Saskatoon Construction

[swilley]

Originally Posted by macca

Also of note, the surface parking lot on the other side of the 2nd ave extension, which was recently sold, is labeled as the "Princeton Site". Princeton Developments is the company that tried to get a project going on Block 146 (current Galaxy site) for years.

In the original south downtown concept plan, this parcel was slated for the possibility of up to 20 stories max office or residential. I wonder if council would allow a higher building there if for example Princeton wished to develop an office tower for Cameco?

I can't wait to see what changes will be made to lake placid's proposal now that they have the legion land. Hopefully with the new space they can attempt to make the public square more accessible.

[Rob D]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Who was the idiot that chose the location for the Credit Union centre? It probably would have done a lot of good had it been located in downtown Saskatoon!

I was still living in Saskatchewan at the time Saskatchewan Place as it was originally named was built. The location was chosen for nothing more than political reasons IIRC. The Saskatchewan government owned large parcels of land where CU Place is located and wanted something to kick start construction in the area. A local architect at the time came up with a rather nice plan which would have seen a facility located south of Midtown Plaza along the river bank. It would have connected underground to Midtown to utilize additional parking at the mall. If it hadn't been for political interference and the fact that the provincial government provided the majority of the financing for the project, I am almost certain, Saskatoon would have had a downtown facility. A central location definitely would have served the citizens more adequately IMO.

As a side note, about the same time Sask Place was being built, the Star-Phoenix also had plans to build a new facility out in the same area. That fell through for reasons unknown to me.

[Ruckus]

City Continues to Address Affordability
Written by Sharon Vanhouwe - 600 Action News-Local First
Monday, 11 February 2008

With house prices in Saskatoon rising the way they have been and forecast to lead the country in increases, the City is working hard to make sure there are affordable houses here for first time buyers.

Allan Wallace is the Manager of Neighborhood Planning with the City of Saskatoon.

He says for those who want to own a home, the City is hoping to set aside some land for entry level starter homes.

He says they are also looking at establishing a land trust which would see houses owned but sitting on land that is leased or rented, to keep the cost of the house at a minimum.

On the rental side, Wallace says there are programs in place to help homeowners renovate to establish a secondary suite for rental purposes.

And the City is considering allowing for granny suites.

Those are living quarters separate from a residence.

Source

[Ruckus]

Council considers condo fee
Proposed plan aims to ease rental crunch
Janet French, The StarPhoenix
Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2008

City council's wrestling match with condominium conversions continues as administrators propose a plan they say could help keep a supply of rental units available in the city.

According to a proposal that went before city council's executive committee Monday, administrators suggest the city refuse to approve applications to convert apartments to condominiums when Saskatoon's rental vacancy rate dips below 1.5 per cent.

When the vacancy rate hovers between 1.5 and three per cent, investors should pay a fee -- $10,000 per unit was suggested -- to put in a city fund for affordable housing, they say.

In addition, administrators propose any conversion of more than 50 units should require city council's blessing, not just approval by city staff. Currently, only projects intending to convert 100 units or more need a nod from council.

"While your administration remains of the view that condominium conversions have an overall positive effect on the community during normal market conditions, the drop in vacancy rates does raise the question as to whether the City of Saskatoon should continue to approve condominium conversion applications in the foreseeable future," the report says.

Any conversion project that has already received preliminary or final approval from the city would still proceed, administrators say.

According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., the vacancy rate for rental apartment buildings in Saskatoon dropped from three per cent in April 2007 to 0.6 per cent in October 2007 -- the lowest rate on record.

The report says Saskatoon lost a net 632 rental units during the first 10 months of 2007.

Although council's executive committee was set to debate the proposal Monday afternoon, it postponed the matter until its next meeting when just five councillors and the mayor showed up.

Mayor Don Atchison said he didn't think it would be right to discuss such an important issue without as many councillors present as possible.

Coun. Darren Hill made an unsuccessful bid last month for all condo conversion projects to require council's approval. He said Monday he supports the administration's proposal in principle, but it needs adjustments.

Stopping conversions when vacancy hits 1.5 per cent is too low, Hill said, adding he'll push council to bump that up to a two or 2.5 per cent vacancy rate as the trigger point.

He is also "very happy" to see administrators suggest council look at conversions of 50 or more units.

Hill likes the idea of charging condominium investors a fee to put into an affordable housing fund. However, the $10,000 figure is too arbitrary, Hill said, suggesting the city develop a formula to determine the fee.

Although Coun. Myles Heidt said some of the proposals "might have merit," he says clamping down on condo conversions won't solve the problem of escalating rents. Instead, council should offer incentives for opening up more rental units, he says. Heidt cites ideas like property tax abatements for new apartment blocks or waiving fees for homeowners who put legal basement suites up for rent.

Meanwhile, Saskatoon developer Ken Achs, president of Mid-West Development Corp., sent a letter to council Monday imploring the city to leave the condo conversion rules untouched.

Like Heidt, Achs wants the city to provide incentives for developers to build apartments rather than restrict conversions.

"If there were suitable tax incentives and lower-priced land, more apartments would be built and the market would self-regulate through supply and demand," Achs writes.

Achs also worries people are overlooking the benefits of condo conversions, including upgrades to buildings that improve safety and quality of life for residents. About 30 per cent of those will be rented out again in better condition, he argues.

In 2007, the city received 54 condominium conversion applications representing 1,544 rental units in the city.

The condo conversion proposals head back before council's executive committee on Feb. 25.

[email protected]

Source

[midnightrambler]

Saskatoon Rough Riders?

By David Kirton
Updated February 14, 2008 - 11:39am

Kent Smith-Windsor, the executive director of the Saskatoon and District Chamber of Commerce says he's spoken to the group of business people who are floating the idea of a 32 thousand seat football stadium in Saskatoon.

He confirms to News Talk Radio that there is a group that is at least talking about the idea.

Smith says the Chamber was approached during a break at an unrelated meeting.

He says the idea is in its very early stages.

Smith won't disclose who the group is, but he says he says it's the kind of people he would be excited about formulating a plan like this.

News Talk Radio's John Gormley says he has spoken to the group, who would like to move the Saskatchewan Roughriders to Saskatoon or would seek an expansion team with the CFL.

http://www.newstalk980.com/incoming/20080214/saskatoon-rough-riders

[midnightrambler]

I'd be for expansion. Would that ever through a curveball into the Western Conference... The East needs to get their crap together and build a stadium either somewhere in Quebec or the Maritimes and get another CFL Team... at the sametime we'll add one out here...

A stadium would also add as a possible UofS gameday site. In fact if they we're likely to build one I'd like to see it either downtown, ie (Robin Hood area)... or around where Griffiths is....

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by midnightrambler

A stadium would also add as a possible UofS gameday site. In fact if they we're likely to build one I'd like to see it either downtown, ie (Robin Hood area)... or around where Griffiths is....

Yes, I was thinking the same.

A large stadium could be part of the U of S College Quarter development, or possibly somewhere just north of the warehouse district.

[Jerry]

Tune in to the John Gormley show on Friday as he will be further discussing the football stadium and the Sask. RR's.

I am positive that he mentioned Mayor Atch would even be on his show to say a few words on the subject.

Its all just talk right now but the seed has been planted.

[CCF]

SASKATOON -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders are not interested in moving to Saskatoon and would not survive in Regina if a CFL franchise expansion team was awarded to Saskatoon, president and chief executive officer Jim Hopson says.
"I'm an eternal optimist," Hopson said Thursday, noting that the Riders survive only because "we have the support of the whole province."

Radio talk show host John Gormley said Thursday there's a group of Saskatoon business people interested in the two possibilities, but did not disclose their identities.

Hey, it's good that they're talking about the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the middle of winter," Hopson told the StarPhoenix, "but I haven't heard a thing" about this.

Hopson added: "It's news to us ... nobody has approached us."

Of course fans always talk about having the Riders in Saskatoon, having the training camp in Saskatoon, but never anything serious about moving the franchise.

"I was in Saskatoon (last Friday) and nobody from the city of Saskatoon, no businesses, said anything,'' Hopson said.

If there were two football teams, you'd be talking about 60,000 supporters per game, Hopson said.

But for far too many years, the Riders had far from sellout crowds. This year the team turned it around and "the support we got from the whole province was phenomenal ... the way people from Lloydminster, North Battleford, Saskatoon and Prince Albert drive to our games.

"If we just had to rely on Regina, we wouldn't (survive)."

Hopson said if you're talking about a state-of-the-art stadium, the cost would likely range from $150 million to $200 million. Regina already has a facility in place in Mosaic Stadium and has said there are plans for further expansion and upgrades. The Riders have also made every effort to reconnect with fans across the province, not only with the recent Grey Cup tours, but throughout the year.

Next week the Riders are back in Saskatoon, Hopson pointed out, for the mayor's prayer breakfast Feb. 23. There will also be a day with kids and coaches and a football clinic for women.

The team will also come to Saskatoon for a Green and White intrasquad game during training camp, which is based in Regina. As far as moving the training camp to Saskatoon, as the Riders did in the 1990s, Hopson said it is difficult and unlikely to happen.

Should have told the Riders, no?

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by CCF

Should have told the Riders, no?

Not necessarily, it really depends on the groups motives (how serious their plans are and how they plan to lay them out to the team and province).

If you had lots of money, and depending on your relationship with owners/directors of a certain sports team, would you present your offer in a secret back room meeting, or would you go to the media to slip a vision?

The entire process of negotiating has many hidden slants which the public and media often over look, or have no way of knowing for certain.

[CCF]

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

Not necessarily, it really depends on the groups motives (how serious their plans are and how they plan to lay them out to the team and province).

If you had lots of money, and depending on your relationship with owners/directors of a certain sports team, would you present your offer in a secret back room meeting, or would you go to the media to slip a vision?

The entire process of negotiating has many hidden slants which the public and media often over look, or have no way of knowing for certain.

..............

[midnightrambler]

I think that this province would have no trouble supporting two teams.

I never went to a game last year because I didn't want or have the desire to blow 500 bucks on a ticket, booze, hotel room, meals... in Regina... Let's face it, most of the people that attend games in Regina are from the Southern areas of the province and places like Moose Jaw, Estevan and Swift Current, as well as, say maybe 10% of fans from Saskatoon and north. I think Saskatoon would be able to have a team on its own, if the Roughriders get less attendence so be it. But I think it might work the other way where you see people from Saskatoon make the trip to see the rivalry. You could market that in a way that would be unbelievable. I mean I like going to rider games, but I can only do it once a year with time constraints and such. If a team was in my own backyard it would be more likely... hell I bet if Saskatoon had their own CFL team you would see season ticket holders in the 15-20,000 range whether we draw from Battleford, Prince Albert, etc...

Hopson is wrong, the Roughriders do not have the support of the whole province. Many Saskatoonians have been looking for an excuse to cheer for another team for years. I am frankly getting deathly sick of all the Sasktel commercials. The Roughriders are a Regina centric team, they will always be. I can imagine a league in 10 years where the football games between the Regina and Saskatoon are so intense and overcrowded with people that they'll need to be thinking of adding seats instead of worrying about a loss of revenue.

On another note, I have found that it is just as easy to drive from Saskatoon to Edmonton to watch a football game as it is to drive to Regina, you still have to stay over night, the drive is a tad longer, and you don't ever have to worry about getting those crappy seats in taylor field's endzone on labor day.

On another note, lets build a fricken dome and do it right.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by CCF

..............

You post as if you hold high status, what is it that you find so comical about my opinion?

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by midnightrambler

I think that this province would have no trouble supporting two teams.

I never went to a game last year because I didn't want or have the desire to blow 500 bucks on a ticket, booze, hotel room, meals... in Regina... Let's face it, most of the people that attend games in Regina are from the Southern areas of the province and places like Moose Jaw, Estevan and Swift Current, as well as, say maybe 10% of fans from Saskatoon and north. I think Saskatoon would be able to have a team on its own, if the Roughriders get less attendence so be it. But I think it might work the other way where you see people from Saskatoon make the trip to see the rivalry. You could market that in a way that would be unbelievable. I mean I like going to rider games, but I can only do it once a year with time constraints and such. If a team was in my own backyard it would be more likely... hell I bet if Saskatoon had their own CFL team you would see season ticket holders in the 15-20,000 range whether we draw from Battleford, Prince Albert, etc...

Hopson is wrong, the Roughriders do not have the support of the whole province. Many Saskatoonians have been looking for an excuse to cheer for another team for years. I am frankly getting deathly sick of all the Sasktel commercials. The Roughriders are a Regina centric team, they will always be. I can imagine a league in 10 years where the football games between the Regina and Saskatoon are so intense and overcrowded with people that they'll need to be thinking of adding seats instead of worrying about a loss of revenue.

On another note, I have found that it is just as easy to drive from Saskatoon to Edmonton to watch a football game as it is to drive to Regina, you still have to stay over night, the drive is a tad longer, and you don't ever have to worry about getting those crappy seats in taylor field's endzone on labor day.

On another note, lets build a fricken dome and do it right.

You make valid observations, they should do a study of how many Saskatchewanians in the north go to Regina and how many Saskatchewanians in the south go to Regina for Rider games.

I agree, I think we could support our own team...think being a probable term, nothing fact based about my assumptions.

[joelpiecowye]

saskatoon could easily support its one team and we are suppose to double in by 2025 i think in population, i agree with midnigtrambler completely, i can only make 1 or 2 games top in regina and in a area like prince albert where u have to drive up to 4.5 hours to see 1 game it isn't worth it. with sasks economy on the rise i believe we could do it

[circle33]

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

I agree, I think we could support our own team...think being a probable term, nothing fact based about my assumptions.

I'd like to agree (and I'd like to see it happen) but I'm not sure we have the numbers. Maybe not a lot of people from Saskatoon go down for the games, but you sure see a lot of people wearing the colours around town, contributing to the Riders' bottom line.

Anyway, it's a fun distraction for day or two. Years from now we'll all be recalling that time when....

[Jonitecture]

Saskatoon could not support a CFL team, we have yet to reach a quarter of a million in population. And i don't see why anyone should care, because it's the Saskatchewan Roughriders, not the regina roughriders. I think if we were set on getting a national team, we should set our sites on Hockey, but even that is a strech.

[ReginaGuy]

I would love to see Saskatoon get its own team. I don't think it would kill the Riders, like midnightrambler said, the vast majority of people attending rider games are from the southern half of the province.

And I imagine a Regina/Saskatoon rivalry would only get more people interested in the CFL!

But if those unnamed business people actually think that they will be able to 'move' the Riders to Saskatoon, they can't be very serious about their proposal

[Migs]

Originally Posted by Jerry

Tune in to the John Gormley show on Friday as he will be further discussing the football stadium and the Sask. RR's.

I am positive that he mentioned Mayor Atch would even be on his show to say a few words on the subject.

Its all just talk right now but the seed has been planted.

.........and Jim Hopson has put the nail in that coffin. That was quicker than a Spike Dudley WWE wrestling match!

[CCF]

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

You post as if you hold high status, what is it that you find so comical about my opinion?

Sorry, I'm not laughing at you. Didn't meant to be rude, but I can see I probably came across that way.

It's just that, that was a pretty good job of spinning things. Ever thought of a career in politics!?