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Not only is he bullish on bike lanes, The Jameson will house its own bike- repair station for residents. Horvath said Open Sky will also build a public bike-maintenance stop on the lane near the building.
Horvath said that before Open Sky decides on a site, the company looks at a variety of factors: Walkability scores, the ability for residents to access schools, get to rec centres and shop locally.
“A lot of that comes down to trans- portation — how do you get where you want to go?” says Horvath. “Can you walk there? What other means of transpor- tation do you need? Biking is somewhat weather-dependent, but it’s definitely something that helps get people from where they live to where they want to go in the neighbourhood.
“In talking to people in that neigh- bourhood, particularly that part of Wîhkwêntôwin, there are a lot of people who walk or bike to where they want to go. It’s not a driving neighbourhood.”
He says it’s a sign that, yes, people are embracing different modes of getting around. And developers pay attention to how a city changes.
“The City is investing in this type of transportation. Do we want to take advantage of it and build off it?” says Horvath. “I think it’s great that it’s there.”
While Horvath is based in Vancouver, he’s managed several projects in Edmonton, and many of the people with whom he’s interacted told him there’s a strong culture of cyclists in Edmonton who will ride no matter the weather. And, now, as The Jameson site is prepped for construction, he hears more and more
about bike lanes — but not from the naysayers who dominate the social-media discussion and community forums.
“I think it improves connectivity with the neighbourhood. On a regular basis, I talk to people in Edmonton, and they tell me ‘I was bike riding and I went by your site.’ The bike lane adds value and we want to build off of that.”
THE MISSING MIDDLE
When Mauricio Ochoa moved to Canada, he was stunned by how much we use our vehicles. In Medellín, capital of Colombia’s mountainous Antioquia province where he’s spent time, there is a subway system and a gondola, the MetroCable, that connects neighbourhoods in a munici- pality where severe elevation changes are the norm. There is heavy bike usage and communities are built to be pedestrian- friendly.
He owns FCX Developments, which is building the “missing middle”— town- house developments in Edmonton. FCX has projects in Grovenor and High Park. And, Ochoa says that he seeks out parcels of land near bike lanes as potential building sites. He is keeping an eye out for future bike-lane development. To him, bike lanes give him a reason to invest.
“What can I do as a builder to improve my community? That’s the goal,” Ochoa says as we meet for coffee at The Colombian Coffee Bar in Glenora. “Bike lanes, for developers, are actually benefi- cial. First of all, we attract more tenants. We attract different types of tenants who have more community engagement. They get really involved in their communities, because they don’t commute for too long.
These are the people who go to the local coffee shops, they go to the local stores. These people enjoy the amenities around the community.”
As Canada faces a housing crisis, Ochoa believes it is up to developers and builders to “maximize space.” Parking garages and lots take up lots of space, and we have to shrink those footprints (or, are those tire tracks?).
“I want to maximize the building’s footprint,” says Ochoa. “I don’t want to use too much space for a garage. I just want to provide a little bit of space for a garage for my tenants, but I understand that there’s other ways of transportation. I’m not a typical builder or developer who just builds so that there’s a bunch of parking. Especially now, with the afford- ability crisis, the need for housing, why not use that space to create more units?”
He says a six-unit development could have storage for nine bicycles. Riders could walk out their front doors, and off they go on the bike lane. To Ochoa, this is the future.
He’s putting his money where his mouth is, by actually building the rental townhomes. And he has a hard time understanding why so many Edmontonians’ turn red in anger over bicycle infrastructure.
“It’s an easy target and becomes a topic of conversation, which it shouldn’t be. Bike lanes are great... Bike lanes often bolster a sense of community amongst residents. When people are out biking, they’re more likely to bump into neighbours, chat and connect. The social aspect makes our developments feel more likehome.”ED.
MAURICIO OCHOA GIVES US FIVE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD ALL LOVE BIKE LANES
INCREASED PROPERTY VALUE
Bike lanes can enhance the attractiveness of
an area for potential residents. They provide amenities for active transportation, which
is increasingly popular among urban dwellers. This increased demand for housing in the vicinity of bike lanes can drive up property values, allowing developers to lease faster and get better return.
MARKET DIFFERENTIATION
Incorporating bike lanes into urban planning can differentiate a develop- ment project from others in the area. It can appeal to a specific demographic of residents who prioritize sustainable and healthy transportation options. This unique selling point can help us attract tenants and outperform competitors.
COMMUNITY VIBRANCY
Bike lanes often foster
a sense of community among residents. When people are out biking, they’re more likely to bump into neighbours, chat and connect. That kind of social atmosphere can make our devel- opments feel more like home, boosting tenant satisfaction and even leading to word-of-mouth referrals. It’s like built-in marketing, courtesy of those bike lanes.
ACCESS TO AMENITIES
LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY
Investing in bike lanes aligns with broader trends toward sustain- able urban development. As cities increasingly prioritize initiatives to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and promote active trans- portation, developments located near bike lanes may be better positioned to withstand future regulatory changes and market shifts.
Bike lanes often connect residential areas to com- mercial districts, parks and other amenities.
We can leverage this connectivity to market properties as being conveniently
located near shops, restaurants and recre- ational areas accessible by bike. Such access to amenities adds value to the housing develop- ment, making it more desirable to potential residents.
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