Saskatoon Construction II

[Temperance]

Originally Posted by Echoes

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


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!

I basically agree with everything Sean Shaw wrote. Almost all the proposed zoning amendments are bad (getting rid of setbacks, reducing underground parking, greatly increasing the height of the buildings). I know we all want to get something done but there are good reasons that river landing has special planning requirements and throwing up tall buildings without a good street interaction will create an inhospitable area. I don't want to overreact on all this but I do think we need to be very careful in complying with all the requests of developers just to get something built.

[Dillweed]

Originally Posted by Temperance

I basically agree with everything Sean Shaw wrote. Almost all the proposed zoning amendments are bad (getting rid of setbacks, reducing underground parking, greatly increasing the height of the buildings). I know we all want to get something done but there are good reasons that river landing has special planning requirements and throwing up tall buildings without a good street interaction will create an inhospitable area. I don't want to overreact on all this but I do think we need to be very careful in complying with all the requests of developers just to get something built.

If Saskatoon city council has a problem with a 27 story building downtown. Then they belong in the stone age. But I think they have to be smarter than that. 27 stories might be the tallest building in Saskatoon but really in the scheme of things that hardly makes it the CN Tower.

I would expect that Saskatoon city hall would be smarter than these dinosaurs here in Vancouver. Which for so many years had a height bylaw of 40 stories downtown only because it might block some fat cats view of the north shore mountains from False Creek.

By the way I just love the renderings these architects use when they showcase their projects like River Landing. Sometimes they just seem out of touch with reality. Like when was the last time you saw a sailboat on the South Saskatchewan River.

River Landing looks like a great project for downtown Saskatoon. Get er built!

[jigglysquishy]

River Landing's street level interaction is 100x more important than height or tower aesthetics.

[Temperance]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

River Landing's street level interaction is 100x more important than height or tower aesthetics.

Yeah I agree with this but I think the aesthetics are also important in contributing to the character of the area. I have no problems at all with tall buildings per se (more density in saskatoon would be great) but I do think that there is a good argument for not putting massive buildings right on the riverbank.

I also agree with you dillweed that the renderings are always ridiculous for these things - on the bright side at least they didn't have somebody parasailing!

[skSK]

Originally Posted by Temperance

I also agree with you dillweed that the renderings are always ridiculous for these things - on the bright side at least they didn't have somebody parasailing!

What are you talking about? I always parasail on the river! Right after I BASE jump off the Broadway Bridge!

[Jerry]

....and let's not forget our passion for balloon fishing.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Originally Posted by skSK

What are you talking about? I always parasail on the river! Right after I BASE jump off the Broadway Bridge!

Now, now...we DO have lots to do on our river, especially with the temps in late sept over 30! That new beach/ sandbar under the circle bridge has been quite the hot spot...hopefully it doesn't get washed up next year!

[Kruzat]

Had a great weekend on that beach actually! On sat, me and my friends helped a buddy move all his dj equipment down to the beach (did the same things two weeks ago) what a tonne of people having fun! We did the same thing today at bare ass beach.





only issue was the people who live on Spadina who constantly phoned the cops because they could faintly here the music. The SPS was awesome about it, but if they get so many calls they have to do their duty and issue tickets, so they just said to turn it down a bit and it would be ok. One of the cops said that an older lady was filming the beach from the street and they heard her muttering "This is a disgrace!". Cops were very nice, they actually asked us to make an announcement for everyone to hide their booze and move their illegally parked cars (on the hill) haha.... I can't believe that she could have anything bad to say about hundreds of people having a great day on the beach. I also heard rumours that the city might put in some rocks to make sure the beach doesn't erode to quickly, and make some parking lots! Here's to hoping.

[skSK]

^^^ This is awesome. Although the sign warns of shifting sandbars, this one always seems to build up as the river curves to the east and deposits sand and silt. As for the rumours of the city shoring up the beach with rocks... they may help contain the beach but this area often floods over in spring and early summer because of runoff. I'm not sure how (or if) the city could mitigate the flow of water over the sandbar.

I'm also curious as to the MVA's opinion of this space as a public beach. Would it be more difficult to enforce environmental protection measures? It seems that people will keep using this area as a public beach... why not facilitate this use with a bit of development next to Spadina? Currently, the space is mostly lawn, a few groves of trees, and a bike path. What if down the road we saw some public washrooms, a pavilion building for ice cream vendors/restaurant, and maybe some buildings for canoe/kayak rentals built?

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by skSK

^^^ ........
I'm also curious as to the MVA's opinion of this space as a public beach. Would it be more difficult to enforce environmental protection measures? It seems that people will keep using this area as a public beach... why not facilitate this use with a bit of development next to Spadina? Currently, the space is mostly lawn, a few groves of trees, and a bike path. What if down the road we saw some public washrooms, a pavilion building for ice cream vendors/restaurant, and maybe some buildings for canoe/kayak rentals built?

Our city councilor Darren Hill has brought up this point.
You may enjoy this article.
Meewasin ‘interested in exploring’ public beach, municipal swimming pool

There are many hurdles to cross but its already one step closer to being a reality.

[Jerry]

Wow what a great weekend in Saskatoon. With temperatures soaring over 30 everyone was out enjoying it. Took a few photos around some of the construction projects and do not apologize for shooting too many cranes. I have spent many years waiting for them to migrate back to Saskatoon.


^^ River Centre




^^ River Centre taken from the future site of the Art Gallery of Saskatchewan.
The Lighthouse crane in the background.


^^ Lighthouse








^^ A sneak look at the lobby of The James Hotel which someone said was scheduled to open this Oct.


^^ Not construction related but with temps over 30 this past weekend everyone was out enjoying our river.


^^ Shearwater Tours


^^ The greatest city on the prairie's.


^^ We are a neat bunch here in Saskatoon.

[mike474]

Great photos, the SK expats always appreciate the construction updates.

The river valley shots are great too, post them in the Canada section

[Dillweed]

Great shots Jerry especially of the river bank very colorful. Keep it up! And look at all those boats on the river. Maybe I was out of line about that crack about the sailboats on the South Saskatchewan river.

[Temperance]

Wow - Saskatoon is looking so beautiful! I'm sorry I missed the great weather this weekend. I'll be in saskatoon in a few days but right now I'm drinking whisky in rainy Ireland.

[Dillweed]

Originally Posted by skSK

^^^ This is awesome. Although the sign warns of shifting sandbars, this one always seems to build up as the river curves to the east and deposits sand and silt. As for the rumours of the city shoring up the beach with rocks... they may help contain the beach but this area often floods over in spring and early summer because of runoff. I'm not sure how (or if) the city could mitigate the flow of water over the sandbar.

I'm also curious as to the MVA's opinion of this space as a public beach. Would it be more difficult to enforce environmental protection measures? It seems that people will keep using this area as a public beach... why not facilitate this use with a bit of development next to Spadina? Currently, the space is mostly lawn, a few groves of trees, and a bike path. What if down the road we saw some public washrooms, a pavilion building for ice cream vendors/restaurant, and maybe some buildings for canoe/kayak rentals built?

As I look out my window as I write this the wind is blowing and is raining buckets I'm envious of all that blue sky and hot weather you guys are having out there. Geez am I starting to sound whiny about Vancouver?

Boy now wouldn't it have been lucrative to have been down at that beach with one of those hotdog and/or ice cream carts over the weekend? You can't beat having a beach in the heart of the city. Saskatoon needs a major beach like Rio. A place where all its fine looking woman can hangout wearing their thong bikinis.

I think the city should defiantly look at developing this area into a permanent beach. Maybe putting a permanent washroom and change rooms a few vendors etc. like you suggest.

They could put up some pay parking which would help pay for things. And maybe spending a little money on the beach. I could be a real destination area for the city in the summer. From what I understand the city is already considering some development for this area as a permanent beach. I hope they do.

Might be easier said than done I'm curious as to what happens to his sand bar when the river is high like earlier this spring?

[kgc087]

Wow, it sure has been a long time still I brushed up on my Saskatoon construction. Progress looks great on all the cities projects. I'm DEF envious of the hot temperatures, Toronto is pretty chilly right now, it makes me miss home! Has anyone seen any drawings for the central ave. plan?

[taguy]

Originally Posted by Dillweed

I think the city should defiantly look at developing this area into a permanent beach. Maybe putting a permanent washroom and change rooms a few vendors etc. like you suggest.

They could put up some pay parking which would help pay for things. And maybe spending a little money on the beach. I could be a real destination area for the city in the summer. From what I understand the city is already considering some development for this area as a permanent beach. I hope they do.

Might be easier said than done I'm curious as to what happens to his sand bar when the river is high like earlier this spring?

Below i attached some photos of Streets Beach (an artificial beach)at Southbank in the city center of Brisbane, Australia.

Saskatoon could look at incorporating something like this into the River Landing plans

[skSK]

Originally Posted by Jerry

Our city councilor Darren Hill has brought up this point.
You may enjoy this article.
Meewasin ‘interested in exploring’ public beach, municipal swimming pool

There are many hurdles to cross but its already one step closer to being a reality.

What a great article! Thanks Jerry! I am very excited that something will eventually be done to create a more permanent fixture here. Those archival pictures sure are cool too! I hope that any portable toilets are only interim measures... if they want to keep the booze out of there maybe they should keep away from making the area look like Craven Country Jamboree!

Great pictures too Jerry! I second putting the skyline shot on the Canada section... maybe the ones with St. Paul's steeple in them too.

[Arts]

taguy, that beach in Brisbane is a really cool concept... I have so far been pretty dismissive of the idea of turning the sandbar to a permanent type of fixture - there is no way the city would sanction swimming in the river itself and as lovely as the sandbar is I don't think developing anything around it adds any quality. However seeing what they built in your photos is something that would be really cool, and closer to downtown would be spectacular - I'm not thinking river landing, I'm thinking where the boat launch is just N of the Broadway bridge.

[prairieguy]

Originally Posted by taguy

Below i attached some photos of Streets Beach (an artificial beach)at Southbank in the city center of Brisbane, Australia.

Saskatoon could look at incorporating something like this into the River Landing plans[/IMG]

I have been to the southbank beach area a few times over the years and it is great! They have lots of little food vendors and market area...very pedestrian friendly and a great solution to a controled beach area on a river.

I had actually suggested this development on this site several years back when they were looking at developing the current river landing area. I thought this kind of feature (along with the spray park/water feature they did develop) would have been a great asset for the city.