Saskatoon Construction II - Page 205

prairieguy · #**4081** Posted **Jan 29, 2013, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devon

This might be the most interesting news in a while regarding Saskatoon development in my opinion. I'm kind of over the same recycled developers with little creativity.

More on the developer (and development) in today's Star Phoenix. It would appear that this guy has some cred!

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Victoria+developer+bullish+Riversdale/7885536/story.html

Irvin · #**4082** Posted **Feb 1, 2013, 3:14 AM**

Colliers website is detailing a proposed development for Stonebridge. Calling it Stonebridge Gate seems like a very nice shopping complex west off Preston Ave.

skSK · #**4083** Posted **Feb 1, 2013, 8:09 AM**

^^ This looks to be the Northridge project Wally Mah was trying to get zoning changed to make larger? Not exciting at all, in my opinion. Just another bland suburban retail area. Everything's turned in to the parking lots, there's nothing distinctive or distinguishable, and it just looks like... well like every other suburban retail area out there! Even the name bugs me, and I thought I had been beaten into submission by the nonsensical, faux-rustic or -picturesque nature of these developments' names. Stonebridge Gate? Not to be confused with Stonegate, which is in the same neighbourhood that takes its name from a non-existent stone bridge. At least Willowgrove took its name from where a grove of willows probably used to be.

I guess though it looks like it'll increase the eating out options in the area. Maybe one of the Tuscans that lives in what I presume is the ethnic enclave of Little Tuscany will open up an authentic pizza place there? OK but seriously, all grumpiness-feuled derisiveness aside, I just wish it wasn't so... this...

http://www.collierscanada.com/8398

dsmmace · #**4084** Posted **Feb 1, 2013, 6:45 PM**

That area would be a nice footprint for a new elementary school. I don't think there is land set aside for that yet. It will be needed in the next five years.

Is that area zoned for residential and condos currently?

North_Regina_Boy · #**4085** Posted **Feb 1, 2013, 7:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsmmace

That area would be a nice footprint for a new elementary school. I don't think there is land set aside for that yet. It will be needed in the next five years.

Is that area zoned for residential and condos currently?

New schools for stone-bridge have land set aside in the horseshoe area. This was always deemed as Commercial land

Devon · #**4086** Posted **Feb 1, 2013, 10:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skSK

^^ This looks to be the Northridge project Wally Mah was trying to get zoning changed to make larger? Not exciting at all, in my opinion. Just another bland suburban retail area. Everything's turned in to the parking lots, there's nothing distinctive or distinguishable, and it just looks like... well like every other suburban retail area out there! Even the name bugs me, and I thought I had been beaten into submission by the nonsensical, faux-rustic or -picturesque nature of these developments' names. Stonebridge Gate? Not to be confused with Stonegate, which is in the same neighbourhood that takes its name from a non-existent stone bridge. At least Willowgrove took its name from where a grove of willows probably used to be.

I guess though it looks like it'll increase the eating out options in the area. Maybe one of the Tuscans that lives in what I presume is the ethnic enclave of Little Tuscany will open up an authentic pizza place there? OK but seriously, all grumpiness-feuled derisiveness aside, I just wish it wasn't so... this...

http://www.collierscanada.com/8398

Gross.

dsim249 · #**4087** Posted **Feb 2, 2013, 12:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devon

Gross.

Yup. Will be nice to have at least 4 more restaurants though. Something this city is lacking.

skphc08 · #**4088** Posted **Feb 2, 2013, 8:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jw6969

Regina person here. (shit-storm button start)

To the people who are complaining about not enough parking downtown. Fuck off. Go to the suburbs/big box stores. Learn to walk if you don't like it. I'm a person who weigh 225 pounds and have absolutely no problem walking 6 blocks in minus 30 to 40 weather. Its called a jacket. Wear it. The last thing our downtown's (all Saskatchewan town/cities) needs is an excuse to demolish more buildings for gravel parking lots. This is the sort of thing that sets me off. Makes me very mad. Especially when I see all the building we used to have in Regina (Facebook Vintage Regina). Downtown's are for walking, not driving even thew in Regina they fucked up a street that should have remained for traffic. Parkades are fines as long as there hidden. I have always thought that the midtown plazas large one level underground parkade is an example of how to do it right. I have not been to that mall in about 8 years so I hope its still good. Please note I don't follow the Saskatoon thread very much to I could very well be going on a rage shit for nothing. Thanks.

(shit-storm button off)

Agree completely with your opinion.

Temperance · #**4089** Posted **Feb 2, 2013, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skphc08

Agree completely with your opinion.

I agree with this as well. And living in Holland this all sounds slightly ridiculous. there are large areas of my city that are pedestrian-only and they are all bustling with people. It is also rare to see roads that have more than a single lane dedicated to car traffic. What we need is more public transit not more surface parking. At the very least they could replace a few surface lots with 3-4 story parking garages with quality, context-sensitive architecture.

casper · #**4090** Posted **Feb 3, 2013, 3:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Temperance

I agree with this as well. And living in Holland this all sounds slightly ridiculous. there are large areas of my city that are pedestrian-only and they are all bustling with people. It is also rare to see roads that have more than a single lane dedicated to car traffic. What we need is more public transit not more surface parking. At the very least they could replace a few surface lots with 3-4 story parking garages with quality, context-sensitive architecture.

I think we need a balanced pragmatic approach.

Realistically having to walk a block or two or three to find parking is not a big issue to most people. At the same time if parking downtown is so limited that you know your going to have to spend a lot of time driving around looking for a parking spot it is going to discourage people from going downtown. We need more people (including those living in suburbia or towns outside of Saskatoon) shopping downtown, going to movies downtown, eating in restaurants downtown and working downtown.

Currently there are a lot of parking spots downtown on vacant lots. As buildings get built they should at a minimum have at least the same and maybe a more parking spots built into them.

Improving transit is important but its only part of the solution. Making it easier to bike or walk downtown is also important.

nook · #**4091** Posted **Feb 3, 2013, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devon

Gross.

I think these places make communities like Stonebridge more walkable. I used to live in some apartments in University Heights and whenever I went out for supper or anything I would just walk to the restaurants because they were a block or two or three away. You're going to have a considerable population within walking distance of this area... even across circle and over the Preston Av. overpass when that's all complete.

This is probably an uncommon attitude around these parts, though...

casper · #**4092** Posted **Feb 3, 2013, 9:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nook

I think these places make communities like Stonebridge more walkable. I used to live in some apartments in University Heights and whenever I went out for supper or anything I would just walk to the restaurants because they were a block or two or three away. You're going to have a considerable population within walking distance of this area... even across circle and over the Preston Av. overpass when that's all complete.

This is probably an uncommon attitude around these parts, though...

I agree. I live in Willowgrove and normally walk over to University Heights. This development looks nicer than the new Pillar development in University Hights. It has trees and sidewalks that actually connect the sidewalks on the outside to the internal walkways in the comerical development. It is a step forward.

Temperance · #**4093** Posted **Feb 4, 2013, 7:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

I think we need a balanced pragmatic approach.

Realistically having to walk a block or two or three to find parking is not a big issue to most people. At the same time if parking downtown is so limited that you know your going to have to spend a lot of time driving around looking for a parking spot it is going to discourage people from going downtown. We need more people (including those living in suburbia or towns outside of Saskatoon) shopping downtown, going to movies downtown, eating in restaurants downtown and working downtown.

Currently there are a lot of parking spots downtown on vacant lots. As buildings get built they should at a minimum have at least the same and maybe a more parking spots built into them.

Improving transit is important but its only part of the solution. Making it easier to bike or walk downtown is also important.

Agreed - but I think we also need plan in order to move away from the completely car-centric approach.

Echoes · #**4094** Posted **Feb 4, 2013, 8:18 PM**

The former location of Sous Chef in the King George is turning into a coffee/espresso bar.

Devon · #**4095** Posted **Feb 4, 2013, 9:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echoes

The former location of Sous Chef in the King George is turning into a coffee/espresso bar.

Cafe Noir ^. Not sure if it's been discussed already, but there is a cajun restaurant going into the recently renovated Torch building, also on 2nd.

frenchy · #**4096** Posted **Feb 5, 2013, 2:04 AM**

Check out this rendering of the pedestrian traffic bridge. This would definitely become some sort of icon for the city of Saskatoon.

http://www.openprojects.ca/2013/02/03/saskatoon-traffic-bridge-redux/

nook · #**4097** Posted **Feb 5, 2013, 4:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenchy

Check out this rendering of the pedestrian traffic bridge. This would definitely become some sort of icon for the city of Saskatoon.

http://www.openprojects.ca/2013/02/03/saskatoon-traffic-bridge-redux/

Unforunately, no one at City Hall has that level of creativity.

Devon · #**4098** Posted **Feb 5, 2013, 4:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenchy

Check out this rendering of the pedestrian traffic bridge. This would definitely become some sort of icon for the city of Saskatoon.

http://www.openprojects.ca/2013/02/03/saskatoon-traffic-bridge-redux/

My two cents on this. I really like it and it's great to see the Highline as an inflence, but I find the zipline a bit much. I also think the viewing windows are just asking for "scratchitti", and don't necessarily offer much to the viewer.

Jerry · #**4099** Posted **Feb 5, 2013, 1:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenchy

Check out this rendering of the pedestrian traffic bridge. This would definitely become some sort of icon for the city of Saskatoon.

http://www.openprojects.ca/2013/02/03/saskatoon-traffic-bridge-redux/

I like it.

It would be interesting to hear comments from city council.

shmakim · #**4100** Posted **Feb 5, 2013, 3:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nook

Unforunately, no one at City Hall has that level of creativity.

They're not required to be creative in that capacity. I've fallen in love with this design (zip line included, my kids would go nuts about it) and it merely becomes a money problem. Well, that, and getting enough of Saskatoon to give it a thumbs up. Maybe a fundraising campaign like the AGS got?