Saskatoon Construction II

[Echoes]

I like what Hudson's is doing with the exterior. Giving it that old pub style look. I'm not sure how else to describe it...

[bp832]

Does anyone know what is happening with the building across ave B from the old Albany Hotel, where the flea market used to be?

[Echoes]

^ The Adilman Building.

Not sure what's happening there specifically, but it appears that the entire north side of the 100 block of 20th St W is getting a makeover, from the former Field's store at 20th and Idylwyld to the Adilman at 20th and B.

Here's the 'For Lease' brochure for the Adilman from Colliers: http://skcolliers.smartviso.com/resources/documents/brochure12620thstreetwest.pdf

It's great to see these buildings being refurbished!

[circle33]

I was talking to an architect on the weekend who has moved back to Saskatoon after a few decades in BC. Upon discovering I was a bit of an urban design geek he went out to his car and brought back his plan for densification of Nutana. I must say it is kind of interesting, though I'm not sure how plausible it may be. His plan calls for severing 50' of the back end of each lot on the 500 block of 10th and 11th streets and in that space constructing a 6 storey condominium. His main tenet is that density can be preserved without altering the existing street foint character. He had a shit load of drawings and has obviously put a lot of thought into it. As far as Ii know there is no money willing to back the idea at this time. I would think getting the property owners on board might prove a little, ummm, challenging.

Ideas? Thoughts?

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by circle33

I was talking to an architect on the weekend who has moved back to Saskatoon after a few decades in BC. Upon discovering I was a bit of an urban design geek he went out to his car and brought back his plan for densification of Nutana. I must say it is kind of interesting, though I'm not sure how plausible it may be. His plan calls for severing 50' of the back end of each lot on the 500 block of 10th and 11th streets and in that space constructing a 6 storey condominium. His main tenet is that density can be preserved without altering the existing street foint character. He had a shit load of drawings and has obviously put a lot of thought into it. As far as Ii know there is no money willing to back the idea at this time. I would think getting the property owners on board might prove a little, ummm, challenging.

Ideas? Thoughts?

Great idea! I don't think he'd find much support in the community though. It will bring too much traffic and there is not enough parking. Nutana is about as gentrified as it will ever be because opposition to new development and rezoning is so strong. I guess that's okay. Nutana's loss could be Riversdale's gain.

[Jimmy James]

The population numbers are out - nothing too earth shattering here.

Saskatoon was the third fastest growing CMA between 2006 and 2011, at 11.4%. The city proper grew at a 9.7% rate. The CMA, according to the census, is 260,600 while the the city is 222,035.

Of course, these numbers are not only outdated but only reflect the number of people who return the census. I think the City's estimate of 234,200 is likely more accurate for the city, meaning the CMA is likely in the 275,000 range.

Here is an article on the CMA growth in Canada:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/02/08/...ch-cities-and-towns-have-grown-the-most/

Here is another that focuses on Saskatoon and Saskatchewan:
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/C...growth+lead+rise+West/6120081/story.html

And, because it is brought up frequently in other threads, I would like to dispel the myth that Saskatoon's CMA population benefits from its geographical size. Saskatoon, the RM of Corman Park (which surrounds the city), and the towns or cities of Dalmeny, Warman, Osler, Martensville and Langham (which are all within 20 minutes of the city) account for 249,266 of the CMA's population, or 95.65 percent, while covering 41.27 percent of Saskatoon's 5206.7 square km area.

[Yeff]

The Scotia Centre Food Court is closed off and construction is underway for their renovations. Not sure if Grandma Lee's and Fred's Place will be a part of things afterward or not, but Good Earth Cafe will be the main tenant after it's re-opened.

[Echoes]

http://www.mendel.ca/remai-ags

Although I have nothing new to report, I just want to say how excited I am for the Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan to begin construction and take shape. It's frustrating that despite the last regulatory approvals being passed in late 2011 (City and MVA), groundbreaking is still not expected until early 2013. Another year?

This gallery may well be the most significant building project of this boom era (that or River Landing Village), and will stand as a landmark to represent a growing, evolving, and coming-of-age Saskatoon.

It's interesting to note that the recently renovated and expanded Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) in Edmonton is 7,900 m2 (Source: Wikipedia), while the Remai AGS here in Saskatoon will be 11,582 m2 once complete (Source: http://www.mendel.ca/remai-ags). What a huge difference, especially given that our larger gallery will serve a city of only a quarter million and a provincial population smaller than the city of Edmonton. What a wonderful testament to the importance of arts, culture, and creativity in our fair city!

On a related note, I also find the design of the Remai AGS to be more timeless and sensible (an instant classic!), and the AGA quite ostentatious (and worse off for it). All a matter of opinion, of course.

Great work, Saskatoon!

[Jerry]

^^ Hudsons Canadian Tap House - Saskatoon - Formerly Johns Prime Rib. We will be checking it out as soon as the
doors open.

Originally Posted by Echoes

I like what Hudson's is doing with the exterior. Giving it that old pub style look. I'm not sure how else to describe it...

I can't describe it either but have a strong craving for Asian cuisine.



^^ Adilman Building undergoing a reno as previously mentioned.


^^ New windows going in and the main floor is cleared out.

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by Echoes

http://www.mendel.ca/remai-ags

Although I have nothing new to report, I just want to say how excited I am for the Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan to begin construction and take shape. It's frustrating that despite the last regulatory approvals being passed in late 2011 (City and MVA), groundbreaking is still not expected until early 2013. Another year?

This gallery may well be the most significant building project of this boom era (that or River Landing Village), and will stand as a landmark to represent a growing, evolving, and coming-of-age Saskatoon.

It's interesting to note that the recently renovated and expanded Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) in Edmonton is 7,900 m2 (Source: Wikipedia), while the Remai AGS here in Saskatoon will be 11,582 m2 once complete (Source: http://www.mendel.ca/remai-ags). What a huge difference, especially given that our larger gallery will serve a city of only a quarter million and a provincial population smaller than the city of Edmonton. What a wonderful testament to the importance of arts, culture, and creativity in our fair city!

On a related note, I also find the design of the Remai AGS to be more timeless and sensible (an instant classic!), and the AGA quite ostentatious (and worse off for it). All a matter of opinion, of course.

Great work, Saskatoon!

it looks to be a fanastic facility and a huge improvement over the Mendel (which I love, but it's pretty rinky dinky outdated). My most recent visit to Edmonton's art gallery was a year or so ago. It's just a few years old as well - very nice, quite spacious, and it has a decent view along with a little cafe on the roof. I would hope our gallery will have similar features!

Hopefully the rest of River Landing will fall into place shortly too.

I was talking to an architect on the weekend who has moved back to Saskatoon after a few decades in BC. Upon discovering I was a bit of an urban design geek he went out to his car and brought back his plan for densification of Nutana. I must say it is kind of interesting, though I'm not sure how plausible it may be. His plan calls for severing 50' of the back end of each lot on the 500 block of 10th and 11th streets and in that space constructing a 6 storey condominium. His main tenet is that density can be preserved without altering the existing street foint character. He had a shit load of drawings and has obviously put a lot of thought into it. As far as Ii know there is no money willing to back the idea at this time. I would think getting the property owners on board might prove a little, ummm, challenging.

Ideas? Thoughts?

I think it would meet with a lot of resistance. Nutana was quite unhappy with those new condos along Broadway (which initially were going to be over 10 stories, I think). There was also a funny story a year or so ago where the heritage society protested the demolition of an old paint shop on Broadway. the building was, frankly, a piece of shit. whatever historical value it once had was painted over, rippedo out, and replaced many, many times. So I think this sort of proposal would be met with a lot of resistance, which is too bad because I think it would be an awesome place to live. Almost right on Broadway, a 5 minute walk from Extra Foods, a 5 - 10 minute bike ride (maybe less) to IGA on 8th. Close to the river, close to downtown, relatively close to the university. I'd love to see more tastefully designed apartments in Nutana.

[Brutopian]

Future looks bright for commercial real estate in Saskatoon


BY SCOTT LARSON, THE STARPHOENIX FEBRUARY 8, 2012

Development should remain strong in Saskatoon across all commercial real estate sectors in 2012, says a new real estate forecast by Colliers International.

Tom McClocklin, president of Colliers McClocklin Real Estate Corp., said the vacancy in all asset classes will remain low in 2012, rental rates will be stable or even rise and development will continue in industrial, retail and office sectors.

“For the first time in nearly three decades we are entering a major expansion of the office market,” McClocklin told an audience in Saskatoon where he presented Colliers International 2012 Canadian Real Estate Review & Forecast. “Traditionally we haven’t been an office city. We’ve been an industrial and retail city.”

New office space being built at places such as River Landing, on Second Avenue and 23rd Street is barely keeping up with demand.

[..........]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/F...skatoon/6122265/story.html#ixzz1lqorGz4k

[Brutopian]

Resources, research, riches draw newcomers to hot-spot-Saskatoon

ANNA MEHLER PAPERNY From Thursday's Globe and Mail
Published Wednesday, Feb. 08, 2012 9:25PM EST
Last updated Wednesday, Feb. 08, 2012 9:39PM EST

The Ikpes have been around: They’ve moved from Abuja, Nigeria, to the United Kingdom, then to Calgary and Toronto before settling in Saskatoon. And for now, at least, they’re in this booming Prairie province to stay.

Them and another 30,000-odd people in the past five years. The 260,000-person city has experienced 11.4 per cent growth since the previous census – the third-fastest growth of the country’s census metropolitan areas. Saskatchewan is flooded with an unprecedented number of immigrants drawn by its white-hot resource sector and the sizable economic ripple effects attached to it.

[..............]

Read more:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nati...rs-to-hot-spot-saskatoon/article2331800/

[Brutopian]

According to the 2011 census:

-the population of the Saskatoon CMA is now equivalent to the population of the cities of Regina, Moose Jaw, and Prince Albert combined.

-one out of every four Saskatchewanians now lives in the Saskatoon CMA.

-between 2006 and 2011, Saskatoon's population growth (19,000) was equivalent to that of adding a city the size of Yellowknife to Saskatoon

-Martensville, a Saskatoon bedroom community, gained more people between 2006 and 2011 than Moose Jaw and Prince Albert gained combined during that time period

-Warman, a Saskatoon bedroom community, gained more people between 2006 and 2011 than Moose Jaw and Prince Albert gained combined during that time period

-the combined population of Martensville and Warman is now larger than the population of North Battleford

[Echoes]

Saskatoon third fastest-growing city in Canada

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix February 8, 2012

The growth of Saskatoon’s suburban bedroom communities is outpacing the city, underscoring the need for regional cooperation, civic leaders say.

The results of the 2011 census released Wednesday confirm what many in Saskatoon already instinctively understand. Saskatoon and the surrounding region are the driving force behind the province turnaround.

The census metropolitan area of Saskatoon grew by 11.4 per cent between 2006 and 2011, trailing only Calgary and Edmonton for the same period, according to the data collected in May 2011. The gains are a stark contrast to the last census in 2006, where the population of Saskatoon grew only 2.8 per cent and Saskatchewan’s population declined.

Saskatoon’s growth isn’t a blip on the radar, but evidence of a continuing trend that mirrors Alberta’s big city growth, Mayor Don Atchison said.

“What we really have to be doing is looking beyond 500,000 (people) for Saskatoon,” he told reporters Wednesday after the release of the latest census figures from Statistics Canada. “If you look back at the city of Calgary, at one point it was smaller than Saskatoon (is now), and now (Calgary is) 1.1 million. We just can’t keep looking in the rear view mirror.”

The population of the Saskatoon region hit 261,000, up from 234,000 in 2006.

[....]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/technology...+Canada/6123214/story.html#ixzz1ltXRuLBU

I have to laugh at our Mayor, who's optimism and boosterism knows no bounds. Not long ago he was boasting about our city quickly growing to 500,000. Now he's looking beyond that to 1 million. The U of S economist in the article presents a starkly different forecast than Atch. Time will tell...

[Crisis]

Even with all the recent discussion regarding densification and eliminating urban sprawl, I believe that Martensville & Warman will continue their rapid growth. Part of this will be due to the desire for people with young families wanting to raise their kids in smaller communities with relatively large yards and ample green space. Another significant factor, however, is the old adage of "location, location, location". Both these bedroom communities are located to the north of Sasaktoon, close to where the vast majority of the new businesses are locating. As a result the commute to work from Warman or Martensivlle is shorter than that from much of Saskatoon. So, I don't see the development in any of the bedroom communities to the north (including Langham, Dalmeny, Olser & Hague) slowing down anythime soon.

[Brutopian]

I noticed this morning that the glass/windows are now being installed to the exterior of the River Centre. Looks great.

On a related note, it certainly is great to hear that a conditional commitment from an international company to rent the top two floors of the River Centre has been secured.

[Echoes]

^ As noted in the article, the recent influx of global and high profile companies into the downtown bodes well:

- BHP Billiton
- Worley Parsons
- SNC Lavalin
- Stuart Olson Dominion
- K + S Potash
- Golder Associates (this is surprising... thought they just got fancy new digs on 8th Street (former RCMP building) a few years ago? Must be expanding...)
- River Centre mystery tenant...

[TheCricket]

Originally Posted by Echoes

^ As noted in the article, the recent influx of global and high profile companies into the downtown bodes well:

- BHP Billiton
- Worley Parsons
- SNC Lavalin
- Stuart Olson Dominion
- K + S Potash
- Golder Associates (this is surprising... thought they just got fancy new digs on 8th Street (former RCMP building) a few years ago? Must be expanding...)
- River Centre mystery tenant...

I have a friend who works at Golder and he said they are bursting at the seams and whoever owns the property next to them won't allow them to expand onto it. The company is apparently growing faster than they can keep up with, hence the need for more space.

[Irvin]

Anyone know of new restaurants going into Stonebridge Business Park. I'm aware of Boston Pizza, Earls and Brown's Social House.

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by Irvin

Anyone know of new restaurants going into Stonebridge Business Park. I'm aware of Boston Pizza, Earls and Brown's Social House.

Say whattt? Hadn't heard either of those. Where did you hear those from?

Anyone know what's being built directly beside the new Co-op grocery store in Stonebridge?