Saskatoon Construction II

[casper]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Newer town houses are getting closer to $300k in Regina.

Same for Saskatoon,

[Brutopian]

Concept plan for River Landing office approved

The Meewasin Valley Authority gives nod of approval to new River Landing office complex

Reported by Fan-Yee Suen, NewsTalk 650 CKOM

First Posted: Jun 8, 2012 3:46pm | Last Updated: Jun 8, 2012 4:17pm


The Meewasin Valley Authority (MVA) on Friday approved the concept plan for the new River Landing office complex, part of the $250-million hotel-condo-office megaproject which is expected to get underway later this summer.

The approval came with the condition that the final details of the plan be endorsed by both the MVA and the city’s administration.

“This is just another step in a long process,” said president of Victory Majors Investment Corp. John Nasser of the decision. “We’ve always stated that it’s going to be a collaborative effort between the city, the Meewasin Valley, ourselves and other stakeholders,” he said.

Many people are excited about this megaproject on Saskatoon’s riverfront Parcel Y -- considered to be one of the most valuable chunks of real estate in the city -- and are eager to see construction crews break ground, Nasser told reporters.

“Everyone is on my case,” he joked. “Even my wife asked me this morning ‘when are you starting?’”
Nasser noted that the project is still in the design phase and he anticipates construction will begin in a few months once he’s been granted a building permit.

[........]

Read more:
http://ckom.com/story/concept-plan-river-landing-office-approved/60490

[swilley]

Originally Posted by Temperance

The renders have gotten worse with every iteration. I understand Ricopedra's point but I still think we could pressure the developer to come up with something a bit more thoughtful for this prominent site. This was supposed to be something special.

The "torch building" reno looks nice!

Wha?? Really?? Do you remember the original Remai rendering? I can't find the picture I had of it, maybe someone else does? Parcel Y has come a long way since then...

Edit: I found it! Yeah this would have been waaayyyyy nicer!

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by swilley

Wha?? Really?? Do you remember the original Remai rendering? I can't find the picture I had of it, maybe someone else does? Parcel Y has come a long way since then...

Edit: I found it! Yeah this would have been waaayyyyy nicer!

EEWwwwwww

[casper]

Originally Posted by kgc087

EEWwwwwww

I would not go that far. I am certainly happier with what we are getting for river landing now. I would more describe it as a Blah!!! building. Not particularly interesting or exciting but not offensive either.

However given it is intended to be a mid-range hotel, similar to say a "Holiday Inn". I would have liked to see the Remi building on the site of our new Holiday Inn rather than we have now. Maybe without the spirals, they just look silly, especially the one of the one story entrance.

[Mike with an M]

Originally Posted by swilley

Wha?? Really?? Do you remember the original Remai rendering? I can't find the picture I had of it, maybe someone else does? Parcel Y has come a long way since then...

Edit: I found it! Yeah this would have been waaayyyyy nicer!

I am now confused as to which direction we are looking at this from, are we looking at it facing west from the proposed plaza?

And while I won't say 'eww', I must express my great dissapointment, the other rendering looked far better.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Mike with an M

I am now confused as to which direction we are looking at this from, are we looking at it facing west from the proposed plaza?

And while I won't say 'eww', I must express my great dissapointment, the other rendering looked far better.

Could be wrong, but given how the street bends I would assume this is from the river. That plan was for only the hotel and a spa if I remember correctly. I think what we have now with a hotel, office block and condos in a much better use of the space.

[Morogolus]

The stupid approvals for this damn thing are never ending. How many approvals does one hotel and office complex have to go through in Saskatoon? Oh about 30..Then when you think oh great they approved it and they can start building but no no, that's the never the case. It always needs to go through another pointless approval that is always three months away.

[shmakim]

Originally Posted by casper

I would not go that far. I am certainly happier with what we are getting for river landing now. I would more describe it as a Blah!!! building. Not particularly interesting or exciting but not offensive either.

I think we've all been seduced by the original LP renderings - they were gorgeous. I truly miss them.

[Temperance]

Originally Posted by swilley

Wha?? Really?? Do you remember the original Remai rendering? I can't find the picture I had of it, maybe someone else does? Parcel Y has come a long way since then...

Edit: I found it! Yeah this would have been waaayyyyy nicer!

Ha - touche. I forgot about that one. I was meaning more from the Lake Placid design to each new version of the Victory Majors. I still stand by my comments that the new design is bland and disappointing.

[gowest]

It's interesting to see how much water is under the bridge due to the rain. Things will slow down. Looking carefully you can see the water coming out of the storm sewer outlet next to the bridge. These cameras are great for checking the weather as well as the construction.

[Jerry]

2012 BDC Young Entrepreneur Awards

Lets throw some votes to Curtis Olson >> https://www.bdcyoungentrepreneuraward.ca/profile_7.php

[swilley]

Originally Posted by Temperance

Ha - touche. I forgot about that one. I was meaning more from the Lake Placid design to each new version of the Victory Majors. I still stand by my comments that the new design is bland and disappointing.

I agree, The Lake Placid condo tower was pretty sexy... However, I like that the new office design is 17 and not 5 stories...

[gowest]

Taking the water from under the new bridge today with one backhoe is like giving a kid a teaspoon and an gallon of ice cream. Slow but it will get done.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Originally Posted by Jerry

2012 BDC Young Entrepreneur Awards

Lets throw some votes to Curtis Olson >> https://www.bdcyoungentrepreneuraward.ca/profile_7.php

Agreed! He's been stuck in 4th for a while.
Could you imagine 100 grand to go towards a great new building and initiative on 20th. Even 25k for 2nd place. Vote everyday! It's over in a week

[mattykicks]

I can't speak to Capitol Pointe in Regina. But I think the river landing development in Saskatoon may be over stretching the market. Saskatchewan has a robust economy, but I'm not sure it's strong enough to handle developments of that size. Each day that passes by, the more expensive it gets to build these buildings. With 2nd avenue lofts in Saskatoon going for near the 600 thousand range, how much do you think the condos at River Landing would be? To me, I think riverlanding is a great idea, and I really hope it gets off the ground. But I think the market it dictating otherwise.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Originally Posted by mattykicks

I can't speak to Capitol Pointe in Regina. But I think the river landing development in Saskatoon may be over stretching the market. Saskatchewan has a robust economy, but I'm not sure it's strong enough to handle developments of that size. Each day that passes by, the more expensive it gets to build these buildings. With 2nd avenue lofts in Saskatoon going for near the 600 thousand range, how much do you think the condos at River Landing would be? To me, I think riverlanding is a great idea, and I really hope it gets off the ground. But I think the market it dictating otherwise.

It is a bit said to see how little has changed regarding a lot of the big projects and the delays/ attitudes behind them over the year I have been away...BUT one big pleasant surprise for me is to see how great the River Centre looks! Nice blue windows with different shades and curves, a great addition to downtown / river landing. Kudos Tonko.

What was going in the bottom level? A Cafe and retail?

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Also cool to hear that our RAGS, er, Remai AGS designer, Bruce Kuwabara, was appointed as Officer to the Order of Canada and the design braced the cover of 'Canadian Architect' Magazine in December.

I think it will look great with the curvy blues of River Centre juxtaposed with the boxed blues and greys of the RAGS on Riverlanding. Here's looking that the groundbreaking in 'early 2013'. Doesn't get the delay treatments.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by EarlyByrdProductions

What was going in the bottom level? A Cafe and retail?

There are two retail spaces on the ground floor. The smaller retail space fronting 19th Street sounds like it's being occupied by a Good Earth Cafe.

The much larger retail space fronting 2nd Avenue is a great opportunity for a much larger and more prominent restaurant with a large outdoor patio area. There's no confirmed tenant for this space as far as I know.

[Echoes]

An article detailing the plummeting retail vacancy rate in Saskatoon, and how it's putting positive pressure on 20th Street/Riversdale >>>

City retail space in short supply
Vacancy rate dips below two per cent

By Scott Larson, The StarPhoenix June 12, 2012

Retail space in Saskatoon is a scarce commodity these days, with a vacancy rate below two per cent, according to a retail market report by Colliers International.

"It might as well be zero," said Duncan Mayer, research associate with Colliers. "Anything that we have right now is more structural - either its not an ideal location or it has just come up for the moment and will be leased out within the next couple of months."

Despite a 35 per cent increase in retail space over the past five years, vacancy has declined by 1.78 per cent to a paltry 1.96 per cent as demand for retail space consistently outstrips supply, the report said.

"We were at 5,200,000 (square feet of retail space) in 2007 and right now we are tracking just over eight million (square feet)," Mayer said, adding that figure doesn't include mall space.

And there is limited retail development expected within the next year and, as such, vacancy will likely continue to fall through 2013.

Keith Webb, vice president/salesperson with Colliers sees no end in site to demand for retail space.

"The market is hot right now; top-quality North American retailers see dozens of advantages to working in the Saskatoon market and want prime retail space in any area," he said.

In 2011, Regina led the country at 7.3 per cent sales growth followed by Saskatoon in second place at 6.3 per cent.

This sales growth has led national, international and local retailers to expand the scope of their operations to both Saskatoon and Regina.

[....]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/C...+supply/6766987/story.html#ixzz1xamPNw00