Saskatoon Construction

[vyllym]

Originally Posted by gowest

Council got it right this time on bridge options. Well some of you think that cars should not be allowed on the bridge, I don't agree. Certainly there are many people who use the bridge to walk/cycle to and from work, I don't think many of them use it in the winter months, they drive or take a bus instead. Those who walk up the Broadway bridge are not going to take the traffic bridge unless they live west of Broadway, so the numbers who walk to work will not greatly increase if there are no vehicles. It would be great to have a ped/bike bridge, but when you take the volume of cars, the weather and the important location, the city must build a bridge that will meet all the requirements needed to move people in all manners in an efficient way. As far a design, keep it close to what it is as it is an important part of our history.

Well said, Gowest. I think that a replacement bridge should have wide bike lanes included separate from pedestrians, but traffic MUST be allowed on the bridge. It is simply too important of a link between the sides of the city to get rid of, and even more so when other bridges are closed, as we have seen this year and in 2007. As for pedestrian/cyclist only bridge, isn't there still the idea of building one at the weir floating around?

[drm310]

Bridge options defined
Council sets four possibilities for future look of Traffic Bridge

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix
September 14, 2010 9:29 AM


Saskatoon city council trimmed the Traffic Bridge options down to four on Monday, eliminating the possibility of a future bridge that doesn't include motor vehicles.

"The fact of the matter is as this process goes forward, I do not want to have people dealing with options that are really not realistic options," said Coun. Glen Penner, whose motion to narrow the options was supported in a tight 6-5 vote.

"When this process began the bridge was operating," he said, but with the bridge closed indefinitely, the situation has gone from "theoretical to practical."

Coun. Charlie Clark accused some of his counterparts of "sideswiping" the public process by narrowing the options before a public open house Wednesday is set to reveal drawings and cost breakdowns of the original 10 bridge options and gather opinion.

"It's amazing to me that we would even have this discussion right now and go out of our way to sideswipe the process that is underway," Clark said. "We've told the community we want to hear from them. . . . The damage that is done by having this discussion right now is far worse than whatever benefit we're going to have.

"I just don't understand this form of civic leadership."

Mayor Don Atchison, who voted in favour of the motion with councillors Penner, Gord Wyant, Myles Heidt, Maurice Neault and Pat Lorje, defended the decision to narrow the options as necessary so the public knows where council stands.

"I was elected to make decisions," said Neault. "Things have changed since these 10 options were brought forth . . . . I'm sorry to tell you today that she's rusted out, she's shot."

Only two options were supported by councillors who spoke: Replace the structure with an estimated $25-million modern steel truss bridge or restore it for $27-million to last another 80 years.

Several councillors have indicated that an expensive $60-million signature bridge and a basic concrete bridge, two of the options still on the table, also aren't being realistically considered.

The decision on narrowing options eliminates the possibility of demolition, a $31-million landscaped bridge park or a $34-million signature pedestrian bridge.

The central debate now pits the value of restoring the Traffic Bridge, an iconic part of the city landscape, against replacing it with a modern replica with wider lanes for less money.

All of the options, including restoration, are expected to have an equal lifespan of 80 years.

The length of time it will take to complete either option hasn't precisely been determined, infrastructure manager Mike Gutek said, but would likely take two construction seasons.

The bridge will likely have to be paid for through borrowing, council heard.

Both replacement and refurbishment options involve installing three-metre-wide walkways on each side of the bridge.

The traffic lanes on a new bridge would be 3.7 metres wide while restoring the current structure keeps the lanes at 2.9 metres, which many say is too narrow.

Heidt said he supports replacing the bridge with a new, modern structure similar to the existing bridge but with wider lanes and attached walkways.

"With a replacement bridge, at least I know when I build new what I've got," Heidt said in an interview.

"I don't want to forget the history of that bridge and we want to be able to find a way to preserve elements of it so we don't lose the history."

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[GTR200]

Does anyone know when Lake Placid has to start building by? It seems like there is no news on this project.

[rrskylar]

Lobsinger and Lake Placid are still waiting for one more signature before they can start filling their three year old hole in the ground as ordered by the city of Calgary. Seriously the more I read about Lake Placid the more I wonder how the city of Saskatoon got suckered in by these charlatans, listing your 8000 sq. ft. office as one of your only two major projects on your company's website should have been a sign.

[vyllym]

rrskylar, stop trolling and get a life.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by vyllym

rrskylar, stop trolling and get a life.

^ This coming from someone with a whopping 14 posts!! Wow! How much do you want to bet that Lake Flacid can't even come up with the capital to fill their sink hole in Calgary, this company is just about done!

[Morogolus]

I really don't think he's really trolling. I mean obviously the Lake Placid deal is dead for like the 8th time. They must be in some serious financial trouble if they are still not able to get the money together even with Mr. Nassar involved. Seems like nothing but a bunch of con artists working there. I look forward to their deadline coming when we can finally move on.

It's just another plot to add to our ever expanding dead development cemetery. I don't know why Saskatoon's downtown is so cursed. With this so called booming economy that we've had for the last 5 years, it shouldn't be this hard to attract some reputable developers to build something downtown. I look at projects like The Bow in Calgary and feel almost embarrassed.

Another thing, the Traffic Bridge needs to be able to carry cars. People in this board may want to live in this Utopian society where everyone rides around in bikes and walks everywhere but it's not going to happen in Saskatoon. People here are lazy and it's there's snow on the ground 6-7 months of the year.

[vyllym]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

^ This coming from someone with a whopping 14 posts!! Wow! How much do you want to bet that Lake Flacid can't even come up with the capital to fill their sink hole in Calgary, this company is just about done!

whatever, i've been lurking here pretty consistently for 3 years, and i guarantee i have a much better understanding of the factors at work in saskatoon than you do (as you do for winnipeg).

that being said, it is pretty obvious that lake placid is pretty much dead in the water and has been for some time. i know that, and i'm pretty sure most of the people who post here do also. whenever i see you posting here its ALWAYS to trash lake placid and to call into question the intelligence of anyone who thinks it could happen, so could you PLEASE post something constructive, or nothing at all.

/endflamewar

[shmakim]

Perhaps the most pathetic thing in all this Lake Placid saga is that they're the only ones who have come forward. For all our complaining and dares to just dump them already, if we act on that, we're back to where we've already been - soliciting bids for an empty piece of land. LP was the only one that responded to an RFP.

But I gotta admit, even a vibrating supporter like me is getting tired of the silent standstill.

[WoodlandCritter]

personally, as much as i love heritage and historical structures the bridge has been looking like its been beyond repair for some time. For the amounts of money they are talking about I say tear it down, and build a signature bridge. sure its gonna cost a little more, but having something strikingly beautiful along the river will pay tenfold years down the road!...... as long as they don't keep the LED lights and add them to the new bridge haha

[drm310]

Well, perhaps the city is going to have to admit defeat and scale back its expectations. The RFP requirements stated back in 2007 were (source):

Priority 1 Essential Elements (must be in proposal)

• Street-level retail
• Restaurant(s)
• Destination attraction/public gathering place

Priority 2 Important Elements (additional points scored)

• Residential housing
• Hotel
• Public parking in addition to requirements under DCD1 (additional parking allocated for public use in conjunction with a permitted use under DCD1)

Priority 3 Allowable Uses (no additional points scored)

• All other uses allowed under DCD1

If only one developer met their requirements, and it can't make a go of it, then perhaps the requirements are too stringent. We may have to give up something in order to attract other interest.

Originally Posted by shmakim

Perhaps the most pathetic thing in all this Lake Placid saga is that they're the only ones who have come forward. For all our complaining and dares to just dump them already, if we act on that, we're back to where we've already been - soliciting bids for an empty piece of land. LP was the only one that responded to an RFP.

But I gotta admit, even a vibrating supporter like me is getting tired of the silent standstill.

[Wyku]

From what I've heard the Mayor continually say in his weekly talks with Brent Loucks, the main sticking point for the city and the developers seems to be the underground parking. The city expects the developer to pay for it and the developers feel the city should pay for it (it's in the neighbourhood of $50 million somehow). Lake Placid was the only one that went forward with actually putting it in as part of their package.

[macca]

Construction has begun on the new Meridian office building on 2nd ave adjacent to the Modern Press building.

Also, work continues on the site on 2nd ave near 22nd that was/is SaskTel's parking lot. If it continues to be their parking lot, we should mobilize a few thousand people to drop their service and switch to a competitor.

[macca]

Saskatonians reassured about Lake Placid project
City says no need to worry about $200 million development


ShareThisReported By Chris Carr
Posted September 14, 2010 - 5:43pm

We're getting assurances that Saskatonians will not be looking at a big hole in the ground three years from now where a major development is suppose to be.

That's what people living next a proposed Lake Placid development in Calgary have been doing. The City of Calgary recently ordered the developer to fill in an excavation hole when a project there failed to get off the ground after a three-year delay.

Saskatoon's River Landing project manager Sandi Shultz says the city's agreement with Lake Placid's Michael Lobsinger is specific.

"Before any construction can occur, Mr. Lobsinger has to provide proof from a financial institution or some other lender he has the finances in place to be able to provide the foundation," said Shultz.

That includes the underground parkade for the $200 million hotel and retail complex. The clock is still ticking on that deadline set back in June. If he meets that deadline, the title for the land will be handed over and the shovels hit the dirt.

"But he can not start construction until we are comfortable he has the finances in place," said Shultz.

Once the shovels hit the dirt, Lobsinger will have 18 months to complete the parkade.

www.newstalk650.com

[rrskylar]

^ NOV 1, 2010 is coming fast, the date set by none other than Michael Gobslinger and Lake Flacid as a worst case scenario, this coming from a clown who won't even have the capital to fill in a hole he dug 3 years ago in Calgary.

Saskatoon city council dropped the ball big time on this one and should have sought other proposals two years ago, in the meantime a prime piece of real estate sits vacant!

[drm310]

Is that the empty lot between the Macro Building and the Granger Building?

Originally Posted by macca

Also, work continues on the site on 2nd ave near 22nd that was/is SaskTel's parking lot. If it continues to be their parking lot, we should mobilize a few thousand people to drop their service and switch to a competitor.

[macca]

Originally Posted by drm310

Is that the empty lot between the Macro Building and the Granger Building?

That's the one.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by macca

Construction has begun on the new Meridian office building on 2nd ave adjacent to the Modern Press building.

Also, work continues on the site on 2nd ave near 22nd that was/is SaskTel's parking lot. If it continues to be their parking lot, we should mobilize a few thousand people to drop their service and switch to a competitor.

It had better, better, better NOT be just work to pave/improve their parking lot. Creating (and leaving) a gaping hole like that in the streetwall on one of our main downtown streets is irresponsible to the community, and was done at the hands of one of our Crown corporations.

Also, I saw a fairly simple front elevation of the Mid-West/Meridian building a couple months back. It looked pretty classy.

[circle33]

I don't know what it means, but they are working both vacant lots in unison whereas up to now only the southernmost one had been used for Sasktel parking.

[acron]

Originally Posted by Morogolus

I really don't think he's really trolling. I mean obviously the Lake Placid deal is dead for like the 8th time. They must be in some serious financial trouble if they are still not able to get the money together even with Mr. Nassar involved. Seems like nothing but a bunch of con artists working there. I look forward to their deadline coming when we can finally move on.

It's just another plot to add to our ever expanding dead development cemetery. I don't know why Saskatoon's downtown is so cursed. With this so called booming economy that we've had for the last 5 years, it shouldn't be this hard to attract some reputable developers to build something downtown. I look at projects like The Bow in Calgary and feel almost embarrassed.

Another thing, the Traffic Bridge needs to be able to carry cars. People in this board may want to live in this Utopian society where everyone rides around in bikes and walks everywhere but it's not going to happen in Saskatoon. People here are lazy and it's there's snow on the ground 6-7 months of the year.

the funny thing is that the Bow also had issues with their developer. I believe their developer went bankrupt in 2008 during the recession, and Encana had to buy back the project and develop it themselves lol... I think everything will be okay in the long term. Assuming Lake Placid fails, the standard has abeen set for what people expect on that land. Eventually someone will build something equally impressive there. I'll bet if the city tendered that project again we'd get a couple of good submissions. This isn't 2006. Today Saskatoon is seen as a legitimate place for long term growth in population and economy by the developers across North America. It will all come together, but I understand everyone's frustration.