Regina | Capital Pointe | 29F | 11F | 91M | ?M | Cancelled

[Rottie]

It's expected to take until the end of Nov. for demolition. That seems like a long time just to knock down the hotel and clear the site. If asbestos is still really an issue than what has been done on the inside in this past year of delays. 2 months for demo and project expected to be finished mid to end of 2013? I wouldn't put bets on it. For a comparison, Mosaic tower is over year into progress and look where they are right now and they didn't have 4 floors of underground parkade to contend with.

[CCF]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

Those are ridiculous setbacks. And here I was under the impression the building went up to the sidewalk.

Ridiculous in what sense?

Large setbacks in this situation are welcome as it will create grand sidewalks that will contribute to an active and vibrant downtown.

[brithgob]

That hoarding is now covered in Capital Pointe advertising posters

[jigglysquishy]

Originally Posted by CCF

Ridiculous in what sense?

Large setbacks in this situation are welcome as it will create grand sidewalks that will contribute to an active and vibrant downtown.

Street level setbacks don't contribute to vibrancy. Setbacks 10m+ off the ground do.

Look to Paris



The sidewalk meets the building. If the setbacks imply wide sidewalks, then yes that will increase vibrancy, but if it turns into another turd like SGI's ground level then it is indeed a turnoff.

[Nathan]

In my opinion, Regina isn't designed for 5 m setbacks. Could you imagine if every street in the Regina downtown had 5m setbacks? How small would the footprints of the buildings be? 5 just seems excessive. I could see a 3 m wide sidewalk here and there... but that's about the max I could see working.

In any case, it still wouldn't make sense to not dig out from the property line; wouldn't they want to maximize their underground parking potential? They don't have to have the above ground portion of the building right at the property line, but I'm sure they'd want to have the parking belowground right up to it.

As for the SGI reference, I don't think that would be allowed now would it? I thought the new plan required at grade uses?

[Chaps]

Originally Posted by brithgob

That hoarding is now covered in Capital Pointe advertising posters

Excellent! Another small piece of positive news.

[CCF]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

Street level setbacks don't contribute to vibrancy. Setbacks 10m+ off the ground do.

Look to Paris



The sidewalk meets the building. If the setbacks imply wide sidewalks, then yes that will increase vibrancy, but if it turns into another turd like SGI's ground level then it is indeed a turnoff.

I'm not sure what you are getting at or speaking to.

The image you posted of that Paris streetscape has grand sidewalks, likely in the range of 3m to 5 m. The building (Capital Pointe) will be built up to the sidewalk, the difference being that a portion of said sidewalk will be part private property and the remaining portion as public right-of-way.

Large setbacks in situations like this, where the setback is used to add more sidewalk, create an active downtown because it allows uses to spill out from the building and onto the sidewalk (e.g. tables and chairs, merchandise, performers, etc).

As for the latter post about these setbacks being significant, if I recall it's only on certain streets (Albert, Broad).

[jigglysquishy]

That private only sidewalk has me worried. How is the private sidewalk going to meet the public sidewalk? Same materials and design? Is the sidewalk going to be used for anything other than walking space?

Best case scenario is in turns into another Ohanlons where its constantly active and alive. Any word on what is going to be going in on the ground floor?

[CoR East]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

That private only sidewalk has me worried. How is the private sidewalk going to meet the public sidewalk? Same materials and design? Is the sidewalk going to be used for anything other than walking space?

Best case scenario is in turns into another Ohanlons where its constantly active and alive. Any word on what is going to be going in on the ground floor?

Design plans call for the whole space to be one design. The increased sidewalk area is given to the city as an easement I believe. If you look close at the sidewalks in the beautiful picture of Paris above, you will note that they are about 6-8m wide, exactly what is planned for around Capital Point. 6m walks on Victoria, 8m on Albert. The existing 3m sidewalk on both frontages is totally inadequate to support ground level activity, and would feel incredibly narrow adjacent to such a tall building. The last plan I saw included retail units (with patios) on Victoria, and hotel lobby and associated activities (including a restaurant) along Albert. No idea if the plan is to extend the underground parking to the property line under the sidewalk, but I do know that the transition from City property to private property will be seamless (no height difference). The other purpose of the 5m setback on Albert was to create enough space to accommodate a double row of trees along Albert. One row at the curb, like has been installed on the west side between Vic and 13th and one row closer to the building.

[CCF]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

That private only sidewalk has me worried. How is the private sidewalk going to meet the public sidewalk? Same materials and design? Is the sidewalk going to be used for anything other than walking space?

Best case scenario is in turns into another Ohanlons where its constantly active and alive. Any word on what is going to be going in on the ground floor?

It will likely be be stamped concrete or something of that nature. Even in cases where it's a combination of concrete and stones/brick/etc it still looks pretty good.

That being said, new developments are expected to make contributions to the public realm through streetscape initiatives (improved paving material, trees, public art, etc) or a list of other public contributions in exchange for bonusing.

This is the case for Harvard Tower III. In exchange for the relaxation of certain requirements, Harvard will be providing a public meeting room and public art.

See page 124 for the list of accepted contributions:
http://www.regina.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=4999

How the space is used really depends on the types of uses that go in at grade. We already know that one use will be the Hotel Breakfast area. Is there potential there for that use to spill out on the sidewalk? I would say yes.

[jigglysquishy]

I'll remain cautiously optimistic about how it meets the street. In any case Regina really needs to improve it's street life. Except for Scarth and certain times on 13th there is no street life in Regina. I want more vibrancy, I want more pubs. I want an active and alive city.

[CCF]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

I'll remain cautiously optimistic about how it meets the street. In any case Regina really needs to improve it's street life. Except for Scarth and certain times on 13th there is no street life in Regina. I want more vibrancy, I want more pubs. I want an active and alive city.

And one component (one of multiple) to achieve that is by providing a generous public realm that can support that kind of activity. In some parts of our downtown there isn't the space to provide those elements that add vibrancy and activity.

[Mian]

... just wanted to chime in on delays ... it may be that delays are occurring also because that this will be a LEED certified condo. This means something along the lines of everything's gotta be green ... including the demos ... and that may be one reason, possibly among others, that any delays are occurring compared to a standard construction plan.

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by brithgob

That hoarding is now covered in Capital Pointe advertising posters

I was in the area and took this pic with my blackberry.

[sask1982]

^ Thx 4 posting - i noticed that this morning too

[wacko]

About those setbacks provided as an easement to the city... do these arrangements reduce the property tax paid on the area covered by the setbacks? Since the property owner wouldn't be able to maximize use of their property.

[TechnicalRecession]

Originally Posted by CCF

It will likely be be stamped concrete or something of that nature. Even in cases where it's a combination of concrete and stones/brick/etc it still looks pretty good.

That being said, new developments are expected to make contributions to the public realm through streetscape initiatives (improved paving material, trees, public art, etc) or a list of other public contributions in exchange for bonusing.

This is the case for Harvard Tower III. In exchange for the relaxation of certain requirements, Harvard will be providing a public meeting room and public art.

See page 124 for the list of accepted contributions:
http://www.regina.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=4999

How the space is used really depends on the types of uses that go in at grade. We already know that one use will be the Hotel Breakfast area. Is there potential there for that use to spill out on the sidewalk? I would say yes.

I also beleive a component of the downtown plan was to create a larger focus on the pedestrian as oppossed to the vehicle. By creating larger sidewalks you increase the pedestrian focus and reduce the vehicular focus. The larger width of sidewalk with this project encourages that, along with the other items mentioned above such as public art, trees, grade level retail, all of which make the street more pedestrian friendly.

[tenteno2]

Originally Posted by wacko

About those setbacks provided as an easement to the city... do these arrangements reduce the property tax paid on the area covered by the setbacks? Since the property owner wouldn't be able to maximize use of their property.

Commercial taxes are based on income, in Regina. (I have never looked this up anywhere else...) Setbacks and easements do not directly affect the taxes paid, though may affect the amount of income the site can generate which would either reduce the taxes (if income depends on floorspace) or increase the taxes (if income depends on pedestrian traffic).

For reference, heres a link to the tax assement page for the Ramada, at Broad and Victoria:
http://tax.regina.ca/summary.jsp?account=10032589

[TechnicalRecession]

I walked by the site this afternoon and there is absolutely nothing happenning, no demolition, no workers on site, no worker vehicles on site. I have a feeling this is going to be a prolonged demolition.

On a more positive note the pit down the street for the new office building is really moving along, it's a deep pit and it looks like they are close to having it completely dug out and shoring in place. This one looks like it will move along at a fast clip!

[Chaps]

Originally Posted by TechnicalRecession

I walked by the site this afternoon and there is absolutely nothing happenning, no demolition, no workers on site, no worker vehicles on site. I have a feeling this is going to be a prolonged demolition.

On a more positive note the pit down the street for the new office building is really moving along, it's a deep pit and it looks like they are close to having it completely dug out and shoring in place. This one looks like it will move along at a fast clip!

There hasnt been anything going on for a few days but they said this would be he case. They pulled the windows and put up signage, but they said before that actualy demolition wouldn't start until next week I think?