Regina Construction II - Page 231

babo · #**4601** Posted **Aug 12, 2012, 9:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devon

I am sure with some years of working with(and around) the plaza, that it will all sort itself out and it will be used more than it is now. I hope.

For 12 million dollars, I would have thought the City would have put some thought into the actual operational use of the plaza and not letting it "sort itself out". Sounds like another study in the making; the City seems to like studies. Nepotism runs rampant through Baker's Palace.

Open 12th Avenue back up to traffic, revert 11th and 12th Avenues back to one way traffic, eat some crow, and be done with it.

We better study it, just to be on the safe side.

boborider · #**4602** Posted **Aug 12, 2012, 4:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodo Regina Lover

We were at the Folk Festival last night and we went totally expecting all the action to be taking place on the new plaza. I thought the set up would be using the new stage, everyone sitting in the plaza, spreading back into the park. Not to be and the new plaza was basically a dead zone--how sad is that? Is it possible that the new stage is too small for some of the set up needed for a group like the Jim Cuddy band for example? If this is the case why put a stage in that location,I agree a fountain would have been a more intelligent choice!!

We were also there yesterday and I echo your comments. This is a symptom of forging ahead with a plan with out paying any attention to how usage and flow would best be served. We actually pay these people to continually make #%$ up! I was totally disappointed with how little the plaza was utilized and the permanent stage is not only under utilized, but also in the wrong place. In addition, that type and size will never be useful as any kind of mainstage other than for a couple buskers or some drunk plying to the crowds.

GregCB · #**4603** Posted **Aug 12, 2012, 5:27 PM**

As far as the Folk Festival goes, the closed off intersection at Lorne and 12th is still impacting on the ability of event organizers to use the plaza and the north-west corner of Victoria Park to their full extent. There's also the need to accommodate the Farmers' Market on Saturday morning. I wasn't down yesterday morning but I imagine it was pretty busy.

I agree the stage at Cornwall and 12th is not likely to prove that useful. It's the equivalent of the Casino Regina summer stage on the F.W. Hill Mall. It would be okay for things like the free noon-hour concerts that Downtown Regina presents every Thursday during the summer, but could never be used as a main stage for the Folk Festival. But having the plaza available to use for concessions and porta potties has enabled the Folk Festival to expand the capacity of their ticketed shows at night by around 1000.

Really, until the city puts some money into programming, little is likely to happen on the plaza because most arts and culture groups that I am familiar with don't have the time, money and resources to properly plan and host events like festivals that are beyond the core programming that they're already doing.

Dan0myte · #**4604** Posted **Aug 13, 2012, 3:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jw6969

Qestion How did Roberts Plaza get built where it is. How tall is it to.

Here's the article explaining it:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E-xUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qTwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1259%2C812739

Basically, when the Hill Group developed Hillsdale, they planned for the north east corner to be high-rise apartment buildings. The plans showed the site being used for four 8 story apartment buildings and the City planners OK'd this. Over the next 10 years, Hillsdale developed and became a popular area to live in, and the HA Roberts Group purchased the apartment-zoned land from the Hills. Since the land was zoned "Residential High Rise", and there were no limits on what that meant at the time, they began building the 20-storey Roberts Plaza because it was legal to do so. They had already poured the foundation before the Hillsdale residents and Wascana Centre Authority formed a protest against it's building. The city deemed the project was already too far along to stop it now and I assume they feared the legal recourse from the Roberts group if they changed the land zoning in the middle of them developing their project.

In short, the Roberts group took advantage of an oversight by the city planners and weak zoning rules. I'm sure ever since this occurred, planners are much more careful about zoning and regulations on height of buildings.

jw6969 · #**4605** Posted **Aug 13, 2012, 6:35 PM**

The for lease sign at office depot says sold now.

Stormer · #**4606** Posted **Aug 13, 2012, 6:42 PM**

It appears that the rumoured Rock Creek Tap & Grill for the first floor of the Canterbury Common lofts on Broad has fallen through. There is an "opening soon" sign in the NW corner for a coffee house and "for lease" signs on the rest of the main floor. Construction of phase 2 is continuing - very slowly.

brithgob · #**4607** Posted **Aug 13, 2012, 6:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jw6969

The for lease sign at office depot says sold now.

Isn't there a technical/trade school moving in there?

kenskca · #**4608** Posted **Aug 13, 2012, 7:04 PM**

I was at Costco on Saturday and the cashier mentioned construction on the gas bar was beginning today.

A friend said she saw fencing being put up Sunday.

JamesRand · #**4609** Posted **Aug 13, 2012, 11:38 PM**

Is there any new news on Capital Pointe?

I went into the show centre a couple weeks ago but they didn't seem to know anything.

Twrlvr · #**4610** Posted **Aug 13, 2012, 11:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesRand

Is there any new news on Capital Pointe?

I went into the show centre a couple weeks ago but they didn't seem to know anything.

That sounds about right, and pretty much sums things up. I don't believe Sask Power has done anything yet, but I'd love to be corrected on that.

JamesRand · #**4611** Posted **Aug 14, 2012, 12:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twrlvr

That sounds about right, and pretty much sums things up. I don't believe Sask Power has done anything yet, but I'd love to be corrected on that.

Hmm.... ya, hopefully things can get under way soon.

In other news - I see that they are about ready to put up the Mosaic sign on the other side of the Hill Centre 3. Anyone have any info on how everything on the inside is going ? When are the first tenants suppose to be moving in ?

Nathan · #**4612** Posted **Aug 14, 2012, 12:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesRand

Hmm.... ya, hopefully things can get under way soon.

In other news - I see that they are about ready to put up the Mosaic sign on the other side of the Hill Centre 3. Anyone have any info on how everything on the inside is going ? When are the first tenants suppose to be moving in ?

Was it originally a Jan 2013 completion date? They are also currently prepping the sidewalk/curbs in front of the building and at the corner.

wacko · #**4613** Posted **Aug 14, 2012, 2:56 PM**

Tenants are supposed to start moving in beginning in December. At least, that's what I heard.

TechnicalRecession · #**4614** Posted **Aug 14, 2012, 6:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormer

It appears that the rumoured Rock Creek Tap & Grill for the first floor of the Canterbury Common lofts on Broad has fallen through. There is an "opening soon" sign in the NW corner for a coffee house and "for lease" signs on the rest of the main floor. Construction of phase 2 is continuing - very slowly.

The new coffee shop is called Naked Bean, and they have a facebook page if anyone is interested in more details.

There is also a new Indian restaurant on Albert Street downtown called Bombay, I haven't been but heard it was good.

TechnicalRecession · #**4615** Posted **Aug 14, 2012, 6:42 PM**

Has anyone heard what is happenning with the proposed new SUMA office building that was announced last year to be built on Rose right by the old bus depot? Last I heard someone on here stated a rumour that it was going to be 7 stories instead of 4 but there has been nothing in the form of renders or updates since it was initially announced last year..

Chaps · #**4616** Posted **Aug 15, 2012, 5:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesRand

Is there any new news on Capital Pointe?

I went into the show centre a couple weeks ago but they didn't seem to know anything.

I was in the sales centre a week or two ago too and asked. The guy said they were still waiting for SaskPower, and were ready to start building as soon as SaskPower gets in and gets out.

Goldenant · #**4617** Posted **Aug 15, 2012, 9:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by babo

For 12 million dollars, I would have thought the City would have put some thought into the actual operational use of the plaza and not letting it "sort itself out". Sounds like another study in the making; the City seems to like studies. Nepotism runs rampant through Baker's Palace.

Open 12th Avenue back up to traffic, revert 11th and 12th Avenues back to one way traffic, eat some crow, and be done with it.

We better study it, just to be on the safe side.

I have thought long and hard about why we as city taxpayers payed 12-14 million dollars for a glorified paving stone street? I was excited at first to see some good things happening downtown, but this project was rammed through without any thought as to how it would affect anything, from traffic to business to everything. I was downtown for the first time this month on Monday and have to say there was not a whole lot going on there. Why is there even need for the stage on scarth street when there is a perfectly good brand new one around the corner? I hate to even mention this, but scarth st mall is looking pretty dumpy as well. The new mayor will have his/her hands full.

kenskca · #**4618** Posted **Aug 15, 2012, 9:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goldenant

I have thought long and hard about why we as city taxpayers payed 12-14 million dollars for a glorified paving stone street? I was excited at first to see some good things happening downtown, but this project was rammed through without any thought as to how it would affect anything, from traffic to business to everything. I was downtown for the first time this month on Monday and have to say there was not a whole lot going on there. Why is there even need for the stage on scarth street when there is a perfectly good brand new one around the corner? I hate to even mention this, but scarth st mall is looking pretty dumpy as well. The new mayor will have his/her hands full.

I am in the same boat as you. I was quite excited at the plans at first. The whole thing has just turned into a big mess.

Does anyone know if they ever considered just extending Scarth Street Mall to Victoria? It would have been less disruptive to traffic, and most of the businesses along there (O'hanlons, Copper Kettle and Michi) probably would have been onboard.

Long term, you would have had two pedestrian blocks downtown, a covered block through the Cornwall and could have extended it over the tracks on to Dewdney when the rail yards are developed.

Dan0myte · #**4619** Posted **Aug 15, 2012, 10:26 PM**

Does anybody know: Is it eventually in the City's plans to connect McCarthy Blvd up with highway 11 someday?

sask1982 · #**4620** Posted **Aug 15, 2012, 10:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan0myte

Does anybody know: Is it eventually in the City's plans to connect McCarthy Blvd up with highway 11 someday?

I've never seen that in the plans. Even on the existing 25 year roadways network plan it doesn't suggest that will happen, however, with the transportation/roadways plan being updated recently, i'm looking forward to seeing the results and how they differ from the plan that was done in 2007.