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Posted Nov 26, 2008, 12:58 AM
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working stiff
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Woodlawn Cemetery
Posts: 2,583
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My response in red...
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Originally Posted by princeton
Hello, I am a student (Freshman) from Saskatoon working on a policy recommendation for the Warehouse district of Downtown Saskatoon from down in the States (Because I love my city and the downtown rejuvination effort really interests me) and have a few questions that hopefully I can get some opinions on. Is the 25th Street railyard in fact going to be the future site for the new police station? Yes, Police and City officials are indeed moving forward with the 25th Street proposal; "5.74 acres of land located north of 25th Street and west of Ontario Avenue" (Bev Dubois, 2008). If so, how do you feel about this location? I think its great. The new HQ will increase the customer base (600+ employees) for businesses in the immediate area (e.g. restaurants, coffee shops). Healthy businesses will attract other complementary businesses. The variety of businesses combined with recent warehouse conversions to residential and commercial may spur development of existing gravel parking lots. As I see it, the Police HQ can act as a catalyst for development of the Warehouse District, a similar although not identical process as that of the government's investment into River Landing Phase I and II. Any recent information would help, since information is a little harder to get at down here. Has there been any other proposals for this area? No, nothing official beyond what is mentioned in the Warehouse District LAP, which you are already familiar with. There have been off the cuff suggestions of more housing, a baseball stadium. I'll post a few articles that will speak to some of these remarks. How do you feel about the rejuvination efforts in the Warehouse District compared to the other areas of the Downtown Business district? At present, I would say the effort from the City and business community is encouraging (in terms of conceptualizing and laying out a vision). However, I am quite discouraged by the lack of urgency City Council has taken with respect to consolidating city yard operations and extending 25th Street, as well as the explanations given for these delays (e.g. 25th Steet/Warehouse District must take a back seat to other urban development projects (e.g. South Bridge, suburban communities, industrial lands)). I am writing about how the Warehosue District has been left to rot over the years, and how it will now play a large role in the downtown rejuvenation efforts, and density increase efforts ( Housing incentive plan) of the city. You've chosen a great topic to explore, it certainly deserves further attention given our desire to build according to Smart Growth principles, I hope it goes well for you.
I would really appreciate the feedback.
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Here's a selection of previously posted news articles relating to Warehouse District development.
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Originally Posted by joelpiecowye
this was in the newspaper today
Loft living goes uptown
The floors in the Rumely building don't resemble anything remotely livable now, but that hasn't stopped six buyers from putting down deposits on soon-to-be-built, loft-style condos ranging in price from $500,000 to $800,000.
And those prices don't include the penthouses that will be priced "way above $800,000," said Gary Emde of Prudential Sask Realty.
"It makes sense for the prices to be at this level when buyers will be getting a couple of thousand square feet with the highest-quality amenities in a building unlike any other in Saskatoon," Emde said.
interest from potential buyers has been strong, according to Emde, even though blueprints are the only way to see what they might be getting.
Built in 1912 at 24th Street and Pacific Avenue, the Rumely warehouse was used to assemble and showcase the huge tractors manufactured by the Rumely Company. To accommodate the heavy machinery, the concrete floors were built 23 centimetres thick with ceilings between 3.6 and five metres high, and a huge freight elevator -- said to be one of Western Canada's most powerful -- was installed.
Although there is no other building like it in Saskatoon, the Rumely building has an identical twin in Wichita, Kansas. The Wichita Rumely building has already been turned into condos, and Gordon Doell, president of Paradigm Developments in Saskatoon, wants to follow Wichita's lead.
In fact, Doell flew Dave Burke, the architect and the developer of the Wichita Rumely building, up to Saskatoon to find out what they learned during the conversion process.
"We picked up some incredible ideas for tweaking what we already have as well as some good lessons about what not to do," said Doell in an interview.
One such lesson was to keep the bathrooms in the same place on every floor to avoid moving plumbing pipes to different spots in every loft.
Unlike the Wichita design, Saskatoon's Rumely building will see a five-storey addition built onto the existing structure on the south side to make room for more lofts. Although the addition won't be built exactly in the same style as the characteristic heritage brickwork, architect Heney Klypak says it will complement and enhance the existing architecture.
"One of the challenges we faced was adding more space to make the lofts as functional as possible," said Klypak, of Klypak Rusick Architects. "With an addition you want to give the impression that it was always part of the original building."
Project manager Marty Braaten of Norseman Construction expects construction on the addition to begin in 10 days and expects it to be completed in 14 months.
"What we're doing with this building is unheard of in Saskatoon," he said. "It's a very well-built structure. In the 1920s, if you were a well-built young man, people used to say, 'You're built like the Rumely.' "
Other challenges include finding enough parking for all of the tenants. There are 30 lofts -- six per floor ranging between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet -- and Klypak wants to offer two parking spots per loft. But the planned basement parking garage only allows for 32 stalls, meaning some tenants will have to make do with one stall.Coun. Charlie Clark, whose ward includes the Rumely building, says the overhaul of the historical former warehouse comes at a crucial time in the revitalization of the downtown and warehouse districts.
"This shows that downtown living is a viable option in Saskatoon," Clark said. "If we want to attract young professionals to Saskatoon, a conversion like this is the way to do it."
Clark said higher-density living like the kind offered by the Rumely lofts helps cut down on driving in the downtown core and lessens residents' environmental footprints.
We have to show that it's possible to grow upwards as opposed to outwards," he said. "I applaud the developers who are taking the first leap and showing this is possible."
Murray Totland, Saskatoon's general manager of infrastructure services, said part of the revitalization of the warehouse district includes an extension of 25th Street west to Idylwyld Drive.
Although there is no funding in place for the project, Totland said there are plans for underground servicing to begin next year if Canadian Pacific agrees with the city's plan to have 25th Street cross the existing railroad tracks running through the warehouse district.
Regardless of whether the surrounding neighbourhood changes, Klypak said his objective is to make each loft a place where he would be willing to live.
"I can say that I would live in any one of these lofts," he said. "A lot of heart and soul went into each suite and I think people will see that."
If i read that right i believe it said they are adding 5 sotries. I hope it will look nice mabey somthing more modern and glassy to show some contrast between the old and the new. I hope they will show plans soon
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Originally Posted by Stewie
From Today's StarPhoenix:
City aims for trendy downtown
By Matthew Kruchakof The StarPhoenix
The city is looking at moving its warehouse district yard to make room for residential and retail space in the unique urban area.
To help realize its vision of having a trendy downtown neighbourhood bustling with urban dwellers, officials are looking at filling the 24-acre yard with buildings that mirror the historic factories and warehouses that surround it.
“It’s a bit of a gem sitting there, quite frankly, to have that much land still in your downtown core. So I think it will have many great opportunities,” said Phil Richards, city manager.
The city has hired a consultant to investigate the possibility of moving the yards, but the relocation won’t take place for at least 10 years, said Alan Wallace, the city’s manager of neighbourhood planning.
The condominiums and shops would be designed to look like the large brick warehouses and factories built during the first quarter of the 20th century, he said.
“We want to continue that character — that look and feel. It’s kind of reminiscent of the olden days when that used to be our economic engine in that area,” he said, adding that because it’s city-owned land they could require developers to recreate those impressive structures of the past.
The goal is to have 10,000 people living downtown, Wallace said, adding they’re almost halfway there.
With developers buying up the old buildings, like the former Bay building, Rumley Warehouse and King George Hotel to convert into high-end lofts, the city has also started taking steps to increase the density of the downtown.
The city’s executive committee is looking at a recommendation that would lead to the sale of the 80-year-old Arthur Cook Building at the corner of 24th Street and Ontario Avenue to be converted into condos.
“With the people down there we’re going to notice a character change for the better and at night it won’t quite be as empty. I think it will become a live place to be,” Wallace said.
But it’s not happening fast enough, said Coun. Darren Hill, who believes the yard should have been moved “yesterday.”
“Lets move (the city yard) to the outskirts of town somewhere. Get them right out of city centre,” he said.
Before that happens the city is going to extend 25th Street from First Avenue to Idylwyld Drive, Richards said. The city will open up the north portion of its yards to make room for the road, which should be completed by 2009.
The city is also contemplating the sale of the John Deere building on Ontario Avenue which could be converted into lofts. That won’t happen until the yard is moved, Richards said, because it houses engineering works division staff who need to be located near the city yard.
“As River Landing would become the anchor to south downtown the warehouse district becomes the anchor to north downtown,” he said.
[email protected] |
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Originally Posted by macca
Condo potential eyed for city-owned building
Matthew Kruchak, The StarPhoenix
Published: Monday, January 07, 2008
A city-owned building in the warehouse district could be the next edifice in the area to be converted into loft-style condominiums.
At the corner of 24th Street and Ontario Avenue, the Arthur Cooke Building now contains offices of several city services and is used as a storage facility. But the city's executive committee is looking at a recommendation that would lead to the sale of the 80-year-old, nondescript three-story brown brick building.
The committee will assess the recommendation today to have the building appraised and find space to relocate staff and stored items.
The opportunity to create more living space downtown, to me, is very attractive," Coun. Maurice Neault said. "It's a move in the right direction."
That move focuses on the buildings around the railway tracks that cut through the city's core. Buildings that once bustled with shoppers, were filled by travellers and packed with commodities are now being converted into upscale condos. Within only blocks of the Arthur Cooke Building, the interiors of the former Bay building, Rumley Warehouse and King George Hotel are being remodeled to house the urban dweller.
Coun. Myles Heidt said he'd like to see the building -- and more like it -- converted into condos.
"That whole loft environment seems to be kind of trendy and very popular. So let's go."
But it's more than just about trendy digs, said Coun. Charlie Clark.
"There's all kinds of benefits of growing residential density downtown and it's fantastic."
With people living, working and shopping downtown, there's less of a reliance on automobiles which has a positive effect on the environment, he said. It's also unique, he added.
"The warehouse district has all kinds of history. You can't replace that, it's very different than what we see in the growth in the new areas of the city. There's a certain character to this area of the city that is irreplaceable," he said.
The city-owned building now houses the offices of five departments and a mishmash of stored items, including Mendel Art Gallery shipping crates, secured Saskatoon Police Service storage and Labatt Brewery antiques.
"We own that building, why not partake in what's happening in the marketplace right now," Neault said. "Our goal at the end of the day is to have another 10,000 people living downtown. Lets help fulfill that goal. Let's make it possible. Create the opportunity."
Coun. Pat Lorje said it's time for the city to assess its downtown real estate.
"Saskatoon is becoming a big city and it needs a strong urban core and that means having people live downtown is a very positive measure."
[email protected]
www.thesp.com
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Originally Posted by SASKFTW
Thanks for the photos Jerry, the farmers market is coming along nicely!
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Police Services Move To New Building
Written by Jim Mattern - 600 Action News-Local First
Tuesday, 06 May 2008
Police personnel are gradually moving into a new facility on Fourth Avenue North this month, easing the pressures on the police headquarters on Fourth Avenue.
Deputy Police Chief Bernie Pannell says the public won't likely notice any change in operations because the move involves primarily administrative services, the traffic section, cultural relations and community liaison officers.
The 30-thousand square foot office space will serve the police service for about five years until its new 91-million dollar building is ready for occupancy in 2013.
Pannell says expressions of interest for the design of the building are being sought, and police are looking at possible locations. He says once completed the new complex will consolidated the current 11 locations under one roof, improve detention facilities, and create a state of the art forensics facility.
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Ready for occupancy in 2013 eh? I suppose the 25th Street extension and city yards/warehouse district will be ready for occupancy by then as well...IIRC, the city/police have considered a location in the warehouse district.
A new police station would take up a nice chunk of land (plus parking) on 25th Street.
Source - Zoning map
Source - Technical drawing for 25th Street extension
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Originally Posted by SASKFTW
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Originally Posted by Bev Dubois
Councillor - Ward 10 - homepage
Council Decisions In Brief
For August 11, 2008
[...]
New Police Headquarters -- City Council approved the purchase of 5.74 acres of land located north of 25th Street and west of Ontario Avenue for the new Saskatoon Police Services Headquarters. Permission was also granted to proceed with the preparation and release of an Expression of Interest to select a consultant team with expertise in Police Headquarters facility design. The successful team will incorporate the Warehouse District Local Area Plan, Accessibility Plan, LEED, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, and Occupational Health and Safety impacts.
[...]
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Originally Posted by SASKFTW
Province Will Consider "Justice Plaza" For Saskatoon
Justice Minister worries about public perception, but remains open to idea
Reported By David Kirton
Posted November 17, 2008 - 10:18am
It looks like the efforts of Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill and City Councillor Mo Neault are paying off.
The pair have been pushing to have the provincial and federal court houses and the remand centre, under the same roof as the new Saskatoon Police Headquarters. Or at least situated together on the same plot of land.
Justice Minister Don Morgan says the Saskatchewan Government is willing to look at this idea. But he says the whole perception of "innocent before proven guilty" could be a problem when an accused would have to walk into a courthouse located under the same roof as the police station. "That's a troubling aspect for the public and for the image of justice," he says. "I would like to see something preserved for the independance so the judiciary feel that they are operating independantly (of the police). Having said that, there's certainly some merit in linking some of the facilities where it's appropriate."
Neault and Weighill say the savings by placing all under the same roof could be as high as one hundred million dollars.
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As mentioned by exploration camper, the rail companies aren't particularly cooperative when it comes to urban development schemes (they're expecting a huge payout from the city for disrupting their operations, among other inconveniences).
Rail companies can be dreadful to work with, or so I've read.
Last edited by Ruckus; Nov 26, 2008 at 1:15 AM.
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