Regina Construction

[A4Regina]

Does anybody here want to post some updates on the construction at the UofR? i noticed that a crane has popped up but im not sure how long it has been there.
Also, if any of you noticed, the south side exterior of the Victoria Place condos looks like its pretty much finished. It looks identical to the older building.

[youngregina]

Haha,, that where smittys and the dollar store are in the cornwall,, are inside what used to be the Canadian bank of commmerce!

[youngregina]

^^I find i type faster.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by youngregina

Haha,, that where smittys and the dollar store are in the cornwall,, are inside what used to be the Canadian bank of commmerce!

close... but actually that is the freestanding pillars at the bottom of the escalator. Check out this link: http://www.tpcs.gov.sk.ca/PHP-booklet-bank-of-commerce

The Smitty's facade is actually: Bank of Ottawa (Smitty’s Restaurant façade in Cornwall Centre; Bank of Ottawa became Bank of Nova Scotia in 1919)

Both buildings were designed by Storey and Van Egmond who built all the greatest buildings in Regina in its heyday including The Balfour Apts, the Doll House and Old City Hall. a very interesting illustrated book about them is online - see page 63 at this link for the Regina portion.

http://www.tpcs.gov.sk.ca/StoreyVanEgmond

[babo]

I've often thought that someone needs to create a dedicated time line web page for construction projects that have taken place in Regina. The information is out there, it's just scattered about. As well, a set of "do you remember" pages would be cool, too.

[Planner2008]

Originally Posted by babo

I've often thought that someone needs to create a dedicated time line web page for construction projects that have taken place in Regina. The information is out there, it's just scattered about. As well, a set of "do you remember" pages would be cool, too.

I have to agree 100% a nice teaching tool for teachers to

[caveat.doctor]

Originally Posted by Chaps

You have convinced me that it's possible and we should put pressure on them...but I do stand by the statement about Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver as well.

Originally Posted by CCF

Whoa, whoa....I feely my words are being taken a bit out of context

I absolutely agree we need better standards, but I think you can also agree it's much easier for larger cities.

I know, I was making the issue more black-and-white just to make a point and see if I could coax you into taking it to the City. Points well taken though.

Originally Posted by babo

As well, a set of "do you remember" pages would be cool, too.

Ads of the city are good for "do you remember" stuff. 100 years from now the "Think Regina" stuff will be neat to look back on, eg


(from the WestJet inflight magazine)

The "Our Future is Wide Open" ad campaign from a few years ago has a few glimpses of the city too - I remember seeing Regina in these and thinking, wow!

Our Future is Wide Open - Quality of Life
Our Future is Wide Open - High Tech

[babo]

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

Ads of the city are good for "do you remember" stuff. 100 years from now the "Think Regina" stuff will be neat to look back on, eg

The "Our Future is Wide Open" ad campaign from a few years ago has a few glimpses of the city too - I remember seeing Regina in these and thinking, wow!

While how Regina prostitutes itself over the years would be interesting, I was thinking more along the lines of:

What was the name of the restaurant chain that took over two of the three Burger Kings in the late 80's/early 90's and why did Burger King "give up" the stores?

For some reason, I remember it being an Australian company, but the brain, she no work good these days.

or

When did Master Steaks on Albert Street close?

or

When did Dairy Queen on Albert Street South move to it's most recent location?

[crooked rain]

The BK's were operated under the name Jake's for a couple years. I thought it had to do with an ownership/franchise dispute, but I cannot recall the details anymore.

[Stormer]

The franchisee went bankrupt and the were shuttered for a while. BK put tarps over the signs. Jakes operated them for a few years until they closed too. BK came back with a new franchisee - and the rest is history.

While we are on Regina restaurant trivia, what was the name of the restaurant that operated out of the King's Hotel immediately before it was ripped down to build the Cornwall Centre? A photo of the Hotel is below from an old postcard. Note to the right is the Bank of Commerce Building referred to in earlier posts. Part of the facade is at the botttom of the escalator at Cornwall.

[Stormer]

While I am on old photos, here is a side by side of an early 60s Hamilton St. with ReginaGuy's recent post. Note the Safeway store on teh left.

[Moe]

Originally Posted by Stormer

While I am on old photos, here is a side by side of an early 60s Hamilton St. with ReginaGuy's recent post. Note the Safeway store on teh left.

Wow, downtown Regina used to have much better curbside appeal.

Nice, thanks.

Where's the intro thread?

[Moe]

Originally Posted by babo

While how Regina prostitutes itself over the years would be interesting, I was thinking more along the lines of:

What was the name of the restaurant chain that took over two of the three Burger Kings in the late 80's/early 90's and why did Burger King "give up" the stores?

For some reason, I remember it being an Australian company, but the brain, she no work good these days.

or

When did Master Steaks on Albert Street close?

or

When did Dairy Queen on Albert Street South move to it's most recent location?

Master Steaks, great for coffee while cutting class and late night drunken subs.

[Moe]

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

Aw, that sounds like the perfect sort of stores for Downtown. Eg health food stores, MEC or smaller version thereof, lululemon, etc. "Destination stores" that would draw people in, no matter where you put them. Oh well.



Why are people jumping on the possible MQ comeback instead of looking at his/her point? Just "assume good faith" and keep the discussion about construction.



Well, whatever reason Holmes_on_Regina was banned for, it's still a valid question: will Regina make any design requirements on this Wal-Mart, especially if (as ReginaGal suggested) there will be a "lifestyle theme" to this development?

Cities large and small can get more than the big-box if they ask for them, without scaring development away - there's money to be made, after all. Just Googling "walmart store design" yields plenty of examples of Wal-Mart changing their big-box to follow local design guidelines. It's just a matter of communities setting standards for themselves:



There's the North Cowichan BC example I mentioned earlier (pop 30 000):



or Ottawa



or Vancouver:



or Avondale, Arizona (pop 75 000):



or Ocean Springs (pop 17 000) and Pass Christian (pop 6 800), Mississippi:



and even little Osprey, Florida (pop 4 100):



They will even open in a Downtown if so required, like in White Plains, New York (pop 60 000 - albeit in the greater NYC area):



Anyway, especially with the market and construction boom, it wouldn't be much stretch for Reginans to have some design standards. They actually work - if you have them.

This is really nice to see in a forum about construction, a real New Urbanism ideal. I publicly pushed these types of ideas in the last civic election but didn't fair to well. Hopefully, over the last 3 years this type of outlook continues to grow. New Urbanism will make Regina the vibrant, inclusive and citizen friendly environment. That it needs to be to truly be successful in the coming decades.

[newflyer]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The franchisee went bankrupt and the were shuttered for a while. BK put tarps over the signs. Jakes operated them for a few years until they closed too. BK came back with a new franchisee - and the rest is history.

I remember when the Jakes Burger chain went bankrupt, I was driving through Regina at the time and ended up eating there one of its last days in existence. They were selling burgers at some some ridiculous price. Something like 3 for a dollar.

The next time I drove back through Regina there were tarps over the signs.

[crooked rain]

[QUOTE=Stormer;3466502]While I am on old photos, here is a side by side of an early 60s Hamilton St. with ReginaGuy's recent post. Note the Safeway store on teh left.

[QUOTE]

I am guessing that Safeway store was torn down for the Bay. Hamilton St sure looked vibrant back then.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Stormer

While I am on old photos, here is a side by side of an early 60s Hamilton St. with ReginaGuy's recent post. Note the Safeway store on teh left.

What a transformation, but was it worth it? A consideration for many urban landscapes...

[Moe]

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

What a transformation, but was it worth it? A consideration for many urban landscapes...

I would like to see a current photo taken at the same time of night, to get a better picture of the difference.

[Migs]

I saw the best sign while driving on Sask Drive earlier today. It said "Kenroc is moving"

Its about time that junkyard posing as a building supplies company moved to an area better suited for their business. The north side of the street of Sask Drive between Elphinstone and Albert St is an embarrasment and I'm hoping this move could be a positive move in rejuvinating this important artery to the downtown. Hopefully the city gets out there and plants tree's like they've never planted tree's before.

[babo]

Originally Posted by Moe

I would like to see a current photo taken at the same time of night, to get a better picture of the difference.

ReginaGuy's posted picture is pretty close to that image from the 60s. The one from the 60s is a bit further south of the Hamilton Steet and 11th Avenue intersection. Hasn't Loggies always been on that block of Hamilton (maybe on opposite sides occasionally)? The neon is great. Reminds me present day Moose Jaw's downtown.