Saskatoon Construction

[circle33]

Won't add to the skyline, but only a Grinch could be opposed to a children's hospital:

Children's hospital going next to RUH
By Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Friday, April 20, 2007

A children’s hospital will be housed in a six-storey, 36,000-square metre building adjacent to Royal University Hospital, the provincial government announced Friday.

Construction is expected to begin in 2010 and be complete by 2012. The project carries of an price tag between $100 million and $200 million.

“The existing space is really not appropriate for the way we want to deliver care now,” health region CEO Maura Davies told reporters at RUH. “When we looked at all of the services we wanted to bring together and the condition of the space, a new facility really turned out to be the best solution.”


The vision for a “maternal and children’s facility” will blend obstetrical, newborn and pediatric services. Patients will also have access to orthopedic, neurosurgery and cardiology services at RUH.

Saskatoon Eastview MLA Judy Junor, who has been an obstetrical nurse for more than 35 years, said children and their families have unique needs and the proposed facility will address them.

“Just picture taking your child into emergency now and somebody’s come in with a stab wound or a gunshot wound and they might be drunk. Children now see all of that,” said Junor, who is currently on leave from her position at RUH. “They sit in the waiting room with all of those kinds of . . . social failures. They’re exposed to that. It’s scary and they’re sick already.”

The new facility will provide family-friendly care in a comfortable environment, she added. Saskatchewan is the only province in Canada without a dedicated children’s hospital.

“We think it will be as good as it gets because we’re taking good ideas wherever we can get them,” said Davies. “Our staff has visited Calgary and hospitals in Oregon. We’re talking to people right across the country and beyond to get good ideas and we’ll build those into our plans.”

Link

...starting in 2010. A lot could happen between then and now.

[Dalreg]

It's about time the province ponies up for a Children's Hospital! I had a suspicion that Regina would grab it. Good to hear the RUH is the new site.

As for Cameco the city better pull it's head out of it's ass before the company decides to pull up and move out. If they are the ONLY interested party let them build along the river edge. At least something would be built. Maybe as good corporate citizens they would spring for a Science Centre as part of their new HQ!

[jaysfan99]

If cameco really wants to build at River Landing, then our city council should be fired if they stand in the way. This could be a joint venture between Cameco and Areva. With the new Hotel going up on 22nd st, the mayor needs to understand that we don't need another Hotel downtown. Sell the land to Cameco, and let them build a shy new glass tower we all f****ng want. This could be a great mix use office, condo and retail development.

Unfortunately, what will probably happen is our dumass city council will play F*****g hard ball and F**K it all up, by limiting the hight of the building or something even more mental. I would Love to be wrong here. Can anyone here sence my frustration?

Originally Posted by swilley

I think it would just be nice to see some f**king progress downtown. 25 years later, Atchie is still clinging to a spa/hotel, and nothing is built. I can see it coming, the hums and haws of council will delay anything until we settle for some shitty 2 story boutique hotel, and Cameco will relocate to Calgary.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by macca

The word "mixed-use" has been thrown around a lot with regard to River Landing. An office tower, along with other uses on river bank, such as the under construction theatre, the river bank walkway itself, the planned destination centre, and other future buildings on that piece of land, would seem to be "mixed" enough for me. Yes, an office building may be vacant after 5pm. However, we have other hotels downtown and they are hardly hives of vibrant activity, and certainly not something that draws the locals to them. The Bess is gorgeous and is, without question, the jewel in the modest crown of our city. But it is its idealic location (on the river) and its surrounding uses (street furniture in the form of benches and art work, restaurants, the Bus Stop, etc) that makes it a draw for people who flock to that area. The hotel itself is largely scenery. In fact, one floor of the hotel is rented out as offices (it's a... wait for it... mixed-use building!). So how about an office tower/hotel? How about we be really forward (and skyward) thinking and build an office/hotel/condo tower? These actually exist in actual cities.

Having Cameco and their hundreds of workers downtown everyday cannot be a bad thing. The office bring people there by day, the theatre by night. The office tower could have a restaurant or bar or retail on the main floor. Personally, I'd also like to see Cameco build on a neglected piece of land like 22nd and 3rd or the other places mentioned in the article, but I am weary of impeding the potential of large office tower anywhere in our core. Having large corporate head offices is what downtowns are (in part) for. You want more people living downtown? Have more of their jobs there.

My thoughts as well.

There was a short segment on local Global which mentioned Cameco is looking to expand its office, and noted that the River Landing site would be ideal, but that they are looking at all possibilities including adding to the existing building, or moving to an alternative location in the city.

The city should get its priorities straight when it comes to downtown development, more business? more residents? more of everything? I realize the public(or city officials) wanted River Landing to be vibrant, but as macca pointed out above, a hotel is not a hive of activity.

A mixed use office, condo, hotel proposal is unique, but I'm doubtful city officials could coordinate and integrate the interests of a condo developer with that of a hotel developer, and a large corporation in such a way that all parties would be happy. If that wasn't enough such a proposal would also require a degree of support from the masses Cameco has to be one of, if not the most recognized and influential Saskatoon based corporation. I wonder what Saskatonian's think of Cameco? I'd say quite supportive but I'm just going by anecdotal evidence.

For better or worse, Saskatoon city officials rarely push through development with any sense of urgency, why would this situation be any different? They'll figure it out eventually, its just a matter of when they'll figure it out.

Until then I'll continue to rely on the media's speculative stories(although increasingly less speculative) that attempt to gauge public sentiment for all possible scenarios.

[Ruckus]

Image source: http://cameco.com/media_gateway/photos/images/head_office.jpg


How does one fit an expanded Cameco head office into Saskatoons River Landing....by maxing out the 20 story/68m limit and requesting an increase

[Echoes]

The world's largest uranium company building in river landing... what is so bad about that? City hall needs to wake up and seize this opportunity to get cameco downtown or we'll be kicking ourselves for a very long time. i think cameco building a tower at river landing would seal the deal for the whole development... a nice new tower and mixed use complex would attract confident developers to the area and it would flourish. along with that, we can expect that cameco would pony up the dough to further leave their legacy at river landing.. ie- a destination centre. cameco head offices with ground floor retail, restaurants, bars and maybe an art gallery would do just fine to attract people. if that complex goes up, we can expect to see other development along 19th, and 2nd and 3rd avenues. but city council does want people living at river landing (something i support)... but have they not already planned to allow residential development up to 15 storeys (?) along idylwyld drive in phase 2?

if by some slight chance mayor atch reads this forum i have this to say: YOUR HOTEL/SPA DREAM IS DEAD! get moving with this great new opportunity!

office space is an important element of any successful downtown just like shops or condos. cameco's hundreds of employees working downtown would be a GREAT thing. This city would look amazing with a nice glass tower of considerable height at river landing... imagine the skyline from the broadway or sid buckwold bridge with cameco's headquarters on the riverbank?

im tempted to write letters... or organize some saskatoon urban leaque. LMAO.. but lets get our shit together and build something!

[Ruckus]

And what does Remai have planned for the Legion site? I'm sure they'll wait for the city before they decide their development proposal.

[circle33]

Whatever it is it'll include the cornerstone and Coat of Arms from the legion. I know that doesn't really answer your question.

Legion Stonework Saved for Memorial
The StarPhoenix
Published: Friday, April 20, 2007

The holes in the facade of the former Royal Canadian Legion building on 19th Street is not a sign of its pending demolition.

The legion's coat of arms and the building's cornerstone date marked 1929 were removed and are being stored in a company warehouse, said Remai Ventures Inc. spokesperson Curtis Zwack. The pieces will be incorporated into a memorial to the building that will be located on the site. Zwack said the company is working with the Royal Canadian Legion on the project.

There is no scheduled date for demolition, Zwack said. The legion building was built in 1929 by veterans of the First World War. Legion Branch 63 members now meet in their new home at the former Pensioners and Pioneers hall on Spadina Crescent West.

[swilley]

Originally Posted by Dalreg

It's about time the province ponies up for a Children's Hospital! I had a suspicion that Regina would grab it. Good to hear the RUH is the new site.

Regina is getting a new surgical centre, according to the Regina thread.... Only fair (NDP) that each city would get something.....

[CCF]

Originally Posted by swilley

Regina is getting a new surgical centre, according to the Regina thread.... Only fair (NDP) that each city would get something.....

Trade you!

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

Image source: http://cameco.com/media_gateway/photos/images/head_office.jpg


How does one fit an expanded Cameco head office into Saskatoons River Landing....by maxing out the 20 story/68m limit and requesting an increase

Hmmm.. looks like only a tower of monstrous height will do for that property

[jaysfan99]

A mix use 35 floor tower would be nice!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Country

Hmmm.. looks like only a tower of monstrous height will do for that property

[Ruckus]

After admiring that Cameco photo for an extended period of time, I thought of something even better than a white water park on the South Saskatchewan.



or if that was too over the top, maybe this more reasonable proposal



I would really enjoy learning the finer points of photoshop, or some other highly recommended design program. MS paint < all applications

[Echoes]

A mountain that will overshadow mighty Blackstrap?!? I dont know about this! How about a Cameco head office to overshadow it!!

[Ruckus]

^ Just a crazy idea

On another topic, there's an interesting affordable housing project going up on the corner of 19th street and Avenue F, I say interesting because the sign depicting the project had what I believe to be Chinese symbols/words next to the project(marketing towards Chinese population?). I didn't snap a pic, and couldn't find anything on the web about it. It's being marketed as Juniper Manor, built by North Ridge, financing through First Sask credit union, funding provided by the Saskatchewan provincial government, and the City of Saskatoon.

It's not a bad looking piece for the area, should brighten it up quite a bit. BTW, the site has sat vacant for some time. I wonder how much this development will increase the values of neighboring properties? Only up is my guess.

[shmakim]

Originally Posted by Country

The world's largest uranium company building in river landing... what is so bad about that?
.....
if by some slight chance mayor atch reads this forum i have this to say: YOUR HOTEL/SPA DREAM IS DEAD! get moving with this great new opportunity!
.....
im tempted to write letters... or organize some saskatoon urban leaque. LMAO

Laughing your a$$ off? I'm not. We've got 50 pages of discussion of what Saskatoon could be, but I fear that this discussion forum isn't all that well known outside of the active readers and posters. I checked back a few pages and found about 20 people posting.... I imagine there are maybe 5x that many that read but don't post.

Is it laughable to submit something formally to council? A letter of suggestions for River Landing and / or Cameco on behalf of all of us? Even a brainstorm of ideas? Or is this forum simply armchair criticism? How about a more concrete list of ideas to define the ambiguous term "destination location":
science centre
water park (despite memories of the failed Penguin Park)
concert arena
laser tag / games complex
museum / gallery
IMAX
combination of the above?

I love the idea of an exciting, vibrant, revitalized downtown, but I start to mumble as I admit that I'm an Erindale burb-dweller. I'm in no position to buy a condo downtown, but I can speak with my money by visiting downtown regularly if it's a place to enjoy. Something as simple as relaxing restrictions on buskers and street vendors could give downtown more character. I suppose that's why there's no end of summer festivals downtown.

My enthusiasm gets squashed a little too when I saw that comparison of aerial photos of Cameco's current site and what's available at RL. Methinks it's be a pretty skinny, or pretty modest, office installation at RL, given the footprint available.

Goodness, I seem to have rambled. Any responses to help me clarify my ideas?

[Echoes]

Im not opposed to us organizing ourselves better to get our voice heard. Even to somehow let Atch know about this forum.. dunno how much attention he'd pay to it though.

[shmakim]

Originally Posted by Country

Im not opposed to us organizing ourselves better to get our voice heard. Even to somehow let Atch know about this forum.. dunno how much attention he'd pay to it though.

Fair enough - I don't expect _the mayor_ to read this group, but it'd be great if we could get the attention of one of his trusted underlings. Or if we were to get the attention of the press and have a mention in the SP - that could generate a bunch of new members too...... or, is that desirable? (says he after 4 posts)

[Dalreg]

No the more people who can contribute to this thread and forum the better. If by posting on here we help Saskatoon get its act together then post away.

New question here. Now that the snow is finally gone? What street/road projects are happening this year? I assume Circle Drive Bridge will be a headache all summer long but what else will the city screw up this year?

[circle33]

Pardon the largeness. I wasn't up to reesizing.

May I introduce downtown Stonecrotch..errr Stonegate? Stonebridge?...Stone something or other...

From the ICR website:

'Crossroads will be Saskatoon's newest neighborhood commercial development. Located at the entrance to the residential community Stonebridge (South Saskatoon). 'Crossroads' is unique to Saskatoon: four architecturally controlled developments, which will provide the Stonebrigde residential community with all their core services - financial, restaurants, medical and convenience retail.



No mention of Tower 21 on the site of course.

Though it's often maligned, I was sort of hoping they'd give new urbanism a try -- an attempt to make a walkable environment, mix in some medium density residential around the commercial component. Instead the it looks like car will remain king. Lucky for future Stonebridgers, the auto mall is near at hand.