Downtown stroll reveals Edmonton’s rebirth

The_Cat · 10-08-2012, 08:21 PM

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/touch...tml?id=7073907

Lamphier: Downtown stroll reveals Edmonton’s rebirth

EDMONTON — It was a perfect summer day. The kind I often find myself fantasizing about during the darkest, coldest days of winter.

So I did what I seldom do. I briefly unchained myself from the computer, and took a leisurely stroll through the downtown core.

What I saw on that hour-long walk — more than 10 years and some 1,400 columns after I first moved to Edmonton in 2002 — made me smile with satisfaction.

On almost every block, and around almost every street corner, I saw evidence of this city’s dramatic transformation. New office buildings, new condos, new educational and cultural buildings. It was an eye-Downtown stroll reveals Edmonton’s rebirth now, as ambitious new projects like The Quarters, Capital Boulevard, a potential new arena district and the West Rossdale neighbourhood spring to life.

Mla · 11-08-2012, 01:48 AM

It's awesome how he lists so much that has changed but still misses out on some big upcoming developments like NAIT LRT completion, Ultima... etc. It just goes to show how much downtown is STILL changing for the better.

Sonic Death Monkey · 11-08-2012, 08:05 AM

Keep in mind Lamp only went for a short walk, and is only observing what is built or being built, not what is being proposed.

The_Cat · 11-08-2012, 09:41 AM

I think Lamphier wrote this more for the people who don't visit downtown. There are many people who work and live outside of downtown, and rarely visit downtown. Their judgement of downtown may be that of what they see on the news. Even worse, many people unfairly judge downtown on its past.

Lamphier wrote this to illustrate how much downtown has changed, and to encourage others to see what has changed.

Hull534 · 11-08-2012, 10:29 PM

I appreciate the sentiment of the article.

I do think that our journalists should walk around the city more than once very ten years. I know that that is not really the case, but change is ongoing and it would be positive and up lifting if it was reported and reflected on a more frequent basis.

The_Cat · 12-08-2012, 11:07 AM

I think Gary would be impressed with a walk along 104 Street, with the new condos, market and the renovated Mercer warehouse.

rupikhalon001 · 12-08-2012, 08:19 PM

Caught the LRT with my bike from CP on Saturday. Got off at Bay, walked around the 104st Market for a bit. Watched the Cariwest parade ( did not know about that). Cycled the lenght of the LRT construction line to NAIT - great progress BTW. Cycled
down to Victoria promenade, sat and enjoyed the view, then went across the high level all the way to CP on the multi use trail. Great weather and sunshine all day

I wish all Saturdays could be like that !

edmonton daily photo · 12-08-2012, 08:22 PM

Sounds like a great time rup!

rupikhalon001 · 12-08-2012, 08:41 PM

^
We have a pretty great city here. Lots of biking/ walking trails, decent enough summers, four distinct seasons ( I admit I like summers the best - but hey,
I also enjoy skiing), most weekends during the summer there are plenty of
festivals going on , flat ( for the most part) make cycling and walking a pleasure.

Edmonton has certainly come a long way in the 10 years that I have been here.

Glad to call it home !

Any visitors that I have had are also impressed by our infrastructure, river valley, cost of living, Fort Edmonton and in summer our fairly dry warm weather.

The_Cat · 12-08-2012, 09:34 PM

I think one thing that would be great in the LRT Stations would be TV screens giving directions to festivals like A Taste of Edmonton (Churchill Station) or CariWest (Stop at Corona and take the #1 bus). Even directions to WEM (South Campus plus 133) would be a great help.

EveB · 12-08-2012, 09:47 PM

I'd be happy if there were screens on each station saying when the next train will arrive. I think it's in the works and exists on a station or two.

Eve

Mla · 13-08-2012, 12:23 AM

^We have screens from McKernan/ Belgravia station to Century Park... so four stations out of 15.

IanO · 13-08-2012, 10:10 AM

Ridiculous that it isnt in all of them a this point... and can be very annoying out of peak.

ajs · 13-08-2012, 01:50 PM

Most stations don't even have a clock.

EveB · 13-08-2012, 02:17 PM

Health Sciences (my going to work station) has a clock, to let me know how late to work I'm going to be.

Eve
(Yes, I know it's my fault)

ajs · 13-08-2012, 05:14 PM

In fact, there are two clocks within glancing distance at Health Sciences. They are always different. Perhaps you could use the one that is more advantageous.

Sonic Death Monkey · 13-08-2012, 05:23 PM

Why has a Rave about downtown turned into ranting about LRT signs?

EveB · 13-08-2012, 05:59 PM

Who's ranting? I'm amused at the situation.

Eve

Cal76 · 13-08-2012, 06:19 PM

Great article, thanks a ton to Mr Lamphier.

IanO · 13-08-2012, 09:21 PM

... Expect a follow up shortly.

11-08-2012, 01:48 AM	#2
Mla Addicted to C2E Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Athlone	It's awesome how he lists so much that has changed but still misses out on some big upcoming developments like NAIT LRT completion, Ultima... etc. It just goes to show how much downtown is STILL changing for the better. __________________ Raised in the suburbs, moved to the ghetto.

11-08-2012, 08:05 AM	#3
Sonic Death Monkey Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Downtown	Keep in mind Lamp only went for a short walk, and is only observing what is built or being built, not what is being proposed. __________________ “You have to dream big. If we want to be a little city, we dream small. If we want to be a big city, we dream big, and this is a big idea.” - Mayor Stephen Mandel, 02/22/2012

11-08-2012, 09:41 AM	#4
The_Cat Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sherwood Park, AB	I think Lamphier wrote this more for the people who don't visit downtown. There are many people who work and live outside of downtown, and rarely visit downtown. Their judgement of downtown may be that of what they see on the news. Even worse, many people unfairly judge downtown on its past. Lamphier wrote this to illustrate how much downtown has changed, and to encourage others to see what has changed. __________________ "Talk minus action equals zero." - Joe Keithley, D. O. A.

12-08-2012, 11:07 AM	#6
The_Cat Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sherwood Park, AB	I think Gary would be impressed with a walk along 104 Street, with the new condos, market and the renovated Mercer warehouse. __________________ "Talk minus action equals zero." - Joe Keithley, D. O. A.

12-08-2012, 08:22 PM	#8
edmonton daily photo Addicted to C2E Join Date: May 2008	Sounds like a great time rup! __________________ "Do you give people who already use transit a better service, or do you build it where they don't use it in the hopes they might start to use it?" Nenshi

10-08-2012, 08:21 PM	#1
The_Cat Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sherwood Park, AB	Downtown stroll reveals Edmonton’s rebirth http://www.edmontonjournal.com/touch...tml?id=7073907 Lamphier: Downtown stroll reveals Edmonton’s rebirth EDMONTON — It was a perfect summer day. The kind I often find myself fantasizing about during the darkest, coldest days of winter. So I did what I seldom do. I briefly unchained myself from the computer, and took a leisurely stroll through the downtown core. What I saw on that hour-long walk — more than 10 years and some 1,400 columns after I first moved to Edmonton in 2002 — made me smile with satisfaction. On almost every block, and around almost every street corner, I saw evidence of this city’s dramatic transformation. New office buildings, new condos, new educational and cultural buildings. It was an eye-Downtown stroll reveals Edmonton’s rebirth now, as ambitious new projects like The Quarters, Capital Boulevard, a potential new arena district and the West Rossdale neighbourhood spring to life. __________________ "Talk minus action equals zero." - Joe Keithley, D. O. A.

11-08-2012, 10:29 PM	#5
Hull534 Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton	I appreciate the sentiment of the article. I do think that our journalists should walk around the city more than once very ten years. I know that that is not really the case, but change is ongoing and it would be positive and up lifting if it was reported and reflected on a more frequent basis.

12-08-2012, 08:19 PM	#7
rupikhalon001 Partially Addicted to C2E Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Edmonton	Caught the LRT with my bike from CP on Saturday. Got off at Bay, walked around the 104st Market for a bit. Watched the Cariwest parade ( did not know about that). Cycled the lenght of the LRT construction line to NAIT - great progress BTW. Cycled down to Victoria promenade, sat and enjoyed the view, then went across the high level all the way to CP on the multi use trail. Great weather and sunshine all day I wish all Saturdays could be like that !

12-08-2012, 08:41 PM	#9
rupikhalon001 Partially Addicted to C2E Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Edmonton	^ We have a pretty great city here. Lots of biking/ walking trails, decent enough summers, four distinct seasons ( I admit I like summers the best - but hey, I also enjoy skiing), most weekends during the summer there are plenty of festivals going on , flat ( for the most part) make cycling and walking a pleasure. Edmonton has certainly come a long way in the 10 years that I have been here. Glad to call it home ! Any visitors that I have had are also impressed by our infrastructure, river valley, cost of living, Fort Edmonton and in summer our fairly dry warm weather.

12-08-2012, 09:34 PM	#10
The_Cat Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sherwood Park, AB	I think one thing that would be great in the LRT Stations would be TV screens giving directions to festivals like A Taste of Edmonton (Churchill Station) or CariWest (Stop at Corona and take the #1 bus). Even directions to WEM (South Campus plus 133) would be a great help. __________________ "Talk minus action equals zero." - Joe Keithley, D. O. A.

12-08-2012, 09:47 PM	#11
EveB Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Garneau (previously North Downtown) Edmonton	I'd be happy if there were screens on each station saying when the next train will arrive. I think it's in the works and exists on a station or two. Eve

13-08-2012, 12:23 AM	#12
Mla Addicted to C2E Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Athlone	^We have screens from McKernan/ Belgravia station to Century Park... so four stations out of 15. __________________ Raised in the suburbs, moved to the ghetto.

13-08-2012, 10:10 AM	#13
IanO Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton	Ridiculous that it isnt in all of them a this point... and can be very annoying out of peak. __________________ inspiration or mediocrity www.decl.org Ottawa-Edmonton-Vancouver-Edmonton

13-08-2012, 01:50 PM	#14
ajs Addicted to C2E Join Date: Nov 2009	Most stations don't even have a clock.

13-08-2012, 02:17 PM	#15
EveB Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Garneau (previously North Downtown) Edmonton	Health Sciences (my going to work station) has a clock, to let me know how late to work I'm going to be. Eve (Yes, I know it's my fault)

13-08-2012, 05:14 PM	#16
ajs Addicted to C2E Join Date: Nov 2009	In fact, there are two clocks within glancing distance at Health Sciences. They are always different. Perhaps you could use the one that is more advantageous.

13-08-2012, 05:23 PM	#17
Sonic Death Monkey Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Downtown	Why has a Rave about downtown turned into ranting about LRT signs? __________________ “You have to dream big. If we want to be a little city, we dream small. If we want to be a big city, we dream big, and this is a big idea.” - Mayor Stephen Mandel, 02/22/2012

13-08-2012, 05:59 PM	#18
EveB Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Garneau (previously North Downtown) Edmonton	Who's ranting? I'm amused at the situation. Eve

13-08-2012, 06:19 PM	#19
Cal76 Addicted to C2E Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Edmonton	Great article, thanks a ton to Mr Lamphier.

13-08-2012, 09:21 PM	#20
IanO Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton	... Expect a follow up shortly. __________________ inspiration or mediocrity www.decl.org Ottawa-Edmonton-Vancouver-Edmonton