The Pulse
July 2, 2026

The Hive by Elev is ready for students to move in, behind schedule but well ahead of the incentivized projects set to swarm the core in coming years.

"I see it as an opportunity to try new things — to get creative, to get innovative, to leverage different resources," said Elev co-founder Jean Bruce Koua. "I think The Quarters has a lot of opportunities, and it's just a matter of taking a risk."

Elev is a platform that connects students with landlords. Koua co-founded the company in 2020 after struggling to find affordable housing as an international student at the University of Alberta. Then he took things a step further in 2024 by partnering with Five Oaks to manage affordable student housing units in a building at 9629 102 Avenue NW. Rent at The Hive starts at $588 for the fully furnished 65 units available so far.

The building, which is the former site of the Salvation Army Centre of Hope, was originally slated to open in October 2024. The delays — and risks Koua alluded to — might be measured in the long permitting process that neither he nor Five Oaks owner Gene Dub would discuss in detail. The bottom line is that it's not a straight path to repurpose a Salvation Army building into a student housing complex, Dub told Taproot.

"We'd really like to focus the conversation on the exciting momentum around The Hive and what comes next, rather than revisiting past permit-related challenges," Koua wrote in an email on June 1. "There's a lot happening behind the scenes right now, and we're looking forward to sharing more about the path forward for the project."

Some of those behind-the-scenes things are ready for their close-up, and some are not. The Hive is taking applications via in-person sessions and through the Elev digital platform. Further down the line, Koua said he and Dub are exploring bringing in an operator for the on-site commercial kitchen to help feed the students. The Connected Kitchen Project was previously tapped as its operator, but moved on to other opportunities during the permitting delays, Taproot learned from founder Michelle Frechette.

Launching a student-housing development at this time of year might seem awkward, given the distance from the main fall and winter semesters for post-secondary institutions. But Koua said the likely first crop of move-ins for the fall semester should not leave accommodation arrangements to the last minute. Plus, winter is coming.

"The biggest jump (in tenancy) would definitely be the end of August. When you look at the student-housing cycle, many students look in blocks of four or eight months," Koua said. "The winter semester? That's for the brave people."

• The City of Edmonton opened a new tow lot to manage hundreds of abandoned vehicles cluttering streets and parking lots. Located near 122nd Street and 124th Avenue, the facility can accommodate about 150 vehicles. Despite easing some pressure, more than 362 vehicles remain queued for towing. Coun. Erin Rutherford expressed doubts about the long-term effectiveness of the solution, citing a 45% rise in parking enforcement requests in two years. The main impound lot, managed by the Edmonton Police Service, has no plans for expansion, despite ongoing demand for increased capacity.
• Prime Minister Mark Carney's planned Canada Day visit to Edmonton was canceled due to severe storms in Ottawa. Carney, an Edmonton native, was scheduled to speak at a Mill Woods event but could not depart Ottawa after celebrating Canada Day there earlier. His Canada Day message emphasized national unity, urging Canadians to embrace their diversity and work collectively for a stronger country. The visit was particularly significant, given Alberta's Oct. 19 referendum on holding a separation referendum.
• Unity was a central theme at a Canada Day citizenship ceremony in Edmonton, where 50 individuals from 21 countries were sworn in as new citizens. Justice James Clover emphasized the importance of Canadian unity, highlighting its roots post-World War II. NDP MLAs David Eggen and David Shepherd welcomed the new Canadians, acknowledging their role in upcoming referendum votes impacting Canadian unity.
• The Edmonton Oilers traded veteran defenceman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks for Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp, as NHL free agency kicked off on July 1. Nurse, who contributed significantly to the Oilers' recent playoff runs, struggled with a costly contract. The Oilers also signed defenceman Ryan Shea and goaltender Frederik Andersen to boost its lineup. Additionally, it acquired goalie Devon Levi from the Buffalo Sabres and secured a one-year deal for forward Kasperi Kapanen, focusing on restructuring its team dynamics.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Set Up Your Business in Alberta starting at 12pm online
• 124 Grand Market: Thursdays at 108 starting at 4pm at 124 Grand Market
• Fort Saskatchewan Farmers' Market starting at 4pm at Legacy Park
• Physics for Poets starting at 4:35pm at TELUS World of Science - Edmonton
• St. Albert Gallery Walk starting at 6pm at Visual Arts Studio Association
• Patio Series - Stewart MacDougall & Bobby Cameron starting at 6pm at La Cité francophone
• Edmonton Riverhawks VS. Bellingham Bells starting at 7pm at Re/Max Field
• Plaza Series: Kickin' Brass and Fiddle Sass: Zach Moostoos-Willier and Brasstactics starting at 7pm at Arden Theatre
• Finals: King of the Hill Improv Competition starting at 7pm at Grindstone Theatre
• Something Rotten starting at 7:30pm at William Hawrelak Park
• Karaoke Thursdays starting at 10pm at Grindstone Theatre

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• July 11-12: In the Garden at Rutherford House
• July 17-26: KDays at Edmonton EXPO Centre
• July 19: Science Sundaes at TELUS World of Science - Edmonton

Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

Test your crossword prowess and deploy a little of your Edmonton knowledge. Complete the puzzle.

The Taproot Edmonton Calendar is full of events like the one in 7-Across.