Saskatoon Construction

[dsim249]

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[Measuring Stick]

I heard that Co-op will be starting construction of their grocery store in Stonebridge this spring.

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

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

I would love to see this develop into an arts district, only thing is that requires affordable housing b/c artists are poor. In other cities that have an established warehouse district this is possible b/c most of the time they are just run down so it's more affordable, then gentrification usually happens. Saskatoon is basically building it's own district now. I hope this doesn't really affect it that much.

[Wyku]

Kudos to Dr. Nasser on being a man of his word and coming through with the funds for River Landing! He may me a small man, but he's obviously got a big place in his heart for Saskatoon .

[gowest]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

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??

It would be great to see the tracks go, but can you image the costs to do this. C.P. yards in Sutherland to be moved. New bridge, property to be aquired, removal of the old right of way and then the battle of where it would go. Mind blowing. Then is the rail line a heritage site? (Just thought I'd throw that in for an extra problem)

[Wyku]

I agree that it's not very likely that the tracks will be removed anytime soon--there has been talk on the board in the past about using those lines for LRT which would be great, but not likely to happen anytime soon either. Having said that, I wish the city could implement certain times that they couldn't run the trains through the city at, i.e. morning and evening rush hours. When it comes through the city at ~8am or ~5pm it clogs up a huge area running across 22nd st, Idywyld and 33rd or 2nd Ave. all at the same time. There was also the infamous breakdown of the train that blocked all of those crossings for hours.

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Wyku

I agree that it's not very likely that the tracks will be removed anytime soon--there has been talk on the board in the past about using those lines for LRT which would be great, but not likely to happen anytime soon either. Having said that, I wish the city could implement certain times that they couldn't run the trains through the city at, i.e. morning and evening rush hours. When it comes through the city at ~8am or ~5pm it clogs up a huge area running across 22nd st, Idywyld and 33rd or 2nd Ave. all at the same time. There was also the infamous breakdown of the train that blocked all of those crossings for hours.

I've heard the city has no real control over this.

[kgc087]

I really like the comment in the College Drive article about how developers and planners of Saskatoon are not going to follow the typical pattern of development in Western Canadian cities. Shiny highrises are nice but really they are architecturally lacking most of the time and not overally inspiring. To have a more low rise skyline that has more architectural value is much more inspiring. It has a certain romance about it which will really define Saskatoon's cultural identity. I don't think we need to be concerned about low density with this. I'm sure a few pages from European city planning would be considered, since most structures are low but the cities are extremely dense.

[shmakim]

Originally Posted by Measuring Stick

I heard that Co-op will be starting construction of their grocery store in Stonebridge this spring.

Whhhaaaaaaaat? I thought Walmart had an exclusivity clause to ensure they'd be the only grocery store. Or does that only apply to the particular box mall they're part of? Or does it have a time limit? I've never heard of any other grocery stores planning to be built there - in fact the contrary. Where did you hear this?

[Morogolus]

Ya the rail line companies seem like a entitled bunch of douche bags with this whole 'we were here first' mentality and talks between the city and the rail lines seem to stall whenever they try to work something out.

If they eventually want the downtown population to increase to 25,000 it's going to be pretty hard with 60 car grain trains lumbering through the downtown core at 7:30 am all the time

They need to stop putting this off and do something about it while they're moving the city yards before they end up with an even bigger mess on their hands.

This city is going to need to spend a lot of money over the next 10-25 years if they're going to the teeming metropolis that's being envisioned just to get the infrastructure capable of handling the traffic increase. I've heard figures like a billion dollars to move the rail lines (yeesh)

[shmakim]

Originally Posted by kgc087

I really like the comment in the College Drive article about how developers and planners of Saskatoon are not going to follow the typical pattern of development in Western Canadian cities. Shiny highrises are nice but really they are architecturally lacking most of the time and not overally inspiring. To have a more low rise skyline that has more architectural value is much more inspiring. It has a certain romance about it which will really define Saskatoon's cultural identity. I don't think we need to be concerned about low density with this. I'm sure a few pages from European city planning would be considered, since most structures are low but the cities are extremely dense.

Saskatoon's never been a highrise city. It still amazes me that some mindset must have passed through council long ago to allow the small cluster of buildings by the foot of the 25th St bridge. They're so dated by now, and so unlike anything else in the city.

RLV's 20 storey condo will be an exciting addition to the core of downtown, but apart from those couple of developments, we don't have any apartment towers higher than 12 storeys at best, and I'll bet most all of those are seniors' condos (for whatever reason).

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by shmakim

Whhhaaaaaaaat? I thought Walmart had an exclusivity clause to ensure they'd be the only grocery store. Or does that only apply to the particular box mall they're part of? Or does it have a time limit? I've never heard of any other grocery stores planning to be built there - in fact the contrary. Where did you hear this?

That's what I said last time when the Co-op was announced!
But I never got a response.

[kgc087]

Check out my blog entries on the Saskatoon Speaks site about making Saskatoon Carbon Neutral and my proposition of a mini central park where the train yards are now. I just sent one in today in regards to greening and pedestrinaizing Idylwyld and making it similar to La Rambla or Champs-Elysees.

[gowest]

Originally Posted by dsim249

That's what I said last time when the Co-op was announced!
But I never got a response.

The Coop property is separate fromthe Smart Centre so the restriction may not apply to it.

[kiwi4life]

Originally Posted by Morogolus

Ya the rail line companies seem like a entitled bunch of douche bags with this whole 'we were here first' mentality and talks between the city and the rail lines seem to stall whenever they try to work something out.

If they eventually want the downtown population to increase to 25,000 it's going to be pretty hard with 60 car grain trains lumbering through the downtown core at 7:30 am all the time

They need to stop putting this off and do something about it while they're moving the city yards before they end up with an even bigger mess on their hands.

This city is going to need to spend a lot of money over the next 10-25 years if they're going to the teeming metropolis that's being envisioned just to get the infrastructure capable of handling the traffic increase. I've heard figures like a billion dollars to move the rail lines (yeesh)

yup i can see this being the biggest problem other than bridges in the near future, this can turn into a huge debate and problem that would need to be solve, either they move those yards, or build tunnels or train bridges which ever one is best, to eliminate traffic congestion, this city is growing very fast, we dont want this to be a major problem in the near future, it will end up causing the whole city to backlog in rush hour, people wont get home till a lot later etc, i definately do not want any of us to go through that, causes a lot of stress on people, road rage etc, so therefore, spend the money on getting it out or sorting the congestion problem by bridges, tunnels etc and landscaping to make it look great, turn saskatoon into North Americas greenest city , anybody with me on this?

[kiwi4life]

i hope the city and the railway companies, take a good hard look at our posts haha

[shmakim]

Originally Posted by Morogolus

I've heard figures like a billion dollars to move the rail lines (yeesh)

By that point, wouldn't it be cheaper to dig a tunnel under north downtown and bury the tracks? At very least, maybe they could bring the tracks below grade for the crossing at 25th and Idylwyld.

Wherever the tracks sit now at grade, there are no buildings in the way, so they could dig 20 or 30 feet down, at the width of the entire right-of-way, reinstall the tracks down there, and cover it over. Hmmm, that sounds pricey too.... but then how about just at the intersection then?

[Ruckus]

Several posts were moved to the Traffic Bridge thread and White water park thread.

[Morogolus]

Man after a relatively slow and boring summer construction season, things have sure picked up in the last few months. It's about time after decades of very little private development progress downtown.

Although like every project I hear about in Saskatoon I'll believe it when I see action at the site.

Summer of 2011 should be a busy one.

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Morogolus

Man after a relatively slow and boring summer construction season, things have sure picked up in the last few months. It's about time after decades of very little private development progress downtown.

Although like every project I hear about in Saskatoon I'll believe it when I see action at the site.

Summer of 2011 should be a busy one.

I sure hope it's a busy season, it seems that once construction starts it wont really stop. I was talking with one of the building maintenance people at my condo and he said that he's moving to Calgary soon b/c it's so happening out there and that a lot of his friends from the Philippines are looking at moving directly to Saskatoon b/c it's easier for them to find employment their with their current assets then in Toronto. So that's good news! Once one immigrant group settles in the rest soon follow and BAM a population boom happens!