Saskatoon Construction

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by youngregina

I was wondering how much office space there is a demand for in saskatoon. Like how how many sq. ft. is needed in downtown saskatoon.

The most current and extensive analysis I could find was this report:

Jan 01, 2006 to Jan 01, 2007 Saskatoon Office study

Hmmm...



Source

[youngregina]

Thanks. I just wanted to compare between saskatoon and regina.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by youngregina

Thanks. I just wanted to compare between saskatoon and regina.

Can you find something similar for Regina?

[youngregina]

I can tell you that regina is in need for 200,000+ sq. ft. of class A office space. I will try and look up something like it, but i havent come accross anything like that for regina before.

[Migs]

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

Yeah, no worries CCF.

Saskatoon will develop a CFL team soon too, it's on our list of priorities (long list).

[joelpiecowye]

since we are thinking of skyscrapers that would look nice in saskatoon, ii think that a tower would be nice(has to be 1 m taller than Calgary tower )
i always liked Spinnaker Tower so i decided to put it in to the photoshoped pano. mine doesn't look as nice but i think an observation tower would be nice in the city since we are not going to get one in riverlanding like the original plan.



also thought this was a neat photo possibly from a ferris wheel at the ex (wasn't mine)

[Jonitecture]

i really really really like that photo, that is a really neat image of all the trees.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by joelpiecowye

since we are thinking of skyscrapers that would look nice in saskatoon, ii think that a tower would be nice(has to be 1 m taller than Calgary tower )
i always liked Spinnaker Tower so i decided to put it in to the photoshoped pano. mine doesn't look as nice but i think an observation tower would be nice in the city since we are not going to get one in riverlanding like the original plan.

An observation tower would be nice, though I question a downtown location. I suppose it depends what your looking to achieve with an observation tower.

A great location for an observation tower is along the east side of the river, I'm thinking the top of Broadway Bridge or possibly the University property along the river (area around the Diefenbaker Centre).

One good reason for an east side location is simply because of a higher elevation. An observation tower on the east side would have much more height, more height offers a better view and at less cost than a downtown location. Also, the river and bridges would be much more visible in either direction from a tower near at the top of the Broadway Bridge or along the U of S.

A Downtown observation tower would fit nicely too, it would stand out against our wide boxy structures and the view would provide some interesting perspectives of Downtown.

Who pays the design and construction costs? It seems observation towers are generally funded by private corporations (Calgary and Spinnaker) and with a hefty cost to build such a structure perhaps an observation deck could be built into a new office tower instead? Unlikely I'm sure, but then again how likely is a stand alone observation tower?

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by swilley

^^I'll take a pass on the Regina booster club, thanks for the invite though...

Back to Fantasy......

CtrlAltDel's drawings remind me of the one I did a while back. I say all three would look great. Just need to add the potash Corp Logo on it.

*Country's tongue drops out in a mad fit of panting/drooling*

Originally Posted by joelpiecowye

also thought this was a neat photo possibly from a ferris wheel at the ex (wasn't mine)

^ Nice pic! The only reason I ever ride the ferris wheel at the Ex is to get that view. Picturesque Saskatoon nestled down in the river valley surrounded by a sea of trees... love it!

[Echoes]

Credits soon to roll on downtown theatre location
Cassandra Kyle, The StarPhoenix
Published: Saturday, January 05, 2008

The Empire Theatre, formerly the Capitol 4, is up for sale and set to close.

On the market since Nov. 1 for $1.6 million, the closure of the theatre's current location, at 216 First Ave. South across from Midtown Plaza, doesn't necessarily mean an end to the company's presence in Saskatoon.

The manager of Empire Theatres Ltd.'s Prairie district, Jason Hayes, said the company hopes to stay in the city but at a different location.
The Capitol 4 Theatre building on First Avenue is for saleView Larger Image
Still, a significant drop in customers and a lack of first-run movies has made it difficult to maintain operations at the downtown site. A closing date has not been set as a buyer hasn't been found, said Hayes, who added it's business as usual at the theatre for now. A replacement site has not been found.

"We've decided that it is a market that we really want to be in, but unfortunately in our current location it has become less viable to operate in that market given the large (theatre) down the street and the fact that they get the majority of the (movies)," he said from his Calgary office.

Empire purchased and took over operations of the old Capitol 4, formerly owned by Famous Players, in September 2005 following the merger of Cineplex Galaxy and Famous Players and the selling-off of several theatres which followed the union. In September 2006, Saskatoon's 12-screen Galaxy Theatre opened a block away from the four-screen Empire. Hayes said after the Galaxy opened, Empire officials started discussing the closure of the First Avenue theatre.

"It's really a market that we do really want to be in, it's a market that we really don't want to leave, but it is, unfortunately, a business decision," he said. "We're not really getting the customers because we're not getting the movies; the movies are all generally opening at The Galaxy."

The theatre's listing on ICR Commercial Real Estate's website describes the property, built in 1983, as a 23,344-square-foot building on 14,000-square-feet of land in the downtown retail core. Possible conversion of the building, it goes on to say, could include both office and retail space. Empire Theatres owns the building outright, said Hayes, who could not comment on whether offers had been made on the property.

"With the location and the current property prices in Saskatoon it's very likely that it will sell and it will sell shortly," he said.

In August 2007, the owner of Saskatoon's last drive-in movie theatre announced he was preparing to close the attraction. The Sundown Theatre has been occupying 10 acres of land just outside city limits since 1965.

Hayes said it's a sad reality that the Empire will close when a buyer is found.

"It's a beautiful theatre, it's a great location, it's very clean in there, it's always been a good quality location," he said. "It's just that it's hard to operate a four-plex against a larger multiplex that can carry more product."

The theatre employs about 20 people.

[email protected]

Source

The ad for the Capitol 4 on ICR's website:

Capitol 4 - 216 1st Avenue South
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Building: 23,344 sq.ft
Land: 14,000 sq.ft.
Agent: Barry Stuart
Sale Price: $1,600,000.00

The Capitol 4 is a four screen theatre complex located in the downtown retail core on 1st Avenue South between 20th Street East and 21st Street East. This building is a concrete structure built in 1983, with approximately 24,344 sq.ft. on two levels. Directly across the street from the Midtown Plaza, with major retailers such as The Bay and Sears, the Capitol 4 Theatre is in the heart of Saskatoon’s core business district. Conversion of the building could include both office and retail uses.

^I was very surprised when Pacific Cinemas sold so quickly after closing its doors. However, now we wait and wait for the Holiday Inn to rise in its stead. But that speedy sale has me confident that the Capitol 4 will sell quickly and likely meet the wrecking ball as well.

Considering the cinema's great location (close to Midtown, 21st, River Landing, the Galaxy (how ironic),etc.) there's no reason to believe it won't sell. It's just a question of what will take its place... conversion of the existing building into office/retail or new construction?

IMO I think an office/retail combo for that building would look cool... stores on the ground floor and offices above. Considering the terraced design of the building maybe balconies are a possibility? However it can't be easy (or cheap) to convert a multiplex with sloping floors into a building with a more regular floor plan.. I know we've discussed this before when considering the sale of Pacific Cinemas.

Also, on A2 of Saturday's SP I noticed an ad from ICR proudly proclaiming (Sold! Sold! Sold! and so on) the sale of the Glengarry Building on Third Avenue South. The ad mentioned that major renovations for the building are planned. It's nice to see investment going into these underused/vacant old buildings in our downtown.. the Campbell Millar Wilson warehouse turned office space being another recent example.

[macca]

Condo potential eyed for city-owned building
Matthew Kruchak, The StarPhoenix
Published: Monday, January 07, 2008

A city-owned building in the warehouse district could be the next edifice in the area to be converted into loft-style condominiums.

At the corner of 24th Street and Ontario Avenue, the Arthur Cooke Building now contains offices of several city services and is used as a storage facility. But the city's executive committee is looking at a recommendation that would lead to the sale of the 80-year-old, nondescript three-story brown brick building.

The committee will assess the recommendation today to have the building appraised and find space to relocate staff and stored items.


The opportunity to create more living space downtown, to me, is very attractive," Coun. Maurice Neault said. "It's a move in the right direction."

That move focuses on the buildings around the railway tracks that cut through the city's core. Buildings that once bustled with shoppers, were filled by travellers and packed with commodities are now being converted into upscale condos. Within only blocks of the Arthur Cooke Building, the interiors of the former Bay building, Rumley Warehouse and King George Hotel are being remodeled to house the urban dweller.

Coun. Myles Heidt said he'd like to see the building -- and more like it -- converted into condos.

"That whole loft environment seems to be kind of trendy and very popular. So let's go."

But it's more than just about trendy digs, said Coun. Charlie Clark.

"There's all kinds of benefits of growing residential density downtown and it's fantastic."

With people living, working and shopping downtown, there's less of a reliance on automobiles which has a positive effect on the environment, he said. It's also unique, he added.

"The warehouse district has all kinds of history. You can't replace that, it's very different than what we see in the growth in the new areas of the city. There's a certain character to this area of the city that is irreplaceable," he said.

The city-owned building now houses the offices of five departments and a mishmash of stored items, including Mendel Art Gallery shipping crates, secured Saskatoon Police Service storage and Labatt Brewery antiques.

"We own that building, why not partake in what's happening in the marketplace right now," Neault said. "Our goal at the end of the day is to have another 10,000 people living downtown. Lets help fulfill that goal. Let's make it possible. Create the opportunity."

Coun. Pat Lorje said it's time for the city to assess its downtown real estate.

"Saskatoon is becoming a big city and it needs a strong urban core and that means having people live downtown is a very positive measure."

[email protected]

www.thesp.com

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by macca

Condo potential eyed for city-owned building
Matthew Kruchak, The StarPhoenix
Published: Monday, January 07, 2008

A city-owned building in the warehouse district could be the next edifice in the area to be converted into loft-style condominiums.

What a lovely idea, and while they're at it, they can complete 25th Street and relocate the bus barns

But seriously, pat on the back for the City considering the idea of selling their warehouse office building for more residential lofts.

I was always curious as to what would become of that warehouse, don't they own another warehouse located in the city yards?

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

What a lovely idea, and while they're at it, they can complete 25th Street and relocate the bus barns

But seriously, pat on the back for the City considering the idea of selling their warehouse office building for more residential lofts.

I was always curious as to what would become of that warehouse, don't they own another warehouse located in the city yards?

The other city owned warehouse is the former John Deere building. I found this in the Local Area Plan for the warehouse district:

There are two warehouses that could be
disposed of by Infrastructure and Corporate Services. These are
the Arthur Cook Building and the John Deere Warehouse, both
of which have been identified as candidates for heritage
designation, as well as having potential for being converted for
adaptive re-use. It has been recommended in the Residential
Section of this Local Area Plan that if it is found that these
buildings are no longer required by the City, that a proposal call
be issued for the redevelopment of these two buildings.

Source

[joelpiecowye]

if anyone is wondering i found this site showing the buildings the city owns at the warehouse district and what they are going to sell. They even have plans for the arthur cook building conversion

http://www.saskatoon.ca/org/city_plannin...being_implemented/warehouse_district.pdf

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by joelpiecowye

if anyone is wondering i found this site showing the buildings the city owns at the warehouse district and what they are going to sell. They even have plans for the arthur cook building conversion

http://www.saskatoon.ca/org/city_plannin...being_implemented/warehouse_district.pdf

Am I seeing double? errrr.. thanks JP but considering the same link and similar info are in the post just previous to yours its seems kind of redundant Nice work though!

[joelpiecowye]

oop sorry country i didn't mean to double post, i missed the source button somehow

[craner]

Saskatoon will develop a CFL team soon too, it's on our list of priorities (long list).

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

Some day, then we can all enjoy intense prairie passion

I think it would be great if Saskatoon could get a CFL team. The rivalry would be like Calgary-Edmonton . . . although I suppose a lot of people would still pull for the Riders initially with all the built up history. I guess the other issue would be getting a stadium built. I really think Saskatchewan could support two teams - especially with the economy on an upswing.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by joelpiecowye

oop sorry country i didn't mean to double post, i missed the source button somehow

Oh no worries.. if anything you added to the thread's post count (but who's counting anyways? )

[jaysfan99]

What happens when the Economy is not so hot?
This is a Riders nation. We don't need another team. We just need to build a nice stadium in Saskatoon and have the Riders play a few games a year in Saskatoon.

Originally Posted by craner

I think it would be great if Saskatoon could get a CFL team. The rivalry would be like Calgary-Edmonton . . . although I suppose a lot of people would still pull for the Riders initially with all the built up history. I guess the other issue would be getting a stadium built. I really think Saskatchewan could support two teams - especially with the economy on an upswing.

[A4Regina]

On the CTV news in Regina, it was reported that Saskatoon's population is expected to double in 20 years. WOW?