Saskatoon Construction

[Echoes]

^ Well the developper is Obasa Suites www.obasasuites.com. They are responsible for other projects in Stoon such as Hallmark Place and The Broadway condos at fiver corners. I imagine whoever they have doing the contract work will be carefully chosen. IMO we can rest assured that the Rumely is in Obasa's capable hands.

[macca]

Interesting "glitch" on the Meridian website. When you click on The Hideaway, a new bullet is added to the navigation sidebar: "Murano City Homes". Clicking on it does nothing.

[Echoes]

Yes I noticed that as well when I was on their site. Is "Murano" or "Murano City" a street or place name within Saskatoon? Not to my knowledge...

[Echoes]

Aren't 3 big box centres MORE than enough? I would've thought that Preston Crossing serves University Heights adequately. This is ridiculous.

More big-box boom?
Proposed development at University Heights site goes before city council
Kenyon Wallace, The StarPhoenix
Published: Monday, June 25, 2007

Residents of the city's booming east end might soon have another big-box retailer putting down stakes in the University Heights neighbourhood, at a time when the city has three big-box developments already underway.

In a report to the general manager of community services, Saskatoon's land bank committee is recommending the tendering of an 8.5-acre retail lot at Attridge Drive and Heal Avenue for $5.5 million.

Coun. Bev Dubois, who represents the ward in which the proposed retail lot exists, said she will support the recommendation when it comes to city council tonight.

"City council has to realize that this area is growing like crazy and residents need retail locations near to where they live," she said.

According to ICR Commercial Real Estate -- Saskatchewan's largest commercial real estate company -- University Heights is among the fastest-growing areas in Saskatoon with the absorption of retail space being the highest in the city over the last several years. A November 2006 city land branch survey showed that within Erindale Centre, 99 per cent of all existing commercially zoned buildings were occupied.

Census data from 2006 shows a 29 per cent increase in population in University Heights since 2001. Due to increased multi-family home developments in University Heights and Arbor Creek, the city estimates the population in University Heights will be about 36,000 by 2010. There are currently three unfinished big-box developments underway at Preston Crossing, Stonegate and Blairmore.

Coun. Myles Heidt said he would not support the recommendation to tender the land. Heidt said he's worried that a big-box development in University Heights might take business away from the Sutherland neighbourhood and its main shopping area on Central Avenue.

"I won't be supporting it until I'm confident Central Avenue will be able to survive such a development," he said.

The city should allow the other three big-box developments to be completed and study their impacts on smaller businesses before approving land sales for the purposes of retail development in University Heights, Heidt added.

The report to the city land bank committee notes the closure of Extra Foods in Sutherland and the relocation of the liquor store to Erindale Centre has already resulted in a high vacancy rate on Central Avenue.

"The relocation of Central Avenue business will likely continue as national retailers and service providers take advantage of the locational benefits available in Erindale Centre," says the report.

But Dubois disagrees. She says Central Avenue and University Heights are completely different areas and she does not expect any other establishments to leave Central Avenue.

"At this point there are not a lot of businesses in Sutherland that could move," she said.

Dubois sits on the Sutherland Business Improvement Committee and will be attending a meeting on the rejuvenation of Central Avenue on Wednesday.

Coun. Maurice Neault, whose ward encompasses a Smart Centres big-box development currently under construction, agreed with Heidt and said he too will vote against the recommendation.

"The northeast end is already packed with retail areas," he said. "We'd be making a mistake by approving this sale because it's going to hurt Central Avenue. What are people in Sutherland supposed to do for shopping if Central Avenue collapses?"

[email protected]

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007


^Should be an interesting council meeting tonight anyways as they're discussing proposals for Parcel Y at RL as well. Stay tuned...

[macca]

Ya, we're really lacking for big box retail here. The people of Erindale deserve a Golf Town to call their own.

As for Murano City, I know of no place where that name is used. A thougt: perhaps it is the mystery Caswell Hill condo?

[Jonitecture]

Saskatoon doesnt need more big boxs, we have enough already. up with high density living! down with sprawl

[Ruckus]

River Landing Phase One and Two

[Ruckus]

KG, 2nd Avenue Lofts, U of S College of Law, Health Science Development, Canadian Light Source

[joelpiecowye]

great pictures, Saskatoon needs more picts posted on this site for ppl to see the progress.

[Echoes]

great photo tour as usual saskftw
looking at the pic taking of 2nd ave. lofts and the KG from the parking lot across the street i cant help but imagine how great it would be if a condo development went up to replace that surface parking. we'd have quite the urban corridor there

[drm310]

Originally Posted by Jonitecture

Saskatoon doesnt need more big boxs, we have enough already. up with high density living! down with sprawl

I agree. I live in Silverspring, and over the last three years I have watched the University Heights Suburban Centre slowly suck the life out of Central Avenue. With Preston Crossing, Stonebridge and Blairmore S.C., the city is more than adequately serviced by big box retailers. It looks like city council decided not to do anything with the land for now.

Switching back to River Landing, it looks like we will have to wait a bit longer to find out what the developers' plans are.

[prairieguy]

I would also put my vote in for the Lake Placid development group. I can't believe only two proposals were received after we were led to believe by the city that they were inundated with inquiries leading up to the deadline. But, I guess as has been said...all it takes is one bid, if it is a good one (I would hope the standard would be a great/innovative one, not just a good one!)

With respect to Lake Placid, their project for Calgary looks really good and would actually be a really nice design, as is, for RiverLanding with its tiered set back design with what looks like retail on the main floor. I have to say the Kelowna one is not at all to the same standard as their Calgary design (nothing impressive about it except for its sheer size).

[macca]

The City has unveiled plans for the new Rosewood neighbourhood. It's huge, housing up to 11 000 people at build out in 15-18 years. It follows the "town centre" design of Willowgrove and Hampton Village, incorporating institutional and commerical space into its central village sqaure, as well as linear parks and rear lanes. It's a step in the right direction, but I'm certainly not in love with this plan. They seem to be preserving some wetland area, which is commendable.

http://www.city.saskatoon.sk.ca/org/development/services/procedures/rosewood_concept_plan.pdf

[psych1]

Originally Posted by macca

The City has unveiled plans for the new Rosewood neighbourhood. It's huge, housing up to 11 000 people at build out in 15-18 years. It follows the "town centre" design of Willowgrove and Hampton Village, incorporating institutional and commerical space into its central village sqaure, as well as linear parks and rear lanes. It's a step in the right direction, but I'm certainly not in love with this plan. They seem to be preserving some wetland area, which is commendable.

http://www.city.saskatoon.sk.ca/org/development/services/procedures/rosewood_concept_plan.pdf

I'm curious as to what you don't like about it, and about others' opinions. Personally, I wish they would start tying new neighborhoods into existing ones better. It is going to be a challenge walking or cycling into or out of there.

[macca]

Well for starters, I'm not overly keen on low density development that will put another 11 000 people even further away from the downtown core and other exisitng amenities. This plans involves millions spent on infrastructure that could be used to extend 25th street, clean up the city yards, move the bus barns, etc. I realize the city is responding to demand for housing (and suburban style subdivisions are 'what people want'), and that they are making efforts to improve the core.

However, this plan does tries to create a more "walkable" neighbourhood, as Willowgrove is supposed to be (anyone seen the promo video for Willowgrove? It's an idealic utopia), but it places a huge wetland park area between itself and the Lakewood Suburban centre where people would go for groceries and the like. The neighbourhood are still being designed with bedrooms and garages in mind. They're a place to drive to and go to sleep, essentially.

[prairieguy]

I commend the city for trying to maintain the existing wetlands that exist there, although if you drive by area, they have dramatically altered part of the existing wetland closer to highway #16. As the work started here last year, I was curious(and disappointed) to see they filled in existing channels/canals that were utilized by waterfowl (and probably many other wildlife - fox, deer, porcupine, etc.)

I also agree with comments made about our continued approach to supporting urban sprawl. There are so many other lessons to be learned from communities that have gone 'out' instead of focusing on concentrating more development within existing areas. I acknowledge there is a demand for this type of development, but perhaps it is the scale of this that is more of a concern (11,000 people).

As a supporter of physical activity and active transportation, I am glad to see the number of green linkages in this development, but more work needs to be done to provide corridors to connect these neighborhoods back to downtown.

So, have to give credit to the city and developer for some things, but still disappointed on other aspects.

[joelpiecowye]

i wouldn't consider it a complete wetland park, i showed the park before on here, they are completely transforming it

http://www.saskatoon.ca/org/land/residential/land_for_sale/2007JuneLakewoodTenderPackage.pdf

[Ruckus]

Sprawling neighborhoods seem like a right of passage in North America. People like to have a yard to look at??? A garage to store their car or suv and boxes full of useless consumer goods.

The community of Rosewood with 2,750 single unit dwellings should provide adequate choice for those looking to live the suburban packaged lifestyle with an enhanced quality of life thanks to 90 acres or 0.364217 km² of walkable wetlands. The wetland component comprises 12.3% of the total 731 acres or 2.95825 km² of land developed for the community of Rosewood.

Also slated for construction in Rosewood is 1,350 units of low density townhouses, and 175 apartment type dwellings.

I doubt Saskatoon will follow the lead of larger cities looking to slow the growth of suburban development and encourage dense inner city development.

We've established conceptual plans to develop suburban communities far into the future (the year 2050 est. population of 400,000???).

Saskatoon has never had a conceptual plan for redeveloping or developing (some cases) the inner city communities and under utilized spaces in and adjacent to the core, most of what I've seen is just piece meal, nothing comprehensive in its delivery. If the city had a serious agenda about promoting sustainable living, decreasing the cost to service new communities, or simply following the lead of larger cities they would identify land(s) and promote them as the hot new thing, much like the River Landing project.

But can cities really do that sort of thing, you know promote a certain lifestyle?

Regardless, we'll be seeing a fair bit more suburban development yet, North East Saskatoon is just getting started, plenty more communities on the way.

But something to think about, once the current and next generations grow up and are ready to move out, do you think they'll choose a downtown address or stick with good ol' suburban life? My guess is downtown, its the trend in bigger centers, and Saskatoon is always a little late to bloom.

Don't you just love the comments in the SP.

[Ruckus]

Rosewood subdivision plans unveiled
New neighbourhood to feature 90 acres of walkable wetlands
Michelle Martin, The StarPhoenix
Published: Thursday, June 28, 2007

Big plans for a new neighbourhood in east Saskatoon are moving ahead slowly but steadily.

After some rethinking and rejigging, the concept plan for Rosewood was revealed to the public at an open house on Wednesday.

The 731-acre "new generation" subdivision is expected to be home to 11,000 people -- a population approaching that of North Battleford -- when construction winds up in the next 15 to 18 years.

"It's one of the largest subdivisions ever brought into the city of Saskatoon," said Ron Olson, general manager of Boychuk Construction and lead development planner at this stage of the project. Boychuk and the city are two of five land owners involved in the project.

The concept plan shows an area located south of Taylor Street and east of Boychuk Drive sectioned into a mix of single-dwelling lots and multi-family lots, with parks tucked in between. There are also two small commercial areas.

Community members, especially those from nearby neighbourhoods, are expected to provide feedback on the plans. The plans will then be revised throughout the summer before being submitted to city council for approval in the fall.

"It's our intention to have lots available for sale to the public in mid to late summer of 2008," said Olson.

Construction on Rosewood is set to kick off first on the west side of the neighbourhood, near one of the designated commercial areas.

Olson said this commercial area adjacent to Boychuk Drive could take shape in 2010.

The other commercial area is planned for the centre of the neighbourhood. Rosewood's bull's eye is the village square, which is surrounded by a commercial area, multi-family dwellings and more parks.

"A highlight of the subdivision" will the 90 acres of walkable wetlands in the southwest, said Olson. "That is unique of any subdivision in Saskatoon. No subdivision has that kind of open space within it or adjacent to it."

Tim Steuart, manager of the development review section for the city, called Rosewood a "new generation" neighbourhood for its large size and abundant park space. He compared it to Willowgrove, Stonebridge and Hampton Village.

"I think these new neighbourhoods are very livable. They've got a mix of land uses," he said.

It took longer than expected to get the plans to the point where they would work from a technical perspective. Two years ago, the concept plan was expected to be complete by 2005, with city council approval anticipated for early 2006.

One relatively recent addition to the plan was an overpass connecting the neighbourhood to Highway 16.

The current plan has slated the majority of the dwellings in the new neighbourhood to be homes -- 2,750 single-unit dwellings. There will also be 1,350 units of low-density townhouses, as well as 175 apartment-type dwellings.

[Ruckus]

Council wrong to put brakes on retail space
The StarPhoenix
Published: Thursday, June 28, 2007

So many city councillors reached an epiphany this week about the open for business principle that one suspects there must have been gridlock on the road to Damascus.

All seven current councillors who were in office in February 2004 voted at the time to reject the advice of a $200,000-retail report prepared by Robin Dee and Associates, which suggested phasing in retail space expansion at the rate of population growth.

The city has no right to be dictating to the marketplace, we were told. If a business wants to set up shop in Saskatoon, far be it for our progressive councillors to be telling them when, where and how to conduct their business.

This is a far cry from what council did this week. When a report from the city's land bank committee suggested that the call for more retail space in the northeast district of University Heights dictated opening up more land for development, those former free-market councillors tripped over themselves to shut things down.

The most vociferous of the protectionists were the two west-side councillors, who were among the most strident free enterprisers before their conversion.

Coun. Myles Heidt claimed in 2005 that it made him "nervous" to think of politicians and administrators deciding when new businesses should be allowed to open. "What I'm hearing is a lot of protectionism," he complained when interest groups came to council to object to the opening of Stonegate for development.

This week, however, Heidt was insisting that council should protect businesses in Sutherland from the impact of expanding retail opportunities on the other side of the tracks. He stuck to his position even after Coun. Bev Dubois quite correctly pointed out the Sutherland Business Improvement District has been focusing its efforts to become a commercial area with unique shops and opportunities rather than go head-to-head with national chains.

Central Avenue today in the same situation that faced Broadway Avenue merchants in the mid-1980s. Broadway successfully rebranded itself into a retail district that offers opportunities not be found in suburban malls. Sutherland, with its small-town atmosphere and railway heritage, is attempting a similar rebranding. The greatest threat to Sutherland's businesses will be a dearth of shopping opportunities in nearby neighbourhoods that serve as an incentive for nearby residents to cross the city.

Heidt's determination to postpone development in University Heights may be an act of protectionism, but not for the Sutherland area. Like his west-side colleague Coun. Maurice Neault, Heidt is concerned that accommodating the residents of the northeast will slow down migration to his ward.

Neault insisted last year that planning rules be adjusted to allow smaller retail and commercial outlets in a big-box development on the west side before they were scheduled in the development plan.

"These are things that we need," he said in May 2006. "Why should we have to wait because we live in the west end of the city?"

Fair enough. But when told that the northeast side of Saskatoon already has enough people to drive demand for more retail space, his disingenuous observation was that it shouldn't be seen as an east-west competition.

"The northeast end is already packed with retail areas," Neault incorrectly observed.

Dubois pointed out that the city has done plenty to accommodate and encourage growth on the west side. It has allowed early development of the big-box and small retail space, facilitated and pushed for two new high schools, it's building a civic centre and library there and has begun construction on Saskatchewan's only truly Olympic-sized competition swimming pool.

Meanwhile, people who already live in University Heights are lining up to get into every new retail outlet that opens, while 99 per cent of existing commercially zoned buildings in the district are occupied.

"When a new Boston Pizza opened (a couple of weeks ago), people were already lined up outside the doors. We need that retail," Dubois pleaded.

Coun. Glen Penner made the logical observation that, in a free market, it is people who drive the demand for retail, not the other way around. Yet, councillors still decided not only that they know better than the retailers who are willing to invest their money just where, when and how that investment should be made. They also apparently know better than residents just when, where and how they should live and shop.

That would be a west-west thing.