Saskatoon Construction II

[casper]

Originally Posted by Echoes

I understand the City is just following an established policy with respect to compensation for lost parking revenue, but perhaps they should consider an amendment to said policy to exempt or relax costs for projects in special development areas where the City is actively trying to encourage and incentivize private development. River Landing, Downtown, South Caswell, and North Downtown come to mind. Such exemptions should have limits so that a developer doesn't go crazy closing off more parking stalls than they need. But as it stands, this parking revenue compensation policy sounds like a fairly blunt instrument.

This is a good opportunity for the City to take a hard look at what incentivizes and disincentivizes development in the core. Appropriate zoning and a master plan saying "this is what we want here" is not enough to encourage development. It seems like it is often the hidden costs, extra fees, and unseen regulatory hoops that end up scaring off more development in the core. It appears that even public realm improvements and streetscaping (a major incentive for private development in my mind) can be seen as an impediment.

But, I do understand that no matter where you're building there's a cost to doing business.

I don't think the city loses revenue from meters being blocked. People don't stay home because a meter is temporarily blocked. They part somewhere else, some may end up in a private lot but a good number will simply end up at another meter somewhere else.

[Brutopian]

Corman Park Land Getting More Expensive

Written by Carol Thomson, saskatoonhomepage.ca
11 September 2014

Land in the rural municipality of Corman Park is being sold at a much higher price than it was 7 years ago.

As the City of Saskatoon and surrounding communities like Warman and Martensville grow, so does the need for land.

A report from Colliers International shows an increase in the price of land in certain areas of Corman Park by as much as 150 per cent, thanks to interest from speculators and developers.

[........]

Read more:
http://www.saskatoonhomepage.ca/corman-park-land-getting-more-expensive/itemid_21

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

Not sure if this has been posted yet or not, but here is link to new luxury condo development currently under construction in The Willows. They are at least up to 3rd floor and looks to be concrete construction condo.

http://www.valentinohomes.ca/404cartwright/

There are some very large units included (eg in excess of 2,000 sq ft)!! I can only assume these will come at a premium price as there is not a lot on the market like that in Saskatoon.

"•SUITE 301, APPROX. 3842 SQUARE FEET, 3 BEDROOM + DEN (TYPE 0 + Penthouse)" Wow, that should go for a pretty penny!

[Arts]

Originally Posted by casper

I don't think the city loses revenue from meters being blocked. People don't stay home because a meter is temporarily blocked. They part somewhere else, some may end up in a private lot but a good number will simply end up at another meter somewhere else.

And this is a fair point for sure. I suspect that LeFevre was trying to communicate this with the transportation dept, and while they were able to be convinced that his arguement had some merit, by their willingness to reduce the regulatory fee almost in half, it seems his concern was that they should reduce the fee even further (based on logic such as yours Casper), or possibly even waive it entirely?

From what I recall seeing on that block, on busy days at the farmers market those stalls are used to capacity, and on less busy days only a few of those stalls will be used. When these are no longer available due to the Banks construction, how much of a workaround is it for patrons in the area? They will surely complain about having to walk several blocks when before they could park in close proximity.

[prairieguy]

Although the Farmers Market is a year round amenity, the reality is that business significantly drops off once the growing season is complete and there is even less demand for those parking stalls over the Fall/winter and early spring seasons. I think the city needs to be more accomodating in this unique situation to actually get something built/developed in terms of residency and commercial opportunities on that site!
The city were the ones that put all their apples into one basket (that being Riverlanding Village)....and that has been a total bust, so far. I fully support waiving most if not all parking compensation for The Banks. Hopefully, this current little 'dispute' will not put this developer off from looking at other developments in the future. This does not send a very positive message to potential other out of city or province development companies.

[Arts]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

Although the Farmers Market is a year round amenity, the reality is that business significantly drops off once the growing season is complete and there is even less demand for those parking stalls over the Fall/winter and early spring seasons. I think the city needs to be more accomodating in this unique situation to actually get something built/developed in terms of residency and commercial opportunities on that site!
The city were the ones that put all their apples into one basket (that being Riverlanding Village)....and that has been a total bust, so far. I fully support waiving most if not all parking compensation for The Banks. Hopefully, this current little 'dispute' will not put this developer off from looking at other developments in the future. This does not send a very positive message to potential other out of city or province development companies.

This is just bureaucracy, and should not be a dealbreaker (and if it is then so be it). I think the regulations, as they are, make completely logical sense. For any developer to break ground in a new city, it is on them to understand the local regulations. After this episode, the next development LeFevre considers in Saskatoon he will be aware that if there are on-street parking disruptions and city infrastructure to work around, that he will need to take these into consideration while bringing his vision to reality.

[Toontone]

Originally Posted by bschaan

I believe it is actually going to be a swiss chalet

I have heard from a normally good source that East Side Mario's on 8th street will be a Mill Street Brew Pub. Quite sure that it will happen.

[scotty c]

Originally Posted by Toontone

I have heard from a normally good source that East Side Mario's on 8th street will be a Mill Street Brew Pub. Quite sure that it will happen.

Never been in one of those but I was hoping for Milestone's. Always have enjoyed it on my travels.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by Echoes

The Cactus Club Cafe appears to be nearing completion. It certainly adds some needed curb appeal on Idylwyld, and may help to start bridging the gap between Downtown and Riversdale. Imagine the thought of this upmarket chain locating on Idylwyld on the edge of Riversdale just 5 years ago? With the City's plans to streetscape Idylwyld in the coming years, this is a sign of more good things to come.

Bit of a delayed response on this, but I certainly hope something is done to improve access to the Cactus Club site from Idylwyld. Currently there is a short turning lane from Idylwyld southbound onto Auditorium Avenue (access to Cactus Club). Unfortunately, this turning lane is only about 3/4 of a car width, resulting in traffic backups on Idlywyld. It hasn't been too bad since the Midtown shops have been taken out, but once Cactus Club is up and running, it's going to be a nightmare.

[lbird]

Originally Posted by jrochest

I really hope so -- I bought on 28th a year ago, and I have/had high hopes for the area, which I love for all its issues. But I'm pretty skeptical: city hall wants to turn 33rd into an artery like 22nd. If the neighborhood is sandwiched between three main roads it will be an armpit.

Between that and the gang activity, am starting to think that I would have been better piling 300K into a pile and setting it on fire. But I don't *want* to live in a plywood and styrofoam box in the suburbs...

Caswell, like Brazil, always seems to be the 'neighbourhood of tomorrow'. It would help if SIAST invested in the area, like the U of S is doing, but that doesn't seem to be on the radar.

[lbird]

Originally Posted by scotty c

I'm not a builder or anything like that but these are probably pretty easy things to overlook in the big picture when your planning. Especially if you are used to building in one or two cities like he is. You sort of get used to the status quo and don't put much thought into the peripherals. Once you move outside your norm you have to relearn the status quo. Obviously we've found a few areas where building in Saskatoon and building in Victoria/Vancouver differ.

Heh, this is child's play compared to Vancouver. Not only would he be paying for the parking spot costs, he would have to pay an additional public amenity charge, avoid blocking designated 'view cones' to the mountains and probably provide a percentage of units off affordable housing.

[Toontone]

Originally Posted by scotty c

Never been in one of those but I was hoping for Milestone's. Always have enjoyed it on my travels.

Now you have me thinking ! I was thinking I was told Mill Street but now I am thinking it was Milestones. I will stand corrected for now. If I hear anything further from my source I will post......for now lets go with Milestones.

[Irvin]

new pizza parlor
3400 block of 8th st. will have Santa Lucia Pizza - a Manitoba based pizza house

[slats]

Originally Posted by Crisis

Bit of a delayed response on this, but I certainly hope something is done to improve access to the Cactus Club site from Idylwyld. Currently there is a short turning lane from Idylwyld southbound onto Auditorium Avenue (access to Cactus Club). Unfortunately, this turning lane is only about 3/4 of a car width, resulting in traffic backups on Idlywyld. It hasn't been too bad since the Midtown shops have been taken out, but once Cactus Club is up and running, it's going to be a nightmare.

I have noticed this as well and it seems like the city has attempted to increase the size of the turning lane via crowding the other two lanes by painting them slightly narrower but that doesn't solve the problem once the streets are covered in snow. They need to knock out a section of the boulevard in order to increase the size of the turning lane or eliminate that left turn lane completely.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Crisis

Bit of a delayed response on this, but I certainly hope something is done to improve access to the Cactus Club site from Idylwyld. Currently there is a short turning lane from Idylwyld southbound onto Auditorium Avenue (access to Cactus Club). Unfortunately, this turning lane is only about 3/4 of a car width, resulting in traffic backups on Idlywyld. It hasn't been too bad since the Midtown shops have been taken out, but once Cactus Club is up and running, it's going to be a nightmare.

Good observation. I would think that when the streetscaping design of Idylwyld is made, a functional review of the roadway would be part of this. Hopefully this will be addressed.

[Echoes]

The War of 1812 memorial coming along, via The StarPhoenix:


Source

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by Crisis

Bit of a delayed response on this, but I certainly hope something is done to improve access to the Cactus Club site from Idylwyld. Currently there is a short turning lane from Idylwyld southbound onto Auditorium Avenue (access to Cactus Club). Unfortunately, this turning lane is only about 3/4 of a car width, resulting in traffic backups on Idlywyld. It hasn't been too bad since the Midtown shops have been taken out, but once Cactus Club is up and running, it's going to be a nightmare.

Access would also be improved if Auditorium Ave. wasn't a one-way street from Midtown to 22nd St. I assume it's this way to try and stop people from trying to cut around to Idylwyld when the intersection is backed up at 22nd? It seems like they would just have to get rid of parking on one side of the street (like from Idylwyld to Midtown) and also remove the sidewalk "bulb" at 22nd. I guess a turning lane on 22nd St. onto Auditorium Ave would also be needed...so not an entirely easy fix I guess.

[Brutopian]

Deal set for final phase at Preston Crossing

By Scott Larson, The StarPhoenix, September 12, 2014

The University of Saskatchewan has signed a long-term lease deal with a developer to begin the fifth and final phase of Preston Crossing.

Ronmor Developers Inc. is expected to begin construction in the spring of 2015 with a completion date set for spring 2016.

James Cook, U of S manager of business opportunities, said it is too early to confirm what stores will be part of the expansion.

"You can expect they would be smaller type stores rather than giant Canadian Tires and that sort of thing because of the space," Cook said.

Ronmor president Doug Porozni said his company is looking forward to working with the university.

"We will be looking at tenants for the new space that complement the existing stores and that potentially bring a new shopping experience to Saskatoon," Porozni said.

[........]

Read more:
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Deal+final+phase+Preston+Crossing/10197328/story.html

[Brutopian]

Canadian Brewhouse coming to city

80 per cent of North Ridge leased

The StarPhoenix, September 12, 2014

Six new tenants have been confirmed for the new Stonebridge Centre including The Canadian Brewhouse, Rock Creek restaurant, Cora's Breakfast Lunch, Preston Dental, CHC Chiropractic Health Care Centre and Factory Optical.

The North Ridge Development Corp.'s commercial development is now 80 per cent leased, according to Colliers International.

"We're thrilled to be able to attract the Canadian Brew House to our site for their first location in the province," said David Calyniuk, vice-president of acquisitions and real estate for North Ridge. "They are building 6,900 square feet (restaurant/pub) with a 2,500-square foot patio so it is a significant investment and I think it is going to do tremendous in that neighbourhood."

The Canadian Brew House is an Edmonton-based, Canadian-themed sports bar. "As soon as we saw the plans for Stonebridge Centre, we knew this would be the perfect place to open the first Canadian Brewhouse in Saskatchewan." said Roger Newton, president of The Canadian Brewhouse, in a release.

[........]

Read more:
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Canadian+Brewhouse+coming+city/10197325/story.html

[Brutopian]

Wildlife Federation fears forced move

By Jeremy Warren And Jason Warick
The StarPhoenix, September 15, 2014

Members of the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation are worried they'll be pushed out of their longtime home to make way for a new north bridge and housing development.

"The city has basically said we can't stay here and they'll bulldoze everything ... They want us to sell all the land and move us out of here," said Bob Freberg, chairman of the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation (SWF) relocation committee and president of the rifle and revolver club.

A city official said he's confident a compromise can be found.

"There are opportunities to find a solution," City of Saskatoon land director Frank Long said.

When the city started planning for a north commuter bridge, the SWF helped convince planners to adjust the route of a new road to avoid the environmentally sensitive swale, Freberg said. However, the new route took the road closer to the organization's property.

"Now, we're an endangered species because the road was moved to protect the swale and we have to move the facility," Freberg said.

The federation's two — ranges and a range used by the Saskatoon police will have to move by 2016. Freberg said the federation has plans to buy land about a 15-minute drive from its current location to build new ranges.

[........]

Read more:
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/saska...on+fears+forced+move/10204293/story.html