is better put together than the so-called "market housing" then that smells like developer scamming to me. The sad part of the story is underscored by excuses that once told allow a trend-like following most often leading to a developmental race to the bottom. And if no-one complains then it just keeps happening.

 

[ChazYEG]

Maybe they're not great to live in (I wouldn't know, I've never had to

Some of the rentals are very mediocre, but not particularly bad. The condos in some of those walkups are actually quite good, and the only major hinderance is the lack of covered/underground parking

 

[constance_chlore]

Some of the rentals are very mediocre, but not particularly bad. The condos in some of those walkups are actually quite good, and the only major hinderance is the lack of covered/underground parking

I toured some rental units in walkups in Strathcona and Wihkwentowin last fall. Some were kind of dismal, but some were great!

 

[IanO]

Design committee tonight for this project.

 

[CplKlinger]

Design committee tonight for this project.

Meeting package