Williams Hall | ?m | 7s | Beljan Development | Hodgson Schilf Evans

[thommyjo]

Is this the most risky project being completed in our downtown currently? Seems like a huge swing…sure hope it doesn’t miss.

Need a massive amount of retailers to sign on, then somehow need to attract huge foot traffic to a very corporate area with little residential directly on the block. Seems like a station park, but 5x bigger sort of effort.

 

[EdmTrekker]

I think given its got a narrow sidewalk street presence - the possibility of tables and umbrella on the sidewalk is not likely and given no sunlight.

 

[archited]

Residential will be a major component of the building itself -- as planned it will be a true Mixed Use -- with hospitality (maybe a very small bit of retail), a combined work space for office tenants, and residential (on the uppermost floors).

 

[archited]

I think given its got a narrow sidewalk street presence - the possibility of tables and umbrella on the sidewalk is not likely and given no sunlight.

The entry design features huge pivot-doors in an attempt to marry the interior space with the street-facing sidewalk. That in itself is a bold move and bodes well for the casual eateries that Beljan hopes to attract as tenants.

 

[thommyjo]

I think given its got a narrow sidewalk street presence - the possibility of tables and umbrella on the sidewalk is not likely and given no sunlight.

Sorry, in case this is in reference to my station park comment, I’m not saying anything about the projects being similar in built form or street intersection. But more so in risk as they need numerous vendors to buy in, they’ll need to draw thousands to the space weekly, and it’s off the beaten path just enough to be somewhat disadvantaged. Those are the similarities I see.

This isn’t a 104st apartment with 3 CRUs to fill. It’s a more “out of sight” street that’ll require a dozen or more businesses to take a risk alongside beljan to get the momentum it needs to survive.

 

[itom987]

The sidewalk gets decent amount of traffic for Edmonton, but people are always walking towards something on the other side.

 

[David A]

The sidewalk gets decent amount of traffic for Edmonton, but people are always walking towards something on the other side.

Well, like some other major streets downtown no place to really stop at along the away. Hopefully that will change when this is done.

Right next to the hotel so this is a good spot to attract visitors to the food hall.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

Well one of the major things that this will do is light up the area. It has always felt dark along that stretch even with the old building. With the new front the area will be lit up so much nicer in the future.

 

[IanO]

They are still pursuing a food hall or any commercial? I'm not sold on that for this location.

 

[inclusion]

genuine question: why do y'all value in-suite laundry so much?

I probably do laundry once a week at most and a lot of times, once every two weeks. My dishwasher, on the flip side, is used 2-3 times/week, as I tend to prepare and eat most of my meals at home.

The only time I've ever had bed bugs was because of shared laundry. After that, my ex at the time and I swore we would never rent a place with shared laundry again.

If they are moving ahead with the food hall, etc, I hope they have tenants lined up.

 

[thommyjo]

They are still pursuing a food hall or any commercial? I'm not sold on that for this location.

The brochure that’s still up with Omar’s shows a TON of F&B plus other wellness etc commercial.

 

[AntonK]

I'm not 100% convinced that a food hall would do well in that location. 102a isn't much of a pedestrian street, but it won't be any worse than before the reno. IMO, there's only upside, and if even a couple of businesses in the food hall end up destination places, it could be a decent win.

 

[David A]

I'm not 100% convinced that a food hall would do well in that location. 102a isn't much of a pedestrian street, but it won't be any worse than before the reno. IMO, there's only upside, and if even a couple of businesses in the food hall end up destination places, it could be a decent win.

Yes, it isn't much of a pedestrian street, but that could be said about most streets downtown Edmonton and you have to start somewhere. Actually 102 Ave or 103 Ave nearby is as bad or maybe even worse.

I haven't heard otherwise, so I assume the food hall or something similar is still in the plans. I certainly can't see the main floor being residential and it doesn't look like that is what is being built.

In any event, a couple of destination places could improve things a lot on the street and perhaps attract even business to several others in the food hall or whatever it will be.