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If you ask Michael Bateman what he's building on the corner of 99 Street and 89 Avenue where the Wild Earth Bakery once stood, "community" is the first word he uses to describe his development plans. SkyriseEdmonton had a chance to chat with Bateman about his project, dubbed 1932 by Bateman. The proposal, a partnership between Bateman Properties and Pangman Development Corp., is currently wending its way through the development permit stage.
The name hearkens back to Bateman's grandfather, Weldon C. "Tubby" Bateman, who first opened his meat market on 99 Street in 1932. The family opened and operated numerous grocery stores in the city over the years and through three generations. Circumstances have since forced the sale of the stores over the last decade, however Bateman intends to ensure the family name lives on in this legacy development project.
The two-tower project, 15 and 18 storeys, is a story of community collaboration. Initially pitched as a single, 28-storey tower which saw pushback from neighbourhood residents, Bateman went back to the drawing board with community representatives and came back with the more sensitive two-tower design by DIALOG.
The new design gives back to the community by committing 14% of its 227 units to family-oriented townhouse and three-bedroom suites, while also committing to trying to secure a grocery store operator for the retail portion on 99 Street.
A woonerf is proposed to be created between the two towers, ensuring a space that is both functional for vehicle drop-offs, while remaining friendly for pedestrians. A retail patio faces this shared space, which Bateman hopes to have occupied by a cafe or wine bar.
An enclosed walkway, the top of which will host a green roof, will be constructed above this space enabling residents to easily access shared amenities across the two towers. The podium rooftops themselves will be home to a playground and community gardens.
The taller west tower will host a rooftop patio accessible to residents, with spectacular views of nearby river valley and the city's skyline.
Following a November 2017 presentation, the Edmonton Design Committee's only suggestion was to update the west facade of the building to provide more visual interest. As seen above, DIALOG addressed this by staggering the vertical windows and by introducing a colour gradient in the brick masonry. The committee expressed support for the latest design on April 30.
According to Bateman, sales are set to begin on June 15, from a sales centre in the nearby historical Ritchie Mill. Under ideal conditions, he hopes to see construction start in spring of 2020, with both towers undergoing construction at the same time.
SkyriseEdmonton will continue to follow this project as it progresses. What do you think of 1932 by Bateman? Leave a comment below, or join the conversation in our discussion forum, where you can also find additional images and renderings of the proposal. More information can also be found in our project database.
