Saskatoon Construction II

[Echoes]

Retail vacancies creep down
Furious pace of building absorbed

By Scott Larson, The Starphoenix July 17, 2013

Despite adding more than 200,000 square feet of retail space to the market in the last 12 months, retail vacancy rates in Saskatoon fell from 2.89 per cent to 2.24 per cent, says a new report by Colliers International.

"Saskatoon's retail market has been growing so fast that some people might be worried we are overbuilt in retail," Colliers research manager Duncan Mayer said. "But this has been ongoing for the last five or six years now, and we haven't been showing any signs of slowing down as far as retail growth."

The report said additional retail development is expected to begin this year, but may not be enough to alleviate the downward pressure the demand has on the overall vacancy rate.

"We are leasing more than the market is supplying," Tom McClocklin, president of Colliers Saskatchewan, said.

One big reason for the rate decline is the limited availability of retail zoned land, the report said.

[....]

"Downtown Saskatoon has seen a surge in new restaurants with a variety of concepts such as highend and southern cuisine to contemporary brew houses" the report said.

"I think we are the envy of a lot of Prairie cities as far as how vibrant our downtown is," Mayer added. "Even on a Monday night, it is quite busy downtown."

In Saskatoon's Central Business District, six new restaurants have opened in the last 12 months and an additional two are under construction. New restaurants complete or under development include Congress Beer House, Bon Temps Cafe, State & Main Kitchen Bar, Cactus Club Cafe, The Woods Alehouse, Woodfire Grill and Second Cup.

[....]

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Retail+vacancies+creep+down/8670156/story.html

^ The restaurant boom continues downtown. Add to that list Ayden Kitchen & Bar, and Bottega.

I always laugh at the comments from people who refuse to go downtown to dine or shop because of the availability of parking. Like they're taking some righteous, defiant stance. It seems that downtown is doing just fine without them.

"No place is worth visiting that doesn't have a parking problem." - Rollin Stanley

(P.S. - This is the first I've heard about a Second Cup.)

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Hey all,
Was playing a round of disc golf in our beautiful Diefenbaker park when looked over to see a car drive right across the new bridge! Is it that easy and legal to drive across an 'unfinished bridge'?

PS Martensville is getting a 9 hole Disc Golf course in their public park (care of the gents at Escape Sports) so I might have reason to try this infamous commute to our 'bedroom community'.

[drm310]

Maybe it was someone who's a part of the construction project doing a test drive? It sounds like they just have a bit of paving, lane markings and signage to go.

Originally Posted by EarlyByrdProductions

Hey all,
Was playing a round of disc golf in our beautiful Diefenbaker park when looked over to see a car drive right across the new bridge! Is it that easy and legal to drive across an 'unfinished bridge'?

PS Martensville is getting a 9 hole Disc Golf course in their public park (care of the gents at Escape Sports) so I might have reason to try this infamous commute to our 'bedroom community'.

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by Echoes

(P.S. - This is the first I've heard about a Second Cup.)

Second Cup must be planning an expansion into Saskatchewan because they are planning to build one out in Martensville as well. Kind of nice to see that Saskatchewan is getting a franchise that is so popular in Eastern Canada (there's tons of them here in Montreal).

[Scruff Bucket]

There's a couple of locations in Regina, already! I'm surprised I don't see a location listed in Saskatoon!

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by Scruff Bucket

There's a couple of locations in Regina, already! I'm surprised I don't see a location listed in Saskatoon!

Actually, they already have been in Regina for many years.

[nook]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

Actually, they already have been in Regina for many years.

Pretty sure we used to have one in Midtown about 10 years ago.

[Brutopian]

Originally Posted by Scruff Bucket

There's a couple of locations in Regina, already! I'm surprised I don't see a location listed in Saskatoon!

Saskatoon's eleven Starbucks locations more than makes up for it.

[Brutopian]

Gov't to add, extend lanes near Warman and Highway 11

Hopes to improve busy commute between Warman and Saskatoon

Reported by Bre McAdam, NewsTalk 650 CKOM


People driving between Warman and Saskatoon can look forward to an easier commute now that the government has announced improvements for the intersection of Warman and Highway 11.

Warman's mayor, Sheryl Spence, said the area is extremely busy as the city continues to grow.

"People that are coming out of Warman turning to go north, and then there's also oncoming traffic coming from Saskatoon and area going north as well," she said.

Spence said that congestion has many residents concerned about safety at the intersection, especially when cars start to trail down the overpass.

"People come upon the overpass quickly and don't realize there's cars there waiting to turn into Warman."

She adds before things get better they will temporarily get worse once construction begins, likely next week.

[........]

Read more:
http://ckom.com/story/govt-add-extend-lanes-near-warman-and-highway-11/121181

[Chorduroy]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

Gov't to add, extend lanes near Warman and Highway 11

This is great news. That turn off to Warman has been dangerous for a long time and has gotten much worse with the population boom.

[gowest]

Originally Posted by Chorduroy

This is great news. That turn off to Warman has been dangerous for a long time and has gotten much worse with the population boom.

Good news for the Warman area but the province has to start planning for key intersections in every direction around the city. Commuter traffic is constantly increasing and as a result so are the serious accidents.

[Arts]

Originally Posted by Chorduroy

This is great news. That turn off to Warman has been dangerous for a long time and has gotten much worse with the population boom.

That is a dangerous intersection forsure, lots of traffic and not the best sightlines for merging traffic (requires high acceleration for those pulling onto hwy11 and hard braking for those coming off).

An equally lethal location is the intersection of hwy11 and Waneskewin, I lost a friend there and I hope the province is working on improvements there.

[prairieguy]

Anyone that has a camera handy, would appreciate some updates on some construction projects:
- courthouse expansion
- police headquarters (and 25th extension)
- AGS
- anyone know what is going into the old 'Phoenix building' on 20th street that is being renovated??

Also, took a drive around the Stonebridge business park area the other day...holy 🞵🞵🞵🞵...that is like a small city out there now. Had no idea so much commercial construction has happened and is currently being constructed!!! Brown's Social House is a great addition to that area, but it certainly could use some more restaurants (i.e. 2nd Earl's??, Keg??, Moxies??, something new??)

Have to say it is a pretty quiet construction season, for what should be the busiest time of year.

[dsmmace]

I have been over the bridge a few times, but I am supplying services to the Contractor. All I will say is it will be awesome to have these bridges complete for traffic flow. You may get lost the first time or two you use them, they are like the sections over 22nd street and are a little confusing what lane you will need to be in to exit or enter the ramps.

Originally Posted by drm310

Maybe it was someone who's a part of the construction project doing a test drive? It sounds like they just have a bit of paving, lane markings and signage to go.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Arts

That is a dangerous intersection forsure, lots of traffic and not the best sightlines for merging traffic (requires high acceleration for those pulling onto hwy11 and hard braking for those coming off).

An equally lethal location is the intersection of hwy11 and Waneskewin, I lost a friend there and I hope the province is working on improvements there.

This intersection will be revamped when the Saskatoon Bypass gets done, likely nothing before that. I would suggest traffic lights there in the interim as it would be a cheap solution to a VERY bad corner.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by dsmmace

I have been over the bridge a few times, but I am supplying services to the Contractor. All I will say is it will be awesome to have these bridges complete for traffic flow. You may get lost the first time or two you use them, they are like the sections over 22nd street and are a little confusing what lane you will need to be in to exit or enter the ramps.

Driving down Idylwyle yesterday evening I saw that they were just finishing up the pavement markings on the Northbound lanes under the flyover. I would think this could be opened soon to allow for repairs the where the merge has been happening at the base of the clearance ramp. Also looks like the SB lanes are close as well.

[Chaps]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

Saskatoon's eleven Starbucks locations more than makes up for it.

No. No it doesn't.

I'd take 5 Starbucks and a couple Second Cups over 1000 Starbucks. Second Cup > Starbucks.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

- anyone know what is going into the old 'Phoenix building' on 20th street that is being renovated??

Isn't it the First Nations University?

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by Arts

That is a dangerous intersection forsure, lots of traffic and not the best sightlines for merging traffic (requires high acceleration for those pulling onto hwy11 and hard braking for those coming off).

An equally lethal location is the intersection of hwy11 and Waneskewin, I lost a friend there and I hope the province is working on improvements there.

I believe it's the proximity to the railway overpass that provides the constraint to what can be done for acceleration & deceleration lanes at the main entrance to Warman. The south entrance is actually much better with a sufficiently long acceleration lane (unfortunately not all drivers seem to know how to use it, but that's a different rant). Without work to the overpass, I question how much improvement we're going to be able to gain at the main entrance.

The Waneskewin intersection has a horrific record of serious collisions and fatalities. I believe that most of the issues there stem from the long lineup of traffic waiting to turn from highway 11 southbound to Waneskewin eastbound. Traffic on Waneskewin Road trying to head west across highway 11 can't see the ongoing southbound traffic until they are in the path of it. As a twice a day commuter through that intersection, I don't want to see traffic lights there, but I think that may well be the solution until an overpass is constructed to suit whatever the configuration is of the future perimeter road and north bridge. Currently I proceed with added caution through that intersection. Traffic lights will add some time to the commute, but if that's what it takes to reduce the carnage, then so be it.

[Scruff Bucket]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

Actually, they already have been in Regina for many years.

Yes! Thanks Skydive! Sorry! That's also what I meant!

Originally Posted by Brutopian

Saskatoon's eleven Starbucks locations more than makes up for it.

Heh! ... Different people, different feelings! On one hand, that's great for Starbucks lovers (myself, included! ...) On the other hand, our one-Starbucks town of Regina (ONE location, due to some union vs non-union squabble in the distant past! Also, sans the locations at Safeways, because the atmosphere is so different!) means some decent, independent/small chain/franchise coffee places have been able to develop their niches without any more competition (mostly just Tim Horton's here) dragging at them! But, I thought I heard Starbucks staff in Regina wanted to de-unionize some time ago. Is that happening? Did that happen? Is any of that true? On an aside, what's going to happen to some of those Starbucks locations in the Safeways that might close if Sobeys takes over them?

Originally Posted by Brutopian

Grand opening for Circle Drive South will be July 31

Can't wait to get back up there to try out all these new roadways and eateries, someday! I notice, each time I'm able to visit Saskatoon, the traffic gets busier and busier! Still, traffic moves a lot better than that on the Don Valley Parking Lot (Parkway) -- and other freeway stretches -- at some times in T.O.!