Saskatoon Construction

[Ruckus]

Extension plan for 25th Street gets council nod
Approval comes despite opposition from some local businesses and councillors
By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix.com March 16, 2009 10:02 PM Be the first to post a comment

SASKATOON — Plans for the $9.85-million extension of 25th Street from First Avenue to Idylwyld Drive were approved by city council Monday, but not without resistance from area business owners and the local community association.

At least two business owners say the plans, which have the extension connecting with Idylwyld at the existing railway crossing south of 25th Street West, will drive away customers and cause traffic congestion in surrounding neighbourhoods.

“They are cutting off flow to our business,” said Daryl Hiebert, manager of Fleet-Guide Truck and Trailer Repair Ltd. on the 300 block of Avenue B North. “It’s not right.”

The proposed alignment and some construction work on utilities was approved by council, with specific design issues sent back to administration to review with community groups and businesses.

A representative of the Caswell Hill community association said residents need to be better consulted as to the affect of the alignment on traffic.

“We have questions and concerns about traffic flow,” Raeann Van Beek said.

The impact on pedestrian crossings, transit routes and emergency response times need to be studied, she said.

Coun. Myles Heidt raised concerns about the intersection sending excess traffic through the Caswell neighbourhood and about the proposal not being aligned with 25th Street West.

“I thought this was supposed to be an improvement,” said Heidt, who voted against the proposal along with councillors Bev Dubois and Bob Pringle. “It’s not an improvement at all.”

Officials with the Holiday Inn Express hotel on the corner of Idylwyld Drive North and 25th Street West said in a letter to the city the alignment will significantly damage their business, cutting off access from northbound motorists because of a proposed median.

“Critical access to our hotel . . . has been cut by (50 per cent) from what was previously available. This result is absolutely unacceptable and will undoubtedly ruin what has otherwise been a successful business in an otherwise questionable location,” hotel manager Jeff Krivoshen and president Lawrence Rychjohn write.

“The decision to fundamentally change this intersection will basically bottleneck and choke off the lifeblood of traffic that feeds and sustains our hotel.”

City administration considered eight proposals for the street alignment from 24th Street to 29th Street but only one was considered acceptable by city administration and Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railways, said Angela Gardiner, who manages the project for the city. Discussions with the railway companies have been going on for five years and have involved three consultants, she said.

The key difficulty is co-ordinating the rail signals with the traffic signals at the intersection when a train crosses, which was only possible at the proposed location, Gardiner said.

“This is the only option that addresses the safety requirements,” she said.

The four-lane 25th Street extension will include a median and on-street parallel parking. There will also be a median and turning bays along Idylwyld Drive.

Coun. Charlie Clark said the 25th Street extension will help rejuvenate the north downtown and the warehouse district.

“North downtown is the next frontier,” he said.

Underground construction on utilities is expected to begin in May.

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[kgc087]

So do you think this means holiday inn wont be building where pacific cinemas used to be?

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by kgc087

So do you think this means holiday inn wont be building where pacific cinemas used to be?

I suppose so. No big deal, they'll eventually build a hotel there, just might take a little longer because their current business will be ruined due to the realignment of 25th Street.

I'm just glad the City finally approved 25th Street with ground work beginning this year

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by acron

good thing i walked into that tree many years ago lol

Have you walked into any trees lately? You should do that sort of thing more often

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by lbird

[...]

The Dawn warehouse on 33rd was just moved into by local startup Vendasta.



[...]

Thanks for the photo tour lbird.

I was unaware Vendasta moved into that building, must have been very recently. I also wasn't sure what Vendasta was, or what they did. I did a Google search and was surprised to learn many of Vendasta's staff created and nurtured the innovative Point2 Technologies. I hope they continue to have great success in Saskatoon

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by drm310

$28 million set aside for Place Riel renovations
By Jeanette Stewart, TheStarPhoenix.com
March 16, 2009 5:17 PM

SASKATOON — The long-discussed renovations of Place Riel at the University of Saskatchewan will begin as early as next week, student leaders announced at a press conference Monday morning.

Regarded as the “front door” to the university, the hub now contains food services, University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU) offices and student space. A second floor will be added for students’ union offices and campus club space, and what is now ‘Upper Place’ will be expanded to include council chambers for the USSU. ‘Lower Place’ will be expanded to add retail space. The renovations will cost more than $28 million, with roughly $22 million of the funding coming from the Students’ Union.

University administration will pay $6 million to add two extra floors to the project. The extra floors will not be occupied until the university has the money to finish those renovations.

The student union has discussed upgrading the building since Place Riel was first built 30 years ago. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2010.

© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix

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How does that old saying go, "Saskatchewan--30 years behind the times" j/k Glad to see it's finally going ahead!

[drm310]

Downtown grocery on the way
European-style food market approved for McLean Building

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix
March 17, 2009 9:02 AM

Downtown will be getting its grocery store, albeit a smaller one than the city had initially hoped to attract.

On Monday, city council made a special exception and granted a five-year tax break for Souleio Foods Inc., paving the way for the 6,000-square-foot grocery store, deli and bakery to open in the McLean Building on the corner of 20th Street and Third Avenue in late spring or summer.

Unable to attract a major grocery chain downtown with similar initiatives, the city handed the tax break to a local group promising to bring a European-style food market using primarily local ingredients, said Mayor Don Atchison.

The tax abatement will save the owners around $34,500 in taxes over the five years, a report said.

"No one else was prepared to come," Atchison said. "We had to do something."

Souleio Foods is a partnership between Calories restaurant, owned by Janis and Remi Cousyn, and Pine View Farms of Osler, owned by Melanie and Kevin Boldt.

The store will deal in "affordable luxury," Janis said.

"Our price point is not at all going to be very exclusive or high-end," she said. "Our goal is to push the envelope a little bit and let people know how important it is to know where their food comes from and who's producing it."

The downtown has been without a major grocery store since the Third Avenue Extra Foods shut down in October 2004 and is in dire need of one, particularly for downtown seniors, Coun. Charlie Clark said.

"They're going to have a good supply of staples and a mix of foods that will be useful for the people living downtown," Clark said. "There is a gaping hole right now."

While Atchison said this doesn't solve the need for a larger full-service grocery store in the downtown core, he said he hopes the store will help attract a chain store in the future.

"Sometimes you have to do things like this to create a change," he said.

[email protected]
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[midnightrambler]

Originally Posted by jaysfan99

has anyone been to Sask Place lately? Just wondering if they started to add the new seats yet.

They've started, see the crappy photos

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by drm310

Downtown grocery on the way
European-style food market approved for McLean Building

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix
March 17, 2009 9:02 AM

Downtown will be getting its grocery store, albeit a smaller one than the city had initially hoped to attract.

On Monday, city council made a special exception and granted a five-year tax break for Souleio Foods Inc., paving the way for the 6,000-square-foot grocery store, deli and bakery to open in the McLean Building on the corner of 20th Street and Third Avenue in late spring or summer.

Unable to attract a major grocery chain downtown with similar initiatives, the city handed the tax break to a local group promising to bring a European-style food market using primarily local ingredients, said Mayor Don Atchison.

The tax abatement will save the owners around $34,500 in taxes over the five years, a report said.

"No one else was prepared to come," Atchison said. "We had to do something."

Souleio Foods is a partnership between Calories restaurant, owned by Janis and Remi Cousyn, and Pine View Farms of Osler, owned by Melanie and Kevin Boldt.

The store will deal in "affordable luxury," Janis said.

"Our price point is not at all going to be very exclusive or high-end," she said. "Our goal is to push the envelope a little bit and let people know how important it is to know where their food comes from and who's producing it."

The downtown has been without a major grocery store since the Third Avenue Extra Foods shut down in October 2004 and is in dire need of one, particularly for downtown seniors, Coun. Charlie Clark said.

"They're going to have a good supply of staples and a mix of foods that will be useful for the people living downtown," Clark said. "There is a gaping hole right now."

While Atchison said this doesn't solve the need for a larger full-service grocery store in the downtown core, he said he hopes the store will help attract a chain store in the future.

"Sometimes you have to do things like this to create a change," he said.

[email protected]
© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix

Source

_________________________________________________
This is really exciting that Janis and Remi are opening this up downtown as the primary grocery store there. When I moved back from Calgary one thing I noticed was the emphasis Saskatoon places on local food usage etc. I didn't really see anyone advertising about this in Calgary and when I talk to people from other cities they don't really mention anything of it. This could be a great identity marker for Saskatoon!

[OILERS]

Originally Posted by kgc087

_________________________________________________
This is really exciting that Janis and Remi are opening this up downtown as the primary grocery store there. When I moved back from Calgary one thing I noticed was the emphasis Saskatoon places on local food usage etc. I didn't really see anyone advertising about this in Calgary and when I talk to people from other cities they don't really mention anything of it. This could be a great identity marker for Saskatoon!

The great thing about a grocery store in that area is it will increase foot traffic. More people walking around downtown is nice to see.

[circle33]

...though it is a little far from the majority of downtown population base (especially for seniors). That of course will change some if/when Lake Placid comes to be. Until then we might see a marked increase in mobility scooter traffic.

[socialisthorde]

Originally Posted by circle33

...though it is a little far from the majority of downtown population base (especially for seniors). That of course will change some if/when Lake Placid comes to be. Until then we might see a marked increase in mobility scooter traffic.

Perhaps dedicated scooter lanes on third avenue?

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Hey all, finally got around to getting a profile...What a find this site!
I am a passionate traveller and am happy to find, and know that a site like this exists, that discusses the backbone that creates the feel for a city and its many spaces.

More people should be aware of the happenings and progress (or lack thereof) within their own city and what it means for the long term.

I sure hope there are at least a few people on city council and other boards and businesses that monitor this site daily.

Cheers.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by EarlyByrdProductions

Hey all, finally got around to getting a profile...What a find this site!
I am a passionate traveller and am happy to find, and know that a site like this exists, that discusses the backbone that creates the feel for a city and its many spaces.

More people should be aware of the happenings and progress (or lack thereof) within their own city and what it means for the long term.

I sure hope there are at least a few people on city council and other boards and businesses that monitor this site daily.

Cheers.

Welcome to SSP EarlybyrdProductions. More members = More information, and the potential to generate more discussions on all many topics, including urban development in Saskatoon.

And to your last point, yes. Although, not all have created profiles (that I know of). Off the top of my head, I recall an official with Enterprise Saskatchewan, Lake Placid's Micheal Lobsinger, and a few City of Saskatoon officials (they requested SSP moderators to remove the Future Growth Map of Saskatoon because it is not to be distributed digitally).

[Ruckus]

Hell ya to Synchrotron expansion
___________________
Funds begin to flow for CLS expansion
By Janet French, The Star PhoenixMarch 17, 2009 Be the first to post a comment

If the managers at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron get their wish, they'll get a chance to bust open the wall -- again -- and tack on a $40-million extension.

One year after construction finished on the facility's first addition, which was built to accommodate two new biomedical beamlines, Canada's only synchrotron wants to grow again to accommodate more projects.

Two of three new projects the CLS is pursuing got a step closer to fruition Monday after a $3.8-million injection from the federal government.

The funds are going to projects called the BioXAS and Quantum Materials Spectroscopy Centre (QMSC), whose combined cost is $36.8 million.

Although the funds, from Western Economic Diversification Canada, are just 10.3 per cent of the estimated final cost, CLS director of research Tom Ellis said the money is the "final glue that makes it all happen."

The two projects are part of the CLS's "Phase 3" growth and development. When it opened in 2004, the synchrotron had seven beamlines. During the past few years, six new projects that make up Phase 2 have been added to the facility.

Two of the new Phase 2 beams are up and running, and the CLS will be accepting proposals in the fall for people or groups who want to use them in 2010. Ellis said three more of the new beams are still getting a few parts and being tinkered with and tested. He hopes they will also be open for experiments in 2010.

One third of the sprawling building's window-lined wall was extended to accommodate a project called BMIT, which are two biomedical beamlines expected to produce stunningly precise images, eventually from inside humans and animals. Early tests have CLS staff excited, Ellis said.

"Almost from the days we turned it on, it was producing results of the quality we were anticipating," he said.

Staff are also busy setting up the second biomedical beam in a special "hutch," or a lead-lined laboratory, where Ellis says researchers will run tests using the CLS's brightest beam to date.

Although most of the Phase 2 projects were finished on schedule, BMIT was a little slower, and a little more expensive than initially planned, due to the rising cost of construction and the availability of labour and materials that haunted so many construction projects during the 2008 boom. Ellis said the numbers aren't yet tallied on the BMIT project, so he couldn't provide the cost.

As the facilities grow, so do the ranks of researchers coming to use them. CLS communications co-ordinator Matt Dalzell says 393 people came to use the synchrotron in 2008, up from 282 in 2007 and 195 in 2006.

With Monday's announcement of federal dollars, attention is now shifting to the three Phase 3 projects.

A third project on the horizon, which was not a subject of Monday's announcement, is called the Brockhouse sector, the materials for which could cost about $25 million, Ellis said. Like the BioXAS and QMSC projects, the Brockhouse beam has received a commitment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, which usually covers about 40 per cent of the cost. All three projects are waiting for formal commitments from various provinces to contribute matching funds.

The Brockhouse sector is "a tool kit that's been requested by the Canadian materials science community," Ellis said, that would use high-frequency X-rays to delve more deeply into non-biological material. The current building will need to expand to accommodate it.

Ideally, the CLS will round up an estimated $40 million needed to expand the remainder of its original wall to meet up with the new jutting extension occupied by BMIT, Ellis said. If not, the synchrotron could build a more modest extension just for the Brockhouse equipment, then build around and over it if the facility expands again in the future, he said.

The BioXAS, which will use X-rays to look at metals in biological systems, and the QMSC, which can be used in the testing and development of nanotechnology, computers and batteries, are expected to be ready for use in 2011, provided all funds come through.

Ellis doesn't have a target date for when the Brockhouse project could be ready. He said he didn't want to pre-empt any government announcements by speaking too soon, but said he's confident the funds will come together.

[email protected]

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[Wyku]

Great to see that the CLS continues to garner interest from across the scientific community and continues to grow because of it!

[drm310]

Saskatoon Mayor Says Impass With Train Companies Continue
Looking for answers as 25th street project materializes

Reported By Sheri Ebert
Posted March 17, 2009 - 10:56am

The city continues it's battle with two train companies over the 25th street extension project.

Mayor Don Atchison says the infrastructure has been approved by council, but the city still has to come to agreement with CP and CN since the street will affect the downtown rail yard.

His worship also says he doesn't understand why the rail companies have to do car transfers in the yard in the middle of the city, saying the long trains can be a huge inconvenience to Saskatoon residents.

He also said they can create a safety risk, blocking main artery roads in the event of a train breakdown.

Source

[kgc087]

With the third phase going ahead does that mean the CLS will be completed and any additional lines will have to built on a new unit?

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

Welcome to SSP EarlybyrdProductions. More members = More information, and the potential to generate more discussions on all many topics, including urban development in Saskatoon.

And to your last point, yes. Although, not all have created profiles (that I know of). Off the top of my head, I recall an official with Enterprise Saskatchewan, Lake Placid's Micheal Lobsinger, and a few City of Saskatoon officials (they requested SSP moderators to remove the Future Growth Map of Saskatoon because it is not to be distributed digitally).

I forget to mention, Star Phoenix reporter Rod Nickel has also been known to frequent (we do post a lot of his articles ) SSP.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by drm310

Saskatoon Mayor Says Impass With Train Companies Continue
Looking for answers as 25th street project materializes

Reported By Sheri Ebert
Posted March 17, 2009 - 10:56am

The city continues it's battle with two train companies over the 25th street extension project.

Mayor Don Atchison says the infrastructure has been approved by council, but the city still has to come to agreement with CP and CN since the street will affect the downtown rail yard.

His worship also says he doesn't understand why the rail companies have to do car transfers in the yard in the middle of the city, saying the long trains can be a huge inconvenience to Saskatoon residents.

He also said they can create a safety risk, blocking main artery roads in the event of a train breakdown.

Source

Exactly!

And why haven't we heard directly from CP and CN? Not surprisingly, they're MIA. It leads one to believe that they are completely unaware, or simply don't care that their relationship with the community at large has steadily declined.

Corporate attitudes with an antisocial twist