Always believe
We did it!
Alright, we, as in the edmontonian or Edmonton as a whole, didn’t do anything. But Commerce Place employees, visitors and just plain everyday Edmontonians can enjoy free and easy access from the city’s premiere street to the building.
It only took forever.
Never forget.
Door Watch will always have a special place in our hearts because it was one of our first features, and one of the first stories that seemed to connect with people who would say to us “Yeah, that door hasn’t been open in a bygone.”
We talk to a lot of old people who use terms like bygone.
Our only complaint was that the door was broken for so long that it had already become lore of unfixable items by the time we hit the scene.
Gee…I wonder if anyone else is being lax in fixing major items around this town…maybe we can get on their case next.
Sadly, when they were trapped inside the boarded up door in 2008 there were 10 of them.
Armature
An example of the proposed look of the area, from the City of Edmonton.
By @tricotmiss
I attended a very interesting meeting last night. Edmonton NextGen invited people to a public consultation meeting about the proposed “Armature” development in the Quarters. There is a long-term plan to revitalize the Quarters and the Armature project is central to that plan. But rather than focus on the development of buildings the Armature is the development of the greenspace that will make those future residential developments a community – and a showcase community for the city of Edmonton.
This post is just my impressions from the meeting, I’ll have more detailed information next week.
Basically, the plan is for a pedestrian parkway running from 103 Avenue, south to Jasper Avenue and the top of Louise McKinney Park along 96 Street. There were a number of things that excited me about this project: (more…)
EastwoodFest, Woo!
Ain't no party like a 118 Avenue party.
When you think of summer parties you think of barbecues in the backyard, patios, Whyte Avenue, various festivals, and 118 Avenue.
What? You don’t think about 118 Avenue? Maybe you should.
Granted, it may not be the first place you think of (or even the second, or third) when trying to come up with a place to enjoy Edmonton’s short summer. But there’s a revitalization going on, don’t you know.
This past weekend saw Eastwoodfest take over the 118 Avenue area, 82-87 Streets.
As roving reporter Paul tells us… “The turnout was actually not bad. Not bad for what’s by and large considered Edmonton’s ghetto. The crowds in the pictures (above, below) look especially sparse but I credit that to the way the event was set up. The avenue was shut down from 82nd street to 87th street with booths, events, food, etc… lining both sides of the street as well as a line of booths set up right in the middle of the road.”
“The upgrades to the avenue itself look good. New sidewalks, lights, pavement, etc… (That’s all part of ongoing City efforts.) And there are a few new or renovated businesses that are doing their part to transform 118th. It’ll be a long process but I think that in five years, 118th will be a hot spot in Edmonton.”
You head a little west down the Avenue and you hit spots like The Carrot, an artsy, volunteer-run, coffee spot that’s part of the push to makeover 118.
More from the Edmonton Journal here. Mostly I mention the Journal story because they have a quote that “…life’s good in the hood.”
Eastwoodfest equals fun.
104 Street rocks my socks
Old buildings to the left of me, new ones to the right...
Sometimes, living near Whyte Avenue, I forget there are other pedestrian-friendly areas of the city that are totally sweet. It can happen in a city that so often reminds me that I shouldn’t venture more than 20 steps without something on four wheels carrying me around.
But 104 Street, between 100 and 104 Avenues, might be one of the best spots to enjoy a high-density, walkable urban area.
Thinking about it, I don’t know why the City of Edmonton doesn’t just make 104 Street pedestrian-only (say, the same blocks that are closed north-south during the market). Businesses and condos already have entrances in the back lanes, and people in the area have to adjust for Saturdays through the summer. I’d settle for pedestrian-only in daylight hours, but all week. (Points to e-mail my city councillors with, I guess.)
Great, fairly traded, coffee and yummy cookie.
Enjoying a fine latte at Credo Coffee, I had time to think about what this street is becoming. Of course, summer Saturdays, 104 Street is shut-down to traffic of the vehicular kind from Jasper to 103 Avenue for the City Market. You can’t get much more pedestrian-friendly.
The market’s not new, and while Sobey’s Urban Fresh has added a livability to the area, we’re now seeing a small business boom as work on new condos nears completion. The street is also retaining some of the older brick buildings, which is always great to see.
You’ve got one of my favourite stores, and one that speaks to a sustainable city; Carbon. It’s got plenty of stuff for around the home (and for every room) which makes it both a destination and a neighbourhood store.
You can't shop much more green than this.
There’s the Blue Plate Diner, always a great choice for local and delicious food. You’ve got tapas (Tzin), wine (deVine) and furniture and home decor at 29 Armstrong, all of which make the street a stop for those looking to shop.
Some of them cater to an evening out or a great brunch and other shops are for people living in the neighbourhood. There’s a tailor and hair dresser, which could be destination stores but mostly speak to living close by.
With an LRT stop right underneath Jasper and 104 it’s clearly an area that’s going to appeal to those looking to ditch the car a little more often, or completely.
104 Street might not qualify as a hidden gem but it’s worth a reminder to check out this strip, especially on a Saturday when closed to traffic. It’s nice to know that even in the city of cars we have places that cater to the walking public.
Could we go all pedestrian all the time?
What’s up, 112 Street?
They should just have an EPCOR station at this intersection.
Normally I hear about a water main breaking and I’m all “meh.”
But I’ve got to wonder what’s going on underneath 112 Street at, and near, Jasper Avenue. Back in the spring there was a big water main break that flooded the street and took some time to fix.
(It took months to get the sidewalk at the southeast corner up to par.)
Now there’s a water main busting loose just south of Jasper. FYI: The sidewalk is also blocked.
So, clearly I should start worrying about a monster living under the intersection, a monster that feeds on water mains.
I wonder if he can see any monsters.
Walk This Way
Whyte Avenue on a busy Saturday afternoon.
This is the first in a series of community profiles looking at Edmonton’s “walkable neighbourhoods.” Searching online, it appears the condition of sidewalks, street lighting and other infrastructure stuff makes up the “walkable neighbourhood” criteria. I think instead we’ll look at what makes you want to live in the neighbourhood ,and how close the important stuff is; a grocery store(s), shops, businesses, restaurants, workplaces, transit and other amenities. Let’s say within a 10-15 minute walk. Agree or disagree, let us know what you think. Tell us about your experiences in these neighbourhoods and others we might not have walked yet.
WALKABLE WHYTE
Stairy, stairy night
I was genuinely surprised by reaction to a story I blogged about last month.
I didn’t know people cared about the steep stairs at Ezio Farone Park, I had only thought it odd the city would tear them out during the summer. You know, when they are used. But people were talking to me about the stairs for about a week after I posted the story.
It really hit me that those super-local stories can get people talking.
So…since the stairs are back, I now present you with images of the new, improved, still has that fresh-cut wood smell, stairs at Ezio Farone Park!
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- It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock’n'roll.
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- So many stairs…
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- The end of stairs!
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- I can see my house from here.
The good thing, for lazy people like me, is that there are more resting points on that steep climb. It’s totally worth it though since the park gives you a great view of the river valley.
If you’re looking for more information on Edmonton’s parks and the river valley (or parks IN the river valley!) head to this website. They’ve also got information on fire bans, trail closures and stuff like stair repair.
The asparagus is in!
It's so green. And tasty.
I’ve been meaning to write about Edmonton’s farmers’ markets for a few weeks now. We did get a plug in for one busy vendor as our first featured Edmontonian. I think it’s a great thing for people living here, and it’s something that really does put us on the list with world-class cities.
We’ve got great farmland around the city, we’ve got multiple markets (and all of them seem busy all the time) and it’s one of those subtle items that makes Edmonton a good place to live.
While watching a local TV channel’s weekend show I caught a story about strawberries hitting the markets in Victoria, and remembered thinking last week how I’d yet to see a strawberry at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market. I attributed to this our wonky, and recently dry, dry, dry, spring weather. (Man, all this rain today could be fantastic!)
One of the cool things (cool, being used loosely here) about farmers’ markets is how you can get into a groove through the year. You know when certain fruits and veggies will be picked, you can tell when something’s been harvested or a herd of animals has been made into tasty cuts(sorry, vegetarians). You also get excited, especially in summer months, when the asparagus, berries or tomatoes hit town.
No festival too small
Shopping: Turkish style
The colours and culture of Turkey were on display this weekend.
While on my usual trek to the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market Saturday I stumbled into one of Edmonton’s smaller festivals.
The Edmonton Turkish Festival took over Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park for the weekend.
Like any good festival celebrating ethnic or geographic heritage, there was food, music, dance, crafts, jewelry and other goods to introduce everyday Edmontonians to Turkish culture.
You got to take the cup and saucer home!
While enjoying my kebab and my Turkish coffee* (I would have chosen a fruit-less and slightly more manly tiny cup had I known you got to take it home) I wondered if Edmonton even had a large Turkish population.
Uh…we do not. According to the 2006 Census just 1,250 people describe themselves as being Edmontonians of Turkish descent. So good for those guys for throwing together a yearly festival!
We’ve got lots of parks, a short summer worth jamming festivals into and lots of proud Edmontonians willing to share their history and delicacies (I’m looking at you, tiny coffee) with us. Just enjoy.
I hope the Edmonton Turkish Festival is back next year. I want a complete set of tiny coffee cups.
Collect the whole set.
*the Turkish Coffee was strong, sweet and just delicious
A “Shell” of Itself
This old Shell station is being ripped up.
Who’s noticed the bulldozers ripping things up on Whyte Avenue at 100 Street?
We did. The disappearance of Platz Shell Service (9950 82 Avenue) was reported by the edmontonian one week ago. After closing up the station a final time, June 15, the Platz crew packed up the service side of things and headed over to the Ottewell neighbourhood…and that leaves a gas station to be disposed of.
Shirley Lowe, president of the Old Strathcona Business Association is waiting to see what’s going to happen to the site.
This lot at 105 and Whyte has been empty for a decade. (Thx JP!)
Whyte Avenue already has an empty lot. The contaminated Esso site at Whyte and 105 Street is now in its second decade of vacancy.
In an e-mail, Lowe says the fate of Whyte and 100 Street remains to be seen.
“How badly contaminated is this (Platz location) and does Shell care?”
“Is the remediation requirement a residential standard?” she asks. “If so, this can be rezoned.”
Underground fuel tanks need to be dug up.
The site remains under ownership of Shell Canada Limited, and there are no solid plans for the property.
Meanwhile, work has begun on removing the station’s underground fuel tanks.
Senior Communications Representative, Jackie Panera, tells the edmontonian they don’t know what the remedy for the abandoned gas station is.
“We are still determining the long-term future of the site and if we are going to sell the property,” Panera writes in an e-mail. “Since we have not determined what we are going to do long-term with the property, we don’t have timelines to share with you today on remediation plans.”
The Shell rep notes the company is monitoring its tanks for leakage during the removal process, as per Alberta Environment requirements.
So, just to recap: Shell is deciding whether they’ll build anew or sell the property. For the moment though, it looks like people living and visiting Old Strathcona may want to get used to looking at another empty lot.
We have a winner!
This robot likes to party on Whyte.
This image of Xeldon, the “Telus repairman of the future,” can be found in the window of the old Edmonton Telephone Historical Centre (Telus), on 83 Avenue, between 104 and 105 Streets.
Congratulations to Deja Springfield for being first with the answer. We’ll be by with your Greenwoods’ gift certificate, and for your wacky winner’s photo, soon.
Also fun, you can find more Xeldon at his new home, the Prince of Wales Armoury (10440 108 Avenue), where he’ll tell you about the history (and future?) of the telephone in Edmonton.
Thanks for testing your Edmonton knowledge with the edmontonian. We would have also accepted an answer of Xeldon being in “2003.”
It’s a contest. So win already.
You can win!
It’s time to test your knowledge of Edmonton.
The reward will be the right to brag about how you know more about Edmonton then the rest of us. And there’s a $25 gift certificate from local book experts “Greenwoods’ Bookshoppe.” Books go great with sunny weekends in a lawn chair.
Ready? Then let’s do this thing!
Somewhere in the city you’ll find this fellow.
Where is he?
You’ve seen the robot. Now, the first person to e-mail us at info@theedmontonian.com and tell us where to find him wins that $25 gift certificate from Greenwoods’ Bookshoppe.
Please don’t give away the location in the comments, it’s a contest after all. But feel free to make hilarious remarks.
(In order to win you should be ready to pose for an awkward winner’s photo.)
Blog du Jour: Edmontonian at Large
I’m going to sound like a total pretentious douche when I say that I find this site, Edmontonian at Large, to be incredibly charming – but I do, so live with it. LIVE WITH MY DOUCHEBAGGERY.
Even though it’s a little out of date (it hasn’t been updated in about 6 months), I’m passing this URL out to everybody I know, because it has brought me endless amusement over the last week. Now join me, won’t you, for a tour of Edmontonian at Large.
Our hero, blog authour James from Nova Scotia, takes walking tours of a variety of Edmonton neighbourhoods and chronicles his adventures with photographs. Granted, it’s not exactly an action film or anything; James from Nova Scotia isn’t going all Erin Brockovich and digging up neighbourhood secrets, but it’s fun to see his pictures, and it’s a refreshing change to read about someone showing such genuine, unbridled appreciation for the simpler things in life. James from Nova Scotia friggin’ loves Edmonton! And he wants you to love it as well!
My favorite part of the whole thing was how I found myself nerding out when James hit neighbourhoods that I frequent, like Allendale or Abbottsfield: “I’ve been to that Zellers! I bought a coffeemaker there!” “I’ve been to the Albert’s Family Restaurant in that stripmall! It was no Smitty’s (that one’s just for you, @SmittysEdmonton), but it was alright!”
Anyway, take a moment out of your busy work day (I know you’re not working, citizens of the Internet) and check out Edmontonian at Large. Maybe if we flood the site with love, we can get James from Nova Scotia to do a few more tours.
North- SIIIIDE!
Just had to share this: a great photo of downtown, taken from Ada Blvd. Thanks Lorraine!
The Summer of Infrastructure
Ugh. I know it’ll all pay off eventually, but doesn’t it always feel like every major thoroughfare in the city gets fixed at once? I thought I was the only one wanting to punch someone in the face from the backlog of traffic in my ‘hood (they’re ripping up parts of both Whyte and 99th respectively); but it turns out they’re dealing with it up in Beverly as well.
This photo comes from Lorraine, who says optimistically, “These pictures are of the road work on 118 Ave. from 50 St. – 42 St. Despite all the mess, crisp, new white sidewalks are starting to grow from the rubble.”
Hmm… okay, glass half full, you may have a point there. Despite the inconvenience, soon Widynowski’s Sausage House (& neighbourhood) will be shining like a bright, new (albeit sausage-y) diamond. Let’s try to remember that next time we’re stuck in traffic, people.
Whyte Avenue’s Empty Lots
This lot at 99 and Whyte has been empty for a decade.
Since I first moved to Edmonton there’s been this big empty lot at the corner of 82 Avenue and 105 Street. It used to be a gas station.
The old gas tanks left a lot of contamination in the soil and so it continues to sit, the underground being cleaned by Imperial Oil (Esso), and will likely remain a fenced-in field for years to come. What an eyesore in the city’s showcase neighbourhood.
(For a thorough rundown check out this 2006 story from Vue Weekly.)
Former Platz Shell now a shell of itself.
Now a second gas station on Whyte Avenue is closed up and I dread a new empty lot will take its place. Platz Shell Service (9950 82 Avenue) has moved on. The crew picked up and headed up to the Ottewell neighbourhood.
A thought did strike me, however, as I pondered the other two gas stations on Whyte (an Esso at 99 Street and another at 109 Street). If the future is going to include more mass transit (and I think it should) and walkable neighbourhoods such as Old Strathcona, aren’t we going to see more empty lots where gas stations once sat?
Let’s hope they aren’t all as dirty as the one entering its second decade of decontamination.
Gone are the days of full service.
