Saskatoon Construction

[neoen]

Uptown Market Closes

Saskatoon loses only downtown grocery store


Reported By Benson McCulloch
Posted June 28, 2010 - 4:59pm
The tills are silent at Saskatoon's only downtown grocery. Since last Tuesday, the windows at Uptown Market have been covered with brown paper.
Owner Rexy Silva tells News Talk Radio the store is experiencing financial problems and a "restructuring" is necessary.
A sign posed in the window says the closure is temporary.
The store opened April 5th in the main floor of Second Avenue Lofts.

[RTD]

delete post

[ninipanini]

Originally Posted by neoen

The tills are silent at Saskatoon's only downtown grocery. Since last Tuesday, the windows at Uptown Market have been covered with brown paper.
Owner Rexy Silva tells News Talk Radio the store is experiencing financial problems and a "restructuring" is necessary.
A sign posed in the window says the closure is temporary.
The store opened April 5th in the main floor of Second Avenue Lofts.

It's really sad to hear this, this is a big setback for downtown and the city overall. Although I have to say that the one time that I went inside uptown market, it was less like a grocery store and more like a convenience store. It didn't feel like the space was efficiently used and had kind of a sparce haphazard feel to it. I hope they can effectively restructure, and make a successful comeback! All the best to the Silvas.

[drm310]

Overpass To Be Built at Circle and Preston
Saskatoon city council approves project Monday

Reported By Brendan Wagner
Posted June 28, 2010 - 11:22pm

There will soon be one less stop on Saskatoon's Circle Drive.

A diamond-shaped overpass will be built where Circle meets Preston Ave.

The city has approved the building of an overpass at that intersection, nearly identical to the one at Clarence Ave. near the Stonebridge Wal-Mart.

Councillor Bob Pringle is all for the new construction.

"I want to say that, as the councillor for this ward, I am very grateful for this recommendation," he said at Monday's night council meeting.

But his counterpart, Charlie Clark, has some concerns about the increase in traffic speed on Preston.

The city is looking into how traffic on Preston would be affected by the change.

The overpass is supposed to be paid for with the savings from the Circle Drive South bridge project, which came in almost $40 million under budget.

The Preston overpass will be built as part of the bridge project, meaning traffic won't be interrupted by two different construction projects at once.

Stephanie Froese reporting.

Source

[gowest]

It's great to drive around the city and see all the road construction (even if it is a pain for detours). It is getting more like Calgary with all the road work being done there. Doing it at the same time as the rest of the south bridge work is a great step forward for the city. Well Done!!!

[Echoes]

Arthur Cook reno - they've started punching out holes in the north side of the building for windows.

3rd Ave project - not much movement lately it seems. I'm waiting anxiously to see the light fixtures and street furniture. I hear they've come up with some great stuff for the street.

On another note, played host to some family visiting from Ottawa this past weekend. If there ever was a day to show off Saskatoon to outsiders I think Saturday was that day! We went to the Farmer's Market, had lunch, toured River Landing, let the kids play in the splash park, hung out in the beer gardens at the Jazz Fest, then grabbed some supper at a downtown restaurant. The weather was great, the riverbank was PACKED, and the vibe was awesome. They all seemed very impressed by Saskatoon. One even commented that Saskatoon felt larger than Halifax (after having lived in Halifax herself).... I think it was just the particular day though.

Also had a chat with an architect in town for the conference while down at the Jazz festival. He was from the west coast and seemed impressed by how lively downtown was, and loved our gigantic skies and how laid back and friendly everyone seemed to be.

[shmakim]

Construction of an interchange at Preston and Circle will make the entire stretch of Circle Drive on the east side of the river free-flowing. Once the bridge is built, there'll be interchanges all along 11th St, meaning that the light at Laurier Drive will be a pesky one, as well as Airport Road.... oh and that clusterfxxx along the north side. Oh well, it's better than it used to be.

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Country

Arthur Cook reno - they've started punching out holes in the north side of the building for windows.

3rd Ave project - not much movement lately it seems. I'm waiting anxiously to see the light fixtures and street furniture. I hear they've come up with some great stuff for the street.

On another note, played host to some family visiting from Ottawa this past weekend. If there ever was a day to show off Saskatoon to outsiders I think Saturday was that day! We went to the Farmer's Market, had lunch, toured River Landing, let the kids play in the splash park, hung out in the beer gardens at the Jazz Fest, then grabbed some supper at a downtown restaurant. The weather was great, the riverbank was PACKED, and the vibe was awesome. They all seemed very impressed by Saskatoon. One even commented that Saskatoon felt larger than Halifax (after having lived in Halifax herself).... I think it was just the particular day though.

Also had a chat with an architect in town for the conference while down at the Jazz festival. He was from the west coast and seemed impressed by how lively downtown was, and loved our gigantic skies and how laid back and friendly everyone seemed to be.

This is fantastic news. It seems like people are realizing that Saskatoon is an amazing city with great amenities to offer and a fantastic vibe and culture for its size. Hopefully this recognition will continue.

[circle33]

For those interested in what the Luxe looks like inside, two show suites are now open (1 - 4 pm Saturday and Sunday). I had look and was quite impressed by the larger suite (305) facing Broadway with the big ass balcony. The other (304) not so much, though it was still pretty sweet.

http://www.meridiandevelopment.ca/Broadway_Floor_Plans/page_2114544.html

[drm310]

The floor plans show 305 facing west, not facing Broadway but on the opposite side of the building...

Originally Posted by circle33

For those interested in what the Luxe looks like inside, two show suites are now open (1 - 4 pm Saturday and Sunday). I had look and was quite impressed by the larger suite (305) facing Broadway with the big ass balcony. The other (304) not so much, though it was still pretty sweet.

http://www.meridiandevelopment.ca/Broadway_Floor_Plans/page_2114544.html

[circle33]

Originally Posted by drm310

The floor plans show 305 facing west, not facing Broadway but on the opposite side of the building...

Indeed, my mistake. It's 303 on display.

[neoen]

Not in the city during the storm, so I got a quick question.

Out of Hampton, Stonebridge, Briarwood, Rosewood, and Willowgrove, which area flooded and which ones didnt last night?

[EarlyByrdProductions]

We have had a lot of Suburban talk on this thread.
Here is an interesting talk on 'Retrofitting Suburbia' thanks to TED a very cool site on great discussion.

http://www.ted.com/talks/ellen_dunham_jo...paign=newsletter_weekly&utm_medium=email

[socialisthorde]

Thanks for the link EBP. Interesting stuff. I think what frustrates me so much is that we are 20 years behind this movement and seem unwilling to learn from the mistakes other cities have made. It will cost us down the road.

[TheCricket]

The Elim Tabernacle Church on 8th Street is SOLD as of two days ago. The buyer... Remai. The land is zoned for housing, not more than four storeys but will possibly see rezoning for business along the front side of 8th although an entrance from 8th is not permitted. Total land - 4 acres.
Elim and Remai have agreed to a two year deal that will see the new church built with the funds from the sale, then the 8th street property turned over in full to Remai two years from now for reconstruction and possible rezoning. Remai was apparently wonderful to deal with but would not budge on their price (not mentioned). Construction on the new property can break ground anytime now.

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by TheCricket

The Elim Tabernacle Church on 8th Street is SOLD as of two days ago. The buyer... Remai. The land is zoned for housing, not more than four storeys but will possibly see rezoning for business along the front side of 8th although an entrance from 8th is not permitted. Total land - 4 acres.

Nooooooooo! Why can't they just go away already?


Source

[drm310]

At least the height restriction should mitigate any potential eyesore. And, it's not like 8th Street features stunning architecture that would be spoiled by whatever is built.

Originally Posted by dsim249

Nooooooooo! Why can't they just go away already?

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by drm310

At least the height restriction should mitigate any potential eyesore. And, it's not like 8th Street features stunning architecture that would be spoiled by whatever is built.

That is very true. But still... they need to go away.

[ninipanini]

The one good thing about developing that sites is that at least we're seeing some infill development... and I totally agree, it's 8th street, can't really get much uglier... not that it should be a race to the bottom. Maybe with some more density 8th street will start to be less like, well, 8th street?

[milanboy]

Originally Posted by TheCricket

The Elim Tabernacle Church on 8th Street is SOLD as of two days ago. The buyer... Remai. ...

It will be a shame to lose the Church building as it is one of the view interesting pieces of architecture along 8th Street. I could hope that Remai would do adaptive re-use, but I could also hope for peace on earth. I suspect I am more likely to get my second wish.