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Lotus Park | 20.2m | 6s | Westrich Pacific | J+S Architect

Someone has to take the plunge. If we want a more pedestrian focused downtown and core, we're going to need proof that parking-free developments are possible and that a car-free or car-lite lifestyle is attractive.

Wishing the best of luck with Westrich on this one. I think it'll do well with students and new immigrants and if the price point is lower because of no on-site parking then that'll be a plus for some.
 
^ A couple of points. Yes, it would be a nice experience as a pedestrian realm but not so much if the streets become lined with parked cars that normally would have gone to unseen underground parkades -- especially on a potential ceremonial route like Capital Boulevard... also if the construction savings were actually reflected in reduced rental pricing of units which is yet to be seen (if the savings land in the developer's pockets then not so much). The design could have been a lot more imaginative -- to me this looks like discount architecture. And a lot more thought could have gone into specific design solutions for retail and hospitality -- this was a "missed opportunity" for creating village life along Capital Blvd. -- especially considering the vitality wanted for extended campus life -- if it doesn't get built now, then when? If this were compared to a game of darts, then Westrich didn't even hit the board let alone come near the bulls-eye.
 
archited said:
^ A couple of points. Yes, it would be a nice experience as a pedestrian realm but not so much if the streets become lined with parked cars that normally would have gone to unseen underground parkades -- especially on a potential ceremonial route like Capital Boulevard... also if the construction savings were actually reflected in reduced rental pricing of units which is yet to be seen (if the savings land in the developer's pockets then not so much). The design could have been a lot more imaginative -- to me this looks like discount architecture. And a lot more thought could have gone into specific design solutions for retail and hospitality -- this was a "missed opportunity" for creating village life along Capital Blvd. -- especially considering the vitality wanted for extended campus life -- if it doesn't get built now, then when? If this were compared to a game of darts, then Westrich didn't even hit the board let alone come near the bulls-eye.
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During the day (9PM M-S, 5PM Sun) that stretch is max 2-hour parking, and paid, so I don't imagine it will be any more packed than it is now. Overnight it may be more full, but the parking limitations during a lot of the day will definitely hamper a resident's ability to use it as their main parking space if they have a car. Unless they want to move their vehicle twice after they get home at 5PM every single day, and pay Avg $96/mo in EPark for that "privilege." Plus, there's only 18 stalls available in the entire block of Jasper Ave - 102 Ave along Capital Blvd (that includes both sides of the street)
 
^ I hear you... but if that were the hurdle and I had a car I would simply pick another street to park on and the same problem would then persist. Of course this is all subjective because I would exercise a ton of other options before ever considering living in that complex. Thinking back to my UofA days when I lived in a two-storey walkup on 119th Street a couple of blocks north of Jasper (for a short miserable while) I absolutely hated to go "home" except to sleep. I spent most of my time at SUB in the album listening area, or playing gnip-gnop, or hanging out at the Rutherford Library, or enjoying whatever was going on at "Room at the Top" or going to the club in the basement of Campus Tower (112th Street and 87th Avenue) -- anything other!
 
archited said:
^ I hear you... but if that were the hurdle and I had a car I would simply pick another street to park on and the same problem would then persist. Of course this is all subjective because I would exercise a ton of other options before ever considering living in that complex. Thinking back to my UofA days when I lived in a two-storey walkup on 119th Street a couple of blocks north of Jasper (for a short miserable while) I absolutely hated to go "home" except to sleep. I spent most of my time at SUB in the album listening area, or playing gnip-gnop, or hanging out at the Rutherford Library, or enjoying whatever was going on at "Room at the Top" or going to the club in the basement of Campus Tower (112th Street and 87th Avenue) -- anything other!
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You could choose another street to park on, but you'd run into the same problem. Everything around there is paid with the same limitations, and at that point it's even more inconvenient for you to skirt the parking rules. Unless you're going to park 5+ blocks away in Wihkwentowin, which is usually full anyway, it's free there with less restrictions. It's fine if this isn't a building for you, but for the many people without a car it won't be an issue, and I just don't see a sea of cars parked out front all of a sudden being a problem either. Of course, if you have a vehicle and rely on it, you'll look elsewhere, and there are plenty of options for those folks.
 
mcr said:
During the day (9PM M-S, 5PM Sun) that stretch is max 2-hour parking, and paid, so I don't imagine it will be any more packed than it is now. Overnight it may be more full, but the parking limitations during a lot of the day will definitely hamper a resident's ability to use it as their main parking space if they have a car. Unless they want to move their vehicle twice after they get home at 5PM every single day, and pay Avg $96/mo in EPark for that "privilege." Plus, there's only 18 stalls available in the entire block of Jasper Ave - 102 Ave along Capital Blvd (that includes both sides of the street)
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City is getting rid of the 2 hour time limits after 4 pm on weekdays and the whole day on weekends starting in July. It’ll still be paid, but they won’t have to move their car every two hours.
 
Markyeg said:
City is getting rid of the 2 hour time limits after 4 pm on weekdays and the whole day on weekends starting in July. It’ll still be paid, but they won’t have to move their car every two hours.
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Interesting! Hadn't seen that. Thanks
 
Will be interesting to see if resident and visitor parking sits in these stalls making it difficult to access this free parking for retail visits or other short visits of the same sort.
 
archited said:
^ I hear you... but if that were the hurdle and I had a car I would simply pick another street to park on and the same problem would then persist. Of course this is all subjective because I would exercise a ton of other options before ever considering living in that complex. Thinking back to my UofA days when I lived in a two-storey walkup on 119th Street a couple of blocks north of Jasper (for a short miserable while) I absolutely hated to go "home" except to sleep. I spent most of my time at SUB in the album listening area, or playing gnip-gnop, or hanging out at the Rutherford Library, or enjoying whatever was going on at "Room at the Top" or going to the club in the basement of Campus Tower (112th Street and 87th Avenue) -- anything other!
Click to expand...
Back in the day there was also a watering hole called "The Library" that if I correctly recall was on 87th Avenue. They had the restaurant up top and then a lounge and bar downstairs. Popped over there one day after class and Paul Coffee, Laurie Boschman, and a couple other Oilers were there having a pint. Not sure if it's there anymore, I think it's gone. Besides RAT the was also that bar in HUB that would always be packed especially on Friday afternoons. Not sure if that's there anymore either.
 
I remember one really hot band at the time -- Graeme & the Wafers -- as a cover had the Who and the Kinks nailed! Graeme went on to be a curator at AGA. They packed that basement club beyond what the Fire Marshall was comfortable with.
 
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