East Junction | 86m | 25s | Regency Developments | DER + Associates

What do you think of this project?


  • Total voters
    46

Has any demo commenced on these units?
So, a friend of mine called Prairie Demolition (the company doing the demos for Holyrood Gardens) back on November 11 and according to them, they sent demo permits to the city four months ago (July), but they still haven't heard back from the city. The next day, my friend sent a message to the councillor for the Metis Ward where the Holyrood Gardens is located. The reply was a somewhat boilerplate answer which including "send[ing the] inquiry to city staff in Development Services for an answer."

So here's a kicker...

There was this permit issued in March 27, which the councillor did point out.
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But recently, I checked again, and what do I see...
1763309473161.png


And the biggest kicker? This new permit is dated November 12, the same day my friend sent a message to the councillor!

There's probably more permits required, because as of now, only two permits (one issued, one in intake review) would give permission for a combined 11 buildings, less than the total of 17 buildings slated for demolition. (Perhaps it's only one more permit.)

Still, the funniest thing is that it took a phone call and a message to the councillor for the city to get back to work. There's definitely something to be said about how a slow bureaucracy can impede development, even if it is development of sites infamous for crime and disorder! You just have to see the old BMO bank demolition for proof.
 
So, a friend of mine called Prairie Demolition (the company doing the demos for Holyrood Gardens) back on November 11 and according to them, they sent demo permits to the city four months ago (July), but they still haven't heard back from the city. The next day, my friend sent a message to the councillor for the Metis Ward where the Holyrood Gardens is located. The reply was a somewhat boilerplate answer which including "send[ing the] inquiry to city staff in Development Services for an answer."

So here's a kicker...

There was this permit issued in March 27, which the councillor did point out.
View attachment 696047

But recently, I checked again, and what do I see...
View attachment 696048

And the biggest kicker? This new permit is dated November 12, the same day my friend sent a message to the councillor!

There's probably more permits required, because as of now, only two permits (one issued, one in intake review) would give permission for a combined 11 buildings, less than the total of 17 buildings slated for demolition. (Perhaps it's only one more permit.)

Still, the funniest thing is that it took a phone call and a message to the councillor for the city to get back to work. There's definitely something to be said about how a slow bureaucracy can impede development, even if it is development of sites infamous for crime and disorder! You just have to see the old BMO bank demolition for proof.

It's my hope that once these are demolished, Regency sells Holyrood Gardens to a few competent developers who proceed to erect a mini-city called Holyrood with various midrise infill lots and enough retail for a grocer, a cafe and a restaurant/pub.
 
So, a friend of mine called Prairie Demolition (the company doing the demos for Holyrood Gardens) back on November 11 and according to them, they sent demo permits to the city four months ago (July), but they still haven't heard back from the city. The next day, my friend sent a message to the councillor for the Metis Ward where the Holyrood Gardens is located. The reply was a somewhat boilerplate answer which including "send[ing the] inquiry to city staff in Development Services for an answer."

So here's a kicker...

There was this permit issued in March 27, which the councillor did point out.
View attachment 696047

But recently, I checked again, and what do I see...
View attachment 696048

And the biggest kicker? This new permit is dated November 12, the same day my friend sent a message to the councillor!

There's probably more permits required, because as of now, only two permits (one issued, one in intake review) would give permission for a combined 11 buildings, less than the total of 17 buildings slated for demolition. (Perhaps it's only one more permit.)

Still, the funniest thing is that it took a phone call and a message to the councillor for the city to get back to work. There's definitely something to be said about how a slow bureaucracy can impede development, even if it is development of sites infamous for crime and disorder! You just have to see the old BMO bank demolition for proof.
Probably utilities being dealt with behind the scenes, no? Usually, gas, etc, has to be disconnected before demolition. Given the number of buildings etc, perhaps it took ATCO a while to do. Do permits not get created when the applicant submits to the city? Sounds like the scope changed in the new DP, which would likely lead to another disconnect. The city isn't perfect; it's a giant organization, after all, but this sounds like something where there are two sides to the story, and you've left out a lot of context from one side. Development often takes a considerable amount of time, as numerous parties are involved, not just the city--even demolition.
 
The city left a voicemail for my friend, and they said:

"We did receive the demolition permits back in March. They required two permits to demolish. One is a zoning permit called the development permit, and the other is a building permit. The zoning permit was completed fairly quickly for five buildings, but the building permit, there was a lot of back-and-forth, missing information, so that one took a lot longer. It was just completed on October 31st, but that was for only five buildings. We now have a second development permitted for a further 12 buildings, and that was just submitted eight days ago on November 12th, and that was awaiting payments. There was a bit of a hold up, but it was between the building departments and the applicants. I think there was just missing information and back-and-forth, but that first one was issued for five buildings. Now there's a second round of 12 buildings that just began."

So it does seem you have a point, inclusion. I wouldn't be surprised if the "they" is Regency, which we all know are not the best developers. Perhaps even Prairie Demolition was confused for the hold-up. But seeing that the second development permit was *submitted* on November 12, possibly meaning that the city was never sitting on that at all and maybe Regency or whomever never bothered to submit it. I wouldn't be surprised if the city contacted Regency for updates and not the other way around. Just so much to speculate.

Also the status changed from "Intake Review" to "In Development Review."
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