Saskatoon Construction II

[Ricopedra]

Thanks for the pics, guys - always appreciated! Once the city centre fills in a little more, it should begin to rise in height, too.

With the city planning for the north downtown infill :>), the sales and plans for south DT and Riversdale, and the UofS plans for college quarter :>), and all this while the city continues to support and appease those who desire a huge cardboard box on a farmyard of unfriendly lawn :>( , (I know - you gotta do what ya gotta do, but "they" should pay mucho extra for it), I can see two distinct camps developing in Saskatoon: The Riverbankers and the Boondockers!

Happy Chinese New Year from Taipei!

[circle33]

Originally Posted by lbird

BTW, CBC is moving (or expanding) from 2nd Ave. to the lobby of the large office tower on the corner of 4th and 21st.

And for what it's worth we will be getting our own Saskatoon CBC Radio morning program, no longer piggy backing off the Regina broadcast.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by lbird

Untitled (to me at least) new office building between 23rd and 24th and Wall and Ontario (Rumley in background):

220 Wall Street. It will be a handsome addition to the Warehouse District.





www.220wallstreet.com

[Devon]

Originally Posted by Echoes

220 Wall Street. It will be a handsome addition to the Warehouse District.





www.220wallstreet.com

It's too bad more strict guidelines aren't (weren't?) in place before these recent lowrise offices went up in the warehouse district. Nothing to give to the street, furthering the gap between downtown core and the soon to be redeveloped north downtown.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Devon

It's too bad more strict guidelines aren't (weren't?) in place before these recent lowrise offices went up in the warehouse district. Nothing to give to the street, furthering the gap between downtown core and the soon to be redeveloped north downtown.

I'm quite certain that this building will have a retail space on the corner with outdoor patio area intended for a coffee shop or cafe (patio area visible in renderings).

Not saying it couldn't be better, but I think this building is a fairly good quality addition.

[nook]

Originally Posted by Devon

It's too bad more strict guidelines aren't (weren't?) in place before these recent lowrise offices went up in the warehouse district. Nothing to give to the street, furthering the gap between downtown core and the soon to be redeveloped north downtown.

I kinda think that with how North Downtown is redeveloping, it might be a good place for the city to issue out some licenses for food trucks in the late spring/summer/fall months. That would add some interaction between the core and the north, methinks.

[Devon]

Originally Posted by Echoes

I'm quite certain that this building will have a retail space on the corner with outdoor patio area intended for a coffee shop or cafe (patio area visible in renderings).

Not saying it couldn't be better, but I think this building is a fairly good quality addition.

Yeah, it does look like a restaurant which is good. That building and the Jaspar building still mostly create an empty block in an otherwise unique area of the centre that the city is trying to populate. It will be interesting to see what's involved in the north downtown plan. I personally hope it's primarily
very dense residential.

[WoodlandCritter]

The reason the Thompson Jasper Building has no street level ammenities was at the request of the client. They wanted a level of heated parking aside from the underground level. I believe in earlier designs the architect had retail at street level but that was nixed. So unless there are regulations and standards put in by the city for new development this sort of thing can and will happen in some locations. It is sad yes.

There just needs to be stricter design guidelines for the entire downtown as far as I am concerned. Amenity wise and aesthetically. Give developers some tax breaks for building within/above the design guidelines brought forward. If they spend more money making the building look beautiful and function well then they are rewarded. Yes, there shouldn't have to be incentives, but if that's what will help I'm all for it. Just my two cents.

[Devon]

Originally Posted by WoodlandCritter

The reason the Thompson Jasper Building has no street level ammenities was at the request of the client. They wanted a level of heated parking aside from the underground level. I believe in earlier designs the architect had retail at street level but that was nixed. So unless there are regulations and standards put in by the city for new development this sort of thing can and will happen in some locations. It is sad yes.

There just needs to be stricter design guidelines for the entire downtown as far as I am concerned. Amenity wise and aesthetically. Give developers some tax breaks for building within/above the design guidelines brought forward. If they spend more money making the building look beautiful and function well then they are rewarded. Yes, there shouldn't have to be incentives, but if that's what will help I'm all for it. Just my two cents.

Exactly. I agree. I feel that at the minimum strict regulations should be in place for 20th, 33rd, Broadway, College, and all of downtown. It's always been one of the things that irks me most, the city calling itself progressive and world-class (whatever that means) when there is clearly not a lot of thought or concern on such things. This isn't just a Saskatoon problem either.

On another

[Devon]

Also, straying from the topic here, but has anyone ever heard anything on why the University chose to not utilize the river in their original buildings? There are some great views, and the view from the opposite side of the river would have been pretty stunning.

[WoodlandCritter]

Originally Posted by Devon

Also, straying from the topic here, but has anyone ever heard anything on why the University chose to not utilize the river in their original buildings? There are some great views, and the view from the opposite side of the river would have been pretty stunning.

Was it not because of WW2 that slowed down and basically stalled the initial concept and design of the campus layout? At least that was my understanding. In the plans there would have been great boulevards and buildings like Thorvaldson suppose to be built all the way to the river. Instead we got the arts tower and mix matched planning over the years.

[Milosch]

I just noticed this morning that the Scratch name on the building has been painted over and the for lease signs have been taken down. I haven't heard anything, but hopefully this spot will be filled soon.

Also the new Cajun restaurant in the Torch Building is slowly taking shape. Green paper is still up in the windows. I am interested in the final product.

[Devon]

Originally Posted by WoodlandCritter

Was it not because of WW2 that slowed down and basically stalled the initial concept and design of the campus layout? At least that was my understanding. In the plans there would have been great boulevards and buildings like Thorvaldson suppose to be built all the way to the river. Instead we got the arts tower and mix matched planning over the years.

Thanks, that is interesting. They should have built from the river towards College!

[Devon]

Originally Posted by Milosch

I just noticed this morning that the Scratch name on the building has been painted over and the for lease signs have been taken down. I haven't heard anything, but hopefully this spot will be filled soon.

Also the new Cajun restaurant in the Torch Building is slowly taking shape. Green paper is still up in the windows. I am interested in the final product.

I have heard a rumour of a tapas restaurant going into that building. Seems a little large for that, but I guess we will see.

[drm310]

The original campus plan by Brown and Vallance was along an axis lining up with Devil's Dip, a gully on the riverbank. The front of the Peter MacKinnon Building (College Building) and the Bowl lines up with this axis.
http://scaa.usask.ca/gallery/uofs_buildings/history_text2.htm

And it was the Arts Building that represented the major deviation from the original plan.
http://scaa.usask.ca/gallery/uofs_buildings/history_text5.htm

Originally Posted by Devon

Thanks, that is interesting. They should have built from the river towards College!

[Devon]

Excellent! I've never seen the original plans. It would have been incredible if it came to fruition.

[Echoes]

I stumbled upon the an online survey that the City has up on their website for the North Downtown Master Plan:

http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/City...rthDowntownMasterPlan/Pages/default.aspx

There's also an interesting Issues/Opportunities analysis for the North Downtown posted to that page.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by drm310

And it was the Arts Building that represented the major deviation from the original plan.

One more reason to hate that ugly beast of a building...

[macca]

RoadMap Saskatoon Annual General Meeting
featuring a presentation on the North Downtown Master Plan by Laura Plosz from Group2 Architecture Interior Design Inc and Jeanna South from the City Manager's Office.

Tuesday, February 12th
6pm
Station 20 West

http://www.facebook.com/events/150299648460950/

[Irvin]

See from the Smart Center siteplan for Blairmore that Fat Burger has joined the tenant mix