Saskatoon Construction

[Jerry]

New bridge idea

South end of ill-fated bridge could be lopped off: city report

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix November 16, 2010 3:15 AM


The Traffic Bridge shown Monday, including southernmost span which is entirely over ground
Photograph by: Greg Pender, The StarPhoenix, The StarPhoenix

Whether the Traffic Bridge is replaced or saved, the iconic structure could lose one of its five sections, the manager of the city's infrastructure services branch said Monday. [....]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/bridge+idea/3833972/story.html#ixzz15RyhYcKB

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by jrm857

Talking with people in the city, and looking at the future growth map, there seems to be nothing in terms of neighbourhood development south of stonebridge, the majority of growth will be on the north east ie past willowgrove and evergreen, the area between arbour creek and rosewood, and on the west side.

And as much as I agree that downtown hotel space needs to be emphasized,(i do agree more hotels downtown) we cannot take away the advantages of suburban hotels. I know many people, my parents included if they hotel in the city, the do not always want to be in downtown. Saskatoon is a transportation city, with many people going through it, and the suburban hotels are advantageous for people just passing through the city, as many are not interested in spending time in the downtown, they simply need a place to sleep.

I imagine that hotel will get well filled on the weekends during the winter with hockey teams that play in tournaments out at Jemini--it will be super close for them now. I would guess that they'll partner with The Willows and do golf stay and play packages in the summer too, or at least that's an idea they should think about if they haven't already .

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by lbird

Downtown development should concentrate on hotels, residential and entertainment in my view; it's not worth it for the few big companies that would make a difference to move to the core.

Every serious City needs to do whatever they can to keep head offices downtown. They are the lifeblood of a downtown. If big head offices are not located in the core, neither will law firms, accounting firms, stock brokers, banks, etc. As well all sorts of business travellers visit head offices. Without them everything suffers, from hotels to restaurants to retail.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by lbird

[...]

5) Anyone who thinks Cameco will move downtown in the near future should go through the 11th Street detour and see all of their brand new buildings with ample parking and space to expand. With the new south bridge, their campus will be a five-to-ten minute commute from the entire east side. Downtown development should concentrate on hotels, residential and entertainment in my view; it's not worth it for the few big companies that would make a difference to move to the core.

Cameco has a small presence in the former Bayside building (what do they call it now?). But on the whole, their peripheral location is a reality I have reluctantly accepted. The same is also true of Areva. Areva does not have as many employees as Cameco (maybe half as much), but their offices are scattered throughout the north end, most notably near the airport (for obvious reasons). I suspect the proposed airport business park will lead to further decline of downtown as a significant employment hub. It is rather unfortunate. Roughly estimating, those two firms employ at least 700, maybe 800 employees in the city.

Setting a goal to increase residential, hotel and entertainment development is not a terrible strategy for strengthening the character of downtown. In that sense I believe downtown will take on a functional form similar to Vancouver rather than a Calgary.

It still would be nice to have a greater HQ presence downtown. Thankfully BHP chose downtown over Innovation Place or some horribly isolated suburban business park.

[Devon]

City centres should ideally have it all. More office space downtown=more downtown residents=more of almost everything. I wonder what percentage of the residents of City Park and Downtown work Downtown? With the city consistently expanding, this should only increase.

[Yeff]

Originally Posted by Devon

City centres should ideally have it all. More office space downtown=more downtown residents=more of almost everything. I wonder what percentage of the residents of City Park and Downtown work Downtown? With the city consistently expanding, this should only increase.

I work and live downtown, and yes, feel very much that we are seriously lacking amenities. I still find myself driving all over the place (other than to work), which defeats the purpose. What we really need, is a Sobey's/Save On Foods Express downtown location like you see in the larger centres. Obviously in order to get that, we'd need the population in the core first to support it, but it ends up being a chicken and the egg situation. I tried to support Rexy's Uptown Market, but any of these independents just do not have the money to bring in enough of what people need to make a go of it.

[Devon]

Originally Posted by Yeff

I work and live downtown, and yes, feel very much that we are seriously lacking amenities. I still find myself driving all over the place (other than to work), which defeats the purpose. What we really need, is a Sobey's/Save On Foods Express downtown location like you see in the larger centres. Obviously in order to get that, we'd need the population in the core first to support it, but it ends up being a chicken and the egg situation. I tried to support Rexy's Uptown Market, but any of these independents just do not have the money to bring in enough of what people need to make a go of it.

I feel like both Saskatoon and Regina are in that unfortunate stage of downtown population where there just aren't enough people to support certain amenities like grocers, therefor many people won't make that move to the city centre until these amenities arrive. So there's a bit of a rut we have to overcome. Tax incentives and that type of thing definitely help, but only as long as the public are really aware of them.

Also, I thought I read/heard somewhere that Winnipeg doesn't even have a large grocery store downtown. Can any Winni-lurkers confirm this? Is it a hot issue?

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Every serious City needs to do whatever they can to keep head offices downtown. They are the lifeblood of a downtown. If big head offices are not located in the core, neither will law firms, accounting firms, stock brokers, banks, etc. As well all sorts of business travellers visit head offices. Without them everything suffers, from hotels to restaurants to retail.

Ya well.... we're not as serious as Regina... Okay?!

[bp832]

Also, I thought I read/heard somewhere that Winnipeg doesn't even have a large grocery store downtown. Can any Winni-lurkers confirm this? Is it a hot issue?

Although I haven't been there for two years, there was a fair sized grocery store in the basement of the Bay on Portage, across from the Investors Group building.

[kiwi4life]

Originally Posted by jrm857

Talking with people in the city, and looking at the future growth map, there seems to be nothing in terms of neighbourhood development south of stonebridge, the majority of growth will be on the north east ie past willowgrove and evergreen, the area between arbour creek and rosewood, and on the west side.

And as much as I agree that downtown hotel space needs to be emphasized,(i do agree more hotels downtown) we cannot take away the advantages of suburban hotels. I know many people, my parents included if they hotel in the city, the do not always want to be in downtown. Saskatoon is a transportation city, with many people going through it, and the suburban hotels are advantageous for people just passing through the city, as many are not interested in spending time in the downtown, they simply need a place to sleep.

alright thanks alot man, if you hear any news, would you be able to let us know, thanks, very much appreciate it

[Jerry]

City grants warehouse to U of S

John Deere building to house architecture school

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix November 17, 2010 3:11 AM


The John Deere building has been gifted to the University of Saskatchewan
Photograph by: Greg Pender, The StarPhoenix, The StarPhoenix


The city has gifted a 100-year-old historic downtown warehouse to the University of Saskatchewan to serve as the home of the proposed school of architecture. [....]


Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/City+grants+warehouse/3840486/story.html#ixzz15XDuPyi5

[kgc087]

Could there really be anymore exciting news?! I just submitted an article to the blog discussing the importance of having an urban setting for this college. Way to go!

[Jerry]

^ I just read that article Kelly. Good stuff

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by Yeff

I work and live downtown, and yes, feel very much that we are seriously lacking amenities. I still find myself driving all over the place (other than to work), which defeats the purpose. What we really need, is a Sobey's/Save On Foods Express downtown location like you see in the larger centres. Obviously in order to get that, we'd need the population in the core first to support it, but it ends up being a chicken and the egg situation. I tried to support Rexy's Uptown Market, but any of these independents just do not have the money to bring in enough of what people need to make a go of it.

The only thing we lack from living downtown is a grocery store and the rumor is we may get another one in the Uptown location.

Rexy said the population numbers downtown looked good to support the business but seems the word did not get out quick enough. We wished he would of had the capital to stay open for a few more months and he may have seen some of those numbers.

Other than that the farmers market is a short walk from anywhere downtown and Extra Foods is on Broadway.

We are very happy with what downtown has to offer and were able to rid ourselves of one vehicle. Our health has improved as we find ourselves walking everywhere and don't have the frustrations of traffic.

[WoodlandCritter]

Great news on the John Deere Building, greater possibility of this school coming into realization sooner. I was in the building this summer and took a ton of photos, quite nice inside. hopefully they hire a good firm to redesign and renovate it though. It is going to be a prominent building in the area.

[prairieguy]

Originally Posted by WoodlandCritter

Great news on the John Deere Building, greater possibility of this school coming into realization sooner. I was in the building this summer and took a ton of photos, quite nice inside. hopefully they hire a good firm to redesign and renovate it though. It is going to be a prominent building in the area.

I hope that there will be some inspiring reno's done, but still maintain the historical significance and aesthetic of the building. Perhaps something along the lines of what Meridian(?) had proposed for the Arthur Cooke building, which was unfortunately awarded to Northridge (IMO, the least creative of the 3 submissions under consideration). I think something that has some street appeal would be a nice assest and also function for the students (i.e. coffee/restaurant/lounge).

All in all good news!

[Echoes]

Great news to start my morning! The John Deere was always the speculated home of the school, but I didn't think it would become official this soon.

As the article points out, this puts the heat on the City to get the 25th Street extension underway. In a couple years with the police HQ and architecture school u/c the north downtown is going to be firing on all cylinders, just as the south downtown should be too!

[prairieguy]

I just heard on CBC newsworld a report that a Brazilian mining company is investing up to 10 billion dollars in 4 provinces in Canada to either update existing operations or build new. The story was light on details, but included Saskatchewan as one of the 4 provinces and said up to 3 billion was earmarked for this province for potash.

No idea if this has to do with existing operations or possibly a new greenfield....regardless, a 3 billion investment should translate into more jobs and possibly construction.

Good news for the province and hopefully some spin-off for Saskatoon??

If anyone has any more info about this, I would appreciate it being posted. Sorry my info on this is so limited, but just caught the tail end of this news story.

[dsim249]

^
Vale to spend $10B on Canadian operations

"...Vale is also evaluating a potash development project in Saskatchewan that could cost $2.5 billion to $3 billion..."


Source

[ninipanini]

Great news about the architecture school! It would be great to see the U of S really try and develop a second "campus" downtown. Along with the commerce college, I think there are a lot of opportunities for other disciplines that don't require the traditional university facilities (hard sciences with specialized labs etc...). Can't wait to see this get off the ground!