The tragedy of reading the EDC's Principles of Urban Design is in imagining what the city would look and feel like today if the EDC were initiated and empowered in 1990.
"Not all development is good development," said Price. "That represents a cultural shift here, to demand the highest level of excellence in urban design."
It's a cultural change that was broadly supported by city council on Tuesday. If anything, council wanted the EDC to look at more projects, like transit-oriented developments. There is a new recognition in Edmonton -- by citizens, by governments and by a growing number of developers -- that good urban design is worth the extra thought, the collaboration, even the extra money.
"It might cost a bit more, but you get so much more out of it," said Price. "It's better for the developer, for the city, for the community, for tenants. Everyone wants to be associated with a better project."
The EDC had a hand in improving the Sobey's building going up on Jasper at 104th, on Enterprise Square, even on the Art Gallery of Alberta. Kaba is quite excited about the Ukrainian Canadian Archives & Museum of Alberta, an historic preservation and enhancement of the Lodge Hotel on East Jasper Avenue by HIP Architects and David Murray Architects.
"It'll help kick off the Quarters redevelopment," said Kaba. "It'll have a huge impact on an area that really needs a landmark project."
A number of landmark projects are in the works and, as long as Edmonton has the political will, we'll see less and less crap. The architectural terminology will soon shift, with the city's design culture.
tbabiak@thejournal.canwest.com