Saskatoon Construction

[kgc087]

I like your riverwalk idea a lot Ruckus! This would be a huge injection of people to the downtown and really promote density. I don't think the lost greenspace is anything significant seeing as it's just mowed grass right now with no users except the geese during the year. This could potentially even be a sort of eco-village like the one at Riverlanding and has the potential to tie in with the Kinsmen Park/Mendal masterplan. I think this idea deserves more thought and should potentially be proposed to council. Would you mind if I wrote about it in my blog for Saskatoon Speaks?

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

Here's my latest 'big idea' for a 21st Century 'human scaled' Saskatoon.

This is a really cool idea. I love cities with canals, large or small. The shopping, eating, socializing, and living is wonderful in these locations. If the city was truly serious about create an "attraction," your idea would be high on the list.

Unfortunately, I think the city restricts construction below a certain elevation on the riverbank in accordance with their 100 year flood plan, but I could be mistaken.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by kgc087

I like your riverwalk idea a lot Ruckus! This would be a huge injection of people to the downtown and really promote density. I don't think the lost greenspace is anything significant seeing as it's just mowed grass right now with no users except the geese during the year. This could potentially even be a sort of eco-village like the one at Riverlanding and has the potential to tie in with the Kinsmen Park/Mendal masterplan. I think this idea deserves more thought and should potentially be proposed to council. Would you mind if I wrote about it in my blog for Saskatoon Speaks?

Don't forget the loss of asphalt for motorists!

I would not mind at all if you shared it with others through your blog

[drm310]

Looks cool in theory, but since the parclo interchange is gone, I can already hear the uproar from motorists over the loss of vehicle movements.

Originally Posted by Ruckus

Here's my latest 'big idea' for a 21st Century 'human scaled' Saskatoon. I modeled it after San Antonio's River Walk. Now, because I'm not a civil engineer I don't know if this is technically feasible. As for the cost...probably a couple hundred million

The buildings would be mixed use, terraced 4-8 storeys, and linked through a network of pedestrian bridges and pathways running along both sides of the waterway. Controlling the rise and fall of the waterway relative to the river may prove too difficult and prohibitively expensive. As an aside, it might actually remain ice free during the winter months given the river is ice free on the west side due to the outflow from QE power station.

[Jerry]

Another view of downtown development. I had never thought of the impact Innovation Place may be having on our downtown core.

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Five problems, five opportunities for downtown development
— Phill Elenko (guest blog)


By davidhutton Fri, Nov 19 2010 COMMENTS(0) Saskatoon Speaks

Filed under: Downtown, Phill Elenko
Phill Elenko, a partner at ICR Commercial Real Estate with 30 years experience, followed up last weekend's story on downtown density with his personal thoughts on city centre development.

Here they are: [...]

Read More:

[Echoes]

I thought I'd sit down and try and make a comprehensive list of all the civic initiatives and investment in the downtown and city centre that is currently underway or in the planning stages. Listed all together, I think it's staggering the amount of public dollars that are going into things that will directly or indirectly affect the downtown and city centre:

- River Landing
- Art Gallery of Saskatchewan
- Traffic Bridge rehabilitation or reconstruction
- 3rd Avenue streetscaping
- Gifting of John Deere Building for school of architecture
- 25th Street extension
- Police Station
- Removal of bus barns and city yards
- North Downtown master plan
- South Caswell Concept Plan
- Vacant lot development strategy
- Kinsmen Park/Mendel redevelopment
- Expansion or relocation of downtown transit mall
- Library expansion
- Sale of Arthur Cook Building for redevelopment
- City Centre Plan
- Culture Plan
- Saskatoon Speaks
- Broadway 360

All this together is going to make an incredible impact on our city centre. Imagine what things will look like after all these things come to fruition!

Can anyone think of others I've missed?

[Ruckus]

^ That's impressive! These are more on the fringe, but I think the Pleasant Hill revitalization, Station 20 West, and the whitewater/hydro project will have a transformative impact on the city centre too.

Originally Posted by drm310

Looks cool in theory, but since the parclo interchange is gone, I can already hear the uproar from motorists over the loss of vehicle movements.

The tragic reality in this town. From my superficial observations of traffic volumes through that interchange I don't believe it is essential for access into and out of downtown. Do you know if it was established when the Bridge was completed, or was it a later addition?

The canal village could be equally enchanting if it bumped up against the Mendel by taking over Shakespeare, parking lots, etc. I also think Victoria Park could comfortably accommodate a canal village. However, it is not an ideal location because of its distance to downtown. On the other hand, it avoids punishing oppressed motorists. Compromise.

[kgc087]

I really think this is an outstanding list! The city really needs to focus on bringing head offices into the city core or it will impact development regardless of how much public dollars are being dumped into it. One thing I think needs a TON of work is Idylwyld Drive, it needs to be pedestrianized and have centre medians put in. This would also help define the downtown boarders. I was told by a city councilor that this hasn't happened yet b/c of heavy semi traffic but once the south bridge is constructed the city can begin to look at the rehabilitation of this road.

[Echoes]

^ Good point, the completion of Circle Drive South is bound to have a big impact on traffic on Idylwyld. I look forward to the redevelopment of that road, if and when it happens. A rehab of Idylwyld would speed up gentrification in Riversdale, Caswell, and the Warehouse District too. Any way that it can be made less of a physical (and psychological) barrier between those neighbourhoods and downtown would be very beneficial for those areas. I'm thinking "grand boulevard" concept for it?

I guess we can add Circle Drive South to the list of public projects that will have an impact on our city centre.

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Echoes

^ Good point, the completion of Circle Drive South is bound to have a big impact on traffic on Idylwyld. I look forward to the redevelopment of that road, if and when it happens. A rehab of Idylwyld would speed up gentrification in Riversdale, Caswell, and the Warehouse District too. Any way that it can be made less of a physical (and psychological) barrier between those neighbourhoods and downtown would be very beneficial for those areas. I'm thinking "grand boulevard" concept for it?

I guess we can add Circle Drive South to the list of public projects that will have an impact on our city centre.

Good point! It will have a massive impact on the downtown which is great! I would love to see a boulevard that is maybe twice the size of the 25th street one put in here, then have double rows of trees along the sidewalks with vintage lighting installed and decorative grates. A banner program could also be implemented and calls for public art at each intersection corner that is an entry to downtown. I think even going as far as rezoning some areas to accomodate more residential and smaller retail should be in order as well. Perhaps an urban forest could be another initiative with the warehouse district and this could be a main artery connecting it to the river. Just some possibilities!

[ninipanini]

Originally Posted by kgc087

Perhaps an urban forest could be another initiative with the warehouse district and this could be a main artery connecting it to the river. Just some possibilities!

I really like that idea! There are some nice park "connectors" over by Lakewood civic centre that I used to walk around when I lived in the burbs. They actually did a nice job putting in some green space between the houses.

[drm310]

I don't know, honestly. I looked through my local history books and found nothing specifically about those roadways. If I had to guess, Spadina and 25th probably started as an at-grade intersection when the bridge was built. A logical time period for the interchange would have been in the 1960s when the Mendel was built.

Originally Posted by Ruckus

The tragic reality in this town. From my superficial observations of traffic volumes through that interchange I don't believe it is essential for access into and out of downtown. Do you know if it was established when the Bridge was completed, or was it a later addition?

The canal village could be equally enchanting if it bumped up against the Mendel by taking over Shakespeare, parking lots, etc. I also think Victoria Park could comfortably accommodate a canal village. However, it is not an ideal location because of its distance to downtown. On the other hand, it avoids punishing oppressed motorists. Compromise.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Cicero

This is a really cool idea. I love cities with canals, large or small. The shopping, eating, socializing, and living is wonderful in these locations. If the city was truly serious about create an "attraction," your idea would be high on the list.

Unfortunately, I think the city restricts construction below a certain elevation on the riverbank in accordance with their 100 year flood plan, but I could be mistaken.

That's a classy looking city! (...new avatar )

I think you're right about the floodplain. They should remove that restriction, or at least review it...

Originally Posted by drm310

I don't know, honestly. I looked through my local history books and found nothing specifically about those roadways. If I had to guess, Spadina and 25th probably started as an at-grade intersection when the bridge was built. A logical time period for the interchange would have been in the 1960s when the Mendel was built.

1960s...a terrible era for planning.

[kiwi4life]

good to hear some news on the traffic bridge, also good news on future development of our downtown, which we have been been waiting for patiently, i just noticed there is a pile rigger, out in stonebridge, across that small lake from the Wal-Mart, anyone know what this is?? i do believe behind it there, there are new residences being built, also has anyone heard any news about the rumoured Costco to be built there? if anyone does know this information, please inform us soon, thanks

[1ajs]

one sweet city here guys...................... curently using this free net thingy in ur downtown waiting for someone to replace their phone they left in moosejaw woops another great place

[dsim249]

^ Nice day for a tour around Saskatoon.
Then again, you would be no stranger to cold weather.

I'm sure we'd all be interested to see a S'toon photo thread from an outsiders view! Just don't freeze to death!

[neoen]

Originally Posted by kiwi4life

good to hear some news on the traffic bridge, also good news on future development of our downtown, which we have been been waiting for patiently, i just noticed there is a pile rigger, out in stonebridge, across that small lake from the Wal-Mart, anyone know what this is?? i do believe behind it there, there are new residences being built, also has anyone heard any news about the rumoured Costco to be built there? if anyone does know this information, please inform us soon, thanks

thats a park being built behind the walmart, with a soccer field and baseball diamond.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by dsim249

^ Nice day for a tour around Saskatoon.
Then again, you would be no stranger to cold weather.

I'm sure we'd all be interested to see a S'toon photo thread from an outsiders view! Just don't freeze to death!

just passing through did have breakfast at some 50's themed restraunt on broadway though and got lost in the burbs trying to find a mall and did see some of the downtown nice hoping city u guys got deffnatly gotta come back and the cold yea it was cold cold cold but beutifull!!! some panos be on the way....

[kgc087]

So the professor of the group next to me in my studio class is good friends with the architects who designed Prairie Wind. He said they are working on another public art installation that has a ton of constraints for the city right now. I will do my best to probe.

[Devon]

Originally Posted by kgc087

So the professor of the group next to me in my studio class is good friends with the architects who designed Prairie Wind. He said they are working on another public art installation that has a ton of constraints for the city right now. I will do my best to probe.

http://www.lee-koopman-projects.ca/ for those interested in all of their projects.