Edmcowboy11
Senior Member
Something needs to further attract businesses back in the core.
Manulife Place Renovations | 145.99m | 36s | AIMCo | MdeAS
- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
Barnaby
Senior Member
Retail follows rooftops.
David A
Senior Member
There has been a number of new residential buildings downtown over the last decade or so and even some under construction being completed now. So if that were the case, downtown retail should be doing well.
policyenthusiast
Senior Member
With the planned closures of key downtown access points for bridge repair, I expect we will see the inverse.
Munanyo
Active Member
Until we start attracting businesses, investment and jobs from the private sector I really don't expect retail to improve much in downtown.
Barnaby
Senior Member
I really don't see how businesses are the answer to downtown, it's residential first. You see this with 104th St and Ice District being the busiest areas, while the office areas are a virtual ghost town. The Loblaws didn't place itself facing Churchill Sq for a reason.
I'm gonna buy shoes at Foosh. I shop at The Helm and Henry Singer. I buy all my groceries at City Market.
Suburbanites aren't going to be the primary people supporting these businesses. That's not how this works besides the arena.
I'm gonna buy shoes at Foosh. I shop at The Helm and Henry Singer. I buy all my groceries at City Market.
Suburbanites aren't going to be the primary people supporting these businesses. That's not how this works besides the arena.
Barnaby
Senior Member
Capacity into downtown will be considerably higher than it is today, during these bridge closures. Remember that VLW will exist at this point.
policyenthusiast
Senior Member
In theory, if Edmonton residents warm up to public transportation.
thommyjo
Senior Member
Most of the bridge closures will be before the LRT opens sadly.
David A
Senior Member
It is more complicated than that and is a real chicken and egg problem - if there are not many jobs, a bunch of empty store fronts, with not much retail variety and you have to drive to get many basics, why would many people want to move downtown?
Cities that have thriving downtowns have many more businesses and employees working there than here and that in turn attracts residents. Residential can not support downtown business alone and putting it forth as a magic wand to solve our problems will not work.
David A
Senior Member
Yes, but there is already LRT to the NE, SW and SE. I experienced bridge closures here in the past, when I lived on the south side and worked downtown at a time with fewer LRT options than now.
Yes there was some inconvenience, but we all managed and I don't think it actually hurt downtown that much. It certainly wasn't the end of the world, but that was also a time when catatrophizing wasn't as popular.
policyenthusiast
Senior Member
danimori
Active Member
Anyone know if the high level closure includes the pedestrian and bike paths? Cause that would suuuuccckkkk
thommyjo
Senior Member
Another reason we should build a new bridge to the east with a proper alignment while this one still works
husky
Active Member
Almost certainly.