Manchester Square | ?m | 2s | 76 Group Co | Gardner Architecture

[Avenuer]

Checked it out for the first time in person since it has finished construction:

The faux-Euro theme even extends to the lobby!

 

[RH van der Rohe]

Echo what people are saying, lighting and quality of materials help but couldn't that effort be directed to something of it's time and place?

 

[Romanov]

I dont really like the trim lighting. This development is still a spectacle destination rather than an integrated neighbourhood hub. Maybe this will change as more tenants open up shop, and the gimmicks are turned down a notch.

 

[Glenco]

Name me one other strip mall that has garnered the media attention this one has.

 

[archited]

^^^^Satin Dolls Strip Club in Reno Nevada.

 

[_urbanite]

Checked it out for the first time in person since it has finished construction:


The faux-Euro theme even extends to the lobby!

View attachment 291776

Just imagine a canal behind those bollards instead of a parking lot and all of a sudden you're at Manchester Square in Amsterdam!

 

[archited]

While Edmonton is copying Oldie-time Amsterdam; Amsterdam itself seems more focused on the future:

nhow Amsterdam RAI | SkyriseCities

nhow Amsterdam RAI, Amsterdam by 1, Office for Metropolitan Architecture

skyrisecities.com

Sluishuis | SkyriseCities

Sluishuis , Amsterdam by 1, Bjarke Ingels Group

skyrisecities.com

P15 Ravel Plaza | SkyriseCities

P15 Ravel Plaza, Amsterdam by 1, MVRDV

skyrisecities.com

Gershwin Kavel 14a | SkyriseCities

Gershwin Kavel 14a, Amsterdam by 1, H

skyrisecities.com

Oosterdokseiland | SkyriseCities

Oosterdokseiland, Amsterdam by 1, UNStudio

skyrisecities.com

 

[Daveography]

Name me one other strip mall that has garnered the media attention this one has.

Not sure what the point of this comment is.

 

[Glenco]

Not sure what the point of this comment is.

It works whether or not you feel it is good taste. It has generated a great deal of interest although there is only one tenant occupying the mall.

 

[Daveography]

@Glenco I don't think a single person on this forum doubted that it would be commercially successful, nor do I think anyone faults anyone who truly enjoys it.

That doesn't make it any less of a poor design from an urban design standpoint, nor that the cartoonish design (no matter how well executed materially) is an insult to good architecture. And that's not even going into how stupid the name is.

Its popularity only goes to show how far we have to go as a city in understanding our own heritage and historical design vernacular, and what good architecture, urban design, and placemaking really looks like.

 

[archited]

I made the tongue-in-cheek comparison to the strip club to suggest that there are many ways to gain notoriety -- not all of them good. The grotesque always draw attention (the current U.S. president is a prime example) -- it doesn't mean that it is a good societal move.

 

[Glenco]

There comes a time when one has to get one’s high horse and give people what they want instead of what you think is good for them. I had reservations about this project when it was first proposed but the level of detail and quality of materials used has elevated it to the point of an example of construction standards that should be emulated throughout the city.
I drove by this development this evening and there were at least a dozen people taking pictures so it is proving to be a catalyst for redevelopment of the whole area which is basically underuntilized industrial land.

 

[strata]

Anyone know what this building is advertising their lease rate at?

Personal feelings about the building aside, this group had great success with Holland Plaza because they were able to lease way lower than competing retail space. Not sure if that's the same business plan they have for this project?

If not, and they are trying to charge full market compared to options closer to 124th Street, I can't imagine this ending well for them.

 

[jason403]

• Total Operational Costs​

  Estimated $12.00 / sq. ft. for 2020

• Rate​

  Starting at $25.00 / sq. ft.

• Unit Size​

  Starting at 2,766 sq. ft. up to 3,299 sq. ft.

From the website

 

[TAS]

Overall, and this is based on what I've seen when I've travelled versus what I see here, it doesn't seem like we have enough small sized retail spaces. When I see the empty commercial bays in new spaces downtown, they seem quite big - although I noticed an empty 600 sq ft bay next to the former Cacao 70 . That said, I don't know much on this subject so not sure if size is an actual issue.