Saskatoon Construction II

[gowest]

Several months ago there was announcement that provincial and I believe some Federal monies were avalible to put a diamond intersection where Highway 7 and 14 connect behind the Blairmore Walmart. To date the only dirt moved has been from dirt bikes on the hill.. Each day the amount of traffic here increases and with the major expansion at the Agrium potash mine coming later this year it will only get worst. With the recent passing of Mo Nault there is no one to battle for west end improvements. The west edge of Saskatoon is not Idywyld and 22nd. To the Mayor and Council, please remember this.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by gowest

Several months ago there was announcement that provincial and I believe some Federal monies were avalible to put a diamond intersection where Highway 7 and 14 connect behind the Blairmore Walmart. To date the only dirt moved has been from dirt bikes on the hill.. Each day the amount of traffic here increases and with the major expansion at the Agrium potash mine coming later this year it will only get worst. With the recent passing of Mo Nault there is no one to battle for west end improvements. The west edge of Saskatoon is not Idywyld and 22nd. To the Mayor and Council, please remember this.

This would be a good thing for the west side, however I would think that a better place to spend some dollars would be at the intersection of 16 and Boychuck. With Rosewood and Briarwood, as well as towns such as Clavet becoming more populous, and the fact that if they did build one there it would eliminate the last set of traffic lights on 16 leading out of the city. Allowing much safer travel for trucks, not to mention faster for trucks and commuters.

[gowest]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

This would be a good thing for the west side, however I would think that a better place to spend some dollars would be at the intersection of 16 and Boychuck. With Rosewood and Briarwood, as well as towns such as Clavet becoming more populous, and the fact that if they did build one there it would eliminate the last set of traffic lights on 16 leading out of the city. Allowing much safer travel for trucks, not to mention faster for trucks and commuters.

While I agree with the future of Highway 16 and Boychuk, it falls behind with other intersections at the present time. Highway 7 is one of the busiest highways entering the city. It filters down to one lane as it passes Walmart, the hotel and the new large apartments. It then joins Highway 14 which is also feed by the Dalmany Road just to the west. Another that should be a priority would be 71st and Idywyld Drive. People trying to cross Idywyld at this location are putting their lives in their hands every time. This has traffic from Warman and Martinsville, P.A. and several other small towns.
On my list of important would be 71st, Highway 7 then Boychuk.

[dsim249]

^ I was going to say the same thing.

Boychuk is busy (and getting much busier) but, I feel like it's much more controlled and safe than 7 & 14.

I'd like to see an overpass at Idylwyld and Marquis Drive (by Costco) eventually. But I know it's not very high priority.

[Echoes]

I see that a Fiat dealership is indeed moving in to the ground floor of 2nd Ave Lofts as has been previously rumoured here - there's signage up in the windows.

Also, just an observation, but I was coming into the city on Valley Road the other day and thought, wow, Saskatoon's skyline would be better appreciated if this road was a major entry point.

[Morogolus]

It's funny that the best view of downtown is when you are driving right by the dump, lol.

Nice view of the skyline and directly beside it a steaming massive pile of trash.

[Wyku]

Not construction related, but there's a new festival happening down at River Landing this weekend called the River Lights Festival. It's the first year of the festival, so hopefully it turns out good and adds to the list of great events down by the river each summer.

http://www.riverlightsfestival.ca/

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Originally Posted by Echoes

I see that a Fiat dealership is indeed moving in to the ground floor of 2nd Ave Lofts as has been previously rumoured here - there's signage up in the windows.

Also, just an observation, but I was coming into the city on Valley Road the other day and thought, wow, Saskatoon's skyline would be better appreciated if this road was a major entry point.

I guess so much for another grocer downtown by the lofts.

I live on Valley Road, and it is a nice little secret of stoon
It would be cool for people to enter our city seeing the corn maze, golf courses berry barn etc but wouldn't work with all the slow traffic.
But lots going on with the new road network for the bridge and entrance to the dump.
So crazy that after years of trying to make the dump look pleasing from the bridge side with all their landscaping, when the grass and trees finally started to take off, they plow it all over for more garbage.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Randomly biked past this in Seattle last month.
Helix Pedestrian Bridge.
Would LOVE to see something like this take over from the traffic bridge...*sigh*

[Echoes]

Development encroaches on rare ecosystem
By Jeanette Stewart, The StarPhoenix August 5, 2011

Luc Delanoy crouches over a patch of grassland and identifies five or six plants inside of it in short order, pointing out a plant called club moss, which grows only on land that's never been cultivated.

"The ecosystem is rare," said Delanoy, who works as the resource management officer for the Meewasin Valley Authority (MVA).

MVA staff held a tour of the city's northeast swale on Thursday. The swale is an ancient river channel 26 kilometres long and one kilometre wide, situated on the outskirts of the city.

It's situated immediately north of the new Evergreen subdivision and a couple of kilometres northeast of Silverspring. Development and the downtown skyline are visible to the south and eventually the area could function as a commuter corridor for those living in new housing.

The MVA hopes the area will serve as a rich nature preserve as Saskatoon rapidly develops around it, and MVA staff, along with their partners at the city, face the challenge of how to best manage and protect the area. Last spring, scientists and wildlife experts identified hundreds of species of flora and fauna that make their home in the swale during a two-day Eco Blitz. Their success will come if there is no change in the site for its inhabitants and for visitors to the area.

"We want to draw attention to it and find a way to manage it," said Susan Lamb, MVA CEO. "You can't just fence it off and walk away. You do have to manage it just because it's so close to an urban centre."

[....]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/technology...osystem/5209183/story.html#ixzz1UADiPkwI

[Echoes]

City's vacant lot program proves popular
By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix

The city's push to turn the vacant lots that dot the downtown and surrounding areas into homes and offices has proven popular in an incentive program's first six months of life.

The city's neighbourhood planning section has been inundated with inquiries from developers, approving five applications and processing seven more proposals, including two major office projects in the downtown.

"The momentum and awareness of the program is growing," said Randy Grauer, manager of the city's planning and development branch.

The incentive program encourages the reuse of vacant lots or the redevelopment of chronically vacant buildings, which make up an estimated 115 acres inside of the Circle Drive boundary. The city doesn't collect property taxes from the developer for up to five years after construction is complete or gives a grant upfront for the same amount and recovers the money through property taxes. The grants are paid out through a reserve that's replenished when property taxes are collected, making the program self-financing.

Each proposal is scored based on a point-system that accounts for how the project fits a number of criteria.

Thus far, five approved city projects have received roughly $155,000 in grants or tax abatements. The largest total doled out so far was $90,0000 to Wolf Willow Cohousing, a group building a $6-million, 21-unit condo complex on 17th Street on the edge of Riversdale in the west industrial area. The project broke ground in March and will be complete by next summer.

[....]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/City+...popular/5209191/story.html#ixzz1UAGGqq1q

[gowest]

It's nice to see the city and individuals working on this type of program. There are too many slum landlords who buy property and let it sit or rent it out and never take care of it. Each new program like this is a step in making Saskatoon a better place.

[kgc087]

This is great to see the city taking initiative to fill vacant lots. Not only does this stimulate construction it will stimulate in fill which is great! Maybe this will foster some sort of new density within the city?

It's great to see the city preserving this rare piece of grassland! Things like this really help characterise a city. Saskatoon, I feel, is pretty well known for it's wide roads lined with trees and tree boulevards so this only adds to the "greenness" of the city!

[circle33]

Originally Posted by SP Article

The seven projects going through city hall approvals include four single-family homes, two commercial buildings in the downtown and a condo complex in Nutana.

These three pique my interest. I assumethese are projects yet to be announced

[Larch]

Friday observation:

i know it's been lamented many times before, but i just noticed the curvy icing on the holiday inn cake and thought, what is up with saskatoon and its penchant for missed opportunities?

i can think of three important axes in town that have been ended quite badly: the luxury box that dominates broadway/five corners, the yellowy-beige monstrosity on 5th and 22nd that commands the view coming down college, and now the holiday inn that bookends the downtown portion of 22nd street.

as a massing, it does well. the enclosure is nice and needed along that stretch of downtown. but gad, why not more???

sigh.... saskatoon has really gotten by on its natural good looks for far too long, something's gotta give.

[edit]

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Duck Duck Goose, new tapa's bar on Broadway is a week behind opening.
But the decor is very antique and should be a fantastic addition across from Sushiro.
Wezceria, which used to be there, moved onto the main street of broadway into a bigger space. An ideal chef specials from local ingredients menu, and I dig the concept for their signage: layered with vintage wood alined under a panel ...but than with a big ugly red W that looks like it came off of shoppers drug mart.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Originally Posted by Larch

Friday observation:

i know it's been lamented many times before, but i just noticed the curvy icing on the holiday inn cake and thought, what is up with saskatoon and its penchant for missed opportunities?

i can think of three important axes in town that have been ended quite badly: the luxury box that dominates broadway/five corners, the yellowy-beige monstrosity on 5th and 22nd that commands the view coming down college, and now the holiday inn that bookends the downtown portion of 22nd street.

as a massing, it does well. the enclosure is nice and needed along that stretch of downtown. but gad, why not more???

sigh.... saskatoon has really gotten by on its natural good looks for far too long, something's gotta give.

[edit]

and yes, pretty soon that building at the CORE of our downtown will be on this list of the 'Worlds Ugliest Buildings':
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/s...from+various+rankings/5137433/story.html

[nook]

Quick question, as I just got back to Saskatoon after living in Quebec for a month and I've been a bit out of the loop... What's going on at the corner of 8th and Arlington? Looks like they're finally putting something in there.

Also, what's the story with the city and the recycling program? In Quebec they are so far ahead of Saskatchewan in terms of recycling and composting that it isn't even funny. There wasn't a type of plastic that you couldn't recycle (well, if there was, I recycled it anyways). Cafeterias had spots for compost, recycling and garbage.

They also sell beer in university bookstores... quite handy when you're living on campus and you want beer (They sell singles too!)

Oh, and for the cyclers... Montreal and Quebec City had bike rental kiosks everywhere. And a lot of dedicated cycling lanes. However, judging by how those drivers drive, I wouldn't feel safe riding a bike in Montreal... yikes.

[Dalreg]

Originally Posted by nook

Quick question, as I just got back to Saskatoon after living in Quebec for a month and I've been a bit out of the loop... What's going on at the corner of 8th and Arlington? Looks like they're finally putting something in there.

Also, what's the story with the city and the recycling program? In Quebec they are so far ahead of Saskatchewan in terms of recycling and composting that it isn't even funny. There wasn't a type of plastic that you couldn't recycle (well, if there was, I recycled it anyways). Cafeterias had spots for compost, recycling and garbage.

They also sell beer in university bookstores... quite handy when you're living on campus and you want beer (They sell singles too!)

Oh, and for the cyclers... Montreal and Quebec City had bike rental kiosks everywhere. And a lot of dedicated cycling lanes. However, judging by how those drivers drive, I wouldn't feel safe riding a bike in Montreal... yikes.

Beer in University bookstores? I'm willing to bet 90% of city residents wouldn't have a clue where the U of S bookstore is. Seriously, beer and books? Next thing you know people will want beer at Tim Hortons!

[Arts]

Originally Posted by EarlyByrdProductions

and yes, pretty soon that building at the CORE of our downtown will be on this list of the 'Worlds Ugliest Buildings':
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/s...from+various+rankings/5137433/story.html

I only wish the holiday inn would look as good as most of the ones on the ugly building list. Some of those are certainly controversial but at least they are interesting. Maybe as a function of the cost/function, they are the most ugly, but plainly the majority of Saskatoon's buildings would topple any of those as far as for architectural appeal.

The curvy canopy on the top will atleast be something new to look at, the one thing about it that disappoints is knowing they are more concerned with rooftop appeal than street appeal... why not put the interesting curvy stuff where the public actually is?