BILD Edmonton Metro

Our very own, Jason Syvixay, co-presented with the Downtown Revitalization Committee’s Chair Alexandra Hryciw to the downtown business and community sectors this afternoon to discuss the investment opportunities that can catalyze our shared future for Downtown Edmonton. Stay tuned for the launch of our collaborative plan between BILD Edmonton Metro, the Downtown Revitalization Coalition, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Edmonton Downtown Business Association, and NAIOP Edmonton.

Join Stephen Raitz and I - we are co-hosting this tour on the Valley Line Southeast. You will get the ‘inside scoop’ on all the cool things happening along this line of the LRT!! City of Edmonton and city builders are creating something extraordinary here and we want to tell you all about it!

Don't miss your final opportunity to join us for the Valley Line Field Trip on September 26! This exciting event will showcase a diverse group of public and private sector experts shaping the future of our city. From Downtown to Mill Woods, the Valley Line Southeast is set to transform mobility and spark new development opportunities. Join our tour to delve into the Valley Line's impact on city building in Edmonton and discover how this vital project is shaping our community's future. A big thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, B&A, and Event Sponsor, S3 Precast / Tanks-A-Lot. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gjbQUCGQ

Where do ice cream shops choose to locate, and why? Could it have something to do with the existing residential density, the vibe and identity of that neighbourhood or community? Some ice cream shops choose places that don't have much going on – are they then pioneers of a place? Developers and homebuilders and ice cream shop owners ask the same question – where do we build and choose to invest and why? In this Edmonton Journal piece, our VP, Jason Syvixay, and members (and their projects) like David Mitton (Leston Holdings), Henry Edgar (Autograph), Paul Lanni (Averton), Brian Murray, RPP, MCIP (B&A), and Claire St. Aubin (City of Edmonton), explore the city building ingredients that are necessary to not only attract ice cream shops but to also build and shape communities. https://lnkd.in/gZdwc3U7

🎳 Our team is incredi-bowl. We put a pin on Friday to connect and celebrate after a busy few weeks! We have an important question to ask — should we host a bowling event for members? Let us know in the comments section.

What should recreation facilities include? And shouldn't our communities be designed for all types of amenities? Our VP of Government Relations & Policy, Lindsey Butterfield, speaks to Urban Affairs about recreation facility planning and design, and opportunities for the private sector to provide places of play and activity in neighbourhoods. Read the story: https://lnkd.in/gupfS_Ga

Talk about pent up demand! For any city considering zoning reform to unleash housing starts, look no further than City of Edmonton. The new zoning bylaw came into effect on January 1, 2024 and the impacts have been immediate. According to Branch Manager of Development Services Travis Pawlyk, via reporting from Madeleine Cummings of CBC Edmonton, “the City has approved 90 permits for row housing this year, resulting in more than 600 new housing units. Before the new zoning bylaw came into effect in January, these row housing projects would have had to go through a rezoning process in order to proceed to development permit stage.” To translate: that means one four-plex at a time, progressing through the Public Hearing process at City Hall, individually, has now been expedited collectively. What does this change mean on the ground? In the short term a 67% year-over-year increase in permits for housing is resulting in some new, and concerning, delays in processing. Ideally it’s short-term pain for long term gain. In the long-term, it will mean more housing, faster, for Albertans to call home. Speaking to the recent homebuilding surge and attendant processing delays from the planning department, our CEO Kalen Anderson notes: “I don't want to leave anyone with the impression that we're happy with delays or accept this as a new normal, but in some sense, a bit of self-reflection and honesty about the situation we're in is needed.” Adding context to the emergent #ArtificialIntelligence potential for approvals and the future of automation in these approval processes, the Chair of our BILD Edmonton Metro Builder-Technical Committee, Brian Watters of Akash Homes, adds, “it gives us a tool to really define our start times.” Building Edmonton is fast and furious. Not for the faint of heart. All hands on deck! https://lnkd.in/g6SDndmD

Our committee that supports early to mid-career professionals hosted their annual mentorship mixer at Campio Brewing tonight. Over 50 people got to connect with industry leaders like Courtney Jensen, Kayla Carnovale, Annie Duong, Andrew Kowalchyk, Luciano Salvador, Rick Evans, and Yolanda Lew. Some lessons that were exchanged: 🔑 Relationships are key. The real estate industry is small, and many are willing to help and support you. Be open! 🎈 Get out to events. There is no shortage of opportunities to network and meet others from different companies and disciplines. Expand your perspectives! 💕 Be kind to yourself. Growing is not easy and there will be many challenges and hurdles standing in your way. Keep with it and be patient! Want to learn more about BILD’s mentorship opportunities? Reach out to Isha Ribeiro at isha.ribeiro@bildedmonton.com.

We’re all over the city today — now scooting around with our friends at Hi Signs! Our members, like Hi Signs, combine art and science, to plan, design, and fabricate wayfinding and signage (and buildings as landmarks themselves!) so we can more easily navigate our cities and communities. Thanks for showing us what you do, and your love for city building and shaping beautiful spaces and places.

What a way to welcome yourself to the neighbourhood! Fun block party with Maclab Development Group as they introduce downtown to their new development, The Parks, the future home for 1,000 residents. Their design includes lots of amenities, commercial space, and integration with the public realm.