Saskatoon Construction II

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

Would not be surprised if they hatch a deal to use the stadium parkade for hotel visitors. I'd hate to see them do it since it would make the parking situation on campus worse for the students, but I think that'd be more viable to them than a new underground parkade.

True, that would also make parking for Huskies Games a bit more tight, as a season ticket holder I like to walk but when I am running late I usually use the parkade and am usually in one of the last spots on the top deck.

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by kalin_10

Well.... looking at the rendering, let's hope they put some colour on the building. Don't think Saskatoon needs a second Highrise Correntional Facility (Holiday Inn and Suites on 22nd and Wall).

You're really stuck on that aren't you? haha.

This is no where near as truck-faced as the Holiday Inn. I think it will fit in quite seamlessly with the rest of College Quarter. I like it.

Also, not that it particularly matters, but the downtown Holiday Inn is a regular full blown Holiday Inn. No suites.

[zachjeffries]

I'm sure that most of you will be excited to see that the new City Centre Plan is now available online. It is included in the agenda for next week's Planning and Operations Committee meeting (pgs. 21-124):

http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/City...s/Documents/agendas_2013/a_po_121113.pdf

Some highlights and suggestions that I'm hyped up about:

- Parking setbacks and screening for surface parking lots
- A new linear park on 21st Street in front of the Bessborough
- Use of alleys for winter pedestrian corridors
- Incentives to encourage new commercial and residential development
- Guidelines around how buildings interface with the street
- Allowing some parking spaces to become sidewalk patios during the summer
- Ideas around additional river crossing capacity at 24th Street for better transit and traffic flow

I hope someone has time to post a few of the images from the report - there are lots of cool renderings.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by kalin_10

Well.... looking at the rendering, let's hope they put some colour on the building. Don't think Saskatoon needs a second Highrise Correntional Facility (Holiday Inn and Suites on 22nd and Wall).

I like it. Way nicer than all the stucco clone hotels popping up all over Saskatchewan.

[dsim249]

Originally Posted by scotty c

It'll be nice to see the hotel there it will really bring college quarter up to college drive. I'm curious as to what they're going to do about parking, they can't just have an open lot or else students will fill it up. It'll be interesting to see how they monitor that.

Probably have gated entry like a good number of lots on campus are.

I would assume something similar to how the PAC is set up. So you can still drive up to the front doors, but there are gated lots in front for extended parking.

[skSK]

Originally Posted by kalin_10

Well.... looking at the rendering, let's hope they put some colour on the building. Don't think Saskatoon needs a second Highrise Correntional Facility (Holiday Inn and Suites on 22nd and Wall).

Kalin, don't freak, but looks like PR Hotels Ltd. (the group behind this deal) own several properties in Saskatoon, including the Holiday Inn.

I like it (especially the idea of wood on the exterior) and I think it's just the right time for it to be built in terms of getting College Quarter going.

[Irvin]

I'm mixed on the introduction of this hotel and design, I don't see any tyndall stone on the renderings which even a small portion would help tie it into the rest of the campus, although the renderings so far are not unappealing. I get the part of two different brands - providing different options for the type and length of stay.

My thinking is that scientists, guest lecturers, potential new faculty and staff and various guests of the university will stay there along with sports teams and tournament attendees from other universities, with that in mind - is this not the ideal place to help showcase the city and the university, the meeting rooms at the penthouse level will help do this, but wouldn't a revolving restaurant / lounge at the top be the cat's meow, the building would likely have to be a least 18 storeys in order maximize the view - haven't seen this feature on any new hotels in western Canada lately- probably cost prohibitive - but with beauty of the city and university - can't think of better way to impress the various visitors.

Puzzled why no restaurant as part of the package as well.

[Maxximus]

Here in Vancouver all we know is that some of the best CFL fans are in Saskatchewan. One of the things I've always wondered is with the dearth of CFL teams, would a CFL team find a good home in Saskatoon? The rivalry with the riders would be incredible, the economy there is on fire, the city is much larger than Regina and thus would seem able to support a team. The only issue obviously is a stadium to play in. Not being from Saskatoon, has the city ever really considered going for a CFL team and do members of the forum think the city could make a go of it? It would sure be nice to see another city in the league with such amazing fan support like Regina currently does.

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by Maxximus

Here in Vancouver all we know is that some of the best CFL fans are in Saskatchewan. One of the things I've always wondered is with the dearth of CFL teams, would a CFL team find a good home in Saskatoon? The rivalry with the riders would be incredible, the economy there is on fire, the city is much larger than Regina and thus would seem able to support a team. The only issue obviously is a stadium to play in. Not being from Saskatoon, has the city ever really considered going for a CFL team and do members of the forum think the city could make a go of it? It would sure be nice to see another city in the league with such amazing fan support like Regina currently does.

Something like two years ago the people who run the Credit Union Centre announced plans to try and bring a CFL team to Saskatoon, but I don't think they were ever take all that seriously. The general consensus is that Saskatoon/Saskatchewan is still too small to host another CFL team. Larger than Regina or not, the city is yet to hit 300,000 people, and it would likely need to hit 500,000 before there would be enough fans to coax away from the Riders to field a successful team. Part of the reason the Riders are supported so well is because it's Saskatchewan's team, not Regina's alone. Adding another team at this point wouldn't end well for either teams. In the long run Halifax, Quebec City and Kitchner-Waterloo would all be better homes for a team than Saskatoon.

Though an AHL team on the other hand...

[Echoes]

My vote is thumbs up for the College Quarter hotel. It will have great presence on College Drive. That street has really been getting an upgrade these past few years.

[Morogolus]

Originally Posted by Echoes

My vote is thumbs up for the College Quarter hotel. It will have great presence on College Drive. That street has really been getting an upgrade these past few years.

Now we just need a few nice pubs/restaurants in the area. There's really nothing but Alexandrias until you get to 8th St.

[Echoes]

City unveils sweeping downtown plan

By Charles Hamilton, The StarPhoenix November 7, 2013

Saskatoon has big city aspirations for its downtown.

Getting rid of the bus mall, allowing outdoor cafés along Spadina, building a more robust cycling network, allowing taller buildings and installing heated sidewalks in some areas are just some of the suggestions contained in a sweeping city report that charts a new path for the city core.

On Thursday, the city released its much anticipated city centre plan, which outlines a plan for growth in the downtown, Broadway and other core neighbourhoods.

“It has such a big city flavour to it,” said Alan Wallace, the city’s manager of planning and development. “There are lot of things in there that a lot of big cities have and we don’t have. Maybe it’s time we did some of those things.”

The plan marks a shift in thinking, providing more emphasis on cyclists and pedestrians, incentives for development on vacant lots and rejigging how the bus system is laid out.

The plan, which was prepared for the city by Stantec Consulting, estimates 15,000 residents will live in the downtown in the coming years.

In order to make the core areas attractive as places to live, the report says some improvements are needed. The city could address the need for public spaces by installing a public plaza in front of TCU Place along 22nd Street, it suggests. The city could also build rain gardens and replace parking stalls with sidewalk patios to help beautify downtown streets, it adds.

“It’s not a pie in the sky kind of thing. It builds on the strengths that our downtown has,” Wallace said.

One of the key features of the sweeping plan is the focus on creating a “west downtown,” he said. While a lot of attention has been paid to the south downtown — the home of River Landing — and more recently the north downtown with the construction of the new police station, the west downtown, bordered by Idywyld Drive, has been largely ignored.

[....]

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/saskatoon/City+unveils+sweeping+downtown+plan/9139793/story.html

[Echoes]

Piece of history leaving Riversdale
Iconic Modern Spring Works sign to make way for new retail store

Reported by François Biber
First Posted: Nov 8, 2013 6:37am

After 40 years occupying 337 Avenue A South, the familiar Modern Spring Works sign is coming down.

“It's a ying and yang sort of thing with what's happening here,” said Riversdale BID director Randy Pshebylo.

“We're really thankful that Neil Robinson and Delores have saved the old Modern Springs building. It's a massive structure, over 14,000 square feet, so to purchase it and keep it as opposed to knocking it down and repurposing it with their new retail store they're opening this spring is real good news in the sense that it breathes more life into the building that's been dark for almost two decades.”

Garden Architecture and Design purchased the building and they will do two things to the site. This holiday season they will be moving their Christmas boutique from the Adilman building to 337 Avenue A South, then opening a new retail location on their 10-year anniversary next spring.

Pshebylo said the old Modern Spring sign, which is seen by more than 50,000 cars per day according to recent traffic estimates, always served as a reminder of what used to be.

[....]

http://newstalk650.com/story/piece-history-leaving-riversdale/154559

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by zachjeffries

I'm sure that most of you will be excited to see that the new City Centre Plan is now available online. It is included in the agenda for next week's Planning and Operations Committee meeting (pgs. 21-124):

http://www.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/City...s/Documents/agendas_2013/a_po_121113.pdf

Some highlights and suggestions that I'm hyped up about:

- Parking setbacks and screening for surface parking lots
- A new linear park on 21st Street in front of the Bessborough
- Use of alleys for winter pedestrian corridors
- Incentives to encourage new commercial and residential development
- Guidelines around how buildings interface with the street
- Allowing some parking spaces to become sidewalk patios during the summer
- Ideas around additional river crossing capacity at 24th Street for better transit and traffic flow

I hope someone has time to post a few of the images from the report - there are lots of cool renderings.

It's interesting that there is no mention of the Caswell Hill area where the bus barns are currently located in this plan--is that too far off and/or are there still too many unknowns for it to be a part of this plan?

[Echoes]

Reading throug the admin report for the City Centre Plan, I am encouraged to hear that there are several items to be implemented immediately:

The proposed “immediate” implementation actions include:

1) the implementation of Design Guidelines as detailed in the Plan;
2) a new incentive for new office buildings developed in the Downtown;
3) a new incentive for structured parking;
4) Zoning Bylaw No. 8770 amendments to establish surface parking lots as a
discretionary use in the M4 and B6 Zoning Districts;
5) provide for restaurants and outdoor dining opportunities in the M4 Zoning District;
and
6) amend the Sidewalk Cafe Guidelines and Street Use Bylaw No. 2954 to extend
the opportunities for sidewalk patios within on-street parking spaces.

It is anticipated that the immediate priorities report will be forwarded to the Planning and
Operations Committee on November 26, 2013.

Originally Posted by Wyku

It's interesting that there is no mention of the Caswell Hill area where the bus barns are currently located in this plan--is that too far off and/or are there still too many unknowns for it to be a part of this plan?

There's already a plan for that area: South Caswell Concept Plan

As South Caswell starts to build out, it's crucial that they get the connections to Downtown right. Redeveloping Idylwyld to be more pedestrian-friendly will go a long way.

[Brutopian]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

Something like two years ago the people who run the Credit Union Centre announced plans to try and bring a CFL team to Saskatoon, but I don't think they were ever take all that seriously. The general consensus is that Saskatoon/Saskatchewan is still too small to host another CFL team. Larger than Regina or not, the city is yet to hit 300,000 people, and it would likely need to hit 500,000 before there would be enough fans to coax away from the Riders to field a successful team. Part of the reason the Riders are supported so well is because it's Saskatchewan's team, not Regina's alone. Adding another team at this point wouldn't end well for either teams. In the long run Halifax, Quebec City and Kitchner-Waterloo would all be better homes for a team than Saskatoon.

Though an AHL team on the other hand...

I would suggest that your population argument is flawed.

Sheer size of a region's population has little to do with success at the gate in the CFL. And the CFL is a gate-driven league.

For example: The Toronto Argonauts struggle to consistently draw 20,000 people to their games and have a metro area of 5 million from which to draw.

The Roughriders, on the other hand, consistently draw 30,000+ people to their games and have only 1 million people from which to draw. And Saskatchewan's population is dispersed through a geographical area the size of the state of Texas.

To fill a CFL stadium full of fans, it's not "the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog."

That's why I'm convinced that Saskatoon, too, could support a CFL team right now. People LOVE their football here. There is a lot of "fight in the dog" here. Time to start planning our stadium.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Much of the Riders revenues come from merchandise sales. A lot of that would disappear if a team would exist in Saskatoon. Also, many of the Riders sponsors are crown corporations which would most likely not want to double their expenses. Many of the Riders season ticket holders and game-day walk ups are from out of town. Just look at how the team is struggling to sell-out Sunday's playoff game due to a combination of weather and fan-apathy. Putting a team in Saskatoon would mean a guaranteed significant loss in season ticket holders, a lowered demand for tickets and thus lower revenues due to falling ticket prices (and merchandise sales). Another big factor is the CFL wants to attract new fans. Putting a team in Saskatoon would not attract many new fans. This is the same reason why the NHL is reluctant to put another team in southern Ontario. I haven't even mentioned the stadium thing, which Regina needed some help from the province to finance. Saskatoon is less financially secure and has a larger infrastructure deficit than Regina and has more pressing needs.

This discussion heats up multiple times a year and the reasons why its not feasible never change. When the province doubles in population and there are teams in Quebec City, the maritimes and another in BC and/or southern Ontario, then lets talk about one in Saskatoon.

I am a Rider season ticket holder and drive to each and every game in Regina. I think the whole argument for a team here is interesting but it is "Saskatchewan's Team" and a such it should stay that way.

If Regina were 1M and Saskatoon were 1M then sure could make a go of it, like Calgary / Edmonton but we are a ways off from that yet.

Best option IMO is to even out the league at 5 teams a side, with another team in Moncton.

[Stripes306]

Originally Posted by Morogolus

Now we just need a few nice pubs/restaurants in the area. There's really nothing but Alexandrias until you get to 8th St.

I would like to see Cumberland from College to 14th turn into Mixed use on the west side of the street. It would be great to see some office space and retail along that stretch with condos and apartments above. I think most of that stretch is rental already. There's a lot of pedestrian traffic along there.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Stripes306

I would like to see Cumberland from College to 14th turn into Mixed use on the west side of the street. It would be great to see some office space and retail along that stretch with condos and apartments above. I think most of that stretch is rental already. There's a lot of pedestrian traffic along there.

I agree with you completely. It would be nice too see redevelopment on the west side of Cumberland Ave mirroring that of the College Quarter.

The area could definitely support more commercial and, in my opinion, Cumberland is more appropriate for retail/restaurants than College Drive. Lack of on-street parking and high traffic on College would make access to businesses a real challenge.

[skSK]

Originally Posted by Stripes306

I would like to see Cumberland from College to 14th turn into Mixed use on the west side of the street. It would be great to see some office space and retail along that stretch with condos and apartments above. I think most of that stretch is rental already. There's a lot of pedestrian traffic along there.

I think there's opportunity there as well but I'd like first to see the south side of College developed that way. They've started that already with the JB Black condos, but we're still waiting for Remai's development at College and Clarence to begin. One big problem (with things currently as they are) is parking, in my opinion. With ground-level retail/office space and condos on upper levels being the usual configuration for mixed use development, you need to think about parking not only for residents but for people coming for these services. Some services, such as doctors' offices, require parking not just for staff, but for patients as well. Although JB Black has underground parking (and a small rear lot I think), I'm doubtful that there are enough stalls for both residents and the needs of businesses like medical offices. That leaves users of these services (patients, clients, customers, etc.) to try and find a spot on the street. College obviously doesn't offer any on-street parking. The sidestreets south of College are not only residential in character (i.e. narrow), but also require a residential parking permit in order to park for over 1 to 2 hours. Finally (and the main reason why a parking permit is needed for longer-term parking in the first place), the whole area is swamped by university students looking for a place to park, because it's seen as cheaper than paying for parking in the university's lots. Basically, from a parking standpoint, it's like a gladiator free-for-all in the Roman Colosseum. I would hazard a guess that perhaps the demand for ground-floor retail/office isn't as strong as initially thought because potential businesses see a lack of parking in the area for their clients.

Now, only when College (and the city as a whole) becomes better served by (and more used to using) a transit system do I see the transformation of this area into a more dense, mixed-use area as feasible. It's either that or these developers sink more money into more underground parking or parking structures in the immediate vicinity. Anyway, I think the same things would apply to Cumberland as well.