Regina Construction

[Chaps]

Originally Posted by cutterp

My nightmare begins.

Watching people line up for their "Timmy Ho's" is like watching mindless cattle follow the farmers half ton truck across the pasture.

If it's lined up around the block. GET A LIFE and continue on to the next place instead of creating massive traffic jams.

end rant

There's no drive-thru.

[Chaps]

Originally Posted by ReginaGirl

I agree. I for one will NOT be supporting the new Tim Hortons. If Tim Hortons wants to be a forward thinking company, they should have influenced that design to be more urban and exciting.

I unfortunately have to drive down Broad and Sask every morning on my way to work and it always makes me sad that those buildings were given approval. Even my mom has mentioned how out of place and cheap looking they are (minus the bus depot which may or may not be nice when it is done)

Or maybe you SHOULD support it because it's a new downtown business which will bring people to the core which is exactly what we've all been whining for, for how long...

It was likely the franchisee that chose the design, not Tim Horton's itself. And obviously the city had no problem with the design...maybe you should boycott the city instead?

[newflyer]

Originally Posted by Jon

The Tim Hortons is now open on Broad Street.

They have started some sort of work on the church at the corner of 15th and St.Johns. Any idea what the plans for the church are?

Excuse my ignorance, but I thought Tim Hortons was a planned tenant of the new government building on Broad. Now I am reading they have there own stand alone building. Please clarify for those of us who don't live in town.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by newflyer

Excuse my ignorance, but I thought Tim Hortons was a planned tenant of the new government building on Broad. Now I am reading they have there own stand alone building. Please clarify for those of us who don't live in town.

Timmy's is the ground floor tenant in the building.

[cityboy]

You're right caveat.doctor, my bad. It's not really adaptive reuse at all, more like just being cheap and building mediocre. I don't think I've heard a single person say they like either of those marsmallows on Broad and Sask. Did any that was at the downtown forum happen to hear if the folks from Office for Urbanism had any comments about these buildings? So far I think the bus depot is going to turn out half decent though. At least a little thought went into what's appropriate for downtown and for a bus terminal.

[CCF]

Originally Posted by cityboy

You're right caveat.doctor, my bad. It's not really adaptive reuse at all, more like just being cheap and building mediocre. I don't think I've heard a single person say they like either of those marsmallows on Broad and Sask. Did any that was at the downtown forum happen to hear if the folks from Office for Urbanism had any comments about these buildings? So far I think the bus depot is going to turn out half decent though. At least a little thought went into what's appropriate for downtown and for a bus terminal.

Not so much, but they have discussed how we orientate parking. I am hoping that they address this with the plan and recommend some sort of bylaw to city council by which parking is barred from fronting the street.

[Planner2008]

[QUOTE=caveat.doctor;3499833]Actually I would say this is where Regina has the advantage. Victoria's Downtown is at the bottom of the island, so many residents have very long commutes to get in. The Downtown is not central, so competing suburban commercial development is inevitable - otherwise, much of the city would have unreasonable travel times/distances to get shopping/entertainment/work.

Regina's Downtown, however, is central to everything - there's no reason for major commercial/entertainment development to exist anywhere else, because everyone can get to Downtown equally easily. Moreover, the grid road system (which Victoria doesn't have, because of topography) should make it easy for Regina to have an efficient transit system to get to it, from any part of town.

You could say it's a wonder that Victoria's Downtown manages to do so well given its non-central disadvantage - and vice-versa for Regina, how it managed to decline, given its central advantage. Again, just a matter of making reasonable bylaws and decisions and following guidelines.

********************************************************************************************


I have to agree with you but also state my point is being missed! Victoria has an advantage, because the downtown is not a hub of a wheel. Meaning, our downtown is the hub of the wheel. I ask no urge anyone to take a compass. Place the pin in the centre of Victoria Park and draw a complete circle from just west of Westhill and all the way around. That should give everyone some idea why development is happening where it is currently, or where it's pegged to happen in the future. It's approximately 9 km in radius.

Victoria doesn't have that problem, we do, our downtown should be easy to pass through. We have narrower streets, where Victoria really has no need. Or so one may think, but these much wider downtown Victoria streets have very little parking still and are much, much busier. Therefore in Regina there may be a need for some much better arterial roads into the downtown core. Problem is there are no roads to widen in their entirety, only small sections which mildly help those sections, there are still other areas which will turn into bottlenecks.

Since the already existing downtown roads cannot be widened, I advocate a future downtown expressway, placed to the immediate North of the downtown CP mainline. As to not effect any of the existing downtown. And be minimal in scale as to not effect future redevelopment of the Ware house district existing CP rail yards. As well as providing an environmentally friendly and asthetichally pleasing quicker and more efficient way to access and egress downtown Regina.

Look it doesn't have to be ugly, and it doesn't need to be made yet, but let's have a plan if the resulting development ang growth of the city necessitates it.

My crystal ball has this scenario sighted, we need to recognize the possibility. Cars aren't going to die tomorrow.

Caveat, as a treat can you post some photos of Beacon Hill Park, maybe the ponds, and Fleming Beach, believe that's waht it's called in Esquaimault at the end of Head St. and around the court yard building on Douglas St. by the Empress and Crystal Gardens??? It's the one with the stairs shortly in the Entance??

[babo]

^^^ Isn't it more the case that Regina's topography allows for easy sprawling, if given the chance by leaders who have no desire to keep things compact? I haven't been in Victoria for easily 20 years so I do not remember what it looks like at all, but I imagine that some sort of land form inhibits it from "radially" sprawling.

Regina does not need any sort of "expressway" west-east. There's simply no need for it. With all the sprawl we have, it's still only ten minutes from the periphery to downtown. And the "expressway" has been planned for. The right-of-way along Saskatchewan Drive has been cleared between Broad Street and Winnipeg Street. That will eventually give us four lanes from Lewvan Drive to Victoria Avenue East. It's not 70kph, but 70kph isn't warranted, either.

[Stormer]

there is an excellent article in todays Globe discussing the mistakes and future challenges of revitalizing the downtowns of small and mid-sized cities.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080422.PRDOWNTOWN22/TPStory/Business

[ReginaGirl]

Originally Posted by Chaps

Or maybe you SHOULD support it because it's a new downtown business which will bring people to the core which is exactly what we've all been whining for, for how long...

It was likely the franchisee that chose the design, not Tim Horton's itself. And obviously the city had no problem with the design...maybe you should boycott the city instead?

I doubt that timmy's needs my money. I would rather support businesses like Muddy Joes or Atlantis. Tim Hortons wont necessarily bring people downtown at night but i am sure it will be packed during the day. Drove by there today and from what i could see through the black windows, it looked like their were a lot of people in there, and a lot of SUVs and trucks in the parking lot.

Believe me, i have thought of boycotting the city. Three story, stucco buildings in the downtown is a crime. The builders, the architect, the occupants and the city should all be run out of town for that one!

Ps...are they doing any more work on that lovely concrete wall that is awkwardly jutting out of the building?

[urbanregina]

Originally Posted by Planner2008

I have to agree with you but also state my point is being missed! Victoria has an advantage, because the downtown is not a hub of a wheel. Meaning, our downtown is the hub of the wheel. I ask no urge anyone to take a compass. Place the pin in the centre of Victoria Park and draw a complete circle from just west of Westhill and all the way around. That should give everyone some idea why development is happening where it is currently, or where it's pegged to happen in the future. It's approximately 9 km in radius.

Victoria doesn't have that problem, we do, our downtown should be easy to pass through. We have narrower streets, where Victoria really has no need. Or so one may think, but these much wider downtown Victoria streets have very little parking still and are much, much busier. Therefore in Regina there may be a need for some much better arterial roads into the downtown core. Problem is there are no roads to widen in their entirety, only small sections which mildly help those sections, there are still other areas which will turn into bottlenecks.

Since the already existing downtown roads cannot be widened, I advocate a future downtown expressway, placed to the immediate North of the downtown CP mainline. As to not effect any of the existing downtown. And be minimal in scale as to not effect future redevelopment of the Ware house district existing CP rail yards. As well as providing an environmentally friendly and asthetichally pleasing quicker and more efficient way to access and egress downtown Regina.

Look it doesn't have to be ugly, and it doesn't need to be made yet, but let's have a plan if the resulting development ang growth of the city necessitates it.

My crystal ball has this scenario sighted, we need to recognize the possibility. Cars aren't going to die tomorrow.

First of all we don't want people to pass through our downtown... we want them to stop there.
Secondly, an expressway/freeway is the last thing we need many jurisdictions in the US are recognising that by their design limited access roads contribute to gridlock. Regina should take a cue from BC lower mainland and create an integrated transportation strategy which includes both the roads and transit. Canada's third largest metropolitan area seems to be doing fine without expressways.

[ReginaGirl]

Originally Posted by urbanregina

First of all we don't want people to pass through our downtown... we want them to stop there.
Secondly, an expressway/freeway is the last thing we need many jurisdictions in the US are recognising that by their design limited access roads contribute to gridlock. Regina should take a cue from BC lower mainland and create an integrated transportation strategy which includes both the roads and transit. Canada's third largest metropolitan area seems to be doing fine without expressways.

i agree. What would an expressway possibly do? People already use SK drive as a throughway. Let's fix that ugly street up instead. It never takes long to get through the city anyway. And if the suburbs want to get somewhere faster, they should move to the interior of the city or put up with it I havent been reading all the posts on this so i dont know what was discussed but an expressway seems like a waste of money, land and time. Cities need to stop building for cars and start building for the environment. What we need is an awesome bike lane/walking path from the east end running along Arcola to Sk Drive to the Downtown to the Lewvan.

[babo]

Off topic/personal gripe

Originally Posted by ReginaGirl

What we need is an awesome bike lane/walking path from the east end running along Arcola to Sk Drive to the Downtown to the Lewvan.

What we really need is for the City to clean the streets more than once a year to remove the mostly permanent sand bars and beaches from the parking lanes. Cycling would be much more pleasant were cleaning to be routine. As well, a by-law should be put in place that littering be punishable by death. OK, not death, but maybe a baseball bat to the knees with knitting needles in the eyes for repeat offenders. The joy I derive from deflating my tires on broken glass after a weekend is immeasurable.

[Planner2008]

Originally Posted by babo

^^^ Isn't it more the case that Regina's topography allows for easy sprawling, if given the chance by leaders who have no desire to keep things compact? I haven't been in Victoria for easily 20 years so I do not remember what it looks like at all, but I imagine that some sort of land form inhibits it from "radially" sprawling.

Regina does not need any sort of "expressway" west-east. There's simply no need for it. With all the sprawl we have, it's still only ten minutes from the periphery to downtown. And the "expressway" has been planned for. The right-of-way along Saskatchewan Drive has been cleared between Broad Street and Winnipeg Street. That will eventually give us four lanes from Lewvan Drive to Victoria Avenue East. It's not 70kph, but 70kph isn't warranted, either.

You're right about the topography, and what leaders seem to be lacking. But I digress, as I quoted "I advocate a future downtown expressway" key word future. No it's not needed now but neither were freeways in Calgary 50 years ago IMO. Development unleashed itself there and now it's a traffic nightmare. It is better to prepare for the possibility as only a small stretch would need to be built. Remember Lewvan is classified as an expressway and there still traffic signals along there..

[Planner2008]

Originally Posted by urbanregina

First of all we don't want people to pass through our downtown... we want them to stop there.
Secondly, an expressway/freeway is the last thing we need many jurisdictions in the US are recognising that by their design limited access roads contribute to gridlock. Regina should take a cue from BC lower mainland and create an integrated transportation strategy which includes both the roads and transit. Canada's third largest metropolitan area seems to be doing fine without expressways.

The Lower Mainland has freeways and expressways, and again the downtown is not in the middle of the city. That makes a difference. Again my words are being taken out of context as I said the future not the present.

[Chaps]

Originally Posted by ReginaGirl

I doubt that timmy's needs my money. I would rather support businesses like Muddy Joes or Atlantis. Tim Hortons wont necessarily bring people downtown at night but i am sure it will be packed during the day. Drove by there today and from what i could see through the black windows, it looked like their were a lot of people in there, and a lot of SUVs and trucks in the parking lot.

Believe me, i have thought of boycotting the city. Three story, stucco buildings in the downtown is a crime. The builders, the architect, the occupants and the city should all be run out of town for that one!

Ps...are they doing any more work on that lovely concrete wall that is awkwardly jutting out of the building?

Atlantis is also a chain. But at least they have an inviting downtown presence.

Agreed on the stucco. I was excited to see development happen on that block as it badly needed it...but I'm not so sure what it there now is better than what was there before. I guess there is tenants now, so that's good...but it looks like crap downtown.

[Planner2008]

[QUOTE=ReginaGirl;3503065]i agree. What would an expressway possibly do? People already use SK drive as a throughway. Let's fix that ugly street up instead. It never takes long to get through the city anyway. And if the suburbs want to get somewhere faster, they should move to the interior of the city or put up with it I havent been reading all the posts on this so i dont know what was discussed but an expressway seems like a waste of money, land and time. Cities need to stop building for cars and start building for the environment. What we need is an awesome bike lane/walking path from the east end running along Arcola to Sk Drive to the Downtown to the Lewvan.[/QUOTE]

Good point we should fix up Sask Dr. Trees, trees and more trees and wider sidewalks, possibly eliminate the parking lanes.

I also agree with this point, we need walking and biking pathways on this stretch.

But cars are here to stay, and I certainly won't be giving up my car for public transit. Soon if we actually win one for the consumer, car companies will introduce a zero emissions vehicle. Biking from my end of the city in the winter is impossible and dangerous, and walking takes 2 hours at best. As for moving downtown, if there was an affordable apartment available than "BINGO" I would, but I caouldn't afford to with the current economy.

[Planner2008]

Originally Posted by babo

Off topic/personal gripe
What we really need is for the City to clean the streets more than once a year to remove the mostly permanent sand bars and beaches from the parking lanes. Cycling would be much more pleasant were cleaning to be routine. As well, a by-law should be put in place that littering be punishable by death. OK, not death, but maybe a baseball bat to the knees with knitting needles in the eyes for repeat offenders. The joy I derive from deflating my tires on broken glass after a weekend is immeasurable.

That got me laughing, LMFAO

[urbanregina]

Originally Posted by Planner2008

The Lower Mainland has freeways and expressways, and again the downtown is not in the middle of the city. That makes a difference. Again my words are being taken out of context as I said the future not the present.

I stand corrected. Vancouver proper is without freeways except that small portion at the edge which the Trans-Canada passes through. That said the ones they do have don't cut through the middle of town but on the periphery connecting the communities together. Also why does the downtown being in the middle of the city necessitate a freeway I believe it is the other way around. With our centrally located downtown there is a short distance between downtown and anywhere else in the city. Downtown Vancouver is off to one side and farther from many areas. If there is a need to increase street capacity it would be better to work to improve what we currently have and avoid the gridlock of a freeway/expressway.

[urbanregina]

Originally Posted by Planner2008

But cars are here to stay, and I certainly won't be giving up my car for public transit.

That is your own choice. If we improve transit some people will give up their cars or at least use them less (especially with the increase in gas prices). Also just because you like driving doesn't mean we need to continue to cater toward cars in this city we need more intelligent planning. A more robust transit system is more efficient to getting people around then adding more road capacity.