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July 10th, 2005, 04:56 AM
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Downtown condo plan takes shape
Carma, Abbey Lane pitch eight-tower vision
Ron Chalmers
The Edmonton Journal
July 9, 2005
EDMONTON -- Carma Developers and Abbey Lane Homes are planning to build eight condominium towers surrounded by townhouses on an entire city block at the north edge of the downtown.
The two companies have assembled almost all of the land north of the Baccarat Casino parking lot from 105th to 106th Avenue between 102nd and 103rd Streets.
Doug Kelly, a Carma senior vice-president, expects to submit a development proposal and a re-zoning application within three weeks.
"We hope to have it before city council by the end of the year," he said Friday.
Construction of the first tower could start late in 2006, and finish 18 months later.
The entire project, with 550 units, would be built over eight to 10 years, depending on market demand, Kelly said.
The townhouses will line the perimeter of the block, with a grassed, three-metre setback from the sidewalk.
The narrow, six-sided towers will be built on top of broader, square parking garages. Part of the garage roofs will be finished as recreation areas.
The towers will be oriented diagonally, rather than parallel to the streets, "to give a variety of views," Kelly said. They will be clustered in two X-shaped formations.
All buildings will be condos, rather than rental apartments. Sizes and layouts will depend on the target market.
"There is a growing working population downtown," Kelly said. "We'll have to cater to that."
Most units, including the townhouses, will have only one or two bedrooms. "My suspicion is that it will be mostly singles and married couples without kids," Kelly said.
One tower may be designed especially for seniors.
This will be the first Carma/Abbey Lane joint venture. The two companies both owned land on the block and saw that, by working together, they could create a more integrated design -- especially of the green spaces between the buildings.
Kelly credited the Central McDougall Community League with offering good advice on community housing needs and harmonious design.
The land is now vacant except for one small building on a lot that the developers are negotiating to buy. Without it, the project still could proceed -- with one fewer tower, Kelly said.
The project was enabled by city council's recent amendment of the Central McDougall/Queen Mary Park area redevelopment plan.
That plan designates a strip of land on the north edge of the downtown, between 105th and 106th Avenues, from 101st to 117th Street, for residential use, as part of a strategy to encourage the construction of new housing for 6,500 residents.
Much of the land was previously earmarked for industrial use.
The plan provides for the city to collect a levy from north edge developers to fund streetscape improvements including landscaping, furniture, decorative lighting and public art. Instead of paying that levy, Kelly said, Carma/Abbey Lane will propose to spend the money directly on improvements -- ensuring that they are in place when the properties are marketed.
The city's plan includes a restriction of vehicle traffic on 105th Avenue and construction of a multi-use trail, up to 10 metres wide, beside the avenue. Land on the south side of 105th Avenue is reserved for an eventual LRT extension.
orth edge housing proposals are also being prepared by BCM, Genstar, and Christenson development companies.
Greg Christenson, president of Christenson Developments Ltd., hopes to start construction in 2006. He has three parcels of land on the south side of 105th Avenue.
Two buildings, immediately east and west of 113th Street will be "active adult condominiums" with a total of 140 to 160 units, he said.
A third site, between 111th and 112th Streets, will provide up to 12 storeys of seniors' assisted living, with professional office spaces on the main floor.
rchalmers@thejournal.canwest.com
© The Edmonton Journal 2005
Downtown condo plan takes shape
Carma, Abbey Lane pitch eight-tower vision
Ron Chalmers
The Edmonton Journal
July 9, 2005
EDMONTON -- Carma Developers and Abbey Lane Homes are planning to build eight condominium towers surrounded by townhouses on an entire city block at the north edge of the downtown.
The two companies have assembled almost all of the land north of the Baccarat Casino parking lot from 105th to 106th Avenue between 102nd and 103rd Streets.
Doug Kelly, a Carma senior vice-president, expects to submit a development proposal and a re-zoning application within three weeks.
"We hope to have it before city council by the end of the year," he said Friday.
Construction of the first tower could start late in 2006, and finish 18 months later.
The entire project, with 550 units, would be built over eight to 10 years, depending on market demand, Kelly said.
The townhouses will line the perimeter of the block, with a grassed, three-metre setback from the sidewalk.
The narrow, six-sided towers will be built on top of broader, square parking garages. Part of the garage roofs will be finished as recreation areas.
The towers will be oriented diagonally, rather than parallel to the streets, "to give a variety of views," Kelly said. They will be clustered in two X-shaped formations.
All buildings will be condos, rather than rental apartments. Sizes and layouts will depend on the target market.
"There is a growing working population downtown," Kelly said. "We'll have to cater to that."
Most units, including the townhouses, will have only one or two bedrooms. "My suspicion is that it will be mostly singles and married couples without kids," Kelly said.
One tower may be designed especially for seniors.
This will be the first Carma/Abbey Lane joint venture. The two companies both owned land on the block and saw that, by working together, they could create a more integrated design -- especially of the green spaces between the buildings.
Kelly credited the Central McDougall Community League with offering good advice on community housing needs and harmonious design.
The land is now vacant except for one small building on a lot that the developers are negotiating to buy. Without it, the project still could proceed -- with one fewer tower, Kelly said.
The project was enabled by city council's recent amendment of the Central McDougall/Queen Mary Park area redevelopment plan.
That plan designates a strip of land on the north edge of the downtown, between 105th and 106th Avenues, from 101st to 117th Street, for residential use, as part of a strategy to encourage the construction of new housing for 6,500 residents.
Much of the land was previously earmarked for industrial use.
The plan provides for the city to collect a levy from north edge developers to fund streetscape improvements including landscaping, furniture, decorative lighting and public art. Instead of paying that levy, Kelly said, Carma/Abbey Lane will propose to spend the money directly on improvements -- ensuring that they are in place when the properties are marketed.
The city's plan includes a restriction of vehicle traffic on 105th Avenue and construction of a multi-use trail, up to 10 metres wide, beside the avenue. Land on the south side of 105th Avenue is reserved for an eventual LRT extension.
orth edge housing proposals are also being prepared by BCM, Genstar, and Christenson development companies.
Greg Christenson, president of Christenson Developments Ltd., hopes to start construction in 2006. He has three parcels of land on the south side of 105th Avenue.
Two buildings, immediately east and west of 113th Street will be "active adult condominiums" with a total of 140 to 160 units, he said.
A third site, between 111th and 112th Streets, will provide up to 12 storeys of seniors' assisted living, with professional office spaces on the main floor.
rchalmers@thejournal.canwest.com
© The Edmonton Journal 2005