Saskatoon Construction III

[reddo]

Baydo finally posted about their new development in evergreen.

https://baydo.ca/our_projects/baydo-plaza/

Not much info about it at all.

I know phase 2 has started already, hole is dug, concrete is being poured there just about everyday. I'm told it will be 3 levels of underground parking plus 7 above ground floor. Phase 3 and 4 are scheduled to start later this year.

[Wyku]

This sure doesn't inspire a lot of confidence (if there was a lot to begin with) for a high-functioning BRT system...

Transit union president calls Saskatoon service reductions ‘unprecedented’
https://www.ckom.com/2022/03/08/transit-...katoon-service-reductions-unprecedented/

[asdfgh]

Originally Posted by Wyku

This sure doesn't inspire a lot of confidence (if there was a lot to begin with) for a high-functioning BRT system...

Transit union president calls Saskatoon service reductions ‘unprecedented’
https://www.ckom.com/2022/03/08/transit-...katoon-service-reductions-unprecedented/

This seems to maybe shed some light on the situation?
https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/the-federal...s-why-the-city-can-t-access-it-1.5810857

It seems insane that the provincial government is not submitting for this funding and it seems like maybe Saskatoon Transit is in a holding pattern kind of waiting for this funding?

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by asdfgh

This seems to maybe shed some light on the situation?
https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/the-federal...s-why-the-city-can-t-access-it-1.5810857

It seems insane that the provincial government is not submitting for this funding and it seems like maybe Saskatoon Transit is in a holding pattern kind of waiting for this funding?

The funding from the Feds seems to be tied to requiring an actual "project", which in our case would be the BRT itself. Interesting comments from this article from September about the delay of the BRT rollout:

The city’s transportation and construction technical services director said the public grants the city is applying for in order to help fund BRT don’t have deadlines, which makes organizing public consultation slightly easier.

“We have a kind of holding pattern around the grant funding anyways and we’ve got the engagement that has been on pause for a year and a half. So there’s nothing pressing on us to push forward this faster than it really needs to,” Dan Willems told Global News."

https://globalnews.ca/news/8162913/saskatoons-bus-rapid-transit/

==========
ETA:
Here's the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program info: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-pic-INFC-eng.html

It does state that that existing transit systems are eligible, but I imagine the wording around it being a "project" has more strings attached than just helping to maintain an aging existing fleet and they would want to save new buses to be part of the BRT project.

The Government is investing in the construction, expansion, and improvement of public transit infrastructure, for projects that:

Improve the capacity of public transit infrastructure;
Improve the quality or safety of existing or future transit systems; and
Improve access to a public transit system.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by asdfgh

This seems to maybe shed some light on the situation?
https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/the-federal...s-why-the-city-can-t-access-it-1.5810857

It seems insane that the provincial government is not submitting for this funding and it seems like maybe Saskatoon Transit is in a holding pattern kind of waiting for this funding?

This should be a bombshell story. The Feds are dangling $160M for Saskatoon's BRT and they can't access a penny because of the province's petty obstinance.

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by Echoes

This should be a bombshell story. The Feds are dangling $160M for Saskatoon's BRT and they can't access a penny because of the province's petty obstinance.

The government certainly isn't free of scrutiny on many issues, but is this really a Provincial issue or is it a City/Transit Management issue (probably a little from column A and a little from column B )? From the Global article about delaying the project they're still engaging in stakeholder discussions and the bulk of construction isn't set to start until summer 2025 (at least according to the proposed schedules for the Broadway Area). I'm not sure how far ahead of a project starting that money would be dished out, but I imagine it's not 2-3 years and the City wouldn't be able to make use of it for other things like existing maintenance/fleet issues.

[roryn1]

https://sreda.us6.list-manage.com/track/...dd953219ec750&id=0a1eb0d366&e=1aec7fa878

These concerns are pretty regular for a new build - sorry defendants, the window and concrete issues continue forever as the building expands and contracts in our whacky weather. $100k is peanuts to that building’s condo fees lol. They’re probably just frustrated as they continue to build their reserve that will eventually level out condo fees.

Fascinating watching Saskatoon residents get more familiar with concrete condos. We really struggled with the realtors here than mostly don’t understand the complete difference between concrete condos that can last 300 years have typically have 2ft of spacing between units, vs the shoddy wooden condos that make it 50 years and offer no privacy. Completely different markets - stop grouping wooden suburban condos with No1 River Landing condos in your market stats!!

[Crisis]

This is the part from the No.1 River Landing condo story that I found most interesting:

an incident in June 2021 where three panes of balcony glass burned

I'd be curious to hear the story of how that happened

[YXE]

With the prices of commodities increasing as much as they have over the last few months, what can we expect for the province moving forward? I was too young during the "boom" back in 2007, but am cautiously optimistic for what is ahead for our province. After years of lacklustre growth, I look forward to being back at the top of the list of growth relative to our provincial peers.

I'm hopeful we will be able to use the next few years of growth to expedite the growth of our downtown, specifically. That being said, I have been disappointed with the persistent delays regarding major projects such as BRT and the Entertainment District. I recognize it will take years to see tangible changes; however, the excitement of where the district will go will lead to speculative investment at worst.

Overall, it seems news of major infrastructure and development have stalled over the winter. I am ready and hopeful for what is to come.

[canuck10]

It appears that the developers of the project on Main Street (behind Extra Foods)are having second thoughts.
Further background regarding original proposal here: https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/developers-propose-50-unit-complex-off-broadway-avenue

The entire block of properties just went up for sale:
https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/24147685/512-520-main-st-saskatoon-nutana

[YXE]

Unfortunately, AODBT has a reputation in Saskatoon for grossly underestimating costs of their drawings prior to tendering. I have personally heard of three or four failed proposals as a result of drastically misleading their clients on costs of construction. I imagine the same thing happened for this development, unfortunately.

[Echoes]

I expect that this was the property owners' plan all along. The SP article about the project mentions the name of a couple that are not known real estate developers. My guess is that this was always an investment play.

They assembled the properties on Main Street, hired an architect to make drawings and take it through the rezoning, and now they're looking to sell the land and reap the value lift from the upzoning.

Hopefully a capable builder picks it up.

[canuck10]

Originally Posted by YXE

Unfortunately, AODBT has a reputation in Saskatoon for grossly underestimating costs of their drawings prior to tendering. I have personally heard of three or four failed proposals as a result of drastically misleading their clients on costs of construction. I imagine the same thing happened for this development, unfortunately.

The speculative comments disparaging consultants and contractors always amaze me on this forum. No affiliation with any of them btw.

[King Ralph]

Maybe Baydo will buy this block of land up as well and put another one of its ugly buildings on it?

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by canuck10

The speculative comments disparaging consultants and contractors always amaze me on this forum. No affiliation with any of them btw.

I would agree with that sentiment. I've found AODBT as adept at budgeting as other architectural firm, recognizing that architects are primarily designers, not cost consultants, and usually rely on input form others for budgeting. Accurate estimation of construction costs is not a simple matter at the best of times, and is especially challenging in the current market. Also, owners are often unable or unwilling to accept cost realities - simply wishing it was less expensive doesn't make it so and we often end up in a "shoot the messenger" situation. Not the case with all owners, but still pretty common.

[SaskE30]

Originally Posted by King Ralph

Maybe Baydo will buy this block of land up as well and put another one of its ugly buildings on it?

Fortunately, the way this site was rezoned only allows the developer to construct the building in the renderings. Any major changes to the design will have to go back through the rezoning process so Baydo would have to redo entire rezoning process of they wanted to put up a building oh their own design on this site.

[YXE]

My bad for phrasing my last post to assume this is on AODBT, I did not intend this.

My comment is that I have personally seen AODBT mislead clients on more than a couple occasions over the last ten years. Client wanted to pay somewhere between $X-$Y, AODBT assured them even with 20% contingency it would come within this range, only to end up tendering for 50% higher.

I understand budgeting for projects is very difficult and I do not know if these kinds of discrepancies are normal in the business.

That being said, I have always loved their architectural work. I would love to see more of their work pop up around the city.

[The Bess]

King Ralph King Ralph is offline
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 56
Maybe Baydo will buy this block of land up as well and put another one of its ugly buildings on it?

Hey Ralphit I know this isn't the Baydo site but do you have any pictures or updates for us yet?

[prairieguy]

Anyone know when occupancy is slated for Montage apartments in University Heights? I just went to their website and it is literally "sold out" (all reserved) except for maybe 3-5 units!! A very successful development. No wonder they are well are on their way with Phase II.

[CanadianDriverYXE]

Picture by me,
Update on the construction site across The Delta Hotel.