What Does 124st need to make it make it?

[newfangled]

The fact that Mcelheran's 3 buildings take up and entire half-block or streetfront is something I'm not really a fan of. But they did recently do this:



Which is nice.

It's still a work in progress though:





Atomic Zombie also recently updated their sign:


The new gallery space that was mentioned:


And I've complained about awnings in the past, but these newish ones are really nicely done:

[NielCole]

Originally Posted by newfangled

One of the fundamental flaws of 124st is the way that the densest residential is located north of 111st, while all the streetfront retail is south of there.

If you think of Whyte, 81ave and 83ave are lined with 3 storey walkups. Tons of people without mortgages to worry about, many of whom are transit dependent, and they're all a quick one block walk off the strip.

In comparison, a block off of the retail section of 124st you have houses. I wuv the westmount architectural heritage area, but there are a lot less people there, and they have a lot more cars to go shopping at the mall, and they probably have a lot more family dinners at home and a lot fewer pub nights. North of 111st 124st is lined with apartments like the ones off Whyte, but none of those have streetfront retail, so most of the only foot traffic that develops is the type of stuff that moahunter loves talking about.

If you could pick up all the apartments in Inglewood, and squish them in between 124st and the lovely houses of Westmount it would be a much better situation all around.

While I accept your point in regards to the apartments being further north along 124 and not as dense as Stratchcona is in rental living. I'll point out that the neighbourhoods directly west of 124th like Glenora, North Glenora and Groat Estates are pretty high up on the income level so I suspect that they would have way more disposable income then renters.
Also the southern end of 124th links up with Oliver area condo's and the income levels there. On any given nice day the area of 124th south seems to predominantly yuppie moms out shopping with a stroller or such so the retail outlets in the southend of 124th reflect that while north towards 107th the income levels are far more mixed.

Great pics by the way and yes the awning styles are far superior to what alot of places in the city have been doing, they are classy and understated. I also have noticed that style in various other locales around town hopefully those disgusting illuminated awnings that are everywhere are on the way out!

[newfangled]

^ in terms of impact on a walkable shopping district, rich people living 3 blocks away might as well live 30 blocks away or 100 blocks away. When someone in Glenora gets into their car, it's just as easy for them to go shopping/eating downtown or at west ed or in Oliver Square as it is to go to 124st (or SPR for that matter). The same is true for people who live along Victoria Promenade. If you have to get in a car, then there's nothing particularly convenient about 124st.

If there's a critical mass of snootiness then they can certainly be drawn, and you see that at the south end of 124st. I think a lot of that is because of the office crowd, though (based on how many stores are only open to 5ish on weekdays), and of course MEC the yuppie magnet.

But I can't wait to see an LRT station at 124/104. That should create a fair bit of extra foot traffic for a few blocks in each direction, and will maybe get this ridiculousness dealt with.

[GizmoForMayor]

Word is that the TU gallery is closing and the Dutchess bakery will be expanding their operation into that space.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Stopped by Duchess for a pastry and latte...very delicious. The place was crazy-busy...long lineups, every table occupied inside and outside.

IMO Duchess is the main driver for revitalizing 124 St these days. Lots of Duchess patrons were wandering around seeing what else is there. But the rest of the businesses? Most of them were closed or gave the indication they were closed. A few empty storefronts too.

So c'mon 124 St, wake the hell up!

[NielCole]

So true!

124th could be a new slightly more personal version of Whyte Avenue but they really need to try harder in regards to store hours, While they are independent store owners still in todays world they still need to have more accesible store hours in regards to attracting a strong and busy clientele.

To be shut on a Sunday really limits the reasons to want to shop on 124th.
As it is retail and being closed on Sundays do not fly with todays consumers.

[ajs]

Another missing piece are those two recently renovated storefronts across the street from Duchess. There was a rockabilly shop in one of them for a while. All the recent coverage of Western Canadian Fashion got me thinking about a local fashion retail co-op. Bunch of independent designers joining forces.
I'm guessing the leases on those spaces are formidable, however.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

When I re-read this entire thread, there are steps forward and backward.

* MEC has taken over the Second Cup space but has re-enforced its bunker-like presence there.

* A few other independent restos have opened up.

* The Bothy has opened south of 102 Ave

* too many empty spaces in the buildings south of the Esso

* Cococo (ex-Callebaut and Beuno Gelato) has opened in old discount furniture place at Jasper Ave but the parking lot is still a fail.

* The Hellas Greek grocery at 109 Ave closed down, but so has the adjoining payday loan place.

* Cosmos Greek Taverna is closed. There are signs saying they are renovating, but there's another sign saying that a BBQ Smokehouse is opening there. So I don't know what their deal is.

* The Zoe Apartment building across from Cosmos is still sitting empty

* Just noticed a Tzin type place called Somerville Wine Room near Koutouki, but poor reviews on urbanspoon

* The Thursday street market that started this year is a great idea, but needs more traction

[NielCole]

Considering there is vacant retail space along the street one would think that the landlords would consider lowering the rent (if it is too high) to attract some unique. quality independent tenants to bring in both some rental income and kick start the 124th into attracting more shoppers, Therefore attracting more businesses and ending up in being able to charge a higher lease rate.

[NielCole]

In regards to the closed down McElhrans Furniture "discount" unit on the southern most end of 124th and Jasper. The owners of the property need to redevelop it totally perhaps to a combined retail, residential space,

That site as it stands still totally reminds me of once being decades ago in my lifetime first being a B/A gas station coverting to a Gulf Station in the late 60's then becoming a 7/11 that relocated from the former location on Jasper and 123st to the larger site with more parking in the 1980's after the Gulf Station shut down.

When it closed it seemed to be several things until converting to the furniture store and now to the Cococo. That parking lot still reminds of it either being the former gas stations or the old 7-11.

The site as it is seems "jinxed" and redoing the same run of the mill dated structure over and over again is not attracting anyone build something new on the site instead of just reworking the same structure and leaving the large corner lot on which it sits as it is.

Perhaps a lowrise retail complex with housing on 3 or 4 floors above to mirror the Glenora Bed & Breakfast on 124th and 102nd would provide an good anchor on that end of 124th.

It seems the only things that constantly work well are the Esso, Glenora B&B and MEC the rest always seem to flip over and over along that block.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Here's an idea:
* The city buys most of the Cococo parking lot
* soften the Jasper Ave/124 St turn by rebuilding it into the parking lot land
* Put in an island between WB-NB and SB-EB. Some greenery is nice as long as it doesn't impede motorist's vision.
* Install an amber-signalled crosswalk across there and thru that island

This achieves the following:
- eliminates most of Cococo's parking lot
- brings Cococo and its outdoor seating closer to the street
- softens the hard turn for motorists
- allows for a badly needed crosswalk at the south end of 124 St
- adds more greenspace in the immediate area

[NielCole]

Totally agree. Especially on the cross walk.

[Paul Turnbull]

Originally Posted by Sonic Death Monkey

* The Thursday street market that started this year is a great idea, but needs more traction

Curious as to what you mean by 'more traction'? The times we went down the market was packed and had a good variety of stuff to buy. It seems very successful.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

^ Initial reviews indicated that the choices were sparse. If it's picked up then great. Hopefully the rest of 124 is taking advantage and staying open. A bit more advertising and media attention wouldn't hurt either.

[IanO]

^less market, more community event and pawty. It was fun both times we went.

[Chmilz]

124st would double its sanitation level if Hooliganz cleaned their washrooms.

[Paul Turnbull]

Originally Posted by Sonic Death Monkey

^ Initial reviews indicated that the choices were sparse. If it's picked up then great. Hopefully the rest of 124 is taking advantage and staying open. A bit more advertising and media attention wouldn't hurt either.

It's definitely sparse compared to the big markets but it's also a small community market. It's a fraction the size and aimed at the community rather than the city. Rather than try and expand it into another big market I'd like to see other neighbourhoods get small markets as well.

[240GLT]

^ the farmers' market seems to have proliferated in exactly that direction, with local neighborhoods having their own rather than everyone going to one large central one... Highlands has a nice little one going and Alberta Ave's is ramping up too. These are valuable neighborhood building initiatives that help people get more connected with their own communitites, rather than travelling to somewhere else to get the same type of stuff

[Municipal Man of Mystery]

I really wish Cafe Tiramisu would be open on Sundays, but I heard the owners are Christian so that's why they're closed then.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Fire on 124 St this morning...apparently it is the Smokehouse BBQ place.

[GizmoForMayor]

noooooooooo!

[Paul Turnbull]

Damn! I hadn't made it there yet but it sounded good. Hopefully they repair and get up and running again.

[edmonton daily photo]

[QUOTE=IanO;75805]Everytime i drive it or walk it i am amazed at the diversity in design, use, style, and condition of all things 124st.

We have a great little area of retail 102ave south to jasper and pockets in other areas, but what does 124st need to make it a viable and attract more to it?

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LRT access.

[NielCole]

Originally Posted by Sonic Death Monkey

Fire on 124 St this morning...apparently it is the Smokehouse BBQ place.

While a fire in any business is terrible, Ironically the Journal had a very good and positive review of it in todays paper.

Hopefully it was not a major enough accident to shut them down totally. Some times fate can just be cruel.

[NielCole]

[QUOTE=edmonton daily photo;486286]

Originally Posted by IanO

Everytime i drive it or walk it i am amazed at the diversity in design, use, style, and condition of all things 124st.

We have a great little area of retail 102ave south to jasper and pockets in other areas, but what does 124st need to make it a viable and attract more to it?

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LRT access.

More diverse independent one of a kind shops, bars, restaurants, etc etc etc. Basically another Whyte Avenue "feel" from about 10 years ago. Before the chains started to move onto Whyte....

[edmonton daily photo]

^ having some chains can really drive foot traffic...

What really made whyte demographics switch were all the bars... not the chains.

[Marcel Petrin]

Originally Posted by NielCole

While a fire in any business is terrible, Ironically the Journal had a very good and positive review of it in todays paper.

Hopefully it was not a major enough accident to shut them down totally. Some times fate can just be cruel.

Hopefully it won't shut them down permanently, but given that it took the firefighters 45 minutes to get the fire under control and they had to cut open sections of the roof to do so, it's going to be a pretty major restoration that will take months. Depending on their insurance policy though, they might simply relocate, or it might make sense to wait.

[NielCole]

Originally Posted by edmonton daily photo

^ having some chains can really drive foot traffic...

What really made whyte demographics switch were all the bars... not the chains.

True but honestly (if one ignores the pubs, bars and lounges) some of the independent retailers have been replaced by chains like Roots, Lululemon, American Apparel are a loss to the uniqueness of what was Whyte. I just hope that over time 124th can recreate that on a somewhat more "tightknit" scale. Seeing a international chain is not a huge draw for "one of a kind independent retailing" To me anyways.

Things evolve no matter what happens. Good or bad.

[Blueline]

124 street could use:
a really good small hardware store
a kitchen shop

[GreenSPACE]

^Already Call the Kettle Black

[Blueline]

sorry had forgotten them
but
would love to see them move from that godforsaken parking lot snare

[BalancedOP]

A good deli up around Duchess. A few more places to site and have a coffee or tea.

http://www.bloorwestvillagebia.com/business-directory

This is what I feel 124 could be.