Saskatoon Construction

[blueboots]

Does anyone know what is going to happen with the SaskPower Building Downtown? I noticed the sign was taken down.

I also noticed something moving into the building next to the Downtown Post-office. Anyone know what that will be?

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by blueboots

Does anyone know what is going to happen with the SaskPower Building Downtown? I noticed the sign was taken down.

I also noticed something moving into the building next to the Downtown Post-office. Anyone know what that will be?

I haven't heard what's happening with the SaskPower Building. I wish it would be replaced with something prominent for that corner. I really do not like that building.

The old Post Office is now the Vecima Centre and Vecima Networks has its offices there. As well, Tourism Saskatoon is on the ground floor, and the jazz society's Bassment is in the... well... basement. I'm not sure how much, but I know that a portion of the office space in the upper floors of the building is for lease to other tenants. Any movers at that building could have to do with a new tenant in some of that space?

Something else of note, I noticed today that the former McKague's Funeral Home has been outfitted with new windows, but For Lease signs are still up. This gives me some confidence that such investment in upgrading the building will keep it from demolition.

Stay away, Impark!

[WoodlandCritter]

love the sidewalk cafes, such a nice experience when having lunch or even coffee, would be nice if more restaurants downtown did this, or at least ones on 2nd Ave and 21st between the bess and midtown.

[Ruckus]

@ Country...downtown post office next to Stantec

Welcome blueboots!

Originally Posted by WoodlandCritter

love the sidewalk cafes, such a nice experience when having lunch or even coffee, would be nice if more restaurants downtown did this, or at least ones on 2nd Ave and 21st between the bess and midtown.

If there's any interest from businesses, perhaps the City would convert a stall or two of the store front parking during the summer (open the stalls to cars during the winter...) for outdoor lounges, cafes.

[RyanNS]

Originally Posted by kgc087

So as some of you already know I have relocated to Moncton for the summer. I have been traveling around New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI and making some interesting observations. I'm very aware that these are have not provinces but seriously can they be lagging behind this much?! From infrastructure to building design to fashion to sheer social values and grammar it is an entirely different world here. Saskatoon and SK are light years ahead of the Maritimes.

I assumed since they had such a close proximity to TO, Mont. and NYC they would have some sort of cosmo. vibe but I was completely wrong. It is lacking on every level. Halifax boasts a lot of cultural value for the area but still has this weird mind set. It is a beautiful place and is an amazing part of Canada, but the I guess the reason I'm writing this is out of appreciation for Saskatoon. It is a spectacular city with ambition and a vision which will make it one of the envies of Canada. So next time were wishing were TO or Van. lets remember that compared to other parts of the country it is spectacular!

It's funny you write this as I've recently relocated from Halifax to Northern SK and am getting quite familiar with Saskatoon. Most my interaction with residents of Saskatoon thus far has been superficial for the most part as my main reason for spending time in Saskatoon is shopping or dining related. I can't really say I noticed any great difference between the mindset of Saskatoon or Halifax at this point. I don't want to get into city vs. city comparision here so I'll just post some initial observations and leave it at that.

Overall I find Halifax to be much more cosmopolitan and vibrant then Saskatoon. Of course Halifax is about twice the size of Saskatoon so this is to be expected. When people from the Maritimes ask me about Saskatoon my typical reply is, bigger than Moncton, smaller than Halifax. Also dining and shopping options in Saskatoon seem to be much more limited. Generally speaking I find Western Canada to be much more embracing of cookie cutter, chain restaurants as opposed to locally owned, independant which seems more popular in Halifax. You have to remember that Halifax and Saskatoon are historically different cultures. The Scottish/Irish/English culture is blatantly obvious in Halifax and there is definitely a Celtic way of thinking which I'm sure would seem different to someone from the Praries.

Anyways I love spending time in Saskatoon and look forwards to all my time spent there. I actually hope to transfer there within the next two years and am keeping my fingers crossed. Sorry to turn this into a Saskatoon vs. Halifax thing. Both are awesome cities in their own right. Just don't get me started on Saskatoon vs. Regina

[dsim249]

^ From what what I gathered, kgc's was referring to parts of the Maritimes aside from Halifax, which he praised. If you read his second post, where he elaborated on his original post, he was referring to Moncton, specifically.

Not trying to speak for kgc, but that's just what I interpreted.

Anyway, welcome to the province, and to the thread!

[RyanNS]

Originally Posted by dsim249

^ From what what I gathered, kgc's was referring to parts of the Maritimes aside from Halifax, which he praised. If you read his second post, where he elaborated on his original post, he was referring to Moncton, specifically.

Not trying to speak for kgc, but that's just what I interpreted.

Anyway, welcome to the province, and to the thread!

Oops, sorry I missed his second post but after reading it I agree completly. I spent a lot of time in Moncton when my girlfriend was working there and kgc's description of the city, and N.B. as well, was spot on.

IMO Saskatoon is leaps and bounds ahead of Moncton in terms of progressivness, vibrancy and overall liveability.

It's unfortunate that so many people have such a negative preconcieved sterotype of Saskatoon, and Saskatchewan for that matter. Both myself and my girlfriend have been more than pleasantly suprised since arriving in Saskatchewan and are looking forward to spending many more years in this beautiful province.

[milanboy]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

...If there's any interest from businesses, perhaps the City would convert a stall or two of the store front parking during the summer (open the stalls to cars during the winter...) for outdoor lounges, cafes.

And there is a sort of precident for this already on Broadway as the city allows Nino's to convert most of its parking lot every summer to an outdoor seating ... which is ironically when the parking is most needed. But that is another rant.

[milanboy]

Originally Posted by Country

...I haven't heard what's happening with the SaskPower Building. I wish it would be replaced with something prominent for that corner. I really do not like that building....

I am of two minds on the SaskPower Building. It is an example of an architectural style of which the city has very little. Unfortunately it is a style that is currently very much out of vogue. I can imagine a time when we rue the day of its demise when the significance of the building design is recognized.

That said I could see something amazing happening if the city library were to build on that property and extend its building under the existing Sturdy Stone parkade linking it with the existing library building. No one would miss that bleak bit of parking on the main level of the Sturdy Stone.

I'm not sure of the form but I imagine something squeezing itself to get under Sturdy Stone and then exploding onto the 22nd Street and Fourth Avenue corner is some amazing Ghery-esque way. It has the potential to be a pretty amazing piece of iconic architecture if done with abandon.

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by RyanNS

It's funny you write this as I've recently relocated from Halifax to Northern SK and am getting quite familiar with Saskatoon. Most my interaction with residents of Saskatoon thus far has been superficial for the most part as my main reason for spending time in Saskatoon is shopping or dining related. I can't really say I noticed any great difference between the mindset of Saskatoon or Halifax at this point. I don't want to get into city vs. city comparision here so I'll just post some initial observations and leave it at that.

Overall I find Halifax to be much more cosmopolitan and vibrant then Saskatoon. Of course Halifax is about twice the size of Saskatoon so this is to be expected. When people from the Maritimes ask me about Saskatoon my typical reply is, bigger than Moncton, smaller than Halifax. Also dining and shopping options in Saskatoon seem to be much more limited. Generally speaking I find Western Canada to be much more embracing of cookie cutter, chain restaurants as opposed to locally owned, independant which seems more popular in Halifax. You have to remember that Halifax and Saskatoon are historically different cultures. The Scottish/Irish/English culture is blatantly obvious in Halifax and there is definitely a Celtic way of thinking which I'm sure would seem different to someone from the Praries.

Anyways I love spending time in Saskatoon and look forwards to all my time spent there. I actually hope to transfer there within the next two years and am keeping my fingers crossed. Sorry to turn this into a Saskatoon vs. Halifax thing. Both are awesome cities in their own right. Just don't get me started on Saskatoon vs. Regina

I agree with you on this. Halifax is fantastic! More cosmo b/c of the increased size. But I was referring to the rest of the Maritimes which are lacking in every way. There are more chains in the west, BUT from my travels throughout the west, Saskatoon seems to have the best ones out of all the ones in Western Canada. As well Saskatoon has some EPIC local restaurants...I'm a bit of a foodie, good dining is important. Check out Calories, Souleio, Sushiro, Taverna...some of my fave places

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

@ Country...downtown post office next to Stantec

Ah, of course! I guess I was up posting past my bedtime again...

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by milanboy

I am of two minds on the SaskPower Building. It is an example of an architectural style of which the city has very little. Unfortunately it is a style that is currently very much out of vogue. I can imagine a time when we rue the day of its demise when the significance of the building design is recognized.

That said I could see something amazing happening if the city library were to build on that property and extend its building under the existing Sturdy Stone parkade linking it with the existing library building. No one would miss that bleak bit of parking on the main level of the Sturdy Stone.

I'm not sure of the form but I imagine something squeezing itself to get under Sturdy Stone and then exploding onto the 22nd Street and Fourth Avenue corner is some amazing Ghery-esque way. It has the potential to be a pretty amazing piece of iconic architecture if done with abandon.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we shouldn't expect anything grand for the library, it will probably take 10+ years to build b/c of funding. For whatever reason the provincial gov. doesn't find it necessary to increase library funding. It's been the same since ~1950! Maybe the city should start a fundraising campaign?

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by kgc087

The Arthur Cooke isn't anything amazing, but it def has it's heritage kept which is a positive. The Shift reno is outstanding! These people really have a vision for Saskatoon and once they establish themselves will probably be a main player in the cities development. It's a bit concerning though to talk about companies "relocating" from downtown to Riversdale. To me they should be relocating from 8th or something. It would be great to see a new head office come into Saskatoon, then perhaps the 12 story office building could be constructed since it would have a tenant.

It can't be anything other than an improvement from how it looks now--it's not much of a looker at the moment. A lot of the windows are covered up and the building has a pretty run down feel (much like the A&B Sound building before Zu.com brought it back to life). They have started on the reno's on the inside though as there's a big dumpster and portable fencing setup at the back door.

[Echoes]

For anybody that might be interested, the Functional Program for the Art Gallery of Saskatchewan is available in a .pdf on the Mendel's website.

http://www.mendel.ca/files/AGSFunctionalPlanforwebsite.pdf

I just browsed through it myself, but it has some neat schematics illustrating the space and facility requirements of the new gallery. Also, there's an interesting explanation of the planned Perehudoff Room - which will house the Perehudoff murals salvaged from the Mitchell's plant.

Judging from this, it seems like a top notch framework is in place for the interior functional requirements of the gallery - it will be an outstanding facility I'm sure. Still, I'm a bit fearful that corners will be cut on the exterior architecture. But maybe not, I have been pleasantly surprised before.

[Temperance]

I like the idea of the rooftop sculpture garden. If River Landing comes to fruition that will be a great space one day.

[Morogolus]

I notice on page 19 they have a schematic of future Landing and that there is a restaurant/pub on there.

I've always wanted a place where you go for a drink and sit on a large patio overlooking the river and I think it's ridiculous that we live in a city with a beautiful river running through the middle of it and we don't have something like that. The Messwasin is nice and I have no problem with all the cute girls walking around all the time but it sort of Humphrey Bogarts the entire river bank. I hope they can make this happen sooner rather than like 2014 or some stupid thing and put some kind of Earls-like place there.

[Ruckus]

^ I think the 'future feature building' just west of the Traffic Bridge is slated to be a restaurant or pub. That would be a busy place 12 months of the year

[Echoes]

^ Yes, that will be a fantastic location once open.

However, it will be later rather than sooner before we see the "feature building" with the restaurant/pub go up. It is the intention of the City to wait for the majority of construction on Parcel Y to finish before issuing an RFP for the feature building. Just so that construction of the two don't conflict with each other, I assume.

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

^ I think the 'future feature building' just west of the Traffic Bridge is slated to be a restaurant or pub. That would be a busy place 12 months of the year

The reason no developer is taking it on is b/c there is no place for parking, it's really unfortunate Saskatoon is so auto oriented b/c Riverlanding is more pedestrian, transit oriented, so it's looking like it's hard for it to fully develop b/c of that. Maybe with all the additional underground parking someone will create a beautiful building terraced out of the riverbank.

The AGS sounds great! I think it will be a great addition. I really hope they incorporate aboriginal architecture as well as deconstructivism which seems to be turning into the modern Canadian style.

[Echoes]

^ Yes, good point about the current lack of parking there. But just to be clear, the City is holding back for a bit from pushing the immediate construction of the Feature Building. That's to come a bit later in the area's development.