Saskatoon Construction

[midnightrambler]

Originally Posted by richmond

Areva isn't looking downtown ... expect to see them nearby in the Airport Industrial.

I commend North Prairie for building something downtown, but Stantec has designed one ugly building for them. Who cares if it's LEED, it's an eyesore. They should lose sustainability points for that. It look like it was designed in the early 1980s.

I heard that foundation plans are near completion for the Ken Achs project on Broadway. Has anyone seen renderings of it recently?

I didn't suggest that Areva move their entire Saskatoon operation downtown, or that they were thinking of it. I just basically stated that they have three different buildings they are occupuing on 45th St. I am sure there are some big wigs that would like to have a view from the 28th Floor of an office tower though.

And it would be silly to presume that they wouldn't move downtown because of break-ins considering the residential area currently beside them. It starts with a Mc and ends with a Nab.

[circle33]

Originally Posted by midnightrambler

And it would be silly to presume that they wouldn't move downtown because of break-ins considering the residential area currently beside them. It starts with a Mc and ends with a Nab.

Call me silly all you want, but I'm not presuming anything. My information is straight from the company. And it not about break ins; it was one particular break in, a break in which they were the victim, that precipitated their exodus from downtown.

[macca]

It seems obvious, but here we have a developer with the intention to build a new office building and no secured tenants, and a large company that badly needs more office space. Do I need to get them in the same room and draw a diagram?

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by swilley

SASKFTW, do you as mod have the ability to edit this into my first post? Or do I have to do it when you update it?

It is possible for me to add the final draft to your post once completed, are you cool with that?

[swilley]

^yeah man, it's all yours!

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Boris2k7

Nice. Glad to see that my first page is still influential, even though updates come even further apart right now (I have probably a dozen projects to add not to mention DP info and renderings and such, and my master listing only gets updated a few times a year now).

I might suggest Paint.net. It's similar to MS Paint, but way more functional.

By the looks of that air photo, theres lots of development potentional in Toon Town.

Thanks Boris, I'll see what I can make of Paint.net.

As for Saskatoon, the potential is visible alright, however, developers and investors alike are skiddish about the market, not nearly as confident as Calgary. Calgary's successful core has a lot to do with the large concentration of corporate HQs, something Saskatoon currently lacks, but we're doing our best.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by kgc087

River Landing project faces flood of rising costs
Danielle Mario, The StarPhoenix
Published: Wednesday, April 16, 2008

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

[email protected]

RIVER LANDING PROJECTS

RIVERGREEN ECOVILLAGE:

Status: Preliminary design

Construction: Begins spring, 2009

ISLINGER PARK:

Status: Mobilizing construction

Construction: Completed this fall

LIVE/WORK HOUSING:

Status: Proposals

Construction: Begins in 2009

PUB/RESTAURANT AND APARTMENTS:

Status: Proposals

Construction: Begins in 2009

PHASE I RIVERFRONT:

Status: Construction

Construction: Pavilion and water park completed this spring; boat dock tendered again in late 2008, early 2009.

PHASE II RIVERFRONT:

Status: Construction this summer

Construction: Summer completion.

URBAN VILLAGE: (LAKE PLACID)

Status: Re-design and permits

Construction: Begins in Fall, 2008

DESTINATION COMPLEX:

Status: Concept proposals

Construction: Completed in 2012

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008

Hopefully the city learns from this, get there asses in motion and approve things before everything has to be redone b/c of rising costs.

A lot of construction starting in 2009

And Isinger Park will be completed this fall, that will be cool...though I am doubting the turf will be laid, but maybe

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by swilley

I couldn't agree more. 24/7 is what we want!!!! Anyway, here it is - hot off the digital press...



Source - Star Kleenex

Hopefully that is a very early preliminary design, regardless, it appears to be a standard LEED low-rise. Although the building is designed by Stantec, much of the criticism should go toward North Prairie, but they're a private development company and ultimately have to make the numbers work. As expressed earlier by kgc087,

Originally Posted by kgc087

I guess I'm just thinking opitimistically. I know there could be a much more impressive structure going up in that location but I know there wont be. Saskatoon has a LONG way to go before some fantastic modern structures come, for the time being this is a large step for the city. All I can say is it looks a hell of alot better then most of the 70/80's disasters the city already has. Those are something to over.

Saskatoon does indeed have long way to go and I'm sure we'll be seeing a few more of this type of office development in the coming years, it is the nature of our market. However, a more pleasing exterior can and will command a higher lease rate (dependent on what type of tenants they're courting), but a more pleasing and functional interior also commands a higher lease rate, the question is where can or should a developer cut costs to maximize his return? In Saskatoon, North Prairie's design would stand out among most, if not all downtown office space with those location/amenity/size attributes.

I think we'll need to build up a noticeable inventory of smaller, modern, class A office space before larger structures (exceptions: large corporate HQ), but also smaller very aesthetically pleasing structures are viewed as necessary to compete with everything else available in the market. Of course, I based my analysis on our historic demand for downtown office space, but if we factor in an optimistic outlook with the economy/population on the upswing, so too might we see an increase in demand for premium downtown office space --> a quicker ascent towards quality and quantity (yes, we can do both).

[nook]

I'm not one for fast food, normally, but this question has to be asked...

Will Harveys ever build a restaurant here again?

They had one in Home Depot, but it's not a surprise that was a failure. I mean, come on. People go to Home Depot to get home improvement stuff, not to eat.

I always thought that Harveys would go good on the corner of 8th and Louise, opposite McDonalds.

That site's been vacant for as long as I can remember... Which brings up another question, what was the last building in that location?

[swilley]

Global just reported the Tool Shed on Broadway is to be 7 stories, retail on the bottom floor.

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

Hopefully that is a very early preliminary design, regardless, it appears to be a standard LEED low-rise. Although the building is designed by Stantec, much of the criticism should go toward North Prairie, but they're a private development company and ultimately have to make the numbers work. As expressed earlier by kgc087,

Saskatoon does indeed have long way to go and I'm sure we'll be seeing a few more of this type of office development in the coming years, it is the nature of our market. However, a more pleasing exterior can and will command a higher lease rate (dependent on what type of tenants they're courting), but a more pleasing and functional interior also commands a higher lease rate, the question is where can or should a developer cut costs to maximize his return? In Saskatoon, North Prairie's design would stand out among most, if not all downtown office space with those location/amenity/size attributes.

I think we'll need to build up a noticeable inventory of smaller, modern, class A office space before larger structures (exceptions: large corporate HQ), but also smaller very aesthetically pleasing structures are viewed as necessary to compete with everything else available in the market. Of course, I based my analysis on our historic demand for downtown office space, but if we factor in an optimistic outlook with the economy/population on the upswing, so too might we see an increase in demand for premium downtown office space --> a quicker ascent towards quality and quantity (yes, we can do both).

I completley agree. Hopefully this is just a preliminary plan and hopefully north prairie will have some public pressure, example from the skyscraperpage forum people, to update their rendering as well as increase the size and add possible ammenities. But if nothing more arises of this and this is the building to be built, great! It's still better then leasing surface parking for a year. The small buildings are necessary to stimulate growth which will bring the larger more impressive developments. Lets just hold our breath that they don't decide to make the whole thing brick!

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by joelpiecowye

lol wow i would be pissed in the renaissance condos if i heard about that there goes there 300,000 dollar view oh well it will be interesting if it happens.
photos will be neat when it is done too

as four the 4 story office i am quite disapointed, we have enough 4 to 7 story buildings in our cities downtown. also why would they not put residential in it to add a couple floors and/or be more creative with the design

I think this tower if it does happen will be a very unique utilization of that space regardless of what the renaissance tenants feel. Saskatoon needs more downtown condo developments. We've seen that we can only convert so many apartments before new condos need to be developed. Hopefully with all of these conversions the building owners will fix them up to a pristine condition. I was recently walking through mount royal in Calgary and there was a stellar condo conversion of an old 4 story 60's apartment. The treatment was fantastic and really imrpoved the overall streetscape. Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope that the design is stepped up to improve the unsightly disaster of 70/80's condo cluster in north d/t.

[jaysfan99]

I actually use to go to Home Depot just to eat at Harveys. I was really upset when they closed.

Originally Posted by nook

I'm not one for fast food, normally, but this question has to be asked...

Will Harveys ever build a restaurant here again?

They had one in Home Depot, but it's not a surprise that was a failure. I mean, come on. People go to Home Depot to get home improvement stuff, not to eat.

I always thought that Harveys would go good on the corner of 8th and Louise, opposite McDonalds.

That site's been vacant for as long as I can remember... Which brings up another question, what was the last building in that location?

[jaysfan99]

WoooHoooo!!!!!
I'm excited!

Originally Posted by swilley

Global just reported the Tool Shed on Broadway is to be 7 stories, retail on the bottom floor.

[swilley]

Re: new four story office TOWER

I sure hope this was not one of the office buildings Tom McClocklin projected. If so, that would be very bad.... very bad....

[bcm2008]

haha the big news about the 4 story office building was on the radio this morning... I just don't get why it's big news? its only 4 stories people!

Saskatoon just really needs taller buildings... I'm just sick of the city taking 1-2 years to decide on each proposal! I know it's not Sim City but come on... life is too short and I'm not going to stick around and wait for something to happen.

[bcm2008]

Once off the radar of most national real estate companies, Saskatoon's office market is now being hailed as the 'best deal in the country' compared with other Western cities.
And, at an average of $20 per square foot including rent, taxes and operating costs Saskatoon has the most affordable downtown office space in Canada according to Colliers International.
Colliers is forecasting that Saskatoon office rates will rise sharply this year to be "more in line" with Calgary, at $60 per square foot for Class AAA space.

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Demand for office space is growing in Saskatoon, with the current vacancy rate downtown at 5.1%, the lowest on record. According to Colliers, two new towers may be announced this year, the first in decades.
Meanwhile, Saskatoon's industrial vacancy rate is expected to plunge to 1.3% this year, down from 3.2% at the end of 2007.
The Conference Board of Canada has ranked Saskatoon as the eighth fastest growing urban economy among the 20 biggest census market areas in Canada.
Saskatoon is benefiting as Saskatchewan is in a boom mode, led by surging potash production and an accelerating housing market, according to BMO Financial Group.
"Growth expanded in Saskatchewan to approximately 5%, almost twice the national rate," said Douglas Porter, an economist with, BMO Capital Markets. "We anticipate continued strength for the province, with another above-average performance of 3 per cent expected in 2008."
BMO notes that, after losing people to other provinces for two decades, the province netted more than 9,100 inter-provincial in-migrants in 2007, the largest tally since 1961.
Consumer spending is on a tear, with retail sales up 12 per cent -the strongest in the country.
As for housing, "Look for another strong year of new housing construction in Saskatoon for 2008," according to CMHC. Builders have the largest number of units now under construction in decades. "On the resale side, listings remain at all-time lows and strong demand persists, suggesting rapidly escalating prices in both 2008 and 2009," CMHC analyst Paul Caton told a recent housing conference.
MAJOR POINT
The above fine forecasts notwithstanding ... JREI has the caution flag still up over Saskatoon. Like Edmonton it has seen a lot of outside speculation ... which may have a similar outcome ... as in down ... regardless of the fundamentals.
Ozzie Jurock
President of Jurock Publishing Ltd.
web: www.reag.ca
email: [email protected]


© The Vancouver Sun 2008





- This is why Saskatoon deserves much taller office towers... we have what it takes to support it. Vancouver see's it! Why don't the business people of Saskatoon?

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by swilley

Global just reported the Tool Shed on Broadway is to be 7 stories, retail on the bottom floor.

Sounds promising, we'll have to find a rendering...

[joelpiecowye]

i searched a bit and found nothing but hopefully it will show up soon, as for broadway i accually thing that the street should not have any buildings over 10 stories ao i am happy, other wise in my mind at least it will destroy the great effect it had now

[jaysfan99]

You must be reading my mind.

Originally Posted by swilley

Re: new four story office TOWER

I sure hope this was not one of the office buildings Tom McClocklin projected. If so, that would be very bad.... very bad....