Student Housing Accelerator

[MacLac]

Ian, did you have a chance to ask Edgar this morning when he’s breaking ground on the Shift at your photo shoot?

 

[IanO]

I did have a quick chat, but nothing on that aspect, no.

 

[TAS]

Here it is the Dub project (Quarters Student Housing) that got 150 units funded - 174 units total in the project.

 

[TAS]

Here it is:

View attachment 723573

If link not working, here it is again.

 

[Dubas]

I don’t hate it. Is that a police car in the background? Lol

 

[TAS]

I don’t hate it. Is that a police car in the background? Lol

Yup, but the dt police HQ is across the street from this project.

 

[johnnyboy]

Here it is the Dub project (Quarters Student Housing) that got 150 units funded - 174 units total in the project.

View attachment 723573

Are the coloured mural designs supposed to have any meaning? They look a bit like graffiti tags unfortunately.

 

[whattheheck]

It should be noted, the irony of the situation that - despite efforts since the Mandel led council to kick start development in the Quarters, that there's been essentially zero private sector interest. So much so, that the city has to bribe (pay off?) developers to build in the area. And when they do, you get this ugly box (with colour!)

 

[Barnaby]

I don't think the building looks bad at all.

The issue with the Quarters is that it's currently worse than nothing. Unless a developer buys a large majority of it and master plans, the risk is huge for each development.

Who would want to take the risk when a gravel lot next door is going to exist for 10-20 years.

 

[Markyeg]

I think it’s ugly, but maybe it’s the “busy” murals all over the front that make it seem worse than it actually is. But I’ll take this over a lot that otherwise would’ve sat empty for another 20+ years.

 

[macblender]

Love that stuff is getting built!

But have to say when you look at some of the stuff getting build that there was much better use of these funds. Gripe mainly is when you have projects with shovels in the ground such as the Westrich Projects (Lilac Park or close enough to with Vantage) the economics worked prior and we potentially could have gotten more of a build out with the funding for the SAF that supposedly was oversubscribed.

Edit: I guess the contra argument is they will spend more making it look better or something which is also important given the location on the park. Not sure it changes how I lean though.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

Well the Quarters needs some love for sure. This is the one area of the downtown core that has seen very very little movement in all these years lately. With one more building going in of a decent size, it should help the perception of the area improve. And if it is student housing it will definitely add more life to the area and hopefully in turn a couple more retail businesses to the area.

 

[David A]

Well the Quarters needs some love for sure. This is the one area of the downtown core that has seen very very little movement in all these years lately. With one more building going in of a decent size, it should help the perception of the area improve. And if it is student housing it will definitely add more life to the area and hopefully in turn a couple more retail businesses to the area.

The first thing is for something to actually happen here, after so many years of not much at all. There are challenges, but the biggest one is perceptions.

If something goes ahead and works out ok, that will probably lead to some of those who are less bold looking at it more seriously.