The proposed Baron development is fine. Not great. Not exceptional. Fine.
And the Archibald block, at least with a massive awning obscuring its historic looks, is also fine. Not great, not exceptional. Fine.
This is the problem. And given this, what’s most important when we’re just working with fine — history, or density?
Screen capture of City of Edmonton video.
To bring you up to speed, a nine to 11 storey development, called The Baron, is proposed at Whyte Avenue and 105 Street. To build the Baron, the developer would have to demolish the Archibald Block, the street-retail box at Whyte Avenue and 105 Street.
Now, ordinarily, I’m against demolishing historic buildings that add needed street retail atmosphere as buildings erected before the rise of the car, like the Archibald Block, seem so effective at doing.
There’s now a campaign to “Keep the old in Old Strathcona” from a group called Heritage Forward. It hopes to drive residents to share their views on the proposal with the City of Edmonton.
My issue is that the Archibald, with its very large awning, evokes approximately zero historic feeling as I look at it or walk past it. It looks like an anodyne retail box like so many others, dominated by its awning rather than architectural features or signs of patina.
Perhaps others would feel more compelled by the history along Whyte if we showed it off a bit better. If we told its story a touch more clearly.
I think The Baron would be great anywhere other than along Whyte Avenue — unless it was built on a current parking lot or brownfield area and therefore adding a building where there isn’t one currently. But I also think The Archibald needs to look its part to engender support to save it from the wrecking ball.
So, which is it: fine history or fine density? Or should we ask for something better?