The Sentinel | 24m | 6s | Arlington Street | Jackson McCormick

[CBBarnett]

I’m with everyone on the design of this being pretty lame, but I don’t have a problem with the scale. The height
/density seems fine to me. Personally I don’t like having towers or taller buildings directly on high streets…they are more imposing and block more light, which works against having a human-scaled experience, which I think is what often makes a great pedestrian-focused shopping street.

300 units is nothing to sneeze at here - this is a large development, just not tall. Now that the updated design has dropped the main level to the ground, it's a far more accessible and integrated building to the sidewalk.

Like many developments, I think this will come down to the materials and streetscape design when it's actually built. The renderings don't seem to highlight the street retail section very well, but the form/basics are there. I'd give this one a cautiously optimistic thumbs up.

 

[bgarneau]

The updated DP has a phasing plan as well. Looks like the 17th Ave facing building might be last? If they are relying on lease up before starting subsequent phases it's going to be a dead corner for a long time

 

[Dārayavauš]

Agree that it doesn't have to be tall, but it also must not suck. This looks to me like a residential building that would be built in the suburbs. I know there's retail at grade, but it looks more like an afterthought than a focal point in the renders. Aside from that the colors are muted and boring, the materials don't look promising, and the overall design is derivative and generic. This thing will be the largest building at one of the most important intersections in centre city, and so needs to be of high quality.

It honestly looks less impressive than some old care homes that have been built in the suburbs.

 

[CalgaryTiger]

At this point, when a development forum is anti-development, the city has to ask and get better from the developer.

 

[Dārayavauš]

At this point, when a development forum is anti-development, the city has to ask and get better from the developer.

Best they will do is write a strongly worded letter.

If that. I bet they will not address it at all, and we’ll be stuck with an underwhelming development at a prominent area of the city. It’s preventable.

 

[badc0ffee]

The DP appears to have been approved.

 

[Albertasaurus]

Bummer. Hopefully they focus on getting Francesca’s going and by the time they are ready to move on to Sentinel, the market facilitates a redesign to something denser, more urban, with a better street presence and a lot less shitty looking.

 

[Woosh]

Looks like Ski Cellar is moving into the existing building.

I suppose we won't see any meaningful updates anytime soon.

 

[The Familia]

Good. The design was terrible for that location. I like the funky blue building that occupies the spot currently.

 

[UrbanWarrior]

Agreed, fantastic news.

 

[potatopizzafan]

I like it, but it looks like shit. If its not coming down anytime soon it would be nice if they fixed it up at least a little so it doesn't look so run-down

Good. The design was terrible for that location. I like the funky blue building that occupies the spot currently.

 

[CalgaryTiger]

Interesting... with an approved DP and other tenants having moved.

 

[Albertasaurus]

With Enzo still underway and Francesca's just getting started, I imagine ASI has enough to keep themselves busy for a few years. Francesca's is their largest project so far and also their first attempt at a highrise so they might be focusing much of their energy on it for the next couple years.

It would be great if this was a sign that they are going "back to the drawing board" with a more ambitious plan for the site. There's so much more that they could do here - a mixed use building with a more substantial retail component and, obviously, better design including some decent public realm is a must. It doesn't have to be tall but it should be a lot better than what they are proposing.

 

[baileyorama]

All the service businesses on upper floors are still there and told me they don’t need to move until spring when I asked in the summer.

 

[Joborule]

Yeah, with the effort of getting a DP approved, I can't see them sitting on this too long, or initiating a redesign. Ski Cellar is a seasonal shop, so it works to make money off of them being a tenant if they're not intending to start construction until next year.