Saskatoon Construction III

[YXE]

I hate to come across as overly negative, as I want to see these projects succeed as much as anyone else, but the reality is that most of the projects without recent updates aren't going anywhere.

The Spire - management is prioritizing Escala 2.0 to "test the market" as quoted in a recent All Sask article about the new Escala. I do think this project could be brought back in life in +5 years once the new symphony building is built near by, which should hopefully spur some activity in the area.

Highpoint - this project is dead. I reached out to the company recently asking if they had any plans for a re-launch, and the answer was no.

Eastlake - remember that for a condo building, roughly 60% of the units need to be pre-sold before a shovel is put in the ground. I can't remember the specific numbers, but the developer was recently quoted and said most units would be very expensive (my words). The chances of selling ~ 150 units for $750k seem slim to none at this point in the market.

12th - my understanding is that this project is dead after the lead tenant's business model was materially impacted by Orange Man's tariffs.

[jreid3]

Not negative at all. The majority of projects never come to fruition. But between the two 25 story Baydo towers(The largest residential project in the HX of Saskatchewan), the central library being built, the Wesley(14 stories in Nutana), the potential DEED, and the BRT system Saskatoon is doing a great job.

[skeet1991]

Originally Posted by YXE

I hate to come across as overly negative, as I want to see these projects succeed as much as anyone else, but the reality is that most of the projects without recent updates aren't going anywhere.

The Spire - management is prioritizing Escala 2.0 to "test the market" as quoted in a recent All Sask article about the new Escala. I do think this project could be brought back in life in +5 years once the new symphony building is built near by, which should hopefully spur some activity in the area.

Highpoint - this project is dead. I reached out to the company recently asking if they had any plans for a re-launch, and the answer was no.

Eastlake - remember that for a condo building, roughly 60% of the units need to be pre-sold before a shovel is put in the ground. I can't remember the specific numbers, but the developer was recently quoted and said most units would be very expensive (my words). The chances of selling ~ 150 units for $750k seem slim to none at this point in the market.

12th - my understanding is that this project is dead after the lead tenant's business model was materially impacted by Orange Man's tariffs.

I get the same feeling from Eastlake as well. Maybe we'll see a vastly reduced building there but that article on CBC did not leave me confident.

The same article did, however, confirm that Victory Majors is still holding the Highpoint lot in their 'development pipeline'. They're partnering on some of Westcliff's recent projects, so maybe still hope that we'll see a high rise there in the next decade.

Same with the Spire project. Absolutely-- they are testing the market with Escala 2.0. They did mention in that same CBC article (thanks, Phil Tank!) that the Spire project was on hold as they wait to see how city council is going to help increase safety downtown. Which.... I dunno. My most recent stroll down 2nd Ave after dark was a very different experience than the Saskatoon of a decade ago. And I'm a huge proponent of downtown. It just seemed... bad.

[GibblyJibbly]

I've lived downtown for 7-8 years and I've got to say it's gotten drastically worse in my time there.

Hopefully we see things start to change. Regarding all the projects, yeah lots won't go through. However, I do believe that a certain percentage of them going through help spur the others toward happening as well. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I've got to cling to at least a bit of hope!

I've always said our issue with downtown is we don't have the density for the proper services. We don't have the amenities to make living downtown attractive and we don't have the density downtown for the amenities. It's an ongoing cycle and someone has got to go first.

I think the Baydo towers are a good first step. When they finally finish in 2065 there will be 500-1000 more people on the block. Maybe that will spur more development of amenities nearby, which will in turn hopefully spur more residential. We'll see.

[Overklll]

Originally Posted by GibblyJibbly

2065

Lol

[The Bess]

Has anyone seen this before?
https://saskreconnect.ca/

[skeet1991]

New or ongoing developments from City Council:

USask Properties has submitted a concept plan for the Sutherland infill (1300 pop. at buildout) for review.
https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/proposed-sutherland-concept-plan

The next three corridor plans to be developed after the current work on Nutana wraps up this year will be, in order, 22nd Street, 8th Street and Woodlawn (which seems to encompass also the North Downtown industrial).
https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-ne...planning-outlined-at-saskatoon-city-hall

City Council is also being asked to endorse the framework for the National Urban Park designation that was shared here recently.

[Falsekoala]

Originally Posted by skeet1991

New or ongoing developments from City Council:

USask Properties has submitted a concept plan for the Sutherland infill (1300 pop. at buildout) for review.
https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/proposed-sutherland-concept-plan

The next three corridor plans to be developed after the current work on Nutana wraps up this year will be, in order, 22nd Street, 8th Street and Woodlawn (which seems to encompass also the North Downtown industrial).
https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-ne...planning-outlined-at-saskatoon-city-hall

City Council is also being asked to endorse the framework for the National Urban Park designation that was shared here recently.

I would like some sort of update on the arena project but I think that’s one that will be put on ice too.

[Brutopian]

Demand for homes continues to outpace supply in Sask. real estate market

CKOM News
Mar 7, 2026

Demand in Saskatchewan’s real estate market remains high, but the supply of listed homes remains a challenge.

[........]

Read more:
https://www.ckom.com/2026/03/07/demand-f...tm_content=407705342&utm_source=hs_email

[Echoes]

Saskatoon airport preparing for $12M arrivals renovation, leasing development land

[Brutopian]

Originally Posted by Echoes

Saskatoon airport preparing for $12M arrivals renovation, leasing development land

I can understand the need for renovations, but sure would like to see a parkade built.

[GibblyJibbly]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

I can understand the need for renovations, but sure would like to see a parkade built.

I’m curious what the 60 acres for development could bring. I assume since it’s on airport land and there’s not exactly a lot of that to throw around, that whatever goes there needs to be aviation adjacent at the very least. Or am I wrong?

[Brutopian]

Originally Posted by GibblyJibbly

I’m curious what the 60 acres for development could bring. I assume since it’s on airport land and there’s not exactly a lot of that to throw around, that whatever goes there needs to be aviation adjacent at the very least. Or am I wrong?

It's slated for industrial development specifically -- so maybe warehousing??

[Brutopian]

Meewasin Valley and Parks Canada one step closer to establishing national urban park in Saskatoon

By Lara Fominoff
CKOM
Mar 12, 2026

It’s not a done deal yet, but Saskatoon is closer to establishing one of the only urban national parks of its kind in Canada.

Currently, there is only other national urban park, located in the Greater Toronto Area.

[........]

Read more:
https://www.ckom.com/2026/03/12/meewasin...tm_content=408642761&utm_source=hs_email

[4LSaskatoon]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

Meewasin Valley and Parks Canada one step closer to establishing national urban park in Saskatoon

By Lara Fominoff
CKOM
Mar 12, 2026

It’s not a done deal yet, but Saskatoon is closer to establishing one of the only urban national parks of its kind in Canada.

Currently, there is only other national urban park, located in the Greater Toronto Area.


Read more:
https://www.ckom.com/2026/03/12/meewasin...tm_content=408642761&utm_source=hs_email

Thx for posting!
I went to the public info meeting at The Remai last year, they have some fantastic plans!

[Brutopian]

Plans for new $15.6 million USask chicken barn nothing to ‘bawk’ at

By Keira Miller
CJWW
Mar 13, 2026

Within two to three years, the chickens at the University of Saskatchewan’s Poultry Centre will be ‘living it up’ inside a new state-of-the art chicken barn.

[........]

Read more:
https://www.cjwwradio.com/2026/03/13/usa...tm_content=408968059&utm_source=hs_email

[4LSaskatoon]

I've heard both pros and cons to this project. What's your opinion?

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/be...side-regina/ar-AA1YKmNb?ocid=socialshare

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by 4LSaskatoon

I've heard both pros and cons to this project. What's your opinion?

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/be...side-regina/ar-AA1YKmNb?ocid=socialshare

There are zero cons. All the criticism on social is based on U.S. social posts that do not apply to this project, conspiracy theories or just plain made-up facts. For zero government money, we get a benign industry with huge growth potential that will pay hundreds of millions in property tax, PST and other taxes. It does not use water for cooling and SaskPower says they have plenty of power to sell them then for a "9 figure" bill.

Would we rather they build it Manitoba?

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by Stormer

There are zero cons. All the criticism on social is based on U.S. social posts that do not apply to this project, conspiracy theories or just plain made-up facts. For zero government money, we get a benign industry with huge growth potential that will pay hundreds of millions in property tax, PST and other taxes. It does not use water for cooling and SaskPower says they have plenty of power to sell them then for a "9 figure" bill.

Would we rather they build it Manitoba?

Agreed. One can debate the value of AI and the data centres required to support it in a sociological sense, but the fact is that data centres are getting built, so I'm happy see that happening in SK, as they are certainly getting built elsewhere in the country.

[The Bess]

It is a good thing and Manitoba would be better than Texas, would also like to see the ex Aurora cannabis facility turned into a data center.