Saskatoon Construction III

[Echoes]

Thanks for your photo updates, 4L.

[skeet1991]

At next week's Civic Naming Committee meeting, Saskatoon Land is applying for the name 'Hawthorn' to be applied to the third and final residential neighbourhood in University Heights (UH3).

Meeting notes state that the Concept Plan is imminent, and that the neighbourhood will span Central Ave, between Evergreen/Swale and McOrmond.

I'm expecting this to look much like Aspen Ridge/Evergreen with density along Central Ave and McOrmond, and more single family and townhomes filling in the rest. Cool to see this progressing so quickly. I was expecting to see those ghost intersections along the new commuter parkway sitting there alone for some time.

The city is also expecting naming requests for Brighton 2 and a couple of the univeristy land infill neighbourhoods this winter as well.

https://pub-saskatoon.escribemeetings.co...nda&lang=English&Item=12&Tab=attachments

[SaskatoonDreamer]

Hawthorn is a great name. I would live there

[prairieguy]

Does anyone know what is going on with Meridian Developments? Are they in limbo? Maybe focusing on projects in other cities (I think they were doing work in Kelowna area)
They are really missed on the Saskatoon construction scene...they were real leaders in recent history.

[skeet1991]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

Does anyone know what is going on with Meridian Developments? Are they in limbo? Maybe focusing on projects in other cities (I think they were doing work in Kelowna area)
They are really missed on the Saskatoon construction scene...they were real leaders in recent history.

This design is for a piece of land right next to Escala, currently home to some run-down character homes:

https://m-rad.com/project/falcon/

The architect lists Meridian as a client, but no project on their site is attributed to them.

The city is currently beginning the Nutana Corridor Plan, which includes these lots for potential rezoning.

I have a hunch that Meridian owns these lots and is waiting for the city to pave the way for community-engagement-free rezoning of these lots when the Nutana Corridor Plan is approved later in 2026, and then they'll do something here (hopefully with the above design!!).

Just a hunch, though.

I also think that Spire downtown was put on ice when they got responses for their construction tenders at the peak of the inflation crisis. I still have hope that this project will be revived once downtown revitalization picks up speed a bit, and the VLAR incentives are replaced and revamped this winter.

[The Bess]

This design by them next to art gallery also looks pretty good

https://m-rad.com/project/bridge-of-time/

[The Bess]

By the way Sparrow Hawk Developments is "an economic development corporation for Peepeekisis First Nation in Saskatchewan, focused on resource development like helium and critical minerals through partnerships

[Overklll]

Originally Posted by The Bess

This design by them next to art gallery also looks pretty good

https://m-rad.com/project/bridge-of-time/

I REALLY hope this one goes forward... hopefully some news on the status of that plot comes soon. More people in that area will benefit 20th Street, The Gather Market, etc.

[4LSaskatoon]

(Currently unnamed but expecting to be finalized soon)
Expected to open Fall 2027.. for 400 K-8 students and Daycare.

[Falsekoala]

Originally Posted by skeet1991

At next week's Civic Naming Committee meeting, Saskatoon Land is applying for the name 'Hawthorn' to be applied to the third and final residential neighbourhood in University Heights (UH3).

Meeting notes state that the Concept Plan is imminent, and that the neighbourhood will span Central Ave, between Evergreen/Swale and McOrmond.

I'm expecting this to look much like Aspen Ridge/Evergreen with density along Central Ave and McOrmond, and more single family and townhomes filling in the rest. Cool to see this progressing so quickly. I was expecting to see those ghost intersections along the new commuter parkway sitting there alone for some time.

The city is also expecting naming requests for Brighton 2 and a couple of the univeristy land infill neighbourhoods this winter as well.

https://pub-saskatoon.escribemeetings.co...nda&lang=English&Item=12&Tab=attachments

Missed an opportunity to call it Hawthorn Heights.

My late 2000s early 2010s self would’ve loved it.

[Roquentin]

Originally Posted by skeet1991

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

It'll take full advantage of the river valley location/views. Think waves of glass along Spadina. The small properties at the south end of the block will be part of the development. It's mostly funded (Ellen Remai), but the land still needs to be rezoned, etc. I forget where they landed on connecting the cathedral to it or not (I think not?).

Originally Posted by prairieguy

Does anyone know what is going on with Meridian Developments? Are they in limbo? Maybe focusing on projects in other cities (I think they were doing work in Kelowna area)
They are really missed on the Saskatoon construction scene...they were real leaders in recent history.

It would be nice to see their plans for Escala 2.0 at Victoria and 11th come to fruition.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Roquentin

It would be nice to see their plans for Escala 2.0 at Victoria and 11th come to fruition.

There's construction fence around the vacant lot and the corner house at that intersection. The evergreen trees in the front yard were cut down a month or two ago. I suspect demo of the house is nigh.

[skeet1991]

Originally Posted by Roquentin

It'll take full advantage of the river valley location/views. Think waves of glass along Spadina. The small properties at the south end of the block will be part of the development. It's mostly funded (Ellen Remai), but the land still needs to be rezoned, etc. I forget where they landed on connecting the cathedral to it or not (I think not?).



It would be nice to see their plans for Escala 2.0 at Victoria and 11th come to fruition.

Sounds fantastic. Thanks for sharing! I don't recall ever seeing plans for Victoria & 11th or hearing any rumours!

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by Overklll

I REALLY hope this one goes forward... hopefully some news on the status of that plot comes soon. More people in that area will benefit 20th Street, The Gather Market, etc.

Sorry to be a downer, but looking at M-Rad's website, I wouldn't be holding my breath on either of these designs coming to fruition. Their project list shows very few completed projects and nothing of this scale. They appear to be a California design studio, primarily focusing on design and branding, rather than traditional architecture firm. The Falcon is noted as Schematic Design, while Bridge of Time is noted as Competition, whatever that means.

[Debratty]

Saw an open house for the Phase 3 Freeway at Saskatoon Inn. Curious about Phase 2......why is construction delayed? In my opinion I see the bottle necks that will take place in a few years the way houses and commercial is being developed around McCormick. It would be nice to see this take shape Provincially and Federally. https://saskatoonfreeway.org/phase-2/
Some info below.

What is the Saskatoon Freeway & Phase 2

The Saskatoon Freeway is a proposed ~ 55-kilometre, four-lane divided highway around Saskatoon, meant to serve as a partial ring road / bypass.

When complete, it’s expected to include 16–17 interchanges, five railway overpasses, several flyovers, and one major river crossing. The project is broken into three main functional-planning phases.

Phase 2 is the eastern leg of the freeway: it runs roughly 27 km, connecting from near Highway 11 (south/Grasswood area), crossing Highway 16 East, Highway 5, Highway 41, passing over the South Saskatchewan River, and reaching toward the area south of Wanuskewin Heritage Park.

[Debratty]

Anyone have information on the talk about new health building(s) that will be near Saskatoon Fieldhouse? I couldn't find anything but found some old information about the college quarter Master Plan. I know they have been busy and Brad Z is doing a great job at the helm for U of Sask Generational wealth.

College Quarter Master Plan Link from 2010

This is (or was) the plan for incremental development of the “College Quarter” portion of USask lands.

The first major development from that plan was a hotel — a dual-brand 220-room hotel, which opened in 2018.

Additional sites within College Quarter are still being prepared for future development (i.e. more commercial, retail, residential or institutional uses) under that plan.

[The Bess]

For Saskatoon Freeway see thread

Saskatoon Freeway (Proposed) (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 4)

[The Bess]

also a link for more info on all phases

https://saskatoonfreeway.org/

[The S'toon Goon]

Demolition happened this past week to pave the way for the new cancer patient lodge being rebuilt on college drive.

The stretch of college between Clarence and Wiggins will look quite different with this being built alongside the Monroe building, the proposed building by the company from Quebec as well as the north prairie building all perhaps taking shape in the nearish future.

[Overklll]

Does anyone know what is being built at 1502 Dawes Ave parcel? 2 buildings started (14North... they seem busy!), 1 other larger plot sold but no action. I was hoping for a grocery store here... seems like a good location. But the plots seem to small, even the largest one next to the car wash. But I could be wrong!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ifLQ99oTnZ2wNvGVA