LDA20-0216 Strathcona The Baron Rezoning

Consultation has concluded

***The discussion has concluded and a What We Heard Report is now available.***

Thank you for participating in engagement activities for this rezoning application.

The application is expected to go to City Council Public Hearing for a decision, with the exact date still to be determined.

***The discussion has concluded and a What We Heard Report is now available.***

Thank you for participating in engagement activities for this rezoning application.

The application is expected to go to City Council Public Hearing for a decision, with the exact date still to be determined.

Tell us what you think about the application

Please let us know what you like and what could be better about this application. What should Council know as they decide whether or not to approve the rezoning? Other people that visit this part of the site will be able to see your comments.

Consultation has concluded
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

This is exactly what is needed in our City, especially for Whyte Ave. Mixed use developments is how whyte ave is developing. We as a city need to add density to that area and with a sustainable development like the one proposed it makes total sense. The Met hotel next door is in line with this project as is Raymond Block. The existing building is tired and this is a great proposed development that we as a city can be proud of.

JM over 3 years ago

JOBS

B Chapman over 3 years ago

Removed by moderator.

Omar H. over 3 years ago

Removed by moderator.

Omar H. over 3 years ago

I think this is a positive push for the city of Edmonton. I'm originally from Vancouver and moved to Edmonton for about 2 years a little under a decade ago. The Edmontonians welcomed me into their circles of friends. The music scene, festival scene and cultural scene are amongst the best in Canada. I think it fitting to lead not only our country but the world in innovative projects such as this.
Kindly.

Omar H. over 3 years ago

This project looks great. The building looks beautiful and it will add to the vibrancy of the strathcona community. This is also a great opportunity to show that the City of Edmonton can lead the way in sustainable development.

Braden over 3 years ago

This is great for the city. We can’t stop living and growing here cmon guys

Hugh over 3 years ago

Removed by moderator.

Jay Mitchell over 3 years ago

As an Edmontonian I believe this project should be built without question. It is built with sustainable construction and will be a center piece on whyte ave for years to come due to it’s stunning architecture. Furthermore due to the developers proposed size of the building it will bring more living spaces to whyte ave which will lead to more support for local business. Let’s put the shovels in the ground now!!

Jay Mitchell over 3 years ago

This building looks awesome, beautiful architecture which will only make the area nicer and increase values of all surrounding properties.

Looks like a no Brainer win win to me!

Ty Milly over 3 years ago

I think this is so great for Edmonton. To be a leader in sustainability and to have something creative along Whyte ave! This is a leading edge project that will show cities around the world that edmonton thinks about sustainability along with beauty.

I don’t think the existing building is of any real importance in terms of heritage and putting up something new while using older ways of building of timber construction is the way to go!

I heavily approve this project!

B Weeks over 3 years ago

Sounds like a great addition to the further revitalization of Whyte Avenue. I feel like residential density could help create a less transient community in this area of Edmonton which could in turn help support the businesses in the area and general feel of Whyte Avenue. I appreciate Edmonton’s history but this should not stand in the way of bringing investment, new ideas and beatification to our great city.

Scott over 3 years ago

I strongly support this project. The architecture, design and building methodologies that will be utilized in this project are a fresh and highly sustainable alternative to an old, low performing building that doesn’t retain any historical relevance due to its numerous renovations, demolitions and additions. Please think ahead and proactively on this matter.

Tony I. over 3 years ago

I support the building of the Baron property. Whyte avenue needs to be refreshed and more inclusive to all of Edmonton, not just Strathcona elitists who feel that keeping Whyte avenue the same as it has been for decades is acceptable. We need better access to businesses, to residences and attract more people. I think the Baron can help with that.

Feeling unwelcomed on Whyte over 3 years ago

I am very much against this development. You talk of 'an inviting pedestrian experience..' on Whyte Ave. but this development will deteriorate this experience. Ever since the Raymond block across the street was built, its shadow across the Avenue is significant and prevents insolation especially in the winter months. With this development we will also have to contend with a wind tunneling effect on the corner of Whyte and 105street. The pleasant morning and afternoon sunny pedestrian experience is forever being changed on Whyte as it slowly turns into the canyon lands of Jasper Ave. Keep development to 4stories on the north of the Avenue and no more than three on the south side.

Livio Fent over 3 years ago

I am very much against this development. You talk of 'an inviting pedestrian experience..' on Whyte Ave. but this development will deteriorate this experience. Ever since the Raymond block across the street was built, its shadow across the Avenue is significant and prevents insolation especially in the winter months. With this development we will also have to contend with a wind tunneling effect on the corner of Whyte and 105street. The pleasant morning and afternoon sunny pedestrian experience is forever being changed on Whyte as it slowly turns into the canyon lands of Jasper Ave.

Livio Fent over 3 years ago

As with my previous comments, I am not against development in principal. However this proposal would dignificantly change the character of a historic zone that has already been significantly eroded both other developments in the area. This is the death of a thousand cuts. If approved, one cannot blame other property owners in the area if they seek similar rejoining. Council,should either decide to maintain the protections for the historic character of the area or admit that it is simply abandoning these protections and face the judgement of the electorate at the next election. I am strongly against the size and scope of this application and the attempt to remove this site from the protections afforded to the historic district.

Norman Sexsmith over 3 years ago

So often after a building is gone, we are filled with regret. We are at a moment in time when we can preserve a building that is of enormous consequence to Arab history in Edmonton and for Alberta's north. The Archibald Block was where the Assad Morie family began their commercial empire which stretched along Whyte Ave and up to Fort Smith and further north. The Arab merchants moved to North America in the early 20th century from Ottoman-controlled Lebanon and arrived in Edmonton soon after. Trade began in Edmonton and then moved north where an Arab-Cree trading language is said to have developed. Fred Assad Morie began to work on Whyte Ave in 1911 at another Arab-run shop owned by the Tarrabain brothers. Fred Assad Morie would open the Mories' first shop in the Archibald Block in 1912. It looks like the entire family would work there. Fred's brother John Assad opened another store at 10350 Whyte in 1913. Fred served in the First World War and another brother George would manage the Archibald Block shop. In 1925 Fred married Grace and moved north to work in their already established businesses in Fort Smith and Fitzgerald. The family has wonderful pictures and stories of their northern adventures. At some point the Archibald Block store would close and George would run a grocery store at 10438 Whyte Ave (this is the third Morie shop). George was running it in 1935 and into the 1940s.
Clearly more scholarly research is needed to fully understand the Arab connection to Whyte Avenue and the north. It would be a huge loss to the Avenue and to the history of our City to lose the Archibald block. I hope Council will do the right thing and preserve the Archibald Block and work to fully understand the richness that Arab settlers and traders brought to Edmonton and Alberta's north. There are lots of historical newspaper articles to be researched about the Mories in the north. I think the building should be preserved and, at the very least, a plaque acknowledging the contribution of Arab merchants to the Avenue be put on the Archibald Block so that the Arab contribution is acknowledged and honoured.
Yours sincerely,
Margaret (Peigi) Rockwell, PhD (Canadian History)

Peigi Rockwell over 3 years ago

This application should be rejected. That block represents some of the few historical buildings left and allowing such changes would further degrade the already compromised heritage integrity of one of the only examples of a thriving commercial heritage area in our city. Please reject this application and protect our city’s heritage resources. Too many have been lost.

Jill Davies-Shaw over 3 years ago

Leave the building alone. Stop destroying our historic buildings on whyte Ave! I say No.

Alicia over 3 years ago