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Council approved a plan Monday that could see two new towers built half a block south of Whyte Avenue, just outside the heritage district.

Tall towers in the neighbourhood will change the experience of walking Whyte Avenue, Mayor Don Iveson said after council voted for the project 10-2. But the handsome design and thousands of extra residents makes this worth it, he said. “Is it net positive? I come down on yes.”

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“Like many of us here, I grew up on Whyte Avenue and have a very concrete and embedded idea of what Whyte Avenue is,” he said. “It has never included 16-storey buildings up until now. This is a sign of a changing city.”

“We have developers and business leaders that are wiling to invest significant money into our city,” added Coun. Michael Oshry. “We can nitpick these things to death.”

Southpark on Whyte is a four-building projecton both sides of 106 Street, just south of Whyte Avenue. Two commercial buildings on Whyte Avenue will be up to four storeys. The two towers — one narrow and one 55 metres wide — will face 81 Avenue, restoring the elm tree boulevard there and lining the street with 17 townhouses at the base of the tower.