Saskatoon Construction II

[macca]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

Riversdale development awaiting rezoning approval from city council

Development will encompass residential and commercial buildings, underground parking

Reported by François Biber, NewsTalk 650 CKOM

Aug 21, 2013

A four-building residential and commercial development slated for southeast Riversdale is awaiting council’s approval.

Tuesday Saskatoon’s municipal planning commission (MPC) reviewed a report outlining the scope of the development across the street from the Farmer’s Market, known as Parcel A.

“This is a very positive addition to the area,” said MPC chair Janice Braden.

The development calls for commercial businesses on the ground floors, with one-and-two bedroom apartment, condos and lofts above.

Executive Director of the Riversdale Business Improvement District (BID) Randy Pshebylo applauded the development, noting it brings connectivity to the area.

“It was generally felt that a linkage between 20th Street to the river needed something seamless to go through Avenue A, B and C that would help people mill around through the area,” he said.

The City of Saskatoon sold Parcel A for $4.126 million to Chris Lefevre.

This development is being spearheaded by well-known western developer Joost Bakker with Dialog Designs. Known for his work such as the internationally recognized Granville Island and the Governor General award-winning Richmond City Hall, Pshebylo says this development fronting the riverbank will become add a unique dynamic connecting Riversdale to River Landing.

[.......]

Read more:
http://ckom.com/story/riversdale-development-awaiting-rezoning-approval-city-council/127969

Many of the details here are inaccurate or incorrect.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Jezza

This isn't entirely Council's fault. The route above is a great idea but would require a lot of co-operation between Corman Park and the city to come to fruition, since most of this is in Corman Park's jurisdiction. Another solid argument for having a regional planning commission. Funding would most likely be on Corman Park as well which isn't encouraging considering the hesitation over the Valley Road interchange.

True,

However with this plan which you will see in my next large post won't be a concern to local traffic. As it would be routed through purposfully designed high load roads and be channeled away from the Moon Lake / Berry Barn road. Only a short 1 to 1.5 kms of existing valley road would be used and most of it would of already been constructed as part of South Bridge Project.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by dsmmace

The first headframe is going up right now. It's a steel structure headframe that is going to be over 300ft high.

ATCO is expanding on the current camp for employees. Gym and few other things.

The second shaft is sunk and currently being worked on.

There is a sewage plant being constructed for the mine.

Water pump houses are going to be constructed to supply the mine with water.

Things look more like 'controlled construction' that anything else.

This shows both headframes already there. Is this just a render? The video I link to in my earlier post shows it least one of them nearly built.



Source BHP Billiton

Edit: there are several photos online of both well under construction in 2012.

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by gowest

Pat Lorje is upset with all the trucks on 11th Street west since the new bridge opened. Maybe she should have listened to the other people in Montgomery when the bridge plan started and they said this was going to be a problem. The city officials must have had their heads somewhere if they thought for one minute that trucks would go to 22nd and thru all the lights. Truckers will take the easiest route, that being 11th St. Sorry that Pat has to compete with trucks on 11th when she is riding her bicycle, maybe she should have pushed for a bike path at the time of planning. See CKOM's story on their web site. I forgot,this is the same person who wanted to put a toll fee on Valley Road if Corman Park did't pay for the Valley Road overpass.

Yeah, I just received an email from her saying 11th street from Highway 7 is in utter disrepair and will require a "complete reconstruction." When I was last on it a month or so ago, it was in really, really bad shape. Driving the posted speed limit (70km/h, I think) wouldn't be advisable in sections d/t the craters.

Originally Posted by Pat Lorje

It is not designated as a truck route and the only trucks that are allowed on it are those specifically headed for the grain elevator or local delivery trucks. However, with the opening of the Circle Drive South bridge, many truckers are using it as a short cut to Highway 7. I have asked the Police to step up enforcement patrols. That should give positive results soon.

I have never experienced this section of circle drive being slow before, but in the past week or so it has been a total standstill. Can anyone tell me what's going on? Is this due to construction or are people just changing their driving habits as a result of the South Bridge?

[3minutes]

Originally Posted by frenchy

I don't know if it's been mentioned or not, but the Taj restaurant is closed.

The King George has been having a tough time keeping their tenants, hey? Many retailers have left that building. Bad area I guess? Wonder if the bus mall is to blame?

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by macca

Many of the details here are inaccurate or incorrect.

It's NewsTalk, so that's nothing new.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Cicero

Yeah, I just received an email from her saying 11th street from Highway 7 is in utter disrepair and will require a "complete reconstruction." When I was last on it a month or so ago, it was in really, really bad shape. Driving the posted speed limit (70km/h, I think) wouldn't be advisable in sections d/t the craters.



I have never experienced this section of circle drive being slow before, but in the past week or so it has been a total standstill. Can anyone tell me what's going on? Is this due to construction or are people just changing their driving habits as a result of the South Bridge?

With Circle South now open people are using it... YAY (that's what the city hoped) HOWEVER with the lights at Laurier and Clancy it causes a stand-still at rush hour. To fix it they are going to have to close those two roads otherwise it isn't going to get better and will be just as slow as North Circle Drive.

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by Cicero

Yeah, I just received an email from her saying 11th street from Highway 7 is in utter disrepair and will require a "complete reconstruction." When I was last on it a month or so ago, it was in really, really bad shape. Driving the posted speed limit (70km/h, I think) wouldn't be advisable in sections d/t the craters.

I think most of the damage occured when they closed down Betts Ave. and left people (truckers and everyone else) with no way out of the city on the West end and detoured everyone to 11th St. The other issue that came from this is that people realised how much faster it was to just bypass the 22nd St./Diefenbaker/Confederation mess and get onto Circle from 11th St., or get to Highway 7 from Circle/11th.

Originally Posted by Cicero

I have never experienced this section of circle drive being slow before, but in the past week or so it has been a total standstill. Can anyone tell me what's going on? Is this due to construction or are people just changing their driving habits as a result of the South Bridge?

I believe it's because of the paving work going on on the other side on the East bound lanes of Circle heading towards Preston Crossing that's causing people to attempt to detour the other way (along with Idylwyld construction at 25th St.). The lights at Laurier and Clancy slow things slightly as well (as mentioned), but so do the ones at Airport Dr. and Ave. C of course. If traffic had to flow the other way it would be clear sailing since there are no lights until you get to Ave. C. It's definetely interesting to see the traffic backed up like that on the 33rd St. overpass though, but I'm able to whip underneath it and enjoy my quick commute home from Downtown with zero traffic/construction/bridge issues .

EDIT: Oh, and the section of Circle from Airport Drive to about 33rd St. seems to have some sort of speed sucking ability that makes cars drive REEEEAAALLLLY SLLLLOOOWWW on that stretch for some reason, even when traffic is light. If anyone travels this section a lot, I'm sure you know what I mean! lol

[drm310]

Gallery will feature green design elements
Capturing sun's energy for savings

By Phil Tank, The Starphoenix
August 22, 2013 8:28 AM

The Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan's design will capture Saskatoon's sunshine to help reduce its energy use by as much as 40 per cent.

Using the energy from the sun is among several design components planned to help the gallery achieve silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status chiefly through using less energy, which is a challenge for a building that must maintain a stable environment to preserve artwork.

"It's actually quite ambitious for a gallery," said Matthew Wilson, project architect with KPMB.

"It's very hard to do that with an art gallery because art galleries use more energy than an average building."

Wilson said one of the measures will use the gallery's southern exposure to capture sunlight in the atrium and use it to help maintain heat in other parts of the building. [...]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Gallery+wi...lements/8819454/story.html#ixzz2ciV70TDd

[saskatoonborn]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

With Circle South now open people are using it... YAY (that's what the city hoped) HOWEVER with the lights at Laurier and Clancy it causes a stand-still at rush hour. To fix it they are going to have to close those two roads otherwise it isn't going to get better and will be just as slow as North Circle Drive.

I understand your frustration with Laurier but closing that road will make it worse ( granted it will improve Circle). I lived in that area for many years and if you tried to divert all that traffic to 22nd it would be an epic disaster as its already a heavily conjested intersection. They are also building the new Kensington area which will bring much more traffic.

Personally I think they should extend Diefenbaker/Laurier drive out to the Dalmany highway and beyond (making it similar to Taylor on the east side) and build a connecting interchange to get rid of the lights at Laurier and circle. There is ot of room for it. Alas that wont happen as thats not what the Kensington plan calls for.

[EarlyByrdProductions]

So, the local bid for 3rd Ave as an arts centre was out bid by the only other offer on the table, the man from Regina who runs a community church/ school? Let's hope he still plans on including a few arts events and concerts there.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by saskatoonborn

I understand your frustration with Laurier but closing that road will make it worse ( granted it will improve Circle). I lived in that area for many years and if you tried to divert all that traffic to 22nd it would be an epic disaster as its already a heavily conjested intersection. They are also building the new Kensington area which will bring much more traffic.

Personally I think they should extend Diefenbaker/Laurier drive out to the Dalmany highway and beyond (making it similar to Taylor on the east side) and build a connecting interchange to get rid of the lights at Laurier and circle. There is ot of room for it. Alas that wont happen as thats not what the Kensington plan calls for.

Here's the thing. I know you might think that closing it might be worse. However look at it this way.

With Clancy and Laurier closed (Right turns remain, except EB-SB from Laurier to Circle, conflicts to the proximity to the 22nd street offramp would be to great) The traffic pattern would move to either 11th street or 33rd. And with traffic not stopping on Circle for lights at said intersection. access from 33rd to SB Circle would be a joyous occasion. Also with the lights at Clancy gone and a longer green in the AM from Confed to the Circle drive onramp SB (without a stoplight at Clancy) traffic wouldn't back up at all on the onramp making that way faster as well. On the way home. The ramp from NB Circle to 22nd is almost never in a queue. So that would become the major use for people going into Confederation or people would travel to 33rd and get in that way. For people using clancy using the new 11th street and entering at fairlight drive would allow for faster access in and out even though it is slightly longer. Best of situations for all users.

I suggest the city not demolish those intersections right away but block them off with movable concrete jersey barriers and close them for a two week stretch to see how much more efficient at rush hour closing those two would be. I think it would be an eye opener for not only the city but to the users, how well a "freeway" without lights can impact and better a commute.

IMO worth a shot. Essentially getting rid of two bad pieces to make the larger system as a whole better. However I do stress this should be done next summer as the Preston Ave interchange and all other construction on Circle Dr. needs to be complete before the full effect of this action would be apparent.

[Wyku]

I can see closing Laurier NB access being an option since it would mean at least clear sailing from Airport Dr. to the 22nd St. exits (Airport Dr. will continue to be a huge bottleneck though). It's nice to have as it is now, but not totally needed. It's really too bad they didn't put a proper exit from Cicle onto 22nd EB as that would help free up the extra clog at Confederation and 22nd that already exists and would only increase from people having to go that way to get onto Circle with Laurier and/or Clancy being closed. Pumping a bunch of extra traffic onto 33rd would not be ideal though, unless they made it no parking during the day like the section East of Circle to allow better traffic flow--it would only really needed for the stretch from Confederation to Ave. W since the rest to the West is already 4 lanes.

We should probably also wait until all of the current construction projects are complete to get a true feel of how traffic is flowing now that South Circle is completed. Northend traffic will still be a nightmare no matter what though.

[drm310]

Third Avenue United Church bid chosen

By Jeremy Warren, The StarPhoenix
August 23, 2013 9:23 AM

The Third Avenue United Church can take down its ‘For Sale’ sign.

On Thursday, United Church officials approved a bid to buy the iconic building in downtown Saskatoon.

The congregation chose a bid from a non-profit group led by John Orr over a bid from the Third Avenue Centre, which for several years has been hoping to establish a permanent arts centre in the church. Both bids promised to use the church for a performing arts centre.

“It was a very, very hard decision,” said Peter Barnacle, chair of the congregation’s board. “We’ve shed some tears over this.”

The sale of the building hinged on commitments from the successful bid to preserve the building and allow the congregation to remain in the church. Both bids were committed to the congregation’s demands, but the group led by Orr came in “significantly higher” and gave the church members more opportunities to flourish after years of financial troubles, Barnacle said. [...]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/Third+Avenue+United+Church+chosen/8822918/story.html

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Wyku

I can see closing Laurier NB access being an option since it would mean at least clear sailing from Airport Dr. to the 22nd St. exits (Airport Dr. will continue to be a huge bottleneck though). It's nice to have as it is now, but not totally needed. It's really too bad they didn't put a proper exit from Cicle onto 22nd EB as that would help free up the extra clog at Confederation and 22nd that already exists and would only increase from people having to go that way to get onto Circle with Laurier and/or Clancy being closed. Pumping a bunch of extra traffic onto 33rd would not be ideal though, unless they made it no parking during the day like the section East of Circle to allow better traffic flow--it would only really needed for the stretch from Confederation to Ave. W since the rest to the West is already 4 lanes.

We should probably also wait until all of the current construction projects are complete to get a true feel of how traffic is flowing now that South Circle is completed. Northend traffic will still be a nightmare no matter what though.

I have it on good authority from the City of Saskatoon planning department that an interchange originally planned for 2020 for Airport and Circle is being moved ahead to 2018. THAT will be an amazing improvement to that area!

[macca]

It's probably time for dedicated thread for roads, freeways, interchanges, highways, bypasses, rest areas, and lube shops.

[drm310]

Prime retail space scarce
New capacity will offer future relief

By Scott Larson, The Starphoenix
August 23, 2013

Saskatoon's commercial real estate market continues to be hot, especially at the retail level where there is a scant 2.5 per cent vacancy rate, according to the latest ICR Commercial Real Estate report.

"Space is still limited," says Alvaro Campos, market research analyst with ICR. "People want to buy high exposure retail space like on Eighth Street and there are no options available."

An estimated 109,450 square feet has been absorbed in the market throughout the first three quarters of 2013, the report said.

Retail sectors such as Eighth Street, Stonebridge, University Heights, Blairmore and downtown continue to attract higher market rates. New retail developments are expected to attract lease rates in the range of $25-35 per square foot (PSF), while existing vacancies range from $18-$25 PSF. [...]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Prime+retail+space+scarce/8824292/story.html

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by macca

It's probably time for dedicated thread for roads, freeways, interchanges, highways, bypasses, rest areas, and lube shops.

Haha are you getting at we should move this to the other thread?

[Irvin]

Anyone know what PCL is building east of airport drive as you approach the terminal?

[kalin_10]

Originally Posted by Irvin

Anyone know what PCL is building east of airport drive as you approach the terminal?

It's a part of the aerogreen business park. Not sure which one, but of the two proposed hotels for that area