Regina Construction II

[Stormer]

Application to demolish most the Legion Building on Cornwall going to the RPC Wednesday.

http://regina.siretechnologies.com/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=138&doctype=AGENDA

The Proposal would see the back portion demolished to make way for a 54 car parkade. The front portion including the facade would be restored and remain as a smaller, more sustanable Legion. This, in my opinion is a great way to allow the Legion to continue in what has become an unstainably large building that requires significant repairs, while preserving and restoring the heritage elements and providing some much needed parking in the heart of downtown.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Udon'tknow

I noticed today there was a city application sign for a parking lot on the site of the building on Hamilton Street that was torn down this summer. That's the building that created controversy as it had affordable housing and needed a lot of repair work, but the owner was too cheap to bring it up to code. Anyways, it is unfortunate that a bunch of lower income people got the boot so that another ugly surface gravel parking lot in downtown Regina could be created. I had thought that the downtown plan was to prevent that kind of thing but guess I am wrong. Would have been a great spot for a small hotel..

http://cjme.com/story/new-temporary-parking-lot-possible-downtown-regina/76714

[Udon'tknow]

Originally Posted by Stormer

http://cjme.com/story/new-temporary-parking-lot-possible-downtown-regina/76714

Thanks Stormer. That's a long temporary permit, 3 years. My concern would be they could turn around and apply for another temp permit after 3 years. It really is too bad they knocked down a useful building and clearly have no plans for it other than to make some parking lot income, especially in a prime downtown lot like that..

[Stormer]

So last night I am walking through the Plaza and some roadies are setting up a stage right in front of the permanent stage. I asked them why they were not using the permanent stage. They said it was too small, very difficult to hang lights on and overall just a terrible design!

Maybe the City should add this to their list of defenses to the architects' lawsuit.

[Stormer]

This is what you get for $13 million:

[Nathan]

Maybe they can turn it into a waterfall fountain?

[boborider]

Good God, could they have not screwed up this plaza any worse. Now we have a stage that works as a plant stand. You would think (think being the operative word) that when they designed this stage that the first task would be to have some input from people who set up stages for a living in order to integrate all of the utility needs into their "arty" stage design so that you don't get what we see today. How absolutely incredible that we have a stage set up in front of a stage!!! Oh well, maybe it will work well as a plant stand. It would we interesting to hear the great minds at the city explain this one. Hopefully some intrepid journalist can ask the question.

[wacko]

Definitely a real head-scratcher. This photo ought to be sent to our fine outgoing mayor.

I still can't comprehend why the city couldn't have just closed Scarth between 12th and Victoria and constructed the plaza there. Not only would it have been cheaper, but there's actual pedestrian traffic to/from the restaurants, which could have used part of the plaza as extra patio space.

[TechnicalRecession]

Originally Posted by boborider

Good God, could they have not screwed up this plaza any worse. Now we have a stage that works as a plant stand. You would think (think being the operative word) that when they designed this stage that the first task would be to have some input from people who set up stages for a living in order to integrate all of the utility needs into their "arty" stage design so that you don't get what we see today. How absolutely incredible that we have a stage set up in front of a stage!!! Oh well, maybe it will work well as a plant stand. It would we interesting to hear the great minds at the city explain this one. Hopefully some intrepid journalist can ask the question.

Having said all that, I was on the plaza a noon today and with the mix of 6 food trucks, live music and great weather there was a lot of people and action out there. It was really a good vibe and people really seemed to be enjoying the plaza. And from what I can tell the actual band could have easily fit on the existing stage, probably with less room but it was doable. I am not sure the event but suspect they decided to set up their own stage.

So from what I can tell the plaza is meeting the needs and creating a good environment downtown. The stage is just one element, and yes it is not a perfect setup but I think the negative feedback the plaza gets is overdone..

[Goldenant]

Originally Posted by Stormer

So last night I am walking through the Plaza and some roadies are setting up a stage right in front of the permanent stage. I asked them why they were not using the permanent stage. They said it was too small, very difficult to hang lights on and overall just a terrible design!

Maybe the City should add this to their list of defenses to the architects' lawsuit.

Mabye the city should have planned it a little better in the first place. Hell lets do another study after the fact...good grief. The city approved it, even our mayor doesnt want to build downtown, he knows best!

[Goldenant]

And now that I see the picture of the stage in front of the stage.....I think I will post it on epic fail!

[Goldenant]

Originally Posted by TechnicalRecession

Having said all that, I was on the plaza a noon today and with the mix of 6 food trucks, live music and great weather there was a lot of people and action out there. It was really a good vibe and people really seemed to be enjoying the plaza. And from what I can tell the actual band could have easily fit on the existing stage, probably with less room but it was doable. I am not sure the event but suspect they decided to set up their own stage.

So from what I can tell the plaza is meeting the needs and creating a good environment downtown. The stage is just one element, and yes it is not a perfect setup but I think the negative feedback the plaza gets is overdone..

Downtown was always busy at lunchtime and during the day. Meeting the needs of draining our pockets of taxpayers money maybe.

[BrannyMuffin]

Some people think that the plaza should have been built on Scarth St because of the businesses that are already along that street but that kind of defeats the purpose. The point was to expand on that and create new areas for people to gather and encourage those types of businesses and spread the activity around. Yes, it was busy in the area, but there is more activity and a much better vibe in the area than there was before. Once Harvard gets around to building Tower 4 I think it will only improve. (I really hope they decide to incorporate at least the facade of the buildings that are there.) I've talked to people who were dead set against the whole idea of the plaza until they actually checked it out and will say, "I get it now."

As for the stage, I won't pretend to know anything about what makes a useful stage but Rah Rah (the band that was playing today) is crowded on almost any stage. Would the stage work better for your average 4- or 5-piece band? It's still on the small side, but it's larger than stages in a lot of live music venues (ever see a band squished into the back corner at the Pump?)

[Konstruct6187]

The small stage can still be used by bands who can't afford to set up a larger mobile stages.

[UrbanClimate]

Originally Posted by TechnicalRecession

Having said all that, I was on the plaza a noon today and with the mix of 6 food trucks, live music and great weather there was a lot of people and action out there. It was really a good vibe and people really seemed to be enjoying the plaza. And from what I can tell the actual band could have easily fit on the existing stage, probably with less room but it was doable. I am not sure the event but suspect they decided to set up their own stage.

So from what I can tell the plaza is meeting the needs and creating a good environment downtown. The stage is just one element, and yes it is not a perfect setup but I think the negative feedback the plaza gets is overdone..

I agree. The poo-poo attitude toward the plaza is a bit heavy handed at times. During Farmers' Markets, Salsa Nights, weekday lunch hours, etc., the space is lively and inviting, and at night I would even say "spectacular" with the colourful lights and the illuminated buildings. Give it some time, the potential for that space is huge (think next year's Grey Cup Festival). As for future enhancements, I think more flower pots and splashes of greenery or colour are needed, perhaps banners or flags, art installations, a fountain or statue, or similar, although I realize these are all easy targets for vandals.

[Goldenant]

Originally Posted by Konstruct6187

The small stage can still be used by bands who can't afford to set up a larger mobile stages.

Gee. that makes it worth 1.4 million and screwing up the downtown.

(1.4 million just for the stage!)

[Goldenant]

Originally Posted by UrbanClimate

I agree. The poo-poo attitude toward the plaza is a bit heavy handed at times. During Farmers' Markets, Salsa Nights, weekday lunch hours, etc., the space is lively and inviting, and at night I would even say "spectacular" with the colourful lights and the illuminated buildings. Give it some time, the potential for that space is huge (think next year's Grey Cup Festival). As for future enhancements, I think more flower pots and splashes of greenery or colour are needed, perhaps banners or flags, art installations, a fountain or statue, or similar, although I realize these are all easy targets for vandals.

Great, once every ten years we can gather there for grey cup, woo hooo. It was always busy during farmers markets,lunch hours ect. It has not benefited our city in any way shape or form just admit it. Open it up, eat crow and move on.

[TechnicalRecession]

Originally Posted by Goldenant

Downtown was always busy at lunchtime and during the day. Meeting the needs of draining our pockets of taxpayers money maybe.

Well it is official then, the taxpayers are broke because of the plaza! You heard it here first. Last time I checked my taxes didn't go up to pay for the plaza.

[Goldenant]

Originally Posted by TechnicalRecession

Well it is official then, the taxpayers are broke because of the plaza! You heard it here first. Last time I checked my taxes didn't go up to pay for the plaza.

If you live in Regina and own or pay rent, then you pay property taxes and yes they did go up last year, and will for the next 10 years for sure. It's how much of an increase that matters.

[Dillweed]

Holy crow, you mean some people here are grumbling because the stage they built for this plaza is not big enough for every event held in it. It would seem to me impossible to build a stage for a facility like this that would meet the needs of every event held there. Unless you build some monstrosity that is going to take up a lot of room and be under-utilized most of the time.

The grumblers should may be go back to grumbling about potholes or the new proposed stadium in Regina or something like that.