Saskatoon Construction II

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by dsim249

Also in the works. But in the Warehouse District.
That I can't give details on for a while as it's still in the planning stages. Nothing official or concrete.

dsim249, you seem to have good inside info on new businesses!

Congress Beer House, and the Royal Bank bar/bistro sound promising. I've also heard that Cactus Club on Idylwyld will finally be starting construction soon.

Speaking of the Warehouse District, I'm interested to see what will happen with the old Egadz building on 24th and 1st. Could it be returned to its former status as a nightclub?

[shmakim]

Originally Posted by Morogolus

As nice as biking and walking everywhere sounds it's just not going to work in a city that has 6-8 months of winter and temperatures dipping down below -20 for weeks on end. Vancouver is great, you can pretty much walk anywhere, but their "winter" consists of 4 months of rain. I like the idea of creating more pedestrian friendly areas of the city but we can't completely disregard the car. I'm sure our winters is the reason that we are such a car-centric city.

Also he makes it sound like the North Commuter Bridge is just a waste of money that will create more problems although it's sorely needed. There's pretty much no hope of making the North Industrial area transit and pedestrian friendly and those areas on both sides of the river are just going to keep growing.

The article just above mentions doughnut cities, and one of the links on that page is for "edge cities": http://www.atributosurbanos.es/en/terms/edge-city/

Saskatoon's in no place like that, but is it not conceivable that someone, after coming to Saskatoon and getting a job in the north, would look for a house close to that area? Or are people more driven by the selection of a house rather than its proximity to work? I lived in Calgary for 8 years, and I worked in the south of the city, and so I chose a home close to there, so I never had to go downtown. It blew my mind that people would drive from the far northwest of the city to the office.

And now, at the far extreme, I'm living the dream by working at home. No commute time, or expense whatsoever. Lucky me I guess.

[TheCricket]

Pizza Hut has taken over the old Coop gas bar at the corner of 8th and Broadway. Not sure whether the location further down 8th is closing or not, but the new one seems almost ready to go.

[lbird]

Originally Posted by Morogolus

There certainly won't be any shortage of the upscale dining/pub hybrids around there, O'Sheas, The Rook and Raven, State and Main, 2nd Ave Grill, Winstons, Paddockwood, Aromas, Congress Beer House (great name btw), the Louisiana Grill place, and the unnamed Royal Bank place. Also Freehouse, Tusq and Hudsons are a few blocks away. All we need now are a few late night pizza/bar food joints around there.

I love what is happening downtown. We are doing a reverse Vancouver and keeping downtown for nightlilfe and entertainment rather than residential. The city has ass-backwardess'd its way into this mode but downtown is already busy most nights and this summer is going to be bananas, especially with the new places opening up all around 2nd. The city should look at closing 2nd and 21st to vehicular traffic some weekend evenings this summer and take a longer term view of keeping large-scale residential development out of some downtown streets to avoid a Vancouver-style mess.

Also, I saw a 'Sold' sign in front of the old Affinity retail building on 22nd and 3rd. That spot has often been rumoured on here to be in line for new development.

Also, the second, although I am all for more non-car commuting (and am in that group myself), punishing drivers going downtown with worse parking is incredibly counter-productive absent other measures like better transit. I heard from a friend that his company vetoed a move downtown a few months ago due to the parking annoyances and I just drove past two brand-new Class A office buildings in Stonebridge with plenty of parking sitting nice and empty ready to poach downtown tenants. The demographic and financial center of the city is already somewhere around 8th and Cumberland so businesses that have to deal with a lot of clients won't need a lot of excuses to move east to new digs.

[nook]

Noticed today that construction fences have gone up next to Holy Cross High School... Possible school extension?

[zachjeffries]

Originally Posted by lbird

I love what is happening downtown. We are doing a reverse Vancouver and keeping downtown for nightlilfe and entertainment rather than residential. The city has ass-backwardess'd its way into this mode but downtown is already busy most nights and this summer is going to be bananas, especially with the new places opening up all around 2nd. The city should look at closing 2nd and 21st to vehicular traffic some weekend evenings this summer and take a longer term view of keeping large-scale residential development out of some downtown streets to avoid a Vancouver-style mess.

Also, I saw a 'Sold' sign in front of the old Affinity retail building on 22nd and 3rd. That spot has often been rumoured on here to be in line for new development.

Also, the second, although I am all for more non-car commuting (and am in that group myself), punishing drivers going downtown with worse parking is incredibly counter-productive absent other measures like better transit. I heard from a friend that his company vetoed a move downtown a few months ago due to the parking annoyances and I just drove past two brand-new Class A office buildings in Stonebridge with plenty of parking sitting nice and empty ready to poach downtown tenants. The demographic and financial center of the city is already somewhere around 8th and Cumberland so businesses that have to deal with a lot of clients won't need a lot of excuses to move east to new digs.

I'd love to see more sidewalk patios around downtown this summer. Even though Hudson's isn't usually my crowd, their sidewalk patio is a great place to hang out on a warm summer night. Open question: what Canadian cities have the best patio scene? Perhaps we can learn a thing or two from other cities!

[Brutopian]

I noticed today that Main Street Carwash has been demolished. Just rubble there now. I suspect start of construction of 612 Main Street is not that far off.

[nook]

Originally Posted by zachjeffries

I'd love to see more sidewalk patios around downtown this summer. Even though Hudson's isn't usually my crowd, their sidewalk patio is a great place to hang out on a warm summer night. Open question: what Canadian cities have the best patio scene? Perhaps we can learn a thing or two from other cities!

When I lived in Quebec one summer, I visited Montreal and went down Rue St. Catherine and pretty much all of the restaurants on that stretch had a temporary patio that took completely over the sidewalk in front of their restaurant. But Montreal is a city of 3.5 million people, and Rue. St. Catherine is closed off to automobile traffic in the summer because it's a gimmicky main drag in downtown Montreal. It also has a ton of restaurants.

I don't think we have a place in Saskatoon where we could legitimately emulate that. Maybe 21st street, but there isn't a ton of restaurants on it.

[Jerry]

Looked like they were doing some soil testing again on 2nd Ave & 25th Street at the Impark lot.

[frenchy]

For all of you hoping for a late night food source, Smoke's Poutinerie will be coming to Saskatoon. That should sober up a few people after a few late night drinks. It says in the locations section that it will be downtown, but that hasn't been settled yet, as Broadway is still an option. 2nd ave seems like the best choice imo.

http://smokespoutinerie.com

[nook]

Originally Posted by frenchy

For all of you hoping for a late night food source, Smoke's Poutinerie will be coming to Saskatoon. That should sober up a few people after a few late night drinks. It says in the locations section that it will be downtown, but that hasn't been settled yet, as Broadway is still an option. 2nd ave seems like the best choice imo.

http://smokespoutinerie.com

Y'know, I'm actually surprised that it took so long for a poutine place to set up shop downtown. And it's not just your run of the mill poutine, either.

[Kruzat]

Originally Posted by nook

Noticed today that construction fences have gone up next to Holy Cross High School... Possible school extension?

You bet! Quite an involved project actually

[Echoes]

The Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan was considered by the Meewasin development review committee last week.

On the website you can a couple views of the building, including a new view from the west bank of the river. It looks like they've added subtle colouring to the building facade.

I'm not sure I like how top heavy the building feels with that windowless section on top (probably the mechanical penthouse).

http://meewasin.com/development/developers_area/current_projects/

[gowest]

Originally Posted by Echoes

The Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan was considered by the Meewasin development review committee last week.

On the website you can a couple views of the building, including a new view from the west bank of the river. It looks like they've added subtle colouring to the building facade.

I'm not sure I like how top heavy the building feels with that windowless section on top (probably the mechanical penthouse).

http://meewasin.com/development/developers_area/current_projects/

This doesn't look like an inviting place for children to go to. Looks more like an office building in the industrial area. Lets make it friendly on the outside so the children will feel comfortable. It doesn't look good for a building on the U of S either.

[nook]

Originally Posted by gowest

This doesn't look like an inviting place for children to go to. Looks more like an office building in the industrial area. Lets make it friendly on the outside so the children will feel comfortable. It doesn't look good for a building on the U of S either.

As long as it helps sick kids, I don't care what it looks like, really.

Well, if it were a box without windows I might complain... but it has windows.

Sick kids won't care either as long as it's inviting inside.

[Truenorthfree]

Originally Posted by gowest

This doesn't look like an inviting place for children to go to. Looks more like an office building in the industrial area. Lets make it friendly on the outside so the children will feel comfortable. It doesn't look good for a building on the U of S either.

Personally I would rather get it built so it CAN help sick kids rather than wait to raise more $$ to make it look more aesthetically pleasing.
That's a big reason the uofs is in its shortfall. Big beautiful arcitectually pleasing buildings don't pay the bills, they make the bills bigger.

[Truenorthfree]

Anyone know what's moving into the old Rona building on circle? Looks like some extensive work being done on outside.

[Brutopian]

Garage and garden suites could serve Saskatoon well: consultant


BY CHARLES HAMILTON, THE STARPHOENIX MARCH 4, 2013


Saskatoon might find some solutions to urban sprawl right in the backyards of its residents.

Homeowners in Saskatoon could soon be allowed to build garage and garden suites.

The consultant in charge of developing Saskatoon’s comprehensive core neighbourhood growth strategy is seeking support for changes that would allow certain types of detached suites on existing lots.

“I would say it is a very unique opportunity,” Calvin Brook, a Toronto-based architect in charge of the infill study, told reporters Monday. “I’m from Toronto where we have been trying to get laneway housing for a long time and it’s very difficult to do because we don’t have the generous dimensions of lots that you have in Saskatoon.”

“If this is embraced by the public, Saskatoon will be the one Canadian city that can do it well.”

As part of the City of Saskatoon’s infill strategy — the framework that will shape how the city meets its goal of getting 75,000 more people living in existing neighbourhoods by the time Saskatoon hits 500,000 people — Brook and his team have developed guidelines for garden and garage suites, which are also known as laneway housing.

[........]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Garage+gar...sultant/8047987/story.html#ixzz2MdYMgLvT

[casper]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

Garage and garden suites could serve Saskatoon well: consultant


BY CHARLES HAMILTON, THE STARPHOENIX MARCH 4, 2013


Saskatoon might find some solutions to urban sprawl right in the backyards of its residents.

Homeowners in Saskatoon could soon be allowed to build garage and garden suites.

The consultant in charge of developing Saskatoon’s comprehensive core neighbourhood growth strategy is seeking support for changes that would allow certain types of detached suites on existing lots.

“I would say it is a very unique opportunity,” Calvin Brook, a Toronto-based architect in charge of the infill study, told reporters Monday. “I’m from Toronto where we have been trying to get laneway housing for a long time and it’s very difficult to do because we don’t have the generous dimensions of lots that you have in Saskatoon.”

“If this is embraced by the public, Saskatoon will be the one Canadian city that can do it well.”

As part of the City of Saskatoon’s infill strategy — the framework that will shape how the city meets its goal of getting 75,000 more people living in existing neighbourhoods by the time Saskatoon hits 500,000 people — Brook and his team have developed guidelines for garden and garage suites, which are also known as laneway housing.

[........]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Garage+gar...sultant/8047987/story.html#ixzz2MdYMgLvT

In Vancouver they are called laneway houses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laneway_house) I like the idea.

[TheCricket]

Rumour has it that "Milestones" is one of the interested potential tenants looking at going into the retail property adjacent to the front doors of Galaxy theatre.

Cactus Club is coming and has apparently acquired the property on the north side of Auditorium Avenue (and south of the city lot on 22nd) and will apparently have their front door just steps away from the back door of Midtown Plaza leading into the food court.

Also, The Better Good store on Broadway is apparently relocating, Willey's Jewellers is closing, and Sangster's is opening up on Broadway.