@archited , You gotta love those fish eye lenses, sometimes...but I'm still in recovery mode since viewing your post, even with your forewarning. This was from the CoE website I take it, why, why would they post this? They couldn't be bothered to impose the render in a standard photo format? That said, I laugh at the way they depicted this proposal and ATB, et al, gracefully bowing down to the Mac.
Beautiful proposal thus far, hope it happens. Amazing to think that there are at least 4 or 5 proposals on Jasper Ave in the works, from The Wedge to Alldritt.., that rock. The CoE governance not so much.
Actually @Kaizen it was an interactive 3-d site that I believe the developer's consultants went to some pains to create. I "snapzed" some of the views that I thought gave the best relational perspective of the tower vis-a-vis surrounding buildings. The fact that the buildings were distorted only added to my evil pleasures.
Some notes from the EDC meeting and open house yesterday evening:
The land that the park sits on (and proposed development) was sold in the 80s by the MacDonald hotel's owners to finance the renovation of the hotel
The current proposal provides better views and sightlines to the hotel than what could be built under the existing zoning (which would be a 150m tower with up to 1000m2 floorplates)
Length of Jasper Avenue podium is retail
Residential access would be in the plaza that would exist between this building and the Mac
Entire podium would be clear-glazed to give it a lightness and provide visibility right through
Lighting is proposed to accent the recessed windows
Tower floorplate would be 738m2 (which is pretty ridiculously skinny)
Resident amenity space on top of podium
There are about 10 units per typical floor, 6 with inset balconies (4 on all units facing Jasper, and one on the southeast and southwest corners)
Great Gulf is indeed the majority owner of the project
Hoping for approval in the summer, looking to start construction in Q3 2020 (under ideal circumstances)
Pedway closure was actually the city's decision; rehabilitating the tunnel is too costly for how little it is used
100 % right @Platinum107 , the view of the Mac is from the South and always will be. From Jasper Ave the view is still good, better, and activated, and more park space.
This tower, I heard rumors it was named "Kaizen Tower", doesn't really block much of the small stretch of Jasper Ave looking South. Only accentuates it. I feel that the city should reconsider subway access to this site if this build proceeds and the future increase of residents in the area. Foresight.
No Kidding! Now that this section of Jasper is being "upgraded" it seems like a no-brainer that the subsurface pedway should not only catch this tower and the Mac but should extend all the way to connect to Alldritt's bldg. and the Convention Centre. Once again the City and Planning has its figurative head up its...
These "tunnels" should be thoughtfully designed, loaded with pedestrian amenities -- then maybe they would be better used. For example, they could be linear City museums; they could have light wells as accent points; they could have better connection with surface access points... ah but the City is so, so, so, so unimaginative!