HOW POCKETS OF REVITALIZATION ARE HELPING TO SCULPT A NEW EDMONTON // REAL ESTATE
“REVITALIZATION IS GOOD FOR THE CITY, AND IT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW,” CONCLUDES CANTALINI, WHO PREDICTS A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF URBANIZATION IN EDMONTON’S NEAR FUTURE.
George Cantalini, CEO of Beaverbrook Group of Companies, agrees that revitalization is the key to strengthening any city. “Any kind of revitalization is always good; to see things reused and take advantage of what’s there, like recycling, creates something new and making the best of what already exists. It’s important to have a strong core, then move centrifugally out from there. We are starting to get back to a good central core within Edmonton, and that will help to strengthen the whole city. Revitalization attracts people to the city for lifestyle, not just for work. When people want to move to Edmonton to live, not just because of jobs, it helps the economy. That’s what keeps the population growing.” He continues, “We’re not just building towers—not everyone wants to live in a tower. You have to have different kinds of housing to attract everyone down into the core. Our company is going after that different demographic. We are close enough to the downtown to be in the action, but far enough for people not to be in it every day all day long; it fulfills a different market, but is complimentary to what is happening in ICE district.”
“We are revitalizing the corner of 142nd Street and Stony Plain Road with our Westblock project outside the core, but still within the downtown of the city of Edmonton,” Cantalini describes of the Glenora site project, which will “eventually provide 500-550 units, 100,000 square feet of commercial development, mixed together around an urban square. “We also have a 110th Street project, called CX, about to launch between Jasper and 100th Avenue,” Cantalini adds. “This project includes a mid-rise building, six stories high, featuring townhouses and apartments.” “Revitalization is good for the city, and it is going to continue to grow,” concludes Cantalini, who predicts a higher percentage of urbanization in Edmonton’s near future. Mark Barron Wilbert, partner at Coldwell Banker Venture Realty, agrees. “I have definitely seen a spread of revitalization initiatives. ICE District is permanently changing the Edmonton skyline; The Quarters, East of downtown, will mold along the edge of the river valley; The Brewery District, West of downtown, has become a destination for urban eats and living; Blatchford Fields (the ABOVE: GEORGE CANTALINI, CEO OF BEAVERBROOK GROUP OF COMPANIES. PHOTO SOURCE: EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY INC.
RIGHT: MARK BARRON WILBERT, PARTNER AT COLDWELL BANKER VENTURE REALTY.
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SEPTEMBER 2017 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM