Saskatoon Construction - Page 474

circle33 · #**9461** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 2:50 PM**

I hadn't heard boo about this one until I saw the sign on the corner of 19th and 2nd last night:

Interesting looking enough, yet again so is the sign for Tower 21 on 4th which has been sitting there for several years with no sign of activity.

ninipanini · #**9462** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 4:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by circle33

I hadn't heard boo about this one until I saw the sign on the corner of 19th and 2nd last night:

Interesting looking enough, yet again so is the sign for Tower 21 on 4th which has been sitting there for several years with no sign of activity.

Maybe not the most exciting building but it'll be nice to see something go in there! Lets hope it happens soon and doesn't turn into another perpetually vacant lot with a sign!

GTR200 · #**9463** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 5:08 PM**

A4Regina · #**9464** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 5:39 PM**

Looks like a decent low rise proposal for downtown, unlike suburban stucco boxes in regina lol.

Devon · #**9465** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 5:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by A4Regina

Looks like a decent low rise proposal for downtown, unlike suburban stucco boxes in regina lol.

Looks great! Another surface lot gone and a step forward in connecting the River Landing with the rest of 2nd avenue.

dsim249 · #**9466** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 6:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devon

Looks great! Another surface lot gone and a step forward in connecting the River Landing with the rest of 2nd avenue.

Amen. I'm not complaining!

Echoes · #**9467** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 7:40 PM**

I like it!

swilley · #**9468** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 7:44 PM**

Should compliment RLV if both are ever built.

kgc087 · #**9469** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 7:47 PM**

I think the above building will fit the area quite nicely! Now all we need is the lot at galaxy to be filled up with condos with underground parking or innovative above ground parking that is hidden. The article posted above is fantastic! The university is Saskatoon's strongest influence. If it can manage to establish architectural controls within the warehouse district it will change the face of Saskatoon. I have always pictured Saskatoon as a bit more lowrise but with higher density, almost more european. This will create a lot more romantic and creative energy within the city.

Echoes · #**9470** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 7:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by circle33

I hadn't heard boo about this one until I saw the sign on the corner of 19th and 2nd last night:

There was some "boo" about this one back in September - you heard it first here on SSP, folks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echoes

I dug something else up from the Sept. 13 Council agenda that appears to indicate a new project in the works for the southwest corner of 19th and 2nd (parking lot next to Clinskill Manor).

The matter in the agenda concerns an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw regarding Direct Control District 1 (River Landing) where Clause 13.1.3.3(b)(ii) stating that:

"all buildings must provide a five (5) metre minimum setback above 14 metres."

is repealed from the Zoning Bylaw and substituted with:

"All building elevations adjacent to a public street must provide a setback between the fourth and sixth storey which is appropriate to the scale of the building and the nature of the adjacent street and which provides appropriate sunlight penetration and wind effect protection."

This amendment is meant to address concerns regarding the "size, configuration, and edge conditions" that are inhibiting the development potential of the subject property (SW corner of 19th and 2nd), which Tonko Realty Advisors Ltd. "plans to develop".

(The report does make one reference to the southwest corner of 19th Street and 3rd Avenue, but that is most certainly a typo - that corner is Lake Placid's Parcel Y. The report later refers to "19th and 2nd" as the subject property which makes more sense - it's smaller, more constrained by its size, shape.)

Tonko Realty Advisors' website: http://www.tonko.com/index.html

So, what can we expect from Tonko for that property?

Of note:
- The properties in their portfolio on their website are mostly office type with some retail components.
- What should we make of them wanting to change the setback requirement from 14 metres to "between the fourth and sixth storey"?? The report states the 14 metre requirement is arbitrary and does not necessarily align with any particular storey of a building (makes sense). Considering the "size, configuration, and edge conditions" that are apparently constraining the property's development potential, Tonko must see the 14 metre setback requirement as awkward or inappropriate and sees the 4-6th floor setback requirement as more fitting to what they are planning. So, how high do they plan to go? What is the height max in the DCD1 anyway?
- Kindrachuk Agrey Architects is the applicant for this amendment on behalf of Tonko. Obviously they're the designing and/or project architect.

Echoes · #**9471** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 7:53 PM**

An image of the Idylwyld Gateway project, from David Hutton's City Hall Notebook:

circle33 · #**9472** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 7:54 PM**

^ far too much reading

gowest · #**9473** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 8:57 PM**

It,s an odd choice of names as we have the River City Centre at Miller and Circle Dr. Sears Staples, etc.

kgc087 · #**9474** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 9:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echoes

An image of the Idylwyld Gateway project, from David Hutton's City Hall Notebook:

Rendering is ok. I wish there would be more public art to really establish the idea of a gateway within the area.

Morogolus · #**9475** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 9:15 PM**

Speaking of River Landing I'm kind of confused, did Mr. Nasser pay for the 5 mil that was owed on that land and everything is squared away or are they still waiting on the money. I remember there was some kind of 15 day deadline but I haven't heard anything since then.

circle33 · #**9476** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 9:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morogolus

Speaking of River Landing I'm kind of confused, did Mr. Nasser pay for the 5 mil that was owed on that land and everything is squared away or are they still waiting on the money. I remember there was some kind of 15 day deadline but I haven't heard anything since then.

Your question was well timed...

Victory Majors confident hotel-retail-condo complex proceeding in River Landing

5 p.m. deadline for developer Karim Nasser to come up with about $5 million for land

It's deadline day for those planning the massive hotel-retail-condo complex at River Landing in Saskatoon....

prairieguy · #**9477** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 9:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echoes

An image of the Idylwyld Gateway project, from David Hutton's City Hall Notebook:

My only disappointment is that the rail crossing will still exist right in the middle of that intersection. This can only lead to potential traffic back ups to our 'gateway to the north downtown'....too bad a deal could not have been made with CP or CN or whoever it is.

Also, it would have been nice to see some kind of historical signature piece as part of this, since it enters into the historic warehouse district. Perhaps some kind of archway or something??

Ruckus · #**9478** Posted **Dec 3, 2010, 12:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echoes

There was some "boo" about this one back in September - you heard it first here on SSP, folks!

Good find!

Tonko's proposal for 2nd and 19th looks great! Very contemporary, understated and just as sleek as the RLV commercial component. IIRC, PR Developments owns this piece of land. It's interesting that they handed development off to Tonko -- or maybe Tonko purchased it.

There sure is a lot of commercial development downtown...well, proposals for development. Purely anecdotal, but I've noticed more for sale/lease signs popping up throughout downtown over the last year or so. Combined with U/C and proposed, what does it say about the downtown real estate market? Have we reached a peak in land values and everyone is looking to cash-in/out ASAP? Are we about to experience a downtown construction boom?

Feels like there is a lot of momentum building. Better days ahead? Or is a slump looming around the corner?

Ruckus · #**9479** Posted **Dec 3, 2010, 2:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgc087

Rendering is ok. I wish there would be more public art to really establish the idea of a gateway within the area.

I agree. Important intersections should leave a lasting impression on motorists and pedestrians. I think those five columns with LEDs provide a measure of distinctiveness, especially set against the Holiday Inn's deep purple/blue facade lighting. But 25th St. needs more publicness. At the very least, the City/U of S should consider a small scale sculpture garden. If the arts district concept for Caswell Hill unfolds as envisioned, 25th St. could serve as a physical link between design theory (school of architecture) and design practice (arts district)...or something

Ruckus · #**9480** Posted **Dec 3, 2010, 2:56 AM**

I drove by that site with the crane next to Market Mall a couple days ago to check out the progress. Three (maybe 4) elevator shafts are currently under construction. One is at 11 floors, another at 7 or 8, one at 5-6. All three are on the south side, evenly distributed across the site. Maybe this mystery development is the two tower development mentioned a year or so ago.