Saskatoon Construction

[joelpiecowye]

i think it would be very great if saskatoon had a pedestrian mall. i think that area would be nearly one of the best locations to put one in saskatoon. its near to our downtown residential area so they could also put a specialty grocery store with neat produce that usually is only found in major cities and make more stores there to make it a unique place where people want to be. Also add securty cameras and mabey if he really wants to be nice add underground parking nearby for the winter. I can see how pedestrian malls can be turned into a dump if they are not continually worked on and it would not be as popular in the winter but if don atchison gave it some thought and effort like the riverlanding it could be pretty good accually magnificant.

[Jonitecture]

one of my opinions of pedestrian malls is that people dont feel as safe. i think cars make people feel safe. maybe if the pedestrian mall was extremely buisy, but with the library on one side and city hall on the other? i couldnt see it. i would rather have one of our many parking lots turned into a library.

[shmakim]

Originally Posted by CCF

Pedestrian malls don't work?

My thoughts exactly. It's a real stretch to paint all "no traffic" areas as unsafe. Maybe a seedy downtown bus mall (where their crime deterrent is classical music??!!) might not be safe, but a retail-oriented pedestrian mall, especially with nice streetscaping, can become a tourist draw, even. Look at Stephen Avenue Mall in Calgary.

[CCF]

Originally Posted by shmakim

My thoughts exactly. It's a real stretch to paint all "no traffic" areas as unsafe. Maybe a seedy downtown bus mall (where their crime deterrent is classical music??!!) might not be safe, but a retail-oriented pedestrian mall, especially with nice streetscaping, can become a tourist draw, even. Look at Stephen Avenue Mall in Calgary.

Not trying to pull a "look what we have" but take a walk down F.W. Hill Mall/Scarth Street Mall in Regina. It's a pedestrian mall and is the busiest part of Regina's downtown. It has a mixture of businesses i.e. salons, restaurants, offices, clothing, comic books, banking, condos, etc.

He isn't even giving the notion of a ped. mall any thought, when in reality they can be quite lively, and an attractive addition to any downtown.

[Dalreg]

Originally Posted by CCF

Not trying to pull a "look what we have" but take a walk down F.W. Hill Mall/Scarth Street Mall in Regina. It's a pedestrian mall and is the busiest part of Regina's downtown. It has a mixture of businesses i.e. salons, restaurants, offices, clothing, comic books, banking, condos, etc.

He isn't even giving the notion of a ped. mall any thought, when in reality they can be quite lively, and an attractive addition to any downtown.

True Saskatoon does not have this downtown but our 2nd Avenue is the equivalent along with 21st Street. Just with the parking. Saskatoon does a fairly good job at bringing in people to the downtown.

Personally the Library expanding onto the street is a stupid idea. If anything take over the monstosity behind it. Sturdy Stone!

[swilley]

I think the Library should expand over top of the street. Leave it open on the bottom for traffic flow, build 2 - 3 stories on top for the Library. The bottom level could have open glass area's for reading etc.

I think a pedestrian street is something that is missing from our downtown. 21st between 1st and 2nd - 3rd ave would be cool, imo. (of course, the twin cameco and shell towers would be close by.. )

[jaysfan99]

There is an empty parking lot on 3rd ave where the extra foods used to be. Right beside the board of education building. Put a nice new library there, demolish the old library. Problem solved.

Originally Posted by swilley

I think the Library should expand over top of the street. Leave it open on the bottom for traffic flow, build 2 - 3 stories on top for the Library. The bottom level could have open glass area's for reading etc.

I think a pedestrian street is something that is missing from our downtown. 21st between 1st and 2nd - 3rd ave would be cool, imo. (of course, the twin cameco and shell towers would be close by.. )

[shmakim]

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

[B][SIZE="5"][SIZE="4"]The executive committee is expected to recommend the city hold an open house on Sept. 22 at the weir and another on Sept. 27 at SIAST Kelsey campus

I should show up with a kayak and full gear, asking when it's going to open.

[Jonitecture]

i wish they had gone with the river landing, libraries draw a lot of people constantly through the day. and with other things to do, people would stay there for maybe the whole afternoon. i dont mind pedestrian malls, but a library and a city hall? even with a coffe shop it wouldnt be that great, unless they turned the main floor into stores and upstairs into the library?

[circle33]

As I type this the former Joe's Lunch building is being reduced to a smoking pile of rubble. Is an exciting new development on the way, or just more revenue for the good people at Impark?

[macca]

Originally Posted by circle33

As I type this the former Joe's Lunch building is being reduced to a smoking pile of rubble. Is an exciting new development on the way, or just more revenue for the good people at Impark?

I knew it. The building was for lease, and then suddenly the signs dissapeared. While not spectacular, that was a nice little building. As for that being an exciting development, if the lot adjacent to it has been leased, then maybe. If not, excpect a larger parking lot. With the theatre across the street, I'm sure Impark saw a chance to cash in.

In other news, the surface parking lot beside the HSBC building has been leased. Interesting to note that it is "leased" and not "sold", which leads me to beleive I development may be in the works. Who leases a parking lot?

[circle33]

I noticed the leased parking lot a while back, but I wasn't sure what to make of it. Like you say, who leases a parking lot?

In other micro-project news, the roof of the former Dot location is no longer there. What that means to the future of the KG redevelopment is unclear, but it gives me something to speculate about. I know it won't be a surface lot.

[macca]

How do you know that, circle? Also, anyone know for sure what they're doing with the adjacent parking garage? Just cleaning it up, or what?

[Jonitecture]

where was this building?

[richmond]

I haven't been on in awhile so some random comments:

Am disappointed Joe's Lunch came down. Was past there the other day, wishing I had my camera in order to take some photos of the old ads painted on the side of the building.

Rumley Building has a hole in it ... up near the top. Any ideas what is going on there? I know about the plan to reno & add more floors ... was just wondering about the hole.

I like the idea of the library expanding into the street infront. It would create a nice civic plaza with City Hall. I would save River Landing for tenants that pay taxes.

[Jonitecture]

I haven't been on in awhile so some random comments:

Am disappointed Joe's Lunch came down. Was past there the other day, wishing I had my camera in order to take some photos of the old ads painted on the side of the building.

Rumley Building has a hole in it ... up near the top. Any ideas what is going on there? I know about the plan to reno & add more floors ... was just wondering about the hole.

I like the idea of the library expanding into the street infront. It would create a nice civic plaza with City Hall. I would save River Landing for tenants that pay taxes.

now i remember what building that was, its a shame, but they could have done worse, and think! they most likely building something ontop of it. im not sure what the hole is in the side of the rumley, starting of a large window? is that the side where the expansion is going?

[prairieguy]

Interesting article on the conversion of the KG hotel into condo's, office and retail. Unfortunate part is that is sounds like little of the heritage value of the building can be retained. That is really a shame, as it could have added so much more value and character. Hopefully, whatever the developers come up with for an exterior (and interior) design plan pays tribute to its grand heritage and history.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoen...45f5-7d78-4522-90af-948982eb7db1&k=88303

[macca]

Interesting to hear specifics on the cost per sq ft of building a new tower. $42/sq ft, and he wanted $10? That's quite a difference. I wonder what the average price per sq ft in Saskatoon is? Can you make money at $42?

[Jonitecture]

Interesting article on the conversion of the KG hotel into condo's, office and retail. Unfortunate part is that is sounds like little of the heritage value of the building can be retained. That is really a shame, as it could have added so much more value and character. Hopefully, whatever the developers come up with for an exterior (and interior) design plan pays tribute to its grand heritage and history.

that really sucks that they cant revome the exterior, hopefully they will use brick on the new exterior. i also hope they find some of the lions, and they didnt mention it, but MAYBE they will replace the terra cotta knights. they said that there is goldleafing still remaining n the lobby? agian that hopefully will be restored.

[richmond]

I want some nice, but I don't think that means it has to look historical. A nice, solid material like brick would help the appearance, though.

With the City considering adding on to the library & moving their city bus HQ down to the bus mall, that might be enough new construction in that area to bring it back to life. That's good, since downtown kind of shifted to the south once the Bay moved to Midtown.