Condo towers proposed for Market Mall site
Rod Nickel, The StarPhoenix
Published: Thursday, September 04, 2008
Market Mall plans to add a pair of condo towers at least 18 storeys high, becoming the first Saskatoon mall to go residential.
The towers combined will have at least 300 condos, said mall general manager Greg Dionne. They will be built, pending approval by city hall, about 30 metres apart on the parking lot near Zellers.
"If you're a senior, you wouldn't need your vehicle because we have everything you need under one roof," Dionne said.
The numbered company that owns the Preston Avenue mall is also planning an 18-storey tower at Gateway Mall in Prince Albert and has
approval to build a 10-storey tower at Regina's Northgate mall. It plans to return to Regina city hall to ask council to allow it to build "two or three" towers, Dionne said.
He plans to take the Market Mall plans to city hall for approval this year and start construction in 2009. The final number of storeys hasn't been determined.
"The higher we go up, the cheaper it ends up for us," Dionne said. "Initially, we're looking at no smaller than 18 storeys."
The construction cost is being calculated.
The towers are a good fit in Eastview, said the ward's councillor, Bob Pringle.
"That's the area of town that's going grey. I think that would be supported by the community."
It also seems like a good idea to Alan Wallace, the city's manager of neighbourhood planning.
"Having more dwellings that close by would only support the mall and help us with our housing supply," he said.
Adding residential development to malls is becoming a major industry trend, said Betty Gibbon, general manager of the Mall at Lawson Heights. But she said that mall has no plans for residential units.
Market Mall's plans are timely. City council on Tuesday approved a new form of zoning designed to encourage retail and medium-to-high-density residential uses to co-exist around suburban shopping malls.
The zoning, called B4A, permits a host of uses from retail to banks, hotels and private schools. Movie theatres, day cares, care homes and nightclubs are permitted only as a discretionary use -- that is, with public notice and a decision by city council.
"It makes sense to have places where people can live, work and sleep," said Coun. Charlie Clark Tuesday.
Coun. Maurice Neault said he's excited about the new zoning's potential for redeveloping Confederation Mall with the addition of residential units.
Including movie theatres in the zoning is controversial. City administration's original preference was to prohibit them from B4A zoning to encourage their construction in or near downtown.
Coun. Bev Dubois said she doubts council will approve a suburban theatre complex if it receives a proposal for one as a discretionary use because most councillors wouldn't approve it.
"This theatre thing to me is a joke."
But Neault suggested approving a cinema would be automatic.
"We're never going to say no to a $35-million development of any kind, no matter where it is, as long as it has the right zoning," he said. "If a theatre wants to come here, let them come."
He added making theatres a discretionary use allows residents to voice their thoughts to council before a decision is made.
Coun. Tiffany Paulsen isn't happy that council continues to decide where cinemas can go.
"I have yet to hear why theatres are the panacea of downtown. Council needs to get out of the business of regulating business."
But Mayor Don Atchison suggested the crowds the Galaxy theatre attracts downtown is proof it's good policy.
"If you look at how downtown is rejuvenating, it's been positive for everyone."
Council will consider a city application Sept. 29 to rezone 23 acres of land in University Heights as B4A.
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© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008
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