Saskatoon Construction III

[Saskabusher]

Thanks, Echoes. So let me get this straight. Princess is demolished and the site of this new school? Pleasant Hill (A great name for the repurpose) is a new Urgent care centre presently being constructed, which I remember now; and King George? It's still taking enrollment for kindergarten next year. So it's slated to close in the future? I hope they make condos out of it, haha. Just keep the beast alive.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

An iconic little Broadway backyard treasure.
I had heard it was a set piece from an old Persephone or Bowman theatre prop.

Originally Posted by Echoes

I've been told that structure was from the bell tower of an old school in a nearby town. Aberdeen or something.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.1197972,-...I1MTIwOS4wIKXMDSoKLDEwMDc5MjA3M0gBUAM%3D

[SaskE30]

Originally Posted by EarlyByrdProductions

An iconic little Broadway backyard treasure.
I had heard it was a set piece from an old Persephone or Bowman theatre prop.

If memory serves me correctly, it's the to of the bell tower from the old Rosthern School. I used to be neighbors with the lady who lived in that house for many years.

[Roquentin]

Originally Posted by Roquentin

Happy New Year, everyone!

Does anyone have any local construction hopes or predictions for 2025? Thinking about my neck of the woods, the Broadway area, I'm hoping to see construction begin on any of the many developments that have been approved by City Council --- Broadway and 8th, and the offices and apartments on 12th. I'd also like to see proposals for the Extra Foods property, the adjacent houses, and the Highpoint site. That would be my wish list for 2025: a new proposal or two, and some actual construction starts on approved projects.

Well, it's almost that time again. With the exception of the "Extra Foods property," I didn't really get my wish. Development inside Circle Drive continues to be glacial. For 2026, I'm hoping for progress on the Broadway and 8th and Eastlake and 12th sites (though I think the office proposal on 12th is dead). For downtown, let's be real --- any movement on absolutely anything would be welcome. I'd especially like to see the SODS project at 3rd and 23rd happen. An announcement from the Symphony, or anything related to plans for the Star Phoenix property, would also make me happy. Given that plenty of fine projects have been approved only to stall, I hope that 2026 brings us some happy surprises and actual construction to discuss.

[4LSaskatoon]

Originally Posted by skeet1991

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.

Meridian Developments posted on Facebook.. I'm wondering if anyone knows where/what this is?

'Something 𝗕𝗜𝗚 is on the horizon for Saskatoon in 2026…
A major project is launching, and we can’t wait to share more soon.'

[circle33]

Where: SW corner of Victoria and 11th.
What: not sure.

[Falsekoala]

What are the odds we get some sort of announcement or design plan for the DEED in 2026?

[Roquentin]

Originally Posted by circle33

Where: SW corner of Victoria and 11th.
What: not sure.

I've heard it called Escala 2.0, so it might be quite nice, but I don't know more than that. It's a good location for something large and high end.

[reddo]

Unless meridian is cooking up two projects this year this one should be a CLT floor system.

[CanadianDriverYXE]

Construction update on College & Munroe, not sure if this is the right thread/page I should be posting this on, I didn't see any specific thread for it, sorry in advance.

[4LSaskatoon]

Hoping it gets started this spring!

Long-awaited spa at the Willows in Saskatoon set to begin construction in 2026 | CBC News https://share.google/OE8WtzZrb5bIufZ4T

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5fRY78fLL7XgUaxx8

[Echoes]

First tenants move into Caswell bus barns redevelopment in Saskatoon

What a great hub this will be.

[Sask.ks]

Some basic renders of Meridian's "Escala 2.0" are up on the City of Saskatoon website. The site needs rezoning before construction can start. I hope they can push this through and get started this year! Although that might be too optimistic given the typical NIMBYism for these types of developments...

https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/702-706-victoria-avenue





This reminds me of the River Centre office building at River Landing:

[Echoes]

Saskatoon school to be converted to wellness clinic with MRI



https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon...are-former-school-heritage-mri-9.7035598

[Saskabusher]

Great that the school is being saved and will help save residents. Good on the Band to help its people and all of Saskatoon.

That's a nice picture of River Centre. Sure makes me want to see part 2 at 11 floors start to happen across the street!

For Meridian, that's a bit of a disappointment. Calling that development 'something BIG' doesn't seem justified. Maybe they are going to start the Spire? Fingers crossed!

[Echoes]

I think the Meridian project is perfectly scaled for the location. A Victoria Avenue lined with buildings like that would be lovely.

[skeet1991]

Originally Posted by Echoes

I think the Meridian project is perfectly scaled for the location. A Victoria Avenue lined with buildings like that would be lovely.

I agree. The sketches look perfect for that street and corner. Good scale. Hopefully the fact it's adjacent to the Marr Residence doesn't cause too many setbacks. Council seems infill-minded though, so I imagine it goes through this spring/summer with no issues.

Hopefully Meridian was in-the-know with the upcoming Concert Hall on Spadina and decided to shelve Spire until more redevelopment was in the works along that street until moving forward with that one.

I'm hopeful that the new library (which looks fantastic), the Link lanes on 1st, a Bessborough revamp, maybe a Star Phoenix tower or two, and a potential DEED funding announcement will draw some more developers downtown to start filling those empty lots. Especially along the riverbank!

[Saskabusher]

Well, I didn't say I didn't like the Meridian project and I've always supported the original 1.0.

My point was literally boldly typing that something BIG was coming to Saskatoon in 2026 and then seeing this 6 fl condo block was disappointing.

It still gives me hope that the Spire materializes AND would perfectly compliment the new concert hall, being that the apartments are supposed to be high-end rentals. Why wish for a delay? If Meridian is 'in the know' about the concert hall, they'd probably have more incentive for construction. (BTW, nice to have a debate;>)

[Echoes]

Plans to develop U of S property in Sutherland take shape

A peek at the USask plans for land near Preston:


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon...tm_content=397471360&utm_source=hs_email

[Dalreg]

Still say that chunk of University land should be reserved for Sports venues. A new Baseball stadium, Track and Field, a new Football stadium, etc. Good location for the University as well as the city.

And before people comment, yest Griffith Stadium is there, but seriously it needs to be bulldozed and built fresh. Maybe a 20,000 seat stadium? Maybe larger for CFL?