Edmonton Plan Turns Heads
By Lucas on Dec 18, 2012
As we have seen here in Toronto, a new arena can be the key to jump starting a community. The success of the Air Canada Centre and Maple Leaf Square is a perfect example of what an arena partnered with the right developer can accomplish. Since the original arena and condo partnership, other developers like Tridel and Menkes have joined in the development around Lakeshore and York St.
With that in mind, details of a master plan in downtown Edmonton have caught our attention! For months, Daryl Katz and the City of Edmonton have been talking about the redevelopment of a pocket of land, keyed on the approval of the City building a new arena for Katz's Edmonton Oilers.
Katz and WAM Development Group are planning a new $2 billion project, including the new arena, two 28- and 32-storey office towers, three condominiums ranging between 10 and 35 storeys, a 26-storey luxury hotel, commercial space, and an open-air 'Oilers Plaza.' An ambitious plan - definitely a game changer for Edmonton’s downtown core.
Can Edmonton support such a dynamic plan? Westrich Pacific Corp. CEO, David Sanche, told the Edmonton Journal he believes so:
“I’m sure they’ll come out with a really good plan. I know they have one of the largest Toronto architectural firms working on the two towers and some of that Vancouver and Toronto-style architecture is what Edmonton has been needing and been lacking. We’re very confident in our product line and I’m sure (Katz) will do well as well.”
We think it’s great that other growing Canadian cities, like Edmonton, are looking at Toronto as an example of how to develop a downtown core. We hope this master plan moves forward soon so we can watch it rise!
