Well for starters these buildings, the soon to be Mirador and Annex and the Ring Houses, the Minchau Blacksmith building and Ritchie school and that’s all within the last year or so. You’re in the business of saving a lot of buildings so I’m sure you’re aware of these and more should I go on?
You guys do great work, I love your projects and frequent quite a few of them but can I also be disappointed at the continual lose of all these other buildings that I just mentioned and more? Unfortunately as good as work that you guys and Ken Cantor do there are developers willing to demolish buildings like on this thread to leave with something not nearly as good as what you guys are doing. So you should absolutely be proud of what you do, but we can still be disappointed about what isn’t being done.
I don't disagree with some of the points you are making here, but also feel compelled to play devil's advocate.
The issues you described occur in every City, not just Edmonton.
Sometimes there are issues beneath the surface that make these projects and existing buildings more complex than you may appreciate. I wouldn't be so quick to point the finger unless you have been intimately involved in these projects and understand all the variables.
Why aren't you developing these fantastic projects you are talking about? I mean, if all these other developers are stupid and lazy, surely there is a lane for you to come in and execute? And if the issue is a lack of capital, seeing as the kind of development you have described is easy to make a return, surely you can put together a business plan to attract outside investment? There is no lack of people looking to invest in cool development projects that provide the necessary return for the risk of the project.
Of course I am being over the top just to get across my point. If you believe the issue is that dire, step out behind the keyboard and do something about it. Otherwise, you are 100% entitled to your opinions and complaints, but come at it from a position of balance. Aspiration is a great thing, but I choose to believe that most developers don't wake up going "I really want to build a piece of shit". If it was sustainable to make every project the coolest project ever, I have to assume that most developers would be setting the bar there because the combination of financial return and personal enrichment sounds pretty darn sweet.