Saskatoon Construction

[Jerry]

Doyle lands new digs in Saskatoon

PCS president buys condo downtown in The Renaissance

By Cassandra Kyle And David Hutton, The StarPhoenix February 25, 2011 3:08 AM



Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. head Bill Doyle has bought a condo in downtown Saskatoon, becoming a property owner in the city for a second time.

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Doyle+lands+digs+Saskatoon/4344708/story.html#ixzz1EyeYpiXd

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Jerry

Doyle lands new digs in Saskatoon

PCS president buys condo downtown in The Renaissance

By Cassandra Kyle And David Hutton, The StarPhoenix February 25, 2011 3:08 AM



Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. head Bill Doyle has bought a condo in downtown Saskatoon, becoming a property owner in the city for a second time.

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Doyle+lands+digs+Saskatoon/4344708/story.html#ixzz1EyeYpiXd

I see it took two SP reporters to research this story by reading the Globe and Mail from 2 days ago. The paper version of the Globe had some great pictures. Both papers missed the biggest part of this story - a picture of Doyle's house in the Chicago area would have made the story.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-inv...dest-return-to-saskatoon/article1918245/

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by ninipanini

I think you guys missed the point of the program... it is to give low interest loans for downpayments which will be paid off within 5 years to people who have the income to quality for mortgages! These are people who have enough income to make the payments, and who already qualify but just don't have the money to make a down payment. I was listening to a discussion of this a couple weeks back (or when ever the story broke) and the interviewee was saying that this is for middle income people, I believe their target was people with household incomes 60-80K annually. I think this is a fantastic idea! When rent can easily be $1000/month why not pay off a mortgage instead... that's how much my mortgage is!

My concern is the promotion of suburbanism, if the city was urging them to buy condos instead I think this would be a fine program but they are just moving people away from the city centre and into the periphery neighbourhoods. Plus the goal was fill these spaces with lower income people, so now the stigma of associating density and low income people will be fostered in the city.

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Jerry

Doyle lands new digs in Saskatoon

PCS president buys condo downtown in The Renaissance

By Cassandra Kyle And David Hutton, The StarPhoenix February 25, 2011 3:08 AM



Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. head Bill Doyle has bought a condo in downtown Saskatoon, becoming a property owner in the city for a second time.

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Doyle+lands+digs+Saskatoon/4344708/story.html#ixzz1EyeYpiXd

This is exciting that the city is really planning for growth. I checked out a few of the pairs of firms bidding, I really like the CS&P architects work. I'm really concerned about the city trying to recreate Chicago industrial style buildings. This is never really done well. It would be nice if all new buildings are very sleek and modern while all the warehouses are preserved and restored to their former glory. Perhaps the side streets could be made brick pavers with vintage lighting etc.

__________________________________
It's very exciting to see that another very well respected urban planner is coming to the city. I feel though that the city just studies what they say and never takes it into consideration.

[Echoes]

Via Sean Shaw's blog Muncipal Matters, the River Centre proposal by Tonko has been approved by the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) and is headed to City Council for approval at their next meeting.

There is a lengthy and informative report that went to MPC outlining the building's design, pedestrian amenities (transparent glass at grade, extra benches and ambient lighting), and ground floor uses - intended for retail and a restaurant with a seasonal patio, but the market will ultimately dictate that. There's also some different renderings and perspectives of the project, although they're grainy black and white scanned images.

Sean Shaw's blog post and the accompanying MPC report can be found here:
http://www.blog.seanshaw.ca/?p=918

Overall, I think this is a great proposal for this location. I get the impression that the developer has worked hard to make it a valuable and fitting addition to River Landing. Once Council passes this and the building permit is issued we should see work get underway. I can't wait.

[studentview]

Originally Posted by kgc087

My concern is the promotion of suburbanism, if the city was urging them to buy condos instead I think this would be a fine program but they are just moving people away from the city centre and into the periphery neighbourhoods. Plus the goal was fill these spaces with lower income people, so now the stigma of associating density and low income people will be fostered in the city.

In my opinion this new program does not promote suburbanism at all. If your arguement is that the city should urge them to buy condos, the majority of the new condos being built are in the suburban areas anyway so dont really see how that would help.

The program allows for downpayments for people with incomes between 45 and 70K. Even at the top end of this there arent many people that are going to qualify for new homes at their current prices ($289K and up).

I think by enabling the young professionals that are making an income with the means to actually get a down payment, it will definitely spur urban renewal.

One major deterrent I know among new young graduates is that starting wages are low. Couple that with high student debt amounts and high rental rates, its a hard rut to get out of. With this program, the loan has to be paid back in five years and judging by the extremely low interest rates, the city isnt doing it for cash flow. They are doing it because people asked for a program like this. Even at $220K you can get into a west side home with a few bedrooms, rent those out and its immediately paying off your mortgage and your city loan. I live in caswell hill and absolutely love it and have encouraged everyone I know interested in a home to look there. With this program, I personally think it will help core neighborhoods like mine to have a new influx of young owners coming in and continuing to revitalize the hood. As the newly opened Collective Coffee is touting "its good in the hood". I for one completely agree

[jw6969]

Don't know if this has been mentioned yet but Google earth has updated imagery of Saskatoon. Its not the highest quality imagery or latest but in therms of updates , it is the newest in Sask if you don't count the medium resolution imagery they did last month of most of the province. Hopefully they do something this summer for Regina. it like 6 years out of date.

[nook]

Quick question... What's going on at the Preston Ave. entrance to Stonebridge? Are they getting ready to build that overpass already?

[Echoes]

^ You bet. It's underway!

[Jerry]

DAILY NEWS Feb 27, 2011 10:08 PM

Urban planner Cynthia Nikitin leads placemaking discussion forum in Saskatoon


The City of Saskatoon invites the public to a placemaking discussion forum with urban planner Cynthia Nikitin on civic squares and downtown parks, which takes place on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 from 7:30-9:30pm at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon. With a portfolio of more than 175 projects, Nikitin has led numerous large-scale and complex projects during her nineteen years as Vice President for Downtowns at the Project for Public Spaces in New York. Her resume includes work on the Centre City Parks Analysis for Calgary, a public art/open space plan for Mobile Alabama, the design of a new civic square in Newberg, Oregon, a new civic centre project in Houston, and a new library to anchor the downtown in Fort Meyers, Florida. She is the University of Saskatchewan's inaugural Planner in Residence for 2011.

Currently, the City of Saskatoon is working on projects for two key areas within the city centre; Kinsmen Park and Area, and the City Centre Plan. The Kinsmen Park and Area Master Plan involves a plan to revitalize the park and area, the adaptive reuse of the Mendel Art Gallery building, a plan to enhance its use as a place in the city for children's fun and play, and a plan to extend its programming and design to encourage more users of all ages. It is the City's goal to bring international-calibre principles and strategies to these initiatives, while at the same time creating plans that are strongly guided by the community in order to bring together the best global and local ideas.

This free public lecture is presented by the City of Saskatoon as part of the Kinsmen Park and Area Master Plan project, in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan Planner in Residence program, Prairie Wild Consulting, and Great Places.

Source

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Jerry

DAILY NEWS Feb 27, 2011 10:08 PM

Urban planner Cynthia Nikitin leads placemaking discussion forum in Saskatoon


The City of Saskatoon invites the public to a placemaking discussion forum with urban planner Cynthia Nikitin on civic squares and downtown parks, which takes place on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 from 7:30-9:30pm at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon. With a portfolio of more than 175 projects, Nikitin has led numerous large-scale and complex projects during her nineteen years as Vice President for Downtowns at the Project for Public Spaces in New York. Her resume includes work on the Centre City Parks Analysis for Calgary, a public art/open space plan for Mobile Alabama, the design of a new civic square in Newberg, Oregon, a new civic centre project in Houston, and a new library to anchor the downtown in Fort Meyers, Florida. She is the University of Saskatchewan's inaugural Planner in Residence for 2011.

Currently, the City of Saskatoon is working on projects for two key areas within the city centre; Kinsmen Park and Area, and the City Centre Plan. The Kinsmen Park and Area Master Plan involves a plan to revitalize the park and area, the adaptive reuse of the Mendel Art Gallery building, a plan to enhance its use as a place in the city for children's fun and play, and a plan to extend its programming and design to encourage more users of all ages. It is the City's goal to bring international-calibre principles and strategies to these initiatives, while at the same time creating plans that are strongly guided by the community in order to bring together the best global and local ideas.

This free public lecture is presented by the City of Saskatoon as part of the Kinsmen Park and Area Master Plan project, in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan Planner in Residence program, Prairie Wild Consulting, and Great Places.

Source

This is really exciting! I would love to see the city actually follow some of the visionary work so many architects and urban planners have fed them over the years. I have a feeling our city council is ready to make decisions like 'big boy' cities and start to be more aggressive, creative and innovative with redevelopment/development.

[Jerry]

^^Best Western Plus in Blairmore


^^Broadstreet Properties Ltd. adding to the Saskatoon rental pool in Blairmore.


^^North Ridge Development Corp. - Arthur Cook Building looking north.


^^North Ridge Development Corp. - Arthur Cook Building looking west.


^^North Ridge Development Corp. - Arthur Cook Building looking east.


^^North Ridge Development Corp. - Arthur Cook Building looking south.

[Echoes]

From Meewasin's website:

475 Second Avenue Tower - Tonko Realty Advisors

More renderings, perspectives, elevations, and site plans of the project *in colour*.

http://www.meewasin.com/common/pdfs/development/current_applications/march11/tonko.pdf

I'm getting really excited about this one!

[swilley]

Thanks for the link. Looks awesome! I would have liked it to be around 20 floors higher though...

[Devon]

I like it!

[Jerry]

River Landing office building billed as ‘landmark’

$30M development redesigned after city review

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix February 28, 2011


A proposed River Landing office building is being billed as a potential Saskatoon “landmark” after it was tweaked to meet
strict city architectural guidelines for the south downtown.
Photograph by: Submitted, The StarPhoenix

A proposed River Landing office building is being billed as a potential Saskatoon “landmark” after it was tweaked to meet strict city architectural guidelines for the south downtown.

The $30-million five-storey Tonko Realty Advisors Ltd. office building — dubbed The River Centre and set for construction this summer — is planned for the south end of Second Avenue at the entrance to River Landing beside the Remai Arts Centre and future Art Gallery of Saskatchewan.

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/travel/Riv...andmark/4362484/story.html#ixzz1FLAsqWEa

[WoodlandCritter]

strict architectural guidelines of the south downtown? you mean like the beautiful brick apartment building located right behind it? haha just kidding.

great to see this project go ahead. It looks good.

[drto]

you mean like the beautiful brick apartment building located right behind it?
That rendering is quite nice and will be a nice addition although 15 stories would be nicer...and as for that piece of crap brick building, what were they thinking???

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by drto

you mean like the beautiful brick apartment building located right behind it?
That rendering is quite nice and will be a nice addition although 15 stories would be nicer...and as for that piece of crap brick building, what were they thinking???

Maybe some really cool street project which integrates the building to a surrounding structure could be created, it would be a cool revitalization of the structure without recladding it.

[Morogolus]

Atch was on Gormley today and the project came up and he said

"Friday, it will be going to the MVA for approval. At this time the Technical Committee didn't approve it."

What the heck is the technical committee?? I'm starting to become sour towards the MVA, they seem to make any riverfront project just a huge pain in the neck. I can't count the number of these BS approvals the RLV had to go through.