Regina Construction - Page 254

Stormer · #**5061** Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 4:56 PM**

It is true that lorne and 11th may be one of the more important downtown locations in the future. I believe Harvard owns the parking lot on the SW corner. I am sure they have some big plans for that land. 15 years ago it was owned by someone else. At that time they had a huge "for lease" sign sign up for years with a picture of a 15 story tower they proposed to build. It would be great to see a multi use tower on the site with condos on top, office below and ground floor retail. The City want to see a residential neighbourhood focused on seniors in that quadrant. Perhaps it could even even have a grocery store. Sobey's has great downtown urban format stores, usually on two levels.

Stormer · #**5062** Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 5:42 PM**

I don't recall seeing a post regading this proposed residential infill on McCarthy near Dewdney.

http://www.regina.ca/pdfs/2008-McCarthy-plans.pdf

CCF · #**5063** Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 5:43 PM**

See last night's presentation.

http://www.regina.ca/content/info_services/urban_planning/downtown.shtml

Migs · #**5064** Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 8:17 PM**

Could the Regina International Airport being undergoing another expansion?

http://www.newstalk980.com/incoming/20080417/strong-year-regina-airport-authority

CCF · #**5065** Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 8:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Wow, just wow. I'm impressed. I really hope our city follows these suggestions. If they do and more businesses and retail are attracted there, I might just move downtown and not leave.

It really depends on if the city takes an active roll in implementing the plan. Will it follow the examples like London, Ont and start investing more into downtown? Or will this just be another document collecting dust at the City Archives? Will the City follow suggestions and move the Cafeteria to the 1st floor at City Hall? Or are these recommendations little more than a conceptual plan?

If the city starts investing in downtown, and starts changing its policies towards suburban growth, then the other parts will follow. If developers see the municipal government as being committed then hopefully they would step up to the plate too.

Migs · #**5066** Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 9:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCF

It really depends on if the city takes an active roll in implementing the plan. Will it follow the examples like London, Ont and start investing more into downtown? Or will this just be another document collecting dust at the City Archives? Will the City follow suggestions and move the Cafeteria to the 1st floor at City Hall? Or are these recommendations little more than a conceptual plan?

If the city starts investing in downtown, and starts changing its policies towards suburban growth, then the other parts will follow. If developers see the municipal government as being committed then hopefully they would step up to the plate too.

I hardly think the city would've invested this much money into this plan if it didn't want to implement any of its ideas.

BrannyMuffin · #**5067** Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 10:05 PM**

http://www.newstalk980.com/incoming/20080417/cathedral-area-condo-conversion-goes-ahead

Any idea what apartment building they're talking about?

Regina Boi · #**5068** Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 10:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrannyMuffin

http://www.newstalk980.com/incoming/20080417/cathedral-area-condo-conversion-goes-ahead

Any idea what apartment building they're talking about?

It's just a typical 3 story box brick apartment building. There are actually three of them in a row that are being converted into condos.

CCF · #**5069** Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 11:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migs

I hardly think the city would've invested this much money into this plan if it didn't want to implement any of its ideas.

I sure hope so!

CCF · #**5070** Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 11:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrannyMuffin

http://www.newstalk980.com/incoming/20080417/cathedral-area-condo-conversion-goes-ahead

Any idea what apartment building they're talking about?

That's the development by West Dee. As I said earlier, they have great projects. Should be good.

Moe · #**5071** Posted **Apr 18, 2008, 12:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migs

I hardly think

That would seem to be the case from your past and current posts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migs

the city would've invested this much money into this plan if it didn't want to implement any of its ideas.

It's not like the vast majority of the current council haven't done that before, or anything. Once bitten ...

Moe · #**5072** Posted **Apr 18, 2008, 12:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina Boi

It's just a typical 3 story box brick apartment building. There are actually three of them in a row that are being converted into condos.

With the low vacancy rate on rental units, shouldn't there be a moratorium?

Moe · #**5073** Posted **Apr 18, 2008, 12:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMax

Chris White also asked if the rumours of a new tower for downtown are true and the answer was absolutely and went on to say numerous developers are interested and existing businesses are interested in expanding. I suppose he could be talking about FCC possibly building a second tower.

He said the population estimate for Regina is 250,000 within a decade but that could change the way things are going. In yesterday's LP it mentioned our population is expected to grow by 1.8% this year, bringing the city's population to 205,000 from 202,000 last year.

So Harvard Landing is supposed to be home to 10,000 people when completed in 7 to 10 years? At the current rate, can't see that being a problem at all.

I thought 2010 was the goal year for 250k pop. ?

Moe · #**5074** Posted **Apr 18, 2008, 12:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

That's an excellent read, good find. These are the sort of things that should be daily headlines in the L-P, everyone should be aware of what Regina's missing out on:

Would be neat to see how the Mayor/Council will respond to this - they're all like "well, duh" things that make no sense not to do. Someone please attend Mr Holmes' presentation and let us know how it goes!

Good luck getting local media to cover such things.

caveat.doctor · #**5075** Posted **Apr 18, 2008, 2:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCF

See last night's presentation.

http://www.regina.ca/content/info_se...downtown.shtml

Nice read. I found half the time I was thinking "that's a great idea!", the other half, "well, d'uh!" Kind of like that CCFR document earlier. On the one hand, exciting to see what they're coming up with; on the other, depressing that after all these years, this is the first time any of these common-sense concepts have come up. Why didn't Council come up with these themselves before (ie, when I still lived in Regina)?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCF

will this just be another document collecting dust at the City Archives? Will the City follow suggestions and move the Cafeteria to the 1st floor at City Hall? Or are these recommendations little more than a conceptual plan?

Well, as the documents say, these have been "visioning" and "scenario development" workshops so far - eg, brainstorming and photoshopping Regina streetscenes into something they could be. Whether the Final Downtown Plan (Phase 5, Jun-Jul '08) will actually have force of law, that's not clear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migs

I hardly think the city would've invested this much money into this plan if it didn't want to implement any of its ideas.

Even if it did become policy, the City's record in following its own existing Development Plan shows that for big ticket items (eg Broad St Downtown building, Vic Av E, suburban planning), it ignores established guidelines. There are actually a lot of general policies in that Development Plan that match the rest of the country (and what the Downtown Plan forums have produced so far, would bring Regina up to existing standard city centre practice in the rest of Canada too, at least), but given the outcomes, there's no reason to believe the City will actually enforce or implement any of it.

Not meaning to sound pessimistic - the Downtown forum documents are great, and like I said, already proven standard practice in the rest of the country, they're totally feasible, no reason for them not to happen - but just trying to be realistic given Regina's poor record so far in putting ideals in action.

(Maybe things are changing; nationally, cities seem to be looking after themselves better in general. Eg, after scrapping its light-rail plan last year, Ottawa today selected a $4bn LRT system over a piecemeal 2nd/3rd/4th choice bus plan. $4bn for city-wide LRT! The City's plan slogan: "Getting it right".)

You guys (ie Reginans) definitely need to keep the heat on Council to stick to the plan this time!

feepa · #**5076** Posted **Apr 18, 2008, 2:40 AM**

Hey Gang,

I rarely have much to say on the Regina forum but I secretly watch from a far, as I'm a former resident. I have to say, I really like this from the downtown 2020 plan...

BrannyMuffin · #**5077** Posted **Apr 18, 2008, 3:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by feepa

Hey Gang,

I rarely have much to say on the Regina forum but I secretly watch from a far, as I'm a former resident. I have to say, I really like this from the downtown 2020 plan...

I actually think that's a great idea. I also know that the library is/was considering options regarding a number of branches...If I remember correctly, Central was one of them. There is nothing wrong with the current building, but it could use some...updating. People would love something like that! They can sit in the sunshine and read their books. And it looks great! I also liked the ideas of the residential tower above the library and the mid-street pathways to City Hall.

Chaps · #**5078** Posted **Apr 18, 2008, 3:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

Yeah, kind of wonky phrasing - I think their point is, whereas transit is made to rely on user fees (fares), for drivers the City covers the cost of streets and traffic mgmt. Of course, bus riders and cyclists and pedestrians benefit too from infrastructure, but the City could do more (eg 1c gas tax for infrastructure, etc - like a user fee).

Even if it has to be a monolithic closed block, they can put some effort into it. Quick Google Image search for similar buildings:

Dal Grauer Substation, Vancouver
(Photo: The Tyee)

Electrical substation, Innsbruck
(Photo: e-architect.co.uk)

Commonweath Edison substation, Chicago
(Photo: chicagoarchitecture.info)

Things like prefab concrete and lighting can be played around with to make it something more interesting - if Reginans were inclined to have some design standards it could be neat.

Electrabel Power Station, Drogenbos, Belgium
(Photo: Magic Monkey)

2 Columbus Circle, New York City
(Photo: Wikipedia)

Well here's to hoping it's just like option 1. But fro every "cool" generator housing, you could likely post 10,000 ugly ones. And considering the imagination displayed in our current downtown, I wouldn't expect anything too dazzling.

Migs · #**5079** Posted **Apr 18, 2008, 4:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moe

That would seem to be the case from your past and current posts.

It's not like the vast majority of the current council haven't done that before, or anything. Once bitten ...

Hi Quimby!

BrannyMuffin · #**5080** Posted **Apr 18, 2008, 4:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaps

Well here's to hoping it's just like option 1. But fro every "cool" generator housing, you could likely post 10,000 ugly ones. And considering the imagination displayed in our current downtown, I wouldn't expect anything too dazzling.

Yeah, the first one is the only one I really like. The substation in Chicago reminds me of a crypt.