It's fun to speculate about possible locations, but to reiterate: the location isn't the problem. Land value isn't even included in the deal. Any idea that requires land to be acquired is instantly more expensive (unless someone is crazy enough to trade their land for the Saddledome land which is an enclave of the Stampede.
The landswap I'd love to see is the Remington Lot (aka
Jeff Davison Innovation Centre (JDI)) for the bus barns land immediately to the east.
Bus Barns are riverfront without any rail sidings and more desirable for a lot of potential developments (which is one of the parcels CSEC got first option on at 'market value' through the original deal...I have major concerns about how 'market value' would be determined, but I digress).
The JDI probably is less desirable for general development (just follow the 10 ave corridor west...it's not bad, but everything is a bit limited by backing onto CP tracks).
This block would be:
- 1 short block closer to green line station (negligible distance, but you'd eliminate any pedestrians having to cross 12 ave)
- nearly identical walking distance to City Hall Station (Red AND Blue lines) as OG deal site will be to Stampede Station (both are about 450 meters)
- access and egress can occur on both sides of the CP line (existing city parkades on north side; Stampede lots to south)
- could build both green line station and 5th St SE underpass in conjunction with the project (underpass could be a bit cheaper by omitting any pedestrian ROW, as the arena design would achieve a massive pedestrian overpass over the tracks (ie. a parkade on the north side of the tracks that links with the arena on the south side)