Saskatoon Construction III

[Saskabusher]

Pertaining to 509 12th, I found this updated link, but no info on actual construction groundbreaking: https://www.modusventures.ca/509architecture

[prairieguy]

Thanks, Saskabush for sharing link. After looking at this again, I really hope this is back on track!

[Roquentin]

Originally Posted by Saskabusher

Pertaining to 509 12th, I found this updated link, but no info on actual construction groundbreaking: https://www.modusventures.ca/509architecture

I hope there's an appetite for it. To me, it looks like it's half parkade, with only a small amount of (I'd imagine very high-end) office space. I wonder if they'll eventually scrap plans for offices and pivot to a residential development.

As for the symphony's new home, I think many people here will be very happy when the plans are announced. The plans are spectacular and world-class in my opinion. It's amazing to think about how that block could be transformed over the next decade, knock on wood, with the Star Phoenix property, Spire approval, and concert hall. It could become a keystone block and tie that neighborhood together.

By the way, the Bess is about to undergo major interior renovations, and I've heard that their long-term goal is to build a new parkade and tower behind the hotel (developing their parking lots). Fingers crossed!

[4LSaskatoon]

St. Paul's renovation nearing completion! Hoping to be done Jan. 2026!

[skeet1991]

Originally Posted by Roquentin

I hope there's an appetite for it. To me, it looks like it's half parkade, with only a small amount of (I'd imagine very high-end) office space. I wonder if they'll eventually scrap plans for offices and pivot to a residential development.

As for the symphony's new home, I think many people here will be very happy when the plans are announced. The plans are spectacular and world-class in my opinion. It's amazing to think about how that block could be transformed over the next decade, knock on wood, with the Star Phoenix property, Spire approval, and concert hall. It could become a keystone block and tie that neighborhood together.

By the way, the Bess is about to undergo major interior renovations, and I've heard that their long-term goal is to build a new parkade and tower behind the hotel (developing their parking lots). Fingers crossed!

I'm dying for a sneak peek at the concert hall! Any more specifics you can share??

The city is in the process of revamping its Vacant Lot / Adaptive Reuse program into a fresh development incentive for downtown and corridor growth areas. It would translate into five year tax abatements, and could be passed through city council as early as January.

Year 1:100%
Year 2: 80%
Year 3: 70%
Year 4: 60%
Year 5: 50%

Maybe this is the catalyst we are waiting for (and developers are waiting for?) for a lot of these stalled projects (North Prairie 4th Ave lofts and College Drive Midrise, Meridian's Spire and rumoured tower beside Escala, 555 Eastlake, the next iteration of Highpoint, the Star Phoenix residential towers, something on Parcel G).

https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/planning-and-development-new-development-incentives-program

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Roquentin

By the way, the Bess is about to undergo major interior renovations, and I've heard that their long-term goal is to build a new parkade and tower behind the hotel (developing their parking lots). Fingers crossed!

I recall this was poised to happen just before Covid put it on ice. It was to rebrand to part of the Marriott Autograph Collection - do you know if that's still the case?

The Bess badly needs a refresh. I hope this work includes a rejuvenation of their restaurant/bar offerings.

[skeet1991]

Originally Posted by Echoes

I recall this was poised to happen just before Covid put it on ice. It was to rebrand to part of the Marriott Autograph Collection - do you know if that's still the case?

The Bess badly needs a refresh. I hope this work includes a rejuvenation of their restaurant/bar offerings.

And the ballrooms are horrendous. Stuffy and outdated and TIRED!

[The S'toon Goon]

From what I heard the renovations will be quite extensive and expensive!

Sad side effect is that I was told the Bes gardens wont be able to host concerts. Not sure if that was a renovation thing or permanent thing. Sound quality was always iffy, but still a great place to see a show.

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by 4LSaskatoon

St. Paul's renovation nearing completion! Hoping to be done Jan. 2026!

Next do RUH. I was in there last week. and as I walked through the Emerg dept I was shocked by how many beds were in hallways. That and all but one public elevators were down.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Whoaaa...what??
That is one of THE staples of summer in Saskatoon. A concert in our mini castle amphitheatre along the river. This would be a TREMENDOUS loss if that is the case. Also for the hotel with charging high rates for hosting, bar and hotel stays, etc. I guess more for the beautiful Riversdale park - or Rotary - where the new Summer Soundwave festival thing is going to go this summer.

Originally Posted by The S'toon Goon

From what I heard the renovations will be quite extensive and expensive!

Sad side effect is that I was told the Bes gardens wont be able to host concerts. Not sure if that was a renovation thing or permanent thing. Sound quality was always iffy, but still a great place to see a show.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

I thought I'd share this op ed piece on Nutrien choosing Washington State over a BC over for a shipping terminal since it's relevant to one of biggest companies in the city:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1278324097645175&set=a.246272854183643&type=3

By Ryan Williams Bay of Quinte:

Nutrien didn’t pick the U.S. because they wanted to.
They picked the U.S. because Canada made it too slow… too expensive… and too unpredictable to build here.
The U.S. made it easy.
That’s the whole story.

⸻

Here are the facts:

1. Nutrien ran 30 criteria… the U.S. scored highest.
They compared rail rates, freight costs, construction costs, and regulatory risk.
Longview, Washington outperformed every Canadian port.

2. Canada’s permitting system kills projects.
B.C. port approvals take 5–10 years with open-ended requirements.
In the U.S., the process runs on fixed timelines measured in months.

3. Canada’s West Coast has structural bottlenecks.
Vancouver’s North Shore depends on one rail bridge… a major choke point.
Longview has ready rail, a redeveloped berth, and immediate expansion capacity.

4. Transportation now costs more than mining.
Industry analysis shows shipping is the largest cost in potash.
So Nutrien built where logistics are cheaper and faster… and that isn’t Canada.

5. Labour, carbon policy, and regulation all push investment south.
The U.S. offers predictable labour, lower build costs, and no $170/tonne industrial carbon tax.
Investors follow certainty… Canada doesn’t offer it.

6. Governments reacted after the decision.
Ottawa and B.C. said they were “disappointed” after Nutrien picked Longview.
Saskatchewan reminded everyone this is the second potash terminal lost since 2016 because B.C.’s system is too slow.

⸻

Bottom line:
Nutrien didn’t abandon Canada.
Canada’s policies pushed the investment out… and the U.S. simply opened the door.

If we can’t even secure a port for the resource we dominate globally…
what else are we willing to lose?

[Saskabusher]

Yeah, that sucks big time. Is the decision set in stone, or could Carney and BC make some magic happen? Carney is announcing something like 100 billion to open the Manitoba port on Hudson's Bay again.... Is/was the Tsawwassen mega port a possible location? Who am I kidding? Canada snoozes with its hand in a cup of warm water, and loses.

[anonymousx]

It's a shame, I hope we go back to building and not red tapeing so companies like Nutrien don't have to think twice

[Echoes]

North Prairie’s tower at College & Clarence is at the Meewasin board for approval in December: https://meewasin.com/applications-for-review/

AllSask is reporting a March 2026 start.

[prairieguy]

Originally Posted by Echoes

North Prairie’s tower at College & Clarence is at the Meewasin board for approval in December: https://meewasin.com/applications-for-review/

AllSask is reporting a March 2026 start.

North Prairie feels like the boy who called wolf one too many times....I am very skeptical of this proceeding...or maybe it is a scaled back version...I want to be hopeful, but North Prairie has done nothing to instill confidence in this project.

My fingers are still crossed!

[zeebra]

Originally Posted by EarlyByrdProductions

I thought I'd share this op ed piece on Nutrien choosing Washington State over a BC over for a shipping terminal since it's relevant to one of biggest companies in the city:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1278324097645175&set=a.246272854183643&type=3

By Ryan Williams Bay of Quinte:

Nutrien didn’t pick the U.S. because they wanted to.
They picked the U.S. because Canada made it too slow… too expensive… and too unpredictable to build here.
The U.S. made it easy.
That’s the whole story.

⸻

Here are the facts:

1. Nutrien ran 30 criteria… the U.S. scored highest.
They compared rail rates, freight costs, construction costs, and regulatory risk.
Longview, Washington outperformed every Canadian port.

2. Canada’s permitting system kills projects.
B.C. port approvals take 5–10 years with open-ended requirements.
In the U.S., the process runs on fixed timelines measured in months.

3. Canada’s West Coast has structural bottlenecks.
Vancouver’s North Shore depends on one rail bridge… a major choke point.
Longview has ready rail, a redeveloped berth, and immediate expansion capacity.

4. Transportation now costs more than mining.
Industry analysis shows shipping is the largest cost in potash.
So Nutrien built where logistics are cheaper and faster… and that isn’t Canada.

5. Labour, carbon policy, and regulation all push investment south.
The U.S. offers predictable labour, lower build costs, and no $170/tonne industrial carbon tax.
Investors follow certainty… Canada doesn’t offer it.

6. Governments reacted after the decision.
Ottawa and B.C. said they were “disappointed” after Nutrien picked Longview.
Saskatchewan reminded everyone this is the second potash terminal lost since 2016 because B.C.’s system is too slow.

⸻

Bottom line:
Nutrien didn’t abandon Canada.
Canada’s policies pushed the investment out… and the U.S. simply opened the door.

If we can’t even secure a port for the resource we dominate globally…
what else are we willing to lose?

Most of the facts are completely irrelevant... the carbon tax is the worst offender lol, that's a rounding error for port operating costs. BHP built a terminal in Vancouver in less than 5 years, not sure where the 5 year minimum is coming from, but it isn't based in reality for any port projects. The fact that there is only one bridge into north vancouver is also just as meaningless, there is no way they or anyone else would build the port in North Van, all new projects are in Delta.

The facts are simple, rail into Vancouver is jam packed, the port is busy, so guess what... it's expensive to add more capacity to an already very successful port and rail system. Building in the middle of nowhere Washington on an existing port site is always going to be cheaper, and no amount of ill informed conservative op-eds can change that.

[casper]

Originally Posted by zeebra

Most of the facts are completely irrelevant... the carbon tax is the worst offender lol, that's a rounding error for port operating costs. BHP built a terminal in Vancouver in less than 5 years, not sure where the 5 year minimum is coming from, but it isn't based in reality for any port projects. The fact that there is only one bridge into north vancouver is also just as meaningless, there is no way they or anyone else would build the port in North Van, all new projects are in Delta.

The facts are simple, rail into Vancouver is jam packed, the port is busy, so guess what... it's expensive to add more capacity to an already very successful port and rail system. Building in the middle of nowhere Washington on an existing port site is always going to be cheaper, and no amount of ill informed conservative op-eds can change that.

Most of the points are nonsense.

The carbon tax is a non-issue on operating a potash port. The conveyor belts and equipment is going to be electric. In BC that means Hydro. The carbon footprint of rail transport between Saskatchewan and BC or Washington state are going to be similar.

The BC rail line (now operated by CN) connects Northern BC into North Vancouver and is being abandoned due to lack of traffic. Instead CN is running everything over that one bridge because that is all that it needs.

The real story is Longview has an old grain terminal that was decommissioned/abandoned. It has all the infrastructure in place for next to nothing and it now offering it at a very attractive cost to a new owner. This amounts to repurposing an existing terminal.

https://www.portoflongview.com/317/Berth-4-Redevelopment

A facility in BC would be green field. We don't have abandoned unused port facilities.

As for taxes. The US has implemented a complex and expensive tax structure on any ship manufactured in China or owned by Chinese interests. For those ships it far cheaper to use a Canadian port.

If they were concerned about reducing shipping costs they would have looked at the Port of Prince Rupert. That cuts days off the transit time to Asia and makes use of an uncongested CN mainline.

[4LSaskatoon]

Broadway Ave and Main is coming along nicely.

[Antigonish]

This is the site where the old Xtra Foods store was, yeah?

Does this mean the ground floor of this development includes a small grocer?

[4LSaskatoon]

Originally Posted by Antigonish

This is the site where the old Xtra Foods store was, yeah?

Does this mean the ground floor of this development includes a small grocer?

The grade level space would hold a nice little grocery type store. I believe they've been trying to find one.. without success so far.