CaptainBL
Active Member
Ironically, the city seems to be ok with demolishing nice brick, warehouse, character buildings but ugly buildings like this p.o.s. couldnt be torn down for something better and more useful
CNIB Redevelopment | 106m | 32s | ONE Properties | Wallman Architects
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_urbanite
Senior Member
That building was sold last year I believe and at that time I also wondered if that podium would be redeveloped. Those CRUs are not that great for visibility, and businesses seem to come and go from there frequently. But as you mentioned that parkade could very well run underneath that podium, which is unfortunate if true because that spot definitely screams for a new tower.
At the very least maybe we'll see something done to those CRUs
ChazYEG
Senior Member
The CRUs as slowly becoming occupied and busier. There's a Japanese restaurant that is usually busy in normal times, the same with the aesthetic and saloon that occupies the corner of the building. A new convenience shop that is fairly decent and at least lends some after 10pm life to the block opened about a year ago and has been successful, according to the night employee (who is a neighbor). I dislike the liquor store there, but it's still better than nothing.
Mattyeg
Active Member
That liquor store used to sell alcoholic ice cream Fyi lol. Never did try it though...
cmd uw
Active Member
I don't have any issues with cannabis or liquor stores on our commercial streets. I believe there are Provincial requirements that require cannabis retailers to 'wall off' their premises from the exterior hence why they all have those window coverings.
Platinum107
Senior Member
On maybe smaller side streets with commercial I'm fine with them too, but on the main drag of our city? Not really
jason403
Active Member
Just curious what are your ideal tenants on Jasper? Restaurants and cafes?
archited
Senior Member
Edmonton, specifically, and Alberta, more generally, have managed over many years to create a stigma around alcohol -- and now weed -- that makes it feel like a societal taboo. The sooner that ends the better for all, and society can emulate the sanity that is expressed in European centres. When I was a teenager living in Germany I used to take a bottle of beer to school (and so did all of the other high school students) to have as a lunch-time liquid (water at that time was suspect). On school trips to the Mercedes Benz factory and other similar kinds of institutions the hosts used to serve wine at lunch to the entire class. A Gasthaus (Deutschland), Brasserie (France) or Pub (England) were all focused on neighborhood camaraderie and fellowship. Contrast that with Edmonton which, when I was very young used to have large impersonal taverns, divided into "Gentlemen" on one side and "Women with Escorts" on the other; at least the City has moved off of that banality. A wine store with a tasting room or a brew store with a tasting room would be a boon to foot traffic along Jasper Ave. -- ditto for weed. Let's remove the stigma around both -- it might take a generation to settle in, but as the one-time commercial used to go (lyrically) "Why wait for Spring do it now, while there are (men sic) who know how."
Platinum107
Senior Member
Okay, that's cool I guess and I'm happy you got to experience that, but the "tasteful" and exciting aspects of drinking and smoking wasn't what I had in mind when saying that. I guess an alcohol or cannabis store can be acceptable and interesting on a main street on the conditions that it's tastefully designed, fits into the area it's in, has thought put into the way it's run and is taken care of. Ideals sort-of going in-line with what you're talking about Ted. I think I'm just disappointed with this particular cannabis store as it goes against almost all those values I outlined. Maybe Nova Cannabis made their interior setup nice (I can't confirm because y'know, 17), but the building itself is an old suburban 70's-style (once decrepit) and sits on a suburban-style parking-rich lot on the main street of the densest area of the city and is overall just a big waste of space. I'd rather a cannabis store be in a retail bay in a new tower on that lot as it be a more efficient use of space than what's there now...
Those two things and more! Galleries, small/medium local book/clothing stores, performance and comedy cafes/restaurants and other more creative attractors once I can think of some
Guy 1
Active Member
I don't really have strong feelings on weed/liquor stores on main streets. As with most types of businesses, there are ones that add to a street, and ones that are meh. But I think the glass frosting/window covering requirement that @cmd uw mentioned is huge negative for the pot shops and the streets that they occupy. The public/private interaction with a business is key on a main street (or any street for that matter) and the frosted windows completely kill any prospect of that.
What are they trying to protect virgin eyes from seeing? A tiny bit of green stuff in a glass container?
What are they trying to protect virgin eyes from seeing? A tiny bit of green stuff in a glass container?
CplKlinger
Senior Member
something something "tHinK oF tHe ChIlDrEn"
Edmcowboy11
Senior Member
I think its really funny how something like sight of cannabis is harmful. The whole idea of frosted windows is so puritanical. Because a store sells cannabis we can't look through the windows, because we might then decide to go buy something, a legal substance. Hypothetically, what if a store right next door sold clothing but had a cannabis plant on display in the window, just for show, that is perfectly fine?
Anyways to the topic of this thread, I think any business that has an attractive store front window, regardless of the products in the store should be welcome on Jasper ave. Honestly I wish that Jasper ave had a far more diverse offering of retailers. This CNIB building would be nice to have businesses that will attract customers.
Anyways to the topic of this thread, I think any business that has an attractive store front window, regardless of the products in the store should be welcome on Jasper ave. Honestly I wish that Jasper ave had a far more diverse offering of retailers. This CNIB building would be nice to have businesses that will attract customers.
Omega Prime
New Member
I've been torn on the retail experience so far of cannabis stores. On one hand, I support marijuana use and am glad its legally available. Long overdue. On the other hand, the way these stores look on street level remind me of liquor/porn/cash money shops that just looks . . . cheap and off-putting. I know that's not the case, but the amount that are popping up in low-budget strip malls or run-down buildings is ruining the experience for me. Then not being able to see in the windows, and generally a "don't look at us" delivery really cheapens the offerings.
These stores should be bright, sunny, inviting and most of all, transparent. I get the need for security too, but there has to be a balance.
These stores should be bright, sunny, inviting and most of all, transparent. I get the need for security too, but there has to be a balance.
archited
Senior Member
Of course it is ideal to have any business represent a strong image on the street, but to generalize that certain types belong on side streets is just wrong -- leads to cement-head Planning thought. Particularly in times of bricks-and-mortar retail crisis, we should not be banning potential street "activators" to anywhere but main streets. The government entities should not be obscuring windows; they should be encouraging thoughtful design and community interplay -- anyone been to the Netherlands?
Edmcowboy11
Senior Member
Problem is the regulations set out by the province.