David A
Senior Member
Well, it would be really nice for a replica of the Tegler to somehow come back, heck there is even an empty lot now where it could go.
Tower 101 | 175m | 50s | Regency Developments | DER + Associates
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Gronk!
Senior Member
The Pulse: Feb. 12, 2026
In this edition: Housing advocates on both sides unhappy with proposed infill changes; executive committee backs 'Happy Beer Street' entertainment district proposal; and more headlines and happenings
edmonton.taproot.news
- In an online post, architect Josh Kjenner raised concerns over a proposal from Westrich Pacific for an interim parking lot at the vacant downtown Edmonton site of the former Bank of Montreal main branch, located at 101 Street NW and 102 Avenue NW. The site, empty since its 2017 demolition, was listed for sale in November 2025. Westrich Pacific presented its temporary plan to the Edmonton Design Committee on Jan. 20. Kjenner argues for the City of Edmonton to design development conditions through land acquisition and targeted subsidies to achieve desirable, high-quality buildings, rather than accepting stopgap measures that delay meaningful development.
ADob
Active Member
Damn, I'd forgotten how cool the BMO building actually was.
ys11
New Member
I was in Toronto last month and couldn't help but notice their BMO building almost looks identical to our old BMO building. Would've been nice to still have this building.
whattheheck
Active Member
It's too bad Mr. Kjenner will not address the elephant in the room. Investors don't want to invest too significantly in DT Edmonton. Not with tall towers, anyways. What the author should b advocating for is for the city to address safety and cleanliness and social disorder.
Yes, some private-sector development is underway. But it's come woefully too late (and not befitting of a city of more than a million people) and there are still a myriad of issues that need to be tackled. But city hall doesn't have a spine. It's more interested in spending tax dollars on one-off events, where a few pictures will be taken showing how 'busy' the core is. But it's a facade.
Heck, (and I will die on this hill) the city does not even lead by example and bring its staff back to the office full time. Something that would help struggling businesses etc.
If Toronto's financial district looked faded and dirty and zombie-filled like Edmonton's, people would be - rightfully - demanding changes. Here, due to social justice warriors, we just let our DT turn into a big homeless shelter.
DT doesn't need more subsidies. It needs tough love. Then the private capital will (hopefully) return. It's basic economics 101.
Yes, some private-sector development is underway. But it's come woefully too late (and not befitting of a city of more than a million people) and there are still a myriad of issues that need to be tackled. But city hall doesn't have a spine. It's more interested in spending tax dollars on one-off events, where a few pictures will be taken showing how 'busy' the core is. But it's a facade.
Heck, (and I will die on this hill) the city does not even lead by example and bring its staff back to the office full time. Something that would help struggling businesses etc.
If Toronto's financial district looked faded and dirty and zombie-filled like Edmonton's, people would be - rightfully - demanding changes. Here, due to social justice warriors, we just let our DT turn into a big homeless shelter.
DT doesn't need more subsidies. It needs tough love. Then the private capital will (hopefully) return. It's basic economics 101.
Gronk!
Senior Member
Our old BMO building could have used some more LED lighting. But more importantly, I wish our old BMO building could have retained the BMO Bank as a primary tenant instead of letting it move next door to Enbridge Centre.
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ADob
Active Member
Huh, I'd say ours was actually the nicer of the two!
David A
Senior Member
Toronto's financial district is exactly that. It is area for the national headquarters for around a half dozen major banks. So the number of people that work there is way more than in downtown Edmonton and some of those people also live nearby to where they work.
If I fault our city for anything it is the so little effort made to attract corporate offices to our downtown, which has been a problem for decades and partly has led to its decline. After ICE District was completed the city became neglectful of downtown, mistakenly believing our problems had been solved and it is doing/has done a number of things that are at cross purposes or inconsistent with improving our downtown.
However, in the current economic climate there is very little commercial or high rise construction downtown in any Canadian city now, so this is not a unique Edmonton problem. In this case a solution could be the city taking a more active role to develop this site, because left to private developers not much or nothing could happen for a long time and that would continue to be negative for the nearby area.
Mesopotamia
New Member
Just get the city to develop a nice park there. There isn't really a park close by in that area
mcr
Active Member
While we stare at the reality of this empty lot being around for many years more, all I can say aside from the disappointment of that is thank god the Enbridge Tower treated their alley elevations nicely. Imagine how much worse this would be with a blank / utilitarian wall facing the empty lot
MattPT
Active Member
Oh yes, the tired trope of the evil social justice warrior…. No blame to be placed on the shittiest provincial government we’ve ever had… bullshit.
inclusion
Active Member
Good enough for Toronto, but not for Edmonton! Instead, we had to go back to our historical roots of having a parking lot.
David A
Senior Member
And not only did we make the mistake of tearing down something nice/decent on this lot once, but twice!! Part of the problem is the tear down quickly mentality here.
I have criticisms of Toronto, but they seem generally more inclined to keep and thoughtfully reuse older buildings or at least not tear them down and leave empty lots for a long time.
itom987
Senior Member
How about reviving The Mite? That building could be built cheaply and moved around on a trailer if needed.
It would make the perfect condo sales office!
It would make the perfect condo sales office!
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whattheheck
Active Member
Yes, the UCP and would-be Empress Dani is shite. But that's the cards we have to deal with. It doesn't mean that city hall should neglect issues such enforcement related to social disorder and cleanliness. Tough love. Using the crux of 'trauma' and taking a kids-glove approach does nothing to help our struggling DT. Nothing.
It should be noted that in Vancouver with an NDP provincial government it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Vancouver council decided to bring in more police and enforcement.