LDA20-0216 Strathcona The Baron Rezoning

There are so few historic sites left in our city. The building should not be torn down - if it cannot be maintained structurally as part of a new design, refuse the development. Edmontonians know the value of our historic buildings. Allowing a company to tear them them down for profit is not a good look and not in line with how we view our history.

Having another tall building on whyte is slowly turning whyte into Downtown and makes the area lose its character. If the city continues to demolish Edmonton's history, it will just be another generic city. Cities like Ottawa and Montreal are so special because of the emphasis on historic buildings. I hope the city reconsider and continues to uphold the 4 story zoning limit in the area.

I do not support this. I live in the area and these types of buildings block sunlight and we don’t need it. If you allow this to happen you might as well just level the whole street and build all highrises.

This corner is an iconic part of Edmonton's lively cultural fabric. Losing it would look not only like we are selling out to a *Calgary* developer (come on guys, not even a locally owned business?), but that those responsible for the "revitalization" efforts being undertaken in the City do not distinguish or care which sites are chosen for demolition. Yeah, it's old, however what it possesses in our minds is a small but important brick in what makes Edmonton a real home.

I think the 4 storey limit should apply to this developer. I don't see an argument for why these developers should get an exception other than they just want one. Why can't they build a 4 storey mixed use building? Also, can the city employ some building design restrictions? Why do all new buildings have to be so cheap looking and coloured in greys and blacks with phoney looking brick facades. Why doesn't the city just force developers to build in a historical style in historical areas? I like older buildings because they look better and make the city more pleasing to walk around.

This building currently looks terrible, just because the building is 100 years old, does not make it historical. Especially if there’s already nothing original left. This new building looks great and would only help revitalize the area as well as help small businesses currently there and help attract more businesses . I don’t see any negative affects to the residential or commercial neighbors in any direction.

As a resident of the Old Strathcona neighborhood, I am opposed to this rezoning application. Whyte Avenue has seen a number of new mixed use developments pop up in recent years, and we continue to see the erosion of the character and historical significance of this community. There are a number of other locations in Edmonton where a development like this would be feasible and would bring life to those neighborhoods. Buildings like the Archibald Block are what makes the Whyte Ave community unique and draws visitors. The city needs to prioritize preserving these historic assets.

Please do not allow for the demolition of the Archibald Block. The charm of Old Strathcona is the heritage buildings. We need preservation, not demolition.

This application should absolutely be turned down by the city! Whyte ave needs to be preserved! Its already almost lost most of it's historic charm.

The demolition of this historical building would further deteriorate the historic character of Whyte Avenue, which is already severely at risk thanks to a number of unattractive high-rises that have gone up in that area in the last several years. Once these historic buildings are gone, they're gone forever. The City of Edmonton should be guarding and nurturing its heritage more closely.

This will continue to erode historic Whyte Ave. Don’t let this go forward!

I love the idea of a residential structure on Whyte Ave. When I first started working on Whyte twenty years ago, there was a lot more people and a lot more unique business'. There has always been great restaurants but the balance has tilted to the bar scene in recent years, and it would be nice to get back to encouraging people and families back to the Ave.

Disappointing that the city would have a limit on construction height and then immediately disregard that in favour of profit. Please do not approve this rezoning application and have the developers use their creativity and ingenuity to build within the confines of preserving historic architecture and character of Whyte. Surely if they are capable of bringing new building materials to this project they will relish the challenge of a rebuild instead of a teardown

I am opposed to this rezoning for a number of reasons. First, on the issue of fairness, the community just went through the work of developing a new plan. What is the point of that exercise if exceptions are to be granted without a compelling reason? Over time, that lack of adherence to a planning process will create disengagement and disillusionment. Second, while not inside the provincially designated area, this property is functionally part of the 'old' component of Old Strathcona. It's over a century old building, and a link to the early settlement and development era of our history. We have lost far too many buildings of historic value and it is incumbent on us to protect what we can at this point. The Whyte Ave streetscape on that block is largely low rise with a couple of mid-rise exceptions. It evokes that early era of settlement of development, and the more it's chipped away at the less it will retain its feel. This project itself is not a problem, but the location is for the above mentioned reason. There are plenty of properties further west on Whyte where it would fit, or that demand can go to other neighbourhoods where the city has invested in redevelopment efforts (such as TOD sites, Strathearn, the Quarters). Further erosion of the heritage buildings in Old Strathcona will diminish the historic feel - which is a big part of its appeal - and make it feel like any other place. I strongly support rejecting this application, and advocating that the owners pursue historic designation for the property as is - or seek out a buyer who will.

Please do not approve this proposal! Whyte Ave is a cultural and scenic hotspot in Edmonton, and part of the charm is the historical architecture. I would be so incredibly disappointed to see this site redeveloped to accommodate some million-dollar corporation's scheme to get richer and erase a piece of Edmonton's history as a result.

I am opposed to the proposal. While history and new development need to be carefully balanced, and Edmonton is in need of densification, this specific instance should not be approved. The Raymond Block, across the street, was a valid option because it was built on an empty block and provided additional retail space. This proposal, while adding retail space, suggests an alteration of Whyte Ave that would see two new developments across from one another, with another development mere blocks away to the west. Old Strathcona must balance the new and old, and in my opinion allowing this development would tip the balance too far in support of the new.

Appreciate the redevelopment plan. However there already have been too many exceptions to the existing rules allowing for larger towers. Leave the existing height restrictions (4 stories) in place.. Towers, no matter how the setback is designed do indeed interfere with the general character on the street (Eg. SE corner of 105 St & 82 Ave). Allowing the exception to pass will continue to undermine the city's development guidelines everywhere.

Plans like this continue to erode the unique character of Old Strathcona, and the dwindling architectural heritage of the City of Edmonton itself.

I am against yet another tower project along Whyte Avenue, and am tired of local interests continually having to do battle with the City over preservation of neighourhood character.

I do not support this project.

Edmonton can’t be held back by history. We can celebrate it, but it can’t constrain us. The needs of people from 100 years ago can’t be more important than living people and future generations.

Knock down the little 1 story building and put in real density.

When are we going to stop tearing down historic buildings in the city? The horrible decisions that our ancestors made to tear down almost everything historic or interesting does not need to continue to be our mistake. Real cities across North America preserve their historic buildings. We keep tearing ours down which will prevent us from ever being seen as a real city