Saskatoon Construction II

[Brutopian]

I noticed today that Graham Construction has erected fencing around the lot adjacent to the Courthouse on Spadina. A back hoe is now on the property. Looks like construction of the addition to the courthouse will soon begin.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Yup construction will be starting soon on the addition!

[Echoes]

Central Avenue revamp gives off 'small-town feel'
By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix September 22, 2011

The makeover of Sutherland's Central Avenue corridor will have a distinctly "small-town feel," says the chair of the area's business association.

The plans for the $1.6-million revamp of the street were unveiled Wednesday at a public open house and will now make their way to city council for approval.

The plans, which if approved are set to get underway next year, cover the area between 109th Street and 110th Street and include rebuilt sidewalks, new benches, trees and light fixtures. The long-term plans include a redesigned Central Avenue square to buffer the railway industrial land.

Central Avenue between 107th Street to 110th Street will also be resurfaced and power lines and poles will eventually be buried underground.

The street has seen a decline in recent years as a major bank, gas station and grocery store relocated to big box power centres. The business improvement association saw the need for a makeover of the streetscape, which has been marked by deteriorating sidewalks and unsafe pedestrian crossings. There have also been complaints of "visual clutter" because of the high number of billboards.

[....]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Central+Av...wn+feel/5439893/story.html#ixzz1YgvW0rzo

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

I attended the open house. John and Kay Nasser were there. A rep from Tonko was there. Urban planners from the City were there. It was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the newly-revamped proposal for Parcel Y. A good showing from the public, as well. Lots of interested folks. The renderings for the project on view at the open house were the same as the ones made available to the public when the project was announced a few weeks ago.

I asked about whether or not the proposed height of the condo tower (95 metres) poses an issue with the north-south flight path (approach) to the airport. I was told no, it does not pose an issue. I was told that the 95 metre height in that particular location is not an issue with the airport authority. (I learned that they could even build 10 metres higher -- to roughly 105 metres -- in that spot if they wanted.)

The proposed rezoning goes before Council in November, I believe. If it is passed, then the required permits must be obtained in order to begin construction. Once those ducks are in a row, construction could start in spring 2012.

The City was also interested in hearing public opinion on what kind of building height/density Saskatoon residents would like to see in the tracts of land around the Farmer's market. Ranges of 3-4 stories to 10-12 stories were presented as options.

Did anyone else make it to the open house? Any other info to share?

Glad to hear you made it, and thanks for the update. It sound like it went over well.

I'm relieved the height isn't an issue with the flight paths (did you kindly ask the Nassers to up the height to 105 m? )

It also sounds like the City is starting to gear up to put parcels out for tender in Phase II. Good stuff.

EDIT: Sean Shaw has a good breakdown of the Open House here. Apparently the developers are also proposing to build the three buildings separately with separate parking garages (and possibly at different times), rather than one giant simultaneous build. This strategy is likely much more palatable to financiers but could be frustrating to folks wanting to see this to final completion, such as us!

[c@taract_soulj@h]

^ Is this by any chance the tallest proposal in Sask so far? I think I knew previously...just unsure

[Chaps]

Originally Posted by c@taract_soulj@h

^ Is this by any chance the tallest proposal in Sask so far? I think I knew previously...just unsure

Not sure if that includes spire or not. Currently the tallest proposal I believe is the Cantebury Gardens Tower in Regina, but it would be close with this one. Not sure which is technically higher. They are both apparently 95m (312ft for Cantebury, not sure what RL is).

I would also say this one has a lot more buzz around it, and may have a higher chance of coming to fruition than the Cantebury towner. Wiki says if Cantebury is built it would be the tallest building between Winnipeg and Calgary...but I'm guessing that isn't including other proposed buildings.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

As a participant in this year's Burning Man Festival in the desert of Nevada I found this article by the NY Times on the 'City Planning' of the +50,000 person 'city' that makes up the 2nd largest city in Nevada during the festival.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/29/arts/rod-garrett-the-urban-planner-behind-burning-man.html?_r=1

An amazing experience not just for the urban planning, mind bending art and raves but simply for a vision into how a planned utopia and true collective community can function and be like.

I wish more city planners would get out and understand some of the concepts listed in this article!

[jigglysquishy]

Originally Posted by Chaps

Not sure if that includes spire or not. Currently the tallest proposal I believe is the Cantebury Gardens Tower in Regina, but it would be close with this one. Not sure which is technically higher. They are both apparently 95m (312ft for Cantebury, not sure what RL is).

I would also say this one has a lot more buzz around it, and may have a higher chance of coming to fruition than the Cantebury towner. Wiki says if Cantebury is built it would be the tallest building between Winnipeg and Calgary...but I'm guessing that isn't including other proposed buildings.

Cantebury Tower is dead. Riving Landing is tallest proposed in the province.

[Morogolus]

I heard on the radio that another recession is coming. Hopefully they will be able to secure the finances for this thing. Jeez, this thing is like the never ending story. The "estimated" starting date is the same time which the original proposal was supposed to be finished.

[skSK]

I heard on the radio that another recession is coming. Hopefully they will be able to secure the finances for this thing. Jeez, this thing is like the never ending story. The "estimated" starting date is the same time which the original proposal was supposed to be finished.

Hopefully the points mentioned by Sean Shaw (the local proven developers backing the project and the planned staggered start for construction) will make this iteration of RLV recession-proof.

One thing though: if Nasser says that he's just "waiting for one signature" over the course of several months, we'll know it's dead.

[dsim249]

Saskatoon finds its Targets

The American department store chain Target will be putting down roots in Saskatoon in the coming months, with two locations.

The Zellers stores in Saskatoon's Lawson Heights Mall and Market Mall are both slated for changeover to Target stores.

Source

So now Target is going in Market Mall and Lawson, but not Centre, as was previously announced?

[TheCricket]

The CBC article I just read about Target says Market Mall and Lawson are additions to the other 105 previously announced.

[drm310]

The story said "The Zellers stores in Saskatoon's Lawson Heights Mall, Centre Mall Market Mall are all slated for changeover to Target stores."

I'm guessing that sentence should have been written as "The Zellers stores in Saskatoon's Lawson Heights Mall, Centre Mall and Market Mall are all slated for changeover to Target stores."

I've always wished that CKOM's website had a comment form or even an e-mail link, because their reporters have horrible writing skills. However, I think they just don't want anyone to tell them they're wrong.

Originally Posted by dsim249

Saskatoon finds its Targets

The American department store chain Target will be putting down roots in Saskatoon in the coming months, with two locations.

The Zellers stores in Saskatoon's Lawson Heights Mall and Market Mall are both slated for changeover to Target stores.

Source

So now Target is going in Market Mall and Lawson, but not Centre, as was previously announced?

[TheCricket]

This is a link I found while searching for the information on Target. It's a very cool idea to keep those men who don't wish to shop... occupied!


http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1058264--ikea-sets-up-playpen-for-men

[blueboy9]

Originally Posted by Dalreg

East/West, who cares.
The highways coming into the city from the west have been a cluster fuck for decades.....

As have numerous other intersections. Just because some dies at an intersection isn't the point. Attridge and Central are to neighbourhood streets which handle large amounts of traffic. But no way does it warrant an overpass. 33rd and Idlwyld handles huge traffic, should it get an overpass? Warman Road and 33rd as well? Most intersections on 8th street are busy as well. The list is endless.

Not to nitpick or anything but there is a difference between the Attridge and Central intersection and those you've mentioned... space. There's enough space at that intersection to build an overpass.

Personally I think that intersection would benefit greatly from simple turning lane extensions. Each direction has muted turning lanes that clog traffic and force drivers to merge at very low speeds. By extending both the turn and merge lanes, the situation could be improved enough to not even need an overpass.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by blueboy9

Not to nitpick or anything but there is a difference between the Attridge and Central intersection and those you've mentioned... space. There's enough space at that intersection to build an overpass.

Personally I think that intersection would benefit greatly from simple turning lane extensions. Each direction has muted turning lanes that clog traffic and force drivers to merge at very low speeds. By extending both the turn and merge lanes, the situation could be improved enough to not even need an overpass.

Your right that intersection along with a few others would be greatly helped by extending those lanes.

As for others especially on HWYs overpasses need to happen such as (#7 and #14) (Boychuck and #16) and (McOrmind and #5) to name a few. Those three along at 34m a piece at current market tendencies are around 100 million, but would save a tonne of time and allow for safer travel and increase all types of real-estate development.

[socialisthorde]

A modest proposal: In line with recent comments regarding pedestrian crossing of 22nd (e.g. comparing it to a game of frogger) , I suggest we just stop enforcing traffic laws in the vicinity of these "dangerous" intersections and let nature take its course. The vast majority of accidents are caused by driver error (i.e. bad driving) and therefore allowing accidents to happen would get rid of drivers who make mistakes, improving safety for those who don't. If you don't get the spirit of this, please google " a modest proposal" by Jonathon Swift.

On a more serious note, is there any evidence that making these particular intersections safer (i.e. adding interchanges) will reduce the number and/or severity of accidents? I ask this in all seriousness, because I suspect that just like building more freeways to relieve congestion, building safety features into roads, simply leads to to compensatory behaviour (i.e. unsafe driving) that will keep the accidents happening. This is just a hunch and I am perfectly willing to change it if presented with evidence to the contrary. Please note, I do not mean to downplay the importance of safety, or the feelings if anyone who has had an accident or knows someone who has.

[TechnicalRecession]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

I attended the open house. John and Kay Nasser were there. A rep from Tonko was there. Urban planners from the City were there. It was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the newly-revamped proposal for Parcel Y. A good showing from the public, as well. Lots of interested folks. The renderings for the project on view at the open house were the same as the ones made available to the public when the project was announced a few weeks ago.

I asked about whether or not the proposed height of the condo tower (95 metres) poses an issue with the north-south flight path (approach) to the airport. I was told no, it does not pose an issue. I was told that the 95 metre height in that particular location is not an issue with the airport authority. (I learned that they could even build 10 metres higher -- to roughly 105 metres -- in that spot if they wanted.)

The proposed rezoning goes before Council in November, I believe. If it is passed, then the required permits must be obtained in order to begin construction. Once those ducks are in a row, construction could start in spring 2012.

The City was also interested in hearing public opinion on what kind of building height/density Saskatoon residents would like to see in the tracts of land around the Farmer's market. Ranges of 3-4 stories to 10-12 stories were presented as options.

Did anyone else make it to the open house? Any other info to share?

Just curious what people on here think about the comment that construction could start in spring 2012. Would not the developer need to have pre-sold x% before they actually proceed with construction? I know this is mixed use but for the residential I'd assume it wouldn't start until they get certain committments. That has certainly been the case for the proposed condo high rises in Regina, and this has taken a lot longer than anyone thought. Did the developer give any indication on that? Just curious, thanks..

[The Bess]

They might start with the office and hotel first while getting some "X" amount of condo's presold.

[The Bess]

just a guess