Saskatoon Construction II

[nook]

Originally Posted by Echoes

A few images of the proposed North Downtown Master Plan, from The Star Phoenix's City Hall Notebook:







http://blogs.thestarphoenix.com/2013/06/20/a-new-look-at-the-north-downtown/

^ This is an absolutely fantastic plan!

So where does our CFL stadium go now? /sarcasm.

Looks good. Happy to see lots of little green circles.

[Echoes]

I was browsing the agenda of the City's Municipal Planning Commission, and next week they'll consider a report regarding a small amendment proposed for the River Landing DCD1 zoning.

The way I read it, the amendment is to provide more flexibility with respect to location of parking garage entrances and service areas to accommodate what Lefevre & Company are proposing for Parcel A (it doesn't make specific reference to what their proposal is).

However, the report notes that the applicant requesting the amendment is Joost Bakker, an architect with DIALOG architecture, who appear to be the project architects on the Parcel A proposal.

Here's Joost's profile on DIALOG's website (where much of their past work can be viewed): http://www.designdialog.ca/#about-us/principal/joost-bakker/

Hopefully after this amendment passes Council we'll see the full proposal for Parcel A fairly quickly.

MPC agenda available here: http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/City...s/Documents/agendas_2013/a_mp_250613.pdf (the relevant report begins on page 15)

[drto]

If any of you Saskatoon formers would be willing to grab some before and after pics of the South Saskatchewan thru downtown with all this excess flow, that'd be great. It is terrible here in Calgary with the Bow and Elbow and I can only imagine what it will look like after you add the watersheds from the Highwood, Oldman, Sheep, Ram, Red Deer and Little Red Deer Rivers plus others I'm sure.

http://globalnews.ca/news/662706/south-saskatchewan-river-flooding-expected-to-be-significant/

[Saskie]

I don't know. I don't mind the look of the city's plans for the North Downtown. However, I always kind of dreamed that a big classic train station would go there. Either like Union Station in Toronto, or the big train stations in Europe, or even a bit more modest of a plan that could be expanded. It's almost like the area was designed for this (actually, it kind of was being that Midtown Plaza and Tomas the Cook were downtown train stations). Even pulling out the CP tracks would be fine, the train stations we used in Europe were spurs coming in from one direction anyways, and it would be perfectly situated to connect with both CN and CP tracks going out to the north. A big train station would have all kinds of retail and although it may not quite have the residential development it would encourage residential all along a potential railway corridor going north through Warman, Rosthern, etc. If Saskatoon wants to dream of 500,000 or a million, you can put the people downtown, but it already is a logistical nightmare getting in and out of downtown with 250,000 and maybe we are forgetting about having a great transportation hub right there. I thought it should go where the police station is. Now I'm afraid there will never be room for it and in 2045 someone will wonder why no one thought of this back when...plus wouldn't it be cool arriving on a high-speed train from Edmonton or Regina and walking off the train platform downtown instead of out in "Vanscoy" or wherever the station is now?

[casper]

Originally Posted by Saskie

I don't know. I don't mind the look of the city's plans for the North Downtown. However, I always kind of dreamed that a big classic train station would go there. Either like Union Station in Toronto, or the big train stations in Europe, or even a bit more modest of a plan that could be expanded. It's almost like the area was designed for this (actually, it kind of was being that Midtown Plaza and Tomas the Cook were downtown train stations). Even pulling out the CP tracks would be fine, the train stations we used in Europe were spurs coming in from one direction anyways, and it would be perfectly situated to connect with both CN and CP tracks going out to the north. A big train station would have all kinds of retail and although it may not quite have the residential development it would encourage residential all along a potential railway corridor going north through Warman, Rosthern, etc. If Saskatoon wants to dream of 500,000 or a million, you can put the people downtown, but it already is a logistical nightmare getting in and out of downtown with 250,000 and maybe we are forgetting about having a great transportation hub right there. I thought it should go where the police station is. Now I'm afraid there will never be room for it and in 2045 someone will wonder why no one thought of this back when...plus wouldn't it be cool arriving on a high-speed train from Edmonton or Regina and walking off the train platform downtown instead of out in "Vanscoy" or wherever the station is now?

I also like trains and would love to see high rail between Winnipeg and Edmonton with a stop in Saskatoon. However it is not going to happen. The feds can't afford high speed rail on the Quebec City to Windsor corridor, it's not going to happen here. Maybe one day they reintroduce slow regular rail between Calgary, Edmonton and FortMac.

In Saskatoon, I think we are left with inter-city rail two or three times a week in each direction with the stop being in Montgomery.

What would have been good and more realistic is commuter rail from the communities (e.g. Martinville, etc) in the north into downtown. They could use the old CP rail terminal or in an idea (but quite expensive setup) expand the bus station and have the rail lines end in the basement.

[Echoes]

No longer a legend

Ground broken for Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre

By Kevin Menz, The StarPhoenix June 22, 2013

A new aboriginal students' centre is no longer just a legend told by University of Saskatchewan students.

University president Ilene Busch-Vishniac, alongside Jean Oakes, the wife of the late Gordon Oakes, officially turned sod Friday at the site where the Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre will stand on campus. Construction is expected to begin Monday.

"This is really the culmination of a great deal of work and it is a true symbol of our commitment to ensuring education for everyone who lives in this province," Busch-Vishniac said after digging a shovel into the ground along Wiggins Avenue between the Arts Tower and the Murray Library.

The centre will host the Aboriginal Students' Centre and the Indigenous Students' Council and will include spaces devoted to cultural ceremonies. The student centre's current location in Marquis Hall cannot properly host ceremonies because of poor ventilation.

[....]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/longer+legend/8564073/story.html#ixzz2X3n0z2Dw

[EarlyByrdProductions]

So the Prairie Lilly Dinner / Jazz Cruises are cancelled for the next few days...and likely a while after as you can see:

http://www.ominocity.com/2013/06/24/flood-waters-arrive-in-saskatoon-photo-essay/

[Dillweed]

Originally Posted by EarlyByrdProductions

So the Prairie Lilly Dinner / Jazz Cruises are cancelled for the next few days...and likely a while after as you can see:

http://www.ominocity.com/2013/06/24/flood-waters-arrive-in-saskatoon-photo-essay/

Wow, you don't often see a lot of white water on the South Saskatchewan river.

[Brutopian]

No more McDonald's in downtown Saskatoon

Doors closed as of Monday

Reported by Bre McAdam, NewsTalk 650 CKOM

June 24, 2013

The days of placing a "walk-up" order at Saskatoon's downtown McDonald's are over after the 22nd Street and 2nd Avenue South location officially closed its doors Monday.

Ken Auchs, the building's owner, told News Talk Radio that it was a mutual decision between him and McDonald's due to crime in the area, calling the location the hottest place in the city for police calls.

[........]

Read more:
http://ckom.com/story/no-more-mcdonalds-downtown-saskatoon/116873

[Brutopian]

Circle Drive South project still headed for July opening

Reported by Trelle Burdeniuk, NewsTalk 650 CKOM

June 24, 2013

It's still smooth sailing for the Circle Drive South project, even though Saskatoon has had some rain recently.

Crews were even ahead of schedule for a while, said Doug Drever, manager in charge of the project with the City of Saskatoon.

"Probably up until about 10 days ago we were ahead of schedule and I still believe we'll finish up here in lots of time for the end of July," he said.

[........]

Read more:
http://ckom.com/story/circle-drive-south-project-still-headed-july-opening/116807

[Brutopian]

Three high-volume highways chosen for twinning

By Thomas Piller, Global News

June 24, 2013

SASKATOON – Three of Saskatchewan’s busiest highways have been identified and will be assessed for future twinning. These sections span approximately 58 km and handle an average of 22,770 vehicles a day.

“We’re moving forward on pre-construction work for twinning specific sections of highways that are handling high traffic volumes that are forecasted to become even busier as Saskatchewan continues to grow,” said Don McMorris, Highways and Infrastructure Minister.

The province has already begun pre-construction work on 50 km of highway twinning on either side of Saskatoon.
[........]

Read more:
http://globalnews.ca/news/668943/three-high-volume-highways-chosen-for-twinning/

[North_Regina_Boy]

The open part of Circle drive (my video on youtube)

Sorry for the quality youtube "enhanced it" I will re-upload when I get home and will upload in HD, but you get the idea.

http://youtu.be/0HNy5MXlX_k

[circle33]

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

The open part of Circle drive (my video on youtube)

Sorry for the quality youtube "enhanced it" I will re-upload when I get home and will upload in HD, but you get the idea.

http://youtu.be/0HNy5MXlX_k

Thanks for that. I really hope that they incorporated some really big catch basins/drainage system into the underpass under the 11th Street / railroad track section of the road. I can see that deep hole attracting a lot of water in the event of a heavy thunderstorm. I'm sure they have, but I'll still be interested in seeing how it performs in the wet weather.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Crisis

Thanks for that. I really hope that they incorporated some really big catch basins/drainage system into the underpass under the 11th Street / railroad track section of the road. I can see that deep hole attracting a lot of water in the event of a heavy thunderstorm. I'm sure they have, but I'll still be interested in seeing how it performs in the wet weather.

No problem, and over the last few years I have gone to see the construction twice a week. They have installed what I can determine is a 1200-1800mm trunk line under the length of the new construction that empties directly into the South Saskatchewan on both sides. So I don't see it being an issue.

[TristanMammoetFan]

Originally Posted by circle33

Was this today? or yesterday? Do u might know what company did it? it looks like the The Libherr LTM 1220 from Sterling in Regina.

[circle33]

Originally Posted by TristanMammoetFan

Was this today? or yesterday? Do u might know what company did it? it looks like the The Libherr LTM 1220 from Sterling in Regina.

Was yesterday around 6:00pm. I didn't take note of who was putting it up.

[Yeff]

This isn't construction related, more of a security alert to the rest of you... Everyone knows our downtown parkades are sketchy at best, but the vandals seem to be ramping up again. The Precise Parklink on 1st Ave S and 20th St E has been getting windows smashed out and cars keyed, down the entire length of the vehicle, all for no reason. Not even to steal anything, it's like it's a game to them. Kids on bikes, longboards... playing cat and mouse with security for fun. So senseless, and so frustrating, so be careful.

[GoTrans]

Originally Posted by casper

I also like trains and would love to see high rail between Winnipeg and Edmonton with a stop in Saskatoon. However it is not going to happen. The feds can't afford high speed rail on the Quebec City to Windsor corridor, it's not going to happen here. Maybe one day they reintroduce slow regular rail between Calgary, Edmonton and FortMac.

In Saskatoon, I think we are left with inter-city rail two or three times a week in each direction with the stop being in Montgomery.

Its not that the feds can't afford to have better rail service in Canada, its that they don't want to afford it. There is no reason why there could not be daily service between Regina - Saskatoon - North Battleford - Edmonton and between Saskatoon - Regina - Brandon - Winnipeg. As usual the big hold up is equipment as there isn't enough now to expand Via's service at all. What is required is new rail diesel cars like what is being purchased for the Union Pearson rail link. But the government won't purchase that because they would then be committed to maintaining expanded service for some time to come. I can think of many routes that could use RDC's such as Vancouver Island, Lethbridge - Calgary-Edmonton, Toronto - London via Kitchener, St John- Moncton-Halifax to name a few; but I digress ( or dream ).

It is highly unlikely that we will see serious investment in passenger rail service in the near future until there is a more equitable allocation of funding and taxation between modes.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Reminder:
Vote Once a day to get three blocks of 20th street revamped and painted!
5 days left!
http://www.paintwhatmatters.ca/