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| Kenton Friesen photos |
| The Executive (Jasper Avenue and 109 Street) is one of a string of loft-style conversions in the city’s core. Warehouses and old office buildings are falling victim. |
It’s the year of multi-family complexes in Edmonton.
A walk through the downtown core leaves no doubt that 2002 has altered the pulse – and appearance – of this city forever.
Last summer Colliers International ventured: “New (apartment) development is not expected to increase much due to labor and land shortages.”
But time has proven that credible prediction incorrect.
Alberta’s strong economy has helped keep interprovincial migration high, keeping the construction workforce afloat.
Ingenuity has been the friend of developers. In an area fully built up since the beginning of the last century, builders have found a way to continue construction on a large scale.
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| At the base of the 104 Street Promenade, the Melrose Manor’s wood-framed, five-storey construction is typical of treatment being given to many downtown parking lots. |
They’ve utilized overlooked fields and parking lots, captured ledges hanging over the River Valley and recaptured the use of old office buildings. In short, there is far more space to live in downtown Edmonton today than there ever was in history.
And the ripples of this year will be felt for many to come.
The surrounding photos are a small sampling of the multi-family activity in the core this summer. They were chosen for their representation of the tremendous diversity of projects.
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| Grand Central Manor III replaces an old-fashioned hamburger stand. The three apartment towers are Edmonton’s most solid proof that high-end rental units are in demand. |
