Regina Construction II

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Robag

I'm not sure this was mentioned here before, but I heard rumors today of a new hotel going in at the corner of Parliament and Albert where the old Esso gas station was, and extending right through where the Mr. Lube is and Tomas Cook Restaurant. Anyone have info on this?

It has been stated it will be a Super 8. That is a big chunk of (expensive) land for a Super 8.

[Stormer]

Vale of Brazil, the world's second largest miner after BHP, has filed its proposal with MOE for its $3 billion potash mine at Kronau, just 25km from Regina. They estimate 1500 construction workers will be required when construction begins Jan.1, 2014.

http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/2011-043ProjectProposal

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Hopefully the design of the Super 8 on South Albert will be more visually appealing than the ugly eye sore which is the one on Vic Avenue East!!!



EWWW!

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Vale of Brazil, the world's second largest miner after BHP, has filed its proposal with MOE for its $3 billion potash mine at Kronau, just 25km from Regina. They estimate 1500 construction workers will be required when construction begins Jan.1, 2014.

http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/2011-043ProjectProposal

New info in this proposal includes:

• a preference for a cogeneration power plant to produce steam for the solution mine and electricity to sell to the grid.
• will not require a construction camp given the proximity to Regina.
• possibility of upgrading Highway 33.
• will build a water pipeline from Katepwa Lake to supply water for solution mining. (you will recall that Western Potash - across the highway - is proposing a pipeline from the City of Regina sewage treatment plant to utilize effluent.)

[sask1982]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Vale of Brazil, the world's second largest miner after BHP, has filed its proposal with MOE for its $3 billion potash mine at Kronau, just 25km from Regina. They estimate 1500 construction workers will be required when construction begins Jan.1, 2014.

http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/2011-043ProjectProposal

Thanks for posting!

[jigglysquishy]

We can only hope that a mine of that size will lead to some serious office space (100,000 sq. ft+) coming to downtown Regina.

[BrannyMuffin]

Looking at the new Super 8 motels, they basically look like any other suburban hotel so I would assume it will follow the same model. Judging by a quick Google Image search, the style of the motel on Vic was basically what they were building at that time. I found a bunch in different cities that I had to look at twice because they are nearly identical.

If you're at all interested in Design Regina and haven't been able to take any of it in (I find it interesting and exciting....hopefully it's still exciting when the plans come forward!) Regina Urban Ecology has been posting updates from the sessions, including some pictures.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

We can only hope that a mine of that size will lead to some serious office space (100,000 sq. ft+) coming to downtown Regina.

Help me out, is Vale the company that mines around Sudbury? If so, they probably wouldn't move too many head office jobs to Regina. If not, are they new to Canada?

[TechnicalRecession]

Originally Posted by UPP

Help me out, is Vale the company that mines around Sudbury? If so, they probably wouldn't move too many head office jobs to Regina. If not, are they new to Canada?

Vale is a huge mining company I beleive from Brazil. They would likely have mines near sudbury and all over the world for that matter. However, I beleive they are relatively new to the potash industry, and similar to BHP Billiton, they would likely require potash focussed office staff in the city. BHP is similarly a huge mining company and they have a fair number of staff in the city of Saskatoon in their new downtown building in Saskatoon. Plus the provincial government has that tax incentive for businesses having head office staff in the province. I think it would be very reasonable to expect they'll be hiring staff for some kind of downtown office in REgina. The timing of the potash mine to start in 2014 fits in nicely with the province's largest office building being constructed on Rose street starting next year. So keep your fingers crossed!

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by TechnicalRecession

Vale is a huge mining company I beleive from Brazil. They would likely have mines near sudbury and all over the world for that matter. However, I beleive they are relatively new to the potash industry, and similar to BHP Billiton, they would likely require potash focussed office staff in the city. BHP is similarly a huge mining company and they have a fair number of staff in the city of Saskatoon in their new downtown building in Saskatoon. Plus the provincial government has that tax incentive for businesses having head office staff in the province. I think it would be very reasonable to expect they'll be hiring staff for some kind of downtown office in REgina. The timing of the potash mine to start in 2014 fits in nicely with the province's largest office building being constructed on Rose street starting next year. So keep your fingers crossed!

I would agree with most of this. Just to clarify Vale bought Inco a few years ago and inherited the Toronto head office which runs their worldwide base metals operations including their nickel mines in Sudbury Thompson, MB and Newfoundland and Labrador (the famous Voisey's Bay). they do not have much potash yet but aim to be a big player as Brazil is a huge and growing consumer of potash. Toronto could provide some support to the Saskatchewan operations, but they will need a potash office here. In fact they already have an office on the 19th floor of Tower I.

The mine proposal includes an administration office at the minesite. I would not expect them to ever need 100,000 square feet, but maybe 20-30,000 some day.

[thefourthtower]

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[Scruff Bucket]

I hear that some residents in that area are opposed to this mining development so near to Kronau. It looks like the report does mention some quality of [fill in] issues and attempts to address/acknowledge the project's effects on some of these issues.

On a similar note, the report (p. 58) states (I'm paraphrasing) that the project is drained by Wascana Creek tributaries that eventually discharge into Wascana Creek and towards -- (meaning: ) and through -- Regina, and discharges into the Qu'Appelle River near Lumsden. Does anyone know anything about the effluent water discharge from potash mining projects? I take it Vale will treat its water effluent. Is this still a matter for concern? For our Wascana Lake? Our quality of life or health? Or is it trivial because we're so far downstream? Is it of concern for communities nearer to the project? Just wondering, after I skimmed that part of the report. Or does the report include anymore info that I haven't read? ... Otherwise it looks good for employment, infrastructure development, etc.

[Treesplease]

Vale Potash Canada Ltd. (VPCL) has its head office in Regina - not sure but likely a 100% owned subsidiary of Vale. Mosaic has numerous mines in Saskatchewan but back when Kalium was a stand alone potash mine it had quite a few head office jobs in Regina - I think they had a couple floors in what is now conexus plaza.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Scruff Bucket

I hear that some residents in that area are opposed to this mining development so near to Kronau. It looks like the report does mention some quality of [fill in] issues and attempts to address/acknowledge the project's effects on some of these issues.

On a similar note, the report (p. 58) states (I'm paraphrasing) that the project is drained by Wascana Creek tributaries that eventually discharge into Wascana Creek and towards -- (meaning: ) and through -- Regina, and discharges into the Qu'Appelle River near Lumsden. Does anyone know anything about the effluent water discharge from potash mining projects? I take it Vale will treat its water effluent. Is this still a matter for concern? For our Wascana Lake? Our quality of life or health? Or is it trivial because we're so far downstream? Is it of concern for communities nearer to the project? Just wondering, after I skimmed that part of the report. Or does the report include anymore info that I haven't read? ... Otherwise it looks good for employment, infrastructure development, etc.

They recycle water as much as possible and then the leftover salty brine they inject into deep wells far below the fresh water table. I do not believe any water is discharged into surface creeks like Wascana.

[jigglysquishy]

I've been thinking a lot about the City Plaza recently. As of now there is really no reason to go to the plaza on a daily basis for people. Yes, there are benches, but I have the feeling the plaza will purely serve thoroughfare traffic.

How do we fix that?

Doing some research into successful European squares I've come to the conclusion that nearly all of them are bordered by restaurants/pubs. As of today not a single eatery. Hell, they're not even a single shop of any kind that borders the plaza.

If all the buildings bordering the square were forced into having ground floor retail we could get the square to actually feel alive. But as of now I get the feeling the place will be empty 95% of the time.

[Regina Boi]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

I've been thinking a lot about the City Plaza recently. As of now there is really no reason to go to the plaza on a daily basis for people. Yes, there are benches, but I have the feeling the plaza will purely serve thoroughfare traffic.

How do we fix that?

Doing some research into successful European squares I've come to the conclusion that nearly all of them are bordered by restaurants/pubs. As of today not a single eatery. Hell, they're not even a single shop of any kind that borders the plaza.

If all the buildings bordering the square were forced into having ground floor retail we could get the square to actually feel alive. But as of now I get the feeling the place will be empty 95% of the time.

Exactly. We get to Europe almost every year and one of our favorite things to do is sit in the squares, have a cappuccino and people watch. Squares are the hub of European society and are always packed day and night. Pretty ironic that city planners 100s of years ago seem way more progressive than what we have now.

Someone already suggested this, but if Harvard is going to build tower 4 where the Gordon block is, the should really try and save the facade of the building and keep all the street-side retail slots. I fear they'll stick to their usual formula and use the main floor exclusively for lobby and professional space.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Regina Boi

Someone already suggested this, but if Harvard is going to build tower 4 where the Gordon block is, the should really try and save the facade of the building and keep all the street-side retail slots. I fear they'll stick to their usual formula and use the main floor exclusively for lobby and professional space.

Retail is mandatory under the downtown plan.

It would be nice if someone could convince Sasktel to open up the blank wall of their black building on 12th and Lorne. That is the only other space on the plaza, although I have Heard Harvard is looking at a restaurant for the CWB space in Tower II.

Kiosks are another possibility. They are big in Europe.

[jigglysquishy]

A restaurant in Tower II would be nice.

Anyone know what's situated behind the blank wall in the Sasktel building?

I was hoping something could be made of the law office on 12th and Cornwall. That would be the perfect place for a pub.

O'Hanlons and Beer Brothers are always packed. We could use another pub downtown.

[Stormer]

Something like this JJ Bean in Vancouver could do well all year round.




Source:http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/263/jjbean.jpg/

[Scruff Bucket]

Originally Posted by Stormer

They recycle water as much as possible and then the leftover salty brine they inject into deep wells far below the fresh water table. I do not believe any water is discharged into surface creeks like Wascana.

Thanks Stormer! Next time before I ask, I'll try to do a little research!