Saskatoon Construction

[drm310]

Looks great, my partner and I will have to check out 302 sometime soon!

[kgc087]

Unfortunately I will not be BUT I hope you all report back to me how it is. I want all the dirty details from everything you love and hate! Deal?

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by dsim249

I saw this orange steel tower thingy while I was heading North over the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge. Can someone help me identify what it was?

Tower crane for the Holiday Inn at 22nd & Pacific. I know it's been a while since there's been one downtown...

[socialisthorde]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

Hi folks:

...
I DON'T want to get political
...

Don't then.

[Ricopedra]

Hello, Saskatonians!

I don't post much, but I check in from time to time and get updates on my old hometown. So, thanks everyone, for keeping up the dialogue, and your hopes and dreams for the city.

I would like to comment on one disturbing trend, however, and maybe you guys can shed some more light on this situation: Would you say that there is a definite shift of the underprivileged riffraff from Riversdale up towards 33rd Street? As the farmers market succeeds, the old hotels on 20th disappear, etc, it seems the 'elements' are just shifting northward. I know I'm talking about problems as old as civilization, but I just wish....

I was born and raised in Mayfair. When I was a kid there were high school gangs and local toughs, and outdoor rinks, and 100's of kids on Halloween. But you'd never worry about getting shanked! Hooking on 33rd now? Could it be true? Do any of you venture into that part of town? Ha... ha...

[lbird]

Originally Posted by Ricopedra

Hello, Saskatonians!

I don't post much, but I check in from time to time and get updates on my old hometown. So, thanks everyone, for keeping up the dialogue, and your hopes and dreams for the city.

I would like to comment on one disturbing trend, however, and maybe you guys can shed some more light on this situation: Would you say that there is a definite shift of the underprivileged riffraff from Riversdale up towards 33rd Street? As the farmers market succeeds, the old hotels on 20th disappear, etc, it seems the 'elements' are just shifting northward. I know I'm talking about problems as old as civilization, but I just wish....

I was born and raised in Mayfair. When I was a kid there were high school gangs and local toughs, and outdoor rinks, and 100's of kids on Halloween. But you'd never worry about getting shanked! Hooking on 33rd now? Could it be true? Do any of you venture into that part of town? Ha... ha...

I'm not optimistic about Mayfair, to be honest. Caswell seems to have a relatively bright future with better housing stock, urban pioneer types and better access to downtown, not to mention the city has decided to spend a lot of money developing 'south Caswell' near 22nd. However, Mayfair doesn't have these advantages and, like you said, will likely get a lot of the displaced residents from Riversdale, King George and Pleasant Hill as those areas continue to gentrify and Mayfair continues to provide lots of cheap rental housing.

Also, in a city that has seen a lot of positive developments, 33rd has been a real laggard, full of closed stores and little new development. The only redeeming factor will be if SIAST decides to develop the area with residences or other ideas, but I haven't heard anything of that type.

[GTR200]

The health sciences addition is almost finished.





The crane on the corner on 22nd street and Pacific.

[TheCricket]

I heard something this morning which might be of interest to those in the Willowgrove area... apparently rumour has it that an A & W is going in up there, as well, a Safeway!?!?

The other tidbit I heard last week, totally non-related is that the Ex will not be in place for the next two years. One of the organizers said the contract for the midway has been omitted for the next two years in light of the new bridge construction. Not sure why that has to interfere with the midway and such, but it was just a rumour from one of the organizers. Anyone know anything more about this? I would have thought they might relocate it if need be, but apparently not. I thought it odd to shut the Ex down for two years, but who knows??

[blueboy9]

I heard something this morning which might be of interest to those in the Willowgrove area... apparently rumour has it that an A & W is going in up there, as well, a Safeway!?!?

The other tidbit I heard last week, totally non-related is that the Ex will not be in place for the next two years. One of the organizers said the contract for the midway has been omitted for the next two years in light of the new bridge construction. Not sure why that has to interfere with the midway and such, but it was just a rumour from one of the organizers. Anyone know anything more about this? I would have thought they might relocate it if need be, but apparently not. I thought it odd to shut the Ex down for two years, but who knows??

I'm guessing you're referring to University Heights Square.. so that makes the list look like this:

A&W
Safeway
Tim Hortons
Shell Gas Station
CIBC
KFC
Shoppers Drug Mart

Anyone else hear of any other tenant signings? I'm hoping the rumored 2nd Earls' location is going to be there.

[Danish]

Actually, I had heard a while ago that the rumored 2nd Earls location was going to be in Stonebridge.

[Echoes]

A Colliers McClocklin press release from July 20th on the Saskatoon office market is an encouraging report, but with no big news for us SSPers. Read it here.

Of note:
- Vacancy of Class A office space is at an all time low of 0.59%
- River Landing Village is "planning to proceed as early as spring 2011"
- 2seven5 is in "predevelopment" (meaning what exactly? Still searching for tenants methinks)
- "Other developers are displaying interest in constructing new office towers in downtown Saskatoon but to date nothing has been confirmed."
- Ken Achs is moving forward with his 4 storey office building next to the Modern Press. One surface parking lot bites the dust.
- Occupancy of the Arthur Cook expected in late 2010 (seems so soon!)

[TheCricket]

The second Earl's is indeed showing on the plans for Stonebridge, across the roadway from Tony Roma's and A & W.

Originally Posted by Danish

Actually, I had heard a while ago that the rumored 2nd Earls location was going to be in Stonebridge.

[Ruckus]

1 - Blobitecture.


2 Closed on-ramp...open for cyclists.


3 Active use!


4


5 Arthur Cook Building.


6


7 22nd Street.


8 Can't you read the signs?

[Stormer]

The big crane, is that for the new Holiday Inn?

[Echoes]

^ You betcha.

Anyone with a camera looking for a cool shot of the crane I like the view of it from 22nd and 3rd Ave looking west. The crane acts as a sort of visual terminus to 22nd St. and is nicely framed between the buildings on that street. A bit of a preview of how the hotel might be framed as a visual terminus for 22nd Street.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Country

^ You betcha.

Anyone with a camera looking for a cool shot of the crane I like the view of it from 22nd and 3rd Ave looking west. The crane acts as a sort of visual terminus to 22nd St. and is nicely framed between the buildings on that street. A bit of a preview of how the hotel might be framed as a visual terminus for 22nd Street.

Definitely with you on that. The hotel will fill in that terminus, and add some depth to the curve of 22nd Street.

I posted this shot from 4th Avenue several months ago.


And from April 2007...

1


2


3


4

[circle33]

Another nice view or Mr. Crane comes from the top of the B'way Bridge (north side). I'd take a pic were I in town.

[kgc087]

So I really think 22nd street needs a HUGE overhaul. the centre median should be widened with the addition of a raised planter. Bike lanes should be installed and the street should be made 2 lanes. If there are three then one lane should be a bus lane only. Along the sidewalk they should put in trees and just low planters. If the city did this up only part way to stimulate a gentrification it would greatly aid the one already taking place along 20th. I think this is a prime opportunity for d/t to almost begin to expand its borders for high density condos etc beyond idylwyld.

[Echoes]

The full agenda for City Council's Aug. 18 meeting available here.

Of note in the agenda are recommendations:

- To grant a 1 year extension for Station 20 West to begin construction

- That following the opening of the new AGS and the subsequent closure of the Mendel, that the City retain ownership of the Mendel site, continue to operate the Civic Conservatory from there and, in 2011, the Administration begin determining a re-use of the building and grounds as part of an integrated master plan development for Kinsmen Park

- That plans for the AGS be changed to include 800 sq. m. of additional floor space for future gallery expansion, and that a second level of underground parking be added

- That City Council approve in principal the "Vacant Lot Development and Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program" and that Administration be directed to prepare a policy based on the vacant lot report

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Country

The full agenda for City Council's Aug. 18 meeting available here.

Of note in the agenda are recommendations:

- To grant a 1 year extension for Station 20 West to begin construction

- That following the opening of the new AGS and the subsequent closure of the Mendel, that the City retain ownership of the Mendel site, continue to operate the Civic Conservatory from there and, in 2011, the Administration begin determining a re-use of the building and grounds as part of an integrated master plan development for Kinsmen Park

- That plans for the AGS be changed to include 800 sq. m. of additional floor space for future gallery expansion, and that a second level of underground parking be added

- That City Council approve in principal the "Vacant Lot Development and Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program" and that Administration be directed to prepare a policy based on the vacant lot report

That ties in with the City Centre Plan -- very cereal

Kinsmen Park does so many things very well. How might a new master plan address existing deficiencies -- aesthetics, functionality, safety, parking(ha) -- and strengthen the relationship between Kinsmen Park and the Mendel. I don't think mini-golf and lawn bowling will suffice

__________________

Another HQ crane shot (3rd Ave and 22nd St)