Saskatoon Construction II

[Echoes]

Group hopes to convert stalls to parks
One-day event held worldwide

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix August 15, 2012

A September event is hoping to show that streets aren't just for cars.

Our Saskatoon, a group of urban planners, architects and business people, is looking to close down two traffic lanes on 20th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C to install bike lanes and host a full-day festival in the area to demonstrate what a "complete street" looks like.

The event is linked up with Park(ing) Day on Sept. 21, which calls on people to transform metered parking spaces into mini-parks.

"We definitely want to spark a conversation about what we expect as a city for our streets and what our expectations are as to what a street is for," said organizer Mike Velonas, a board member of Roadmap Saskatoon. "This is a way to demonstrate what some of the changes the city is looking at will potentially look like."

Complete streets - the idea that the use of roads should be balanced among cars, bikes, buses and pedestrians - is a major part of Saskatoon's future plans, but many people don't fully understand the concept until they see it in action, Velonas said.

The event will kick off with a presentation the night of Sept. 20 by Ken Greenberg, a prominent Toronto urban designer who is working with Stantec Consulting on Saskatoon's downtown plan. The next day, the former Barry Hotel parking lot at 20th Street and Avenue B will be converted into a public plaza. Vacant buildings on 20th Street will be turned into "popup retail stores" where local fashion designers and artists will showcase work. Yoga sessions and buskers will enliven the street. Parking spaces will be converted to parks around Broadway Avenue, the University of Saskatchewan and in Riversdale.

[....]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/G...s+parks/7091670/story.html#ixzz23csQ8ST3

[Echoes]

City's heritage policies 'weak'

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix August 15, 2012

Saskatoon's heritage protection policies require a major update, but public perceptions of the importance of conserving historical sites needs just as much work, according to a consultant's report.

"There needs to be a change in attitude as much as policy," said Donald Luxton, the consultant who delivered the 50-page review of the city's heritage policy and laid out dozens of recommendations in a report to city council's planning and operations committee Tuesday.

"There is a need to send out a message that this is important."

The report said the city's heritage program is underfunded with only one staff member dedicated to co-ordinate the heritage program alongside other duties.

The program is "under-resourced, which has resulted in an inconsistent level of conservation being achieved on projects, and relatively few sites that have legal protection," the report's summary said. "The city's heritage policy isn't linked to other civic policies and public education and awareness of the value and importance of heritage protection is weak."

City hall also needs to take a broader look at what constitutes "heritage," including zeroing in on some of Saskatoon's historic neighbourhoods, Luxton said. A broader definition of heritage beyond just significant buildings should govern policy making, he said.

[....]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/travel/City+heritage+policies+weak/7091665/story.html#ixzz23ctTQGC4

[Echoes]

Congregation extends deadline to submit proposal to buy historic church

Despite new deadline, plans to save the Third Avenue United Church are still intact, says church board

Reported by Fan-Yee Suen
First Posted: Aug 14, 2012 1:55pm | Last Updated: Aug 14, 2012 1:56pm

Plans to save the historic Third Avenue United Church are still intact despite the congregation’s decision to push forward the deadline to submit a proposal to buy the 100-year-old building.

The deadline was originally Sept. 4 but that has been extended by a month in order solicit a greater number of proposals, said Peter Barnacle, chair of the Third Avenue United Church.

“Given the interest we have at stake here, if there are others out there who simply couldn’t meet the timeframe, it made some sense for us to be flexible,” said Barnacle, adding that a previously identified potential buyer for the church has not backed out.

The potential buyer is still interested and will likely throw in their pitch for the building by the new deadline, he said.

[....]

From NewsTalk 650: http://newstalk650.com/story/congregatio...ubmit-proposal-buy-historic-church/69749

[macca]

Originally Posted by Echoes

Group hopes to convert stalls to parks
One-day event held worldwide

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix August 15, 2012



Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/G...s+parks/7091670/story.html#ixzz23csQ8ST3

http://www.facebook.com/saskatoonparkingday

[studentview]

Negotiations under way with a number of tenants for this site. Anywhere from 1,500 to 20,000 square foot bays available. Stand alone restaurant pad site available (wont be Jerry's). Rates in the $29-$35 psf range for the front and $17-20 in the back.

[circle33]

I realize there is little else one can do in such a location as 51st and Millar, but still to have to witness the continued proliferation of completely unashamed car based development in this city make me a little ill inside.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by studentview

Negotiations under way with a number of tenants for this site. Anywhere from 1,500 to 20,000 square foot bays available. Stand alone restaurant pad site available (wont be Jerry's). Rates in the $29-$35 psf range for the front and $17-20 in the back.

My guess for the restaurant pad is Original Joe's, as discussed previously on this thread. At least it's not a Boston Pizza.

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by Echoes

My guess for the restaurant pad is Original Joe's, as discussed previously on this thread. At least it's not a Boston Pizza.

My hope is for something original. A new twist on food, throw in a couple of food trucks with the restaurant and they could service most of the north end.

[nook]

Originally Posted by studentview

Negotiations under way with a number of tenants for this site. Anywhere from 1,500 to 20,000 square foot bays available. Stand alone restaurant pad site available (wont be Jerry's). Rates in the $29-$35 psf range for the front and $17-20 in the back.

One of those tenants must be Harvey's, if their website is correct.

That place will be in high demand. Millar and 51st is a busy, busy place.

I've also noticed that there are "Lids" locations going in at Lawson and Centre malls. Not dissimilar to the hat store located in the Midtown mall.

[Echoes]

The nearly complete office building at 23rd and Wall St, by Jordon Cooper on flickr:


Source

^ It's not the worst looking thing ever, but man, the street interface SUCKS.

[TheCricket]

Is this where that current mall (with the bluey-grey siding) is located or is this where that ugly brown strip mall is currently sitting?

Originally Posted by studentview

Negotiations under way with a number of tenants for this site. Anywhere from 1,500 to 20,000 square foot bays available. Stand alone restaurant pad site available (wont be Jerry's). Rates in the $29-$35 psf range for the front and $17-20 in the back.

[casper]

Originally Posted by TheCricket

Is this where that current mall (with the bluey-grey siding) is located or is this where that ugly brown strip mall is currently sitting?

I was by their yesterday. The steel apears up for the building to the far west. It looks like it is in that yard that use to be use to used for auctions. The current strip mall building I would guess is in the middle of the parking lot. Though I could be wrong.

[Dino35]

Just noticed the building is leased. Anyone know what finally happened here?

[WoodlandCritter]

Originally Posted by Echoes

The nearly complete office building at 23rd and Wall St, by Jordon Cooper on flickr:


Source

^ It's not the worst looking thing ever, but man, the street interface SUCKS.

I have been on site visits here while under completion over the past few months. I can tell you that the reason the street level looks like that is because of the client not the architects. Originally more was planned for street level but the client insisted on more parking for his tennants. Hence, the whole main floor is parking and the little glass facade front area is the lobby that you can see. In the end the person paying the bills and for the project has the last say. Sad yes. But I can tell you the view from the top floor is great overlooking the warehouse district. It is really a nice building inside.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

A fun idea for those that believe there is more to life than drive.work.drive.sleep.
...but after reading the comments, apparently that is still the in.

Jon Gormley wants to boycott the downtown/ broadway businesses in favour of a way to attract pedestrians, customers and fun initiative in front of their streets? Suck an egg.

Originally Posted by Echoes

Group hopes to convert stalls to parks
One-day event held worldwide

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenix August 15, 2012



Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/G...s+parks/7091670/story.html#ixzz23csQ8ST3

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Originally Posted by Dino35

Just noticed the building is leased. Anyone know what finally happened here?

RE Art Gallery / Cafe on Temperence
???
what a shame. that was one of THE best hidden gems in this city

[neoen]

I've had multiple sources now tell me that BHP is actively looking for a lot downtown (or office space, don't laugh) which will exceed 150,000 square feet for employees.

If true (which I believe it is), this likely would be a tower of some sorts! I wonder if they would ever consider building in the empty lot on 22nd and 3rd, then connect over 3rd ave?

[Temperance]

Originally Posted by Dino35

Just noticed the building is leased. Anyone know what finally happened here?

I heard that a European pastry shop was looking at it but I don't know if they were the ones who signed the lease. If so that could be a nice fit.

[casper]

Originally Posted by neoen

I've had multiple sources now tell me that BHP is actively looking for a lot downtown (or office space, don't laugh) which will exceed 150,000 square feet for employees.

If true (which I believe it is), this likely would be a tower of some sorts! I wonder if they would ever consider building in the empty lot on 22nd and 3rd, then connect over 3rd ave?

They don't have to look that hard to find a potential projects to buy/lease:
- 2seven5 184,000
- River Landing 240,000
- 141 Pacific Ave 100,000 (however just add a few more floors)

[Echoes]

Park(ing) Day worthy notion

The StarPhoenix August 17, 2012

There is much more to Saskatoon than the blur of buildings and parked vehicles that many of us see out of our car windows.

For that reason it is a welcome suggestion from the organizers trying to bring to the city an idea spawned in San Francisco seven years ago and incubated in cities around the world to convert, for a day, some parking stalls into miniparks.

It should serve as a reminder to those of us who have become trapped in the rat race that there is more to life - and certainly more to city life - than the commute to work and the rush home to complete chores. That this mini-movement for mini-parks has caught on not only in "left coast" cities such as San Francisco and Victoria but also in financial mega-capitals such as New York and Toronto is an indication of how commerce and quality of life can coexist in modern cities.

In some cities, for example, corporations have sponsored competitions for the most esthetic or innovative mini-park designs. Not an easy task for a space meant to fit a SUV.

Saskatoon's Park(ing) Day, which will occur on Sept. 21 if civic officials give it the thumbs up, will include a daylong conversion of 20th Street between Avenues B and C on the west side of the downtown, where two lanes will be closed to demonstrate how city streets can be used for more than just automobiles.

[....]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/travel/Park+worthy+notion/7103650/story.html#ixzz23obksqQI