Saskatoon Construction

[kgc087]

I just want to also point out, one of the main reasons I'm so anti car is the environmental implications, think of the airborne pollutants that would be removed if people took an electric train (assuming the power source is also almost emission free) plus the footprint of the city would be significantly smaller due to increased density which helps conserve the surrounding ecosystem.

[WoodlandCritter]

i love my truck, so much that i drove it out here to ontario for school (twice! and back to sask once!). I will also admit that i have only taken public transit in saskatoon maybe once or twice in my 25 year life. Would i take public transit? yes, if it were better than it is now( how that could be, i dunno). But i would still use my truck. Public transit has just never appealed to me in Saskatoon. Even when they made us all pay for transit passes at the UofS. Just easier to get to where i need to be with my vehicle and quicker.

But back to construction, I was in Toronto last weekend and was doing a project that required us to visit a hotel. One of the owners gave us the tour personally, got talking to him and found out he works for Dundee Realty Corp. (Dundee Homes) and he started talking to me about Sask and how much work there is there and the excitement for growth in the province. I thought it was pretty neat hearing it from someone in Toronto. Aside from the homes they do in Saskatoon they do some pretty nice work commercially and restoration renos, like the hotel i visited.

[ninipanini]

I recently became car-FREE (by choice, not because I can't afford a car... I've made more money in 2010 than ever before!), and have been taking transit for the last couple of weeks. I have to say, the Saskatoon bus system is a lot better than it was when I last used it back in high school 10ish years ago. I'm impressed by the frequency of buses at the University transit mall, it's a bustling hub of activity and while there have been some problems in the last few weeks with the students coming back, I have to say the service has been excellent. For the last 5 years I rarely used my car, instead opting for a bike or walking (I'm about 4km from work); I was of the opinion that transit service was too crappy to bother with... I was wrong. I'll still probably use my bike when the weather is good, but the lack of infrastructure to support winter biking in this city is pushing me towards the bus. There are definitely improvements that can be made, but I'm optimistic for the future of public transit in our city

[ninipanini]

just wanted to add... I was partially inspired by my time in the Netherlands to give up the auto-lifestyle, EVERYONE should spend some time in northern Europe... you'll see what we should aspire to be. I'm just that much healthier, richer and I don't get pissed off sitting in traffic now that I don't have to worry about a motor vehical!

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by kgc087

I just want to also point out, one of the main reasons I'm so anti car is the environmental implications, think of the airborne pollutants that would be removed if people took an electric train (assuming the power source is also almost emission free) plus the footprint of the city would be significantly smaller due to increased density which helps conserve the surrounding ecosystem.

There is also time lost due to congested roads, providing police, ambulance, fire services in response to automobile collisions, increased demand on the health care system to treat people affected by airborne pollutants, and health care costs associated with people not benefiting from daily physical activity. I am sure there are a few others that I am forgetting.

The current tax rates applied to vehicle and fuel purchases (add licensing fees too) do not generate enough revenue to build and maintain our road infrastructure as is. To begin to address the negative externalities imposed on society would require additional tax revenue OR simply a change in behavior...likely both.

[Echoes]

There's a crane swinging over the Market Mall area. More seniors condos I suppose...

[kiwi4life]

Originally Posted by Country

There's a crane swinging over the Market Mall area. More seniors condos I suppose...

yeah i noticed that on friday,when they were putting that up, i wonder who the general contractor is and how many floors this is? if anyone knows please let us on the forum here know, much apreciate it thanks!

[kiwi4life]

by the way no news on lake placid?

[Ruckus]

Almost as exciting as more Eastview senior housing is the Meewasin Trail extension near the water treatment plant. Trees have been removed, and if the weather holds, asphalt before Nov.

[blacktrojan3921]

Originally Posted by kiwi4life

by the way no news on lake placid?

http://owlsandroosters.blogspot.com/2010/09/lake-placid-river-landing-village-100.html I don't know if this is technically news but it is a few days old and does bring some insight into what's going on.

[ToddStoon]

Here are some things that are missing in Saskatoon that I'd love to see:

1) Top of my list, a restaurant/bar with an unrestricted view of the river. Ideally the building would jut right over into the river. With the river being one of the best features of Saskatoon, why over a hundred years later, do we still not have a restaurant with a river view?

2) More festivals in the winter. I know it's hard to get people up and out in the winter, but why not some extra music / theatre / film festivals for January or February to get people out.

3) More and more people downtown. We need to keep encouraging a denser core downtown and infill in other neighbourhoods. The denser a neighbourhood, the more interesting it is and the cheaper it is to support it.

4) A no-frills grocery store downtown. I love Souleio, but it's not basic groceries. We need a grocery store downtown, period.

5) A coffee/dessert restaurant across the street from the Galaxy theatre. There is bazillions to be made in such a place.

6) A good breakfast place. We have a few places that are good for breakfast in Saskatoon like the Park Cafe or the Broadway Cafe. But we could use more. How about a Chez Cora's (google it) on 8th St.?

7) Further 'funkification' of 33rd St. Let's Broadway-fy it.

8) Further gentrification of 20th St. The pawn shops and cash store density needs to drop.

9) An IMAX theatre.. unlikely to happen unless we get a new theatre complex somewhere.

10) Move the damn bus mall downtown already. Where or how, I'm not exactly sure, but it has to go and be redesigned so it doesn't suck the life out of it. Ideally put it right next to the new police station with a huge window looking out onto it.

There's just a few brainstorming ideas. Agree / disagree? Any thoughts for other things we could use / change?

[circle33]

/\ All good points, most of them I've considered myself at various times (save for the IMAX for which I'm somewhat indifferent).

Originally Posted by ToddStoon

7) Further 'funkification' of 33rd St. Let's Broadway-fy it.

Well, Funk's Furniture Repair has moved from the Broadway area to 33rd, but that's probably not what you're getting at.

[kgc087]

I think they are all valid points we have all thought about, but I also think the city is well aware of all those points and is trying to make them materialize. Saskatoon is in a good position b/c it's not growing so fast that things are just built. The city is growing slow enough that thought, planning and design can go into every project which gives the city a really interesting character. I think a lot of density will come once the north downtown with the warehouse district begins to develop. Plus developers are probably waiting to see about Riverlanding. If it materializes and is successful then there will probably be a large resurgence of condos, fingers crossed anyway!

[kgc087]

A new "brand" being created for the largest cities in Canada is hoped to catch some international attention.

The Consider Canada campaign was announced in Quebec this week at a meeting of economic development agencies from 11 of the country's biggest cities. Each are a part of C-11, an informal organization that aims to promote the cities.

A website will be a part of it, that will provide centralized access for companies interested in investing in Canadian cities.

Tim Leclair, CEO of the Saskatoon Economic Development Authority, says it was an eye opener for them to realize how much work needs to be done to promote Saskatoon and the province at an international level.

But, he says they're up to the challenge, and grouping together with other cities to grab attention will be a part of it.

http://www.saskatoonhomepage.ca/index.php?option=com_content&id=27705&task=view
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This actually shocks me that SREDA and the province thought they were doing enough international promotion. At the same time this is good that they are aware that they really need to step it up if they want to sustain growth in Saskatoon and compete with other major Canadian cities.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by kiwi4life

by the way no news on lake placid?

Lake Flacid hadn't started filling their Centuria on the Park sinkhole by Sept 24th, as ordered by the city of Calgary (as if anyone expected that).

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Lake Flacid hadn't started filling their Centuria on the Park sinkhole by Sept 24th, as ordered by the city of Calgary (as if anyone expected that).

Can't get enough of that hole, eh?

I think he was inquiring about River Landing Village in Saskatoon, not Centuria on the Park in Calgary. RLV is it's own ball game with different [potential] financiers than Centuria. What's going on there, is irrelevant here.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by ToddStoon

Here are some things that are missing in Saskatoon that I'd love to see:

1) Top of my list, a restaurant/bar with an unrestricted view of the river. Ideally the building would jut right over into the river. With the river being one of the best features of Saskatoon, why over a hundred years later, do we still not have a restaurant with a river view?

2) More festivals in the winter. I know it's hard to get people up and out in the winter, but why not some extra music / theatre / film festivals for January or February to get people out.

3) More and more people downtown. We need to keep encouraging a denser core downtown and infill in other neighbourhoods. The denser a neighbourhood, the more interesting it is and the cheaper it is to support it.

4) A no-frills grocery store downtown. I love Souleio, but it's not basic groceries. We need a grocery store downtown, period.

5) A coffee/dessert restaurant across the street from the Galaxy theatre. There is bazillions to be made in such a place.

6) A good breakfast place. We have a few places that are good for breakfast in Saskatoon like the Park Cafe or the Broadway Cafe. But we could use more. How about a Chez Cora's (google it) on 8th St.?

7) Further 'funkification' of 33rd St. Let's Broadway-fy it.

8) Further gentrification of 20th St. The pawn shops and cash store density needs to drop.

9) An IMAX theatre.. unlikely to happen unless we get a new theatre complex somewhere.

10) Move the damn bus mall downtown already. Where or how, I'm not exactly sure, but it has to go and be redesigned so it doesn't suck the life out of it. Ideally put it right next to the new police station with a huge window looking out onto it.

There's just a few brainstorming ideas. Agree / disagree? Any thoughts for other things we could use / change?

Good list, and I am with you on your #1 pick.

A riverfront restaurant is part of the plans for Phase 1 of River Landing, which calls for a "Feature Building" to be constructed on the riverbank's slope near the Traffic Bridge that will feature a high quality restaurant and, I expect, a prominent patio.

The City issued an RFP a few years ago when River Landing first got underway, but there was no interest. I've heard they plan to re-issue an RFP in a couple years time after River Landing is more established (AKA... waiting for the Lake Placid stalemate to end???).

On that note, I wonder how repair or reconstruction of the Traffic Bridge will affect the timeline for this feature building/restaurant.

[dsim249]

Co-op keen on adding grocery in Stonebridge


By Cassandra Kyle, The StarPhoenix September 25, 2010

Saskatoon Co-op made public this week its plan for a 30,000-square-foot supermarket in Stonebridge.

But before construction begins, the land it hopes to build on must be re-zoned to district commercial from business park status. [...]

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/keen+adding+grocery+Stonebridge/3578943/story.html

_________________________

I thought the Wal-Mart Supercentre had some agreement that it could be the only grocer in Stonebridge?

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by dsim249

I think he was inquiring about River Landing Village in Saskatoon, not Centuria on the Park in Calgary. RLV is it's own ball game with different [potential] financiers than Centuria. What's going on there, is irrelevant here.

I'll have to respectfully disagree with you there. While Centuria and RLV are completely distinct, separately financed projects, I wouldn't go so far as to say that the Centuria fiasco is irrelevant to our local predicament. What this does illustrate is LPD's pattern of unfinished (unstarted?) projects. Hopefully, this will also prompt the City of Saskatoon's due diligence investigation to take a close look as LPD's legacy of unpaid bills (both Centuria and RLV) and base their decison of more than the promises of a very earnest-sounding developer.

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by Crisis

I'll have to respectfully disagree with you there. While Centuria and RLV are completely distinct, separately financed projects, I wouldn't go so far as to say that the Centuria fiasco is irrelevant to our local predicament. What this does illustrate is LPD's pattern of unfinished (unstarted?) projects. Hopefully, this will also prompt the City of Saskatoon's due diligence investigation to take a close look as LPD's legacy of unpaid bills (both Centuria and RLV) and base their decison of more than the promises of a very earnest-sounding developer.

Yes, but I think at this point, everyone is well aware of LP and their lack of credibility. I don't think all our city councilors are completely oblivious to LP's track record. That's why I feel RLV's salvation has more to do with Nasser, than LP at this point.