45-storey Emerald Tower on Jasper Avenue wins approval

After hours of debate Monday, city council approved the Emerald Tower,a45-storeyresidential condo building set forJasper Avenue in the Oliver neighbourhood.

While many councillors said the proposal did not meet their expectations, others felt the developer made enough changes to the plan in the last two weeks to make it acceptable.

• City and developer deadlocked over Emerald Tower proposal

Almost allOliver residents at the public hearing Monday spoke against the residential tower, which will be the tallest in Edmonton,objectingto theabove-ground parkade, lack of affordable family-friendly units, and the "paltry"$200,000 compensation to thecommunity.

Coun.BenHendersoncalled thebuilding "a race to the bottom"whileCoun. Andrew Knack described it as "mediocreat best."

However, the developer, which wasresponsible for The Pearl on Jasper Avenue, warnedcouncil the 14 changes made to the proposal since the last meeting two weeks agowas as far as it would go.

The companytold council that beautiful buildings like the Pearl, complete with underground parking, are not good investments.

In the endenoughcouncillorssided withCoun.MoeBanga, who saidif someone was willing toinvest $50 million in atougheconomy like Edmonton's, then that makes it a good project.