Saskatoon Construction

[TheCricket]

Apparently in an effort to "upscale" Midtown Plaza a number of leases are not being renewed. Randy River is apparently the first of five known tenants who are leaving the mall (In RR's case they're gone!). Rumour has it that they want to make it a destination mall with one of a kind shops rather than just the same old, same old. Anyone have any more information on this? Someone said something about H & M coming?

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by TheCricket

My other half was in Zellers, Market Mall last week and the woman at the till said that they are closing that location. Apparently Market Mall as a whole is going to be undergoing a few changes of their own, so if anyone knows anything more about that... please feel free to share. Payless pulled down their outdoor signage the other day, as well, Hangers is pulling out so it seems that something is afoot in the old geriatric centre. Office towers? Condo's? Bigger liquor store and Safeway?

There was supposed to be 2 condo towers built, but no word yet. Construction was supposed to start in 2009.
Story here >>
Condo towers proposed for Market Mall site

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by TheCricket

Apparently in an effort to "upscale" Midtown Plaza a number of leases are not being renewed. Randy River is apparently the first of five known tenants who are leaving the mall (In RR's case they're gone!). Rumour has it that they want to make it a destination mall with one of a kind shops rather than just the same old, same old. Anyone have any more information on this? Someone said something about H & M coming?

Good riddance to Randy River; what a dump.
Although the "one of a kind shops" thing is a little frightening. As in local shops? Or one of kind in the province? i.e. H&M

I feel like I can almost guarantee we'll have H&M within the next few years (Regina too). Just my speculation though.

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by TheCricket

New Hotel & Restaurant Site, Saskatoon, SKThis prime highway frontage 3 acre site is anticipated to begin development in the coming year. A 110 room focused service hotel is proposed for the site. The site has excellent highway 16 frontage and is strategically located bordering the new Credit Union Centre (SK largest venue). Highway exposure with easy access from East or West, close to numerous businesses, venues & the Saskatoon airport are all factors in the selection of this new addition to the Braemar Hospitality division.

http://gobraemar.com/hospitality.htm

Which mud pit will we use as overflow parking now?

[Echoes]

I've heard rumour of H&M too.

[kiwi4life]

Originally Posted by Jerry

There was supposed to be 2 condo towers built, but no word yet. Construction was supposed to start in 2009.
Story here >>
Condo towers proposed for Market Mall site

yes what did happen to that, seemed pretty serious, i wonder if financing was trouble or the council didnt approve, or what if something will be said about it this year, does anyone on this site know the manager of the mall???? or someone on the council who may be able to answer this mysterious question???

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by TheCricket

My other half was in Zellers, Market Mall last week and the woman at the till said that they are closing that location. Apparently Market Mall as a whole is going to be undergoing a few changes of their own, so if anyone knows anything more about that... please feel free to share. Payless pulled down their outdoor signage the other day, as well, Hangers is pulling out so it seems that something is afoot in the old geriatric centre. Office towers? Condo's? Bigger liquor store and Safeway?

Expanding the koi pond...haha

Residential towers were floated a year or two ago. Would they sell?

I wonder if that Target will carry groceries...

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Jerry

Indeed Tim's has opened. Imagine a Tim's without the smell of exhaust.

Starbucks could use some of those.

Originally Posted by TheCricket

New Hotel & Restaurant Site, Saskatoon, SKThis prime highway frontage 3 acre site is anticipated to begin development in the coming year. A 110 room focused service hotel is proposed for the site. The site has excellent highway 16 frontage and is strategically located bordering the new Credit Union Centre (SK largest venue). Highway exposure with easy access from East or West, close to numerous businesses, venues & the Saskatoon airport are all factors in the selection of this new addition to the Braemar Hospitality division.

http://gobraemar.com/hospitality.htm

Interesting.

Love the avatar.

Originally Posted by TheCricket

Apparently in an effort to "upscale" Midtown Plaza a number of leases are not being renewed. Randy River is apparently the first of five known tenants who are leaving the mall (In RR's case they're gone!). Rumour has it that they want to make it a destination mall with one of a kind shops rather than just the same old, same old. Anyone have any more information on this? Someone said something about H & M coming?

Sounds like they're not expanding the 1st Avenue frontage...chirp chirp

Originally Posted by dsim249

Good riddance to Randy River; what a dump.
Although the "one of a kind shops" thing is a little frightening. As in local shops? Or one of kind in the province? i.e. H&M

I feel like I can almost guarantee we'll have H&M within the next few years (Regina too). Just my speculation though.

Randy River was good in the 90s...

One of a kind shops with frightening...zombies???

[WoodlandCritter]

oh no not randy river!!! where will i get my oversized shirts with flames and dragons on them

I'm glad to hear that the midtown is trying to upscale a bit more. over the past few years there have been movement of good stores in there. Being such a central location and hub of the city shopping its good they are looking towards carrying stores that are not found elsewhere in the city.

Thanks to everyone keeping us out-of-towners up to date on the happenings in the city.

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

Starbucks could use some of those.



Randy River was good in the 90s...

One of a kind shops with frightening...zombies???

Frightening because shops like that have a tendency to go out of business... quickly. Although on second thought, they should be able to do well in Midtown of all places.

[kgc087]

I emailed H&M about a year ago inquiring about their opening in SK and they said that within the next three years they will have a presence in every major Canadian city, which includes Saskatoon. I would like to not only see H&M but also FCUK and Club Monaco. I think once these stores come and are successful Saskatoon's fashion industry will def pick up the pace. It would be nice to see Midtown take on a more upscale feel. First step would be to renovate the hideous mall and remove the mismatched potted plants.

I know Tim Hortons is chain and discourages local coffee shops but I don't think Saskatoon is ready for a chic coffee spot downtown yet. People really just want something that is guaranteed good and efficient. Tim Horton's is the answer to that! I'm sure as the downtown continues to develop we will see some more boutique style coffee shops.

I know there hasn't been much response to the particle accelerator but I'm very excited for it. Saskatoon is huge on the science from in Canada and North America so the more things the city can secure as its own the better.

The college or Architecture is def underway. The dean of my college of Architecture actually is the head of some Canadian organization which creates and maintains existing architecture programs and we chatted about it for a while. As well I have chatted very briefly with an architect from Saskatoon who is a member of the RAIC (Royal architectural institute of Canada) and he said progress is underway with developing the program. I'm trying to give some input as to how the program should run from a student perspective.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by kgc087

I emailed H&M about a year ago inquiring about their opening in SK and they said that within the next three years they will have a presence in every major Canadian city, which includes Saskatoon. I would like to not only see H&M but also FCUK and Club Monaco. I think once these stores come and are successful Saskatoon's fashion industry will def pick up the pace. It would be nice to see Midtown take on a more upscale feel. First step would be to renovate the hideous mall and remove the mismatched potted plants.

I know Tim Hortons is chain and discourages local coffee shops but I don't think Saskatoon is ready for a chic coffee spot downtown yet. People really just want something that is guaranteed good and efficient. Tim Horton's is the answer to that! I'm sure as the downtown continues to develop we will see some more boutique style coffee shops.

I know there hasn't been much response to the particle accelerator but I'm very excited for it. Saskatoon is huge on the science from in Canada and North America so the more things the city can secure as its own the better.

The college or Architecture is def underway. The dean of my college of Architecture actually is the head of some Canadian organization which creates and maintains existing architecture programs and we chatted about it for a while. As well I have chatted very briefly with an architect from Saskatoon who is a member of the RAIC (Royal architectural institute of Canada) and he said progress is underway with developing the program. I'm trying to give some input as to how the program should run from a student perspective.

I really think you under-estimate Saskatoon regarding the more upscale coffee shop. Atlantis in Regina has been open for about 2 years now, and it does very well. Although granted, Regina doesn't have any standalone Starbucks (the one in Chapters unionized and Regina was blacklisted). It does promote the independent specialty coffee shops though (e.g. Atlantis) so it's not so bad.

In any case, I really think H&M will be aiming for a store in both Stoon and Regina. There have been rumours for a while about one opening here (and I'm sure there have been rumours for a while in Stoon regarding the same thing). It would just be really nice for Saskatchewan in general to get a bit more selection.

[ninipanini]

Originally Posted by kgc087

I know Tim Hortons is chain and discourages local coffee shops but I don't think Saskatoon is ready for a chic coffee spot downtown yet.

I'm not so excited about ANOTHER Tim Hortons... just what we need! I have to say I totally disagree about Saskatoon not being ready for some more interesting coffee shops! I think Saskatoon has great coffee shop culture, better than many other places I've been in Canada and the US. I think there's pretty solid evidence that we can (and do) support some trendy/unique places like Souleio which hasn't been open that long (a year or so?) and get pretty steady business! We've got Cafe Sola, The Fine Art Cafe, The Broadway Roastery (which isn't so chic but is a thriving local business) and Tastebuds to name a few! What I think we need is MORE unique experiences, not more of the same and I think Saskatoon can support it. It would be great to have a few more places downtown and a local coffee shop near campus, maybe in the JB Black building?

As for the news about investment in science, it's great news! I hope that these kind of high profile projects increase public awareness of the value of research and put some pressure on Ottawa to stop cutting research funding... Despite some large capital projects in the health sciences here in Saskatoon, money to actually use these facilities (research grants) has been drying up... so much for innovation But good on U of S for making the best of it!

[jrm857]

I know renos for midtown will be going on for the first floor near the bay. The destination mall is exactly what it is aiming for but according to the contractor for the mall the stores that are supposed to go in are planning on being Saskatchewan exclusive. (just what i heard) and as for rumoured to be coming, GUESS, Sephora, BCBG maxima, forverXXI, and some others i can't remember.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by jrm857

I know renos for midtown will be going on for the first floor near the bay. The destination mall is exactly what it is aiming for but according to the contractor for the mall the stores that are supposed to go in are planning on being Saskatchewan exclusive. (just what i heard) and as for rumoured to be coming, GUESS, Sephora, BCBG maxima, forverXXI, and some others i can't remember.

Looks like both our major malls are making some big moves. Stitches is out of Cornwall (well, it will be in a few days), and Esprit has been booted apparently (already out.. and VERY quickly), Le Chateau recently moved to larger digs and vacated a space... And they've been saying on the radio there is some big news regarding the Cornwall coming down the pipe.

Does anyone know off-hand if the managing company is the same for Cornwall and Midtown? I'm too lazy to look.

edit: apparently Midtown is owned by Oxford properties... and Cornwall by Primaris, accoding to wikipedia...

Although I looked on the primaris site, and it lists both Midtown and Cornwall as in their portfolio... interesting... and from the list, they are the two top sales psf properties as well.

Well, that was disjointed... my apologies...

[Morogolus]

With the warmer temperatures they've been really stepping up the work at the RLV site. All the trees are gone and they've mada bunch of big pits and moved lots of earth around. It looks completely different there than it did a few weeks ago.

I remember watching that site for months and months waiting for anything to start doing work there, a bulldozer, a landscaping truck, hell a dude with a shovel would have been acceptable. It's nice to see something finally happening.

[Jerry]

Went to the River Landing Village site last Sunday to get a shot of the trees. Hoping to get over to the site later this week and get some more photos of the progress.

River Landing Village Thread >> River Landing Village

[kgc087]

I guess for the coffee shop I would like to see more density in the downtown and have a really swank coffee store open. Plus it makes sense to have them in the bottom of residential or near since it will be used more 'round the clock then just business hours. Maybe I'm just jaded but yes I support local more then anything but EVERYONE knows Tim Horton's so it's good to have one.

I had no clue Ottawa was decreasing research funding. I thought Canada was the only country increasing it and we were being criticized for decreasing art funding b/c that is really the important stuff. You could have the smartest city around but if it's dry no one will stay.

YES!!! to Midtown's upscale renewal!

[Echoes]

The corner spot in the main floor of the King George would make a great space for an upscale coffee shop. It's now vacant following "Abby's" (?) short stint there.

But then there's the bus mall of ill-repute across the street...

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Echoes

The corner spot in the main floor of the King George would make a great space for an upscale coffee shop. It's now vacant following "Abby's" (?) short stint there.

But then there's the bus mall of ill-repute across the street...

Completely agree! I think the transit mall could be remediated. The city just really needs to stop thinking about budget with it. If the mall is embellished the negative things within the area will leave.