Saskatoon Construction

[Yeff]

Has anyone heard any new rumours as to the development of the Stonebridge Business Park? There seemed to be a lot of smoke around a second Costco out there which would be a huge boon for an already hot area but no flames as of yet.

[Measuring Stick]

Originally Posted by dsim249

Well be that as it may, this thread does not exist solely to inform you. Why don't you contribute to the forum if you're so dissatisfied?

Besides, the topics you listed have been discussed extensively already. There is only so much one can say about two hotels being built in the suburbs. Come back on May 25th, I'm sure there will be some LP thrown into the discussion.

Anyway. Does anyone know when we were supposed to get those articulated buses? I think someone might have brought it up recently, but I don't recall any further info.

Wow you must be a special guy dsim. I contribute when I can, most of the info I come about is confidential and can't be shared publicly. In terms of commenting on which City is better and how our bike lanes suck, I don't comment on issues that don't interest me. Anyways way to encourage involvement

In terms of who is in Discovery yes they will fit in well with our Dowtown compliment of office tenants.

[jas321]

Originally Posted by Yeff

Has anyone heard any new rumours as to the development of the Stonebridge Business Park? There seemed to be a lot of smoke around a second Costco out there which would be a huge boon for an already hot area but no flames as of yet.

I have heard the Costoc rumours as well. Hamm Construction has been doing some excavation behind the Home Depot the past week or two. Not sure what is going on there though.

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by Yeff

Has anyone heard any new rumours as to the development of the Stonebridge Business Park? There seemed to be a lot of smoke around a second Costco out there which would be a huge boon for an already hot area but no flames as of yet.

Welcome to the forums Yeff....

Yes I have also heard the Costco rumors but nothing concrete yet. They could certainly use another one. Some days it's impossible to move around in that store.

[Yeff]

Thanks for the welcome Jerry, I've been lurking for awhile but finally decided to set up an account. Edmonton's four Costco locations are regularly packed just like our one, so I think this city could easily handle two and the geographical locations would fit.

As far as Canadian Tire moving to the vacated Wal-Mart, that just does not make sense to me. I know they are planning to focus on growth in core auto, hardware, household products but the cost of such a seemingly lateral move with inferior auto service bays boggles my mind. Time will tell, for the sake of that mall and area, I hope some positive things can happen either way.

[Devon]

That Caswell Hill plan excites me. It's nice to see plans for the future of these older, and in my opinion more beautiful neighborhoods.

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by Yeff

Thanks for the welcome Jerry, I've been lurking for awhile but finally decided to set up an account. Edmonton's four Costco locations are regularly packed just like our one, so I think this city could easily handle two and the geographical locations would fit.

As far as Canadian Tire moving to the vacated Wal-Mart, that just does not make sense to me. I know they are planning to focus on growth in core auto, hardware, household products but the cost of such a seemingly lateral move with inferior auto service bays boggles my mind. Time will tell, for the sake of that mall and area, I hope some positive things can happen either way.

I had heard this rumour a couple weeks back and also can't wrap my head around how and why they would make this move.

[Morogolus]

I know this has absolutely nothing to do with construction but Sasktel is coming out with the iPhone July 1st after upgrading their network

http://www.leaderpost.com/technology/Phone+network+summer/2908541/story.html

It's about time Sasktel adopts a phone that came out like 5 years ago.

[midnightrambler]

Sasktel ... Scoff!

Just another example of how Saskatchewan is behind the times. I've had 3G for over 2 years, through a non-crown corporation. It's shocking that was even possible. I thought the government had to do everything.

All I can say is Thank Christ! I have Bell satellite television so I don't have to hear the advertising blitz that will be sure to ensue with that annoying cartoon of little red riding hood paired with Saskatchewan Roughriders propaganda.

[dsim249]

^ If you read the article, it explains why they took so long.
And better late than never! I'm thrilled about this. I'll definitely be getting the iPhone in July.

[midnightrambler]

^^^ Crown-Corporation....

That article has been spun, Sasktel probably pumps a mil into advertising with the Leader Post and Star Phoenix every year.

I hate Sasktel!

They took so long because there is no money to be made by providing 3G Cell coverage to 98% of Saskatchewan. You provide Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and North Battleford and you have 75% of the province. The rest is a loosing money proposition. Which makes me think Sasktel will be loosing money. Or the price will be more expensive than other networks.

And you could have had the iPhone through Rogers or Fido for $60/month 2 years ago with the phone costing $99. I'm betting Sasktel will be more than this right out of the gates.

[kgc087]

I'm sort of pro crown corp. I think it's a nice alternative to private crap. Mind now I'm not much of a capitalist SO I guess that's why I support Sasktel haha! BUT onto construction new, anyone see the interview of Scadden in the paper today? Doesn't seem like anything big is going to be happening downtown in the next 5 years besides establishing a downtown transit plan and bringing many more people into the d/t

[Yeff]

Spindoctored or not, it's good news that I knew was coming. Still good to get the confirmation and a quicker timeline than I expected. I knew I was hanging on to my POS Moto Krzr past my "upgrade eligibility" for a reason Another couple months won't be too bad.

[jas321]

Originally Posted by kgc087

I'm sort of pro crown corp. I think it's a nice alternative to private crap. Mind now I'm not much of a capitalist SO I guess that's why I support Sasktel haha! BUT onto construction new, anyone see the interview of Scadden in the paper today? Doesn't seem like anything big is going to be happening downtown in the next 5 years besides establishing a downtown transit plan and bringing many more people into the d/t

Agreed. It's not as if they are a monopoly. You have the option of going to private sector if you choose. If it wasn't for Sasktel, most of rural Sask would still be on dial-up internet with no cell coverage. I think they play an important role regardless of your ideology.

Back to the Stonebridge Business Park...does anyone know what is going up between the two office buildings? I know the two office towers have been pretty successful so maybe they are just building another...

[Chaps]

..

[Chaps]

Originally Posted by midnightrambler

^^^ Crown-Corporation....

That article has been spun, Sasktel probably pumps a mil into advertising with the Leader Post and Star Phoenix every year.

I hate Sasktel!

They took so long because there is no money to be made by providing 3G Cell coverage to 98% of Saskatchewan. You provide Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and North Battleford and you have 75% of the province. The rest is a loosing money proposition. Which makes me think Sasktel will be loosing money. Or the price will be more expensive than other networks.

And you could have had the iPhone through Rogers or Fido for $60/month 2 years ago with the phone costing $99. I'm betting Sasktel will be more than this right out of the gates.

Wow is this post ever...uninformed.

(as is the one before it)

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by kgc087

BUT onto construction new, anyone see the interview of Scadden in the paper today? Doesn't seem like anything big is going to be happening downtown in the next 5 years besides establishing a downtown transit plan and bringing many more people into the d/t

Thanks for pointing this article out, else I would've missed it.

But I don't think Scaddan was trying to suggest that nothing big will be happening downtown in the next 5 years, just giving a fairly conservative answer regarding projects he knows are coming down the pipe.

And I would argue that continued development at River Landing, the 3rd Ave project, residential development, and the new bus mall all are very big things happening downtown.

Then there's several other things to expect/*hope for* - 275 Second Ave, Art Gallery of SK, Arthur Cook warehouse conversion, 25th St. extension, the architecture school, new police HQ, etc...

Nah, I think the next 5 years are gonna be huge for downtown.

___________________________________

Scaddan gives lowdown on downtown

The StarPhoenix April 15, 2010

For more than a decade Terry Scaddan has been overseeing the economic development of Saskatoon's downtown core.

What started in 1999 as a temporary stint as executive director of The Partnership -- the agency facilitating the downtown area's business improvement district -- turned into a full-blown career for the Saskatoon resident.

With so many potential changes on the way for the city's downtown region, Cassandra Kyle asked Scaddan five questions about the central area.

SP: What is the state of Saskatoon's downtown core?

TS: I would say that the downtown core of Saskatoon, in most respects, would be the envy of any city of any size in Canada.

We've got low vacancy rates in retail -- so we're hovering right around a one or 1.5 per cent vacancy rate which is just extremely good -- and we have high office occupancy rates. So there's demand for offices downtown and so we're sort of eight, 10, 12 per cent vacancy on A-office space, so we're in really good shape that way as well.

SP: What is your opinion of the River Landing project?

TS: A couple of years ago the city actually removed River Landing from being a part of downtown and made it its own entity, but we (The Partnership) still think whatever happens on River Landing is obviously very important to the vibrancy of downtown.

From that standpoint we certainly are very happy that Persephone Theatre is going to be there and . . . that whoever or whatever is developed down there, that there is a significant component of residential is very important to The Partnership. Repopulating downtown is one of our key goals.

SP: What's the most exciting thing to happen downtown over the past year?

TS: I think the redevelopment of The Bay (building) from a department store to residential is a huge project that is finally finished and people are living there.

Saving the KG Hotel from the wrecking ball, I think that was an absolutely valiant effort on Meridian's part to convert it to residential. With commercial on the main and second floors that they've gotten great tenants for, it really has enlivened that corner.

And the third is the conversion of the Rumely Building. I'm just excited to see the conversion of that grand old heritage warehouse turned into nice residential loft-type apartments with a very sympathetic modern addition.

SP: What is the area missing?

TS: I think more people living downtown. I think that will be the trend in the future.

I think you're going to see more people gravitating not only to downtown but to the centre of the city, so areas right adjacent to the downtown, I think, are going to grow in popularity.

The missing link that has been filled is we didn't have any downtown grocery store and we now do, and that is a very important tipping point for getting people to live downtown.

SP: What will downtown Saskatoon look like in five years?

TS: Well, we will certainly have the development at River Landing finished, or nearly finished. We will have a lot more people living downtown and I think that we will have Third Avenue streetscaped and completed.

And, I think we will finally have a circulating, working transit system in downtown that is user-friendly and by being user-friendly, we will see a lot more people riding the bus to and from downtown.

[email protected]
© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix
Source

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by midnightrambler

And you could have had the iPhone through Rogers or Fido for $60/month 2 years ago with the phone costing $99. I'm betting Sasktel will be more than this right out of the gates.

Ya, I can have the iPhone with Rogers, and then as soon as I step foot outside the city, I have no coverage (exaggerated, I know). For me, living in Saskatchewan, it just makes sense to have Sasktel. I never have to worry about coverage, including when I'm out of province.
I guess for me it's all about the coverage. If other providers would expand their networks, I'd be more inclined to switch. But I've been with Sasktel for about 8 years now, and I've never had the need or desire to switch.

I only have 2 friends (in Sask) who aren't with Sasktel. One has Rogers because her parents live in Winnipeg, and they have a family plan. The other has Koodo because it's a little cheaper.
Bodes well for me, since Sasktel to Sasktel calling is free.

[dsim249]

Someone posted this site in the Skybar. Very interesting.

http://www.walkscore.com

It calculates how 'walkable' the location of your home is, by its location to a variety of amenities.
Mine is 45, meaning that I am car dependent (according to the site). I live in Adelaide/Churchill.
I'm curious as to what some of the scores might be around Saskatoon. Like the guys living downtown in particular.

[socialisthorde]

Mine scored 74 (very walkable) for City Park, but it is a little wonky, showing Geanel Restaurant Supllies as a restaurant and the Wheatland Regional Library (which is a warehouse/office - no books) as a library, and it states there is no transit information available, so I don't know how accurate it is.