Saskatoon Construction II

[kalin_10]

All Photos Courtesy of YXE Facebook Page

[Echoes]

Nice to see an update. Looking good.

[jrochest]

Originally Posted by lbird

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.

SIAST has very little impact on the area, which is odd: I think that the activity of the students is contained on the far side of Idylwyld.

I get the sense that the city is deliberately nominating Caswell as the new skid row. 20th is gentrifying = 33rd is the new stroll; the bars in Riversdale are closed down = Manchesters and Outlaws are open for business; the crack houses and — trade palaces are getting priced out south of 20th = hello to the — hotels on Idylwyld. The crime rate seems to be climbing, not the reverse.

If they work at it hard enough, they can turn it into Detroit. Then not only will they have destroyed all the money we fools have spent buying houses there, but they'll have another blighted area that they can market to developers. Win/Win!

[Echoes]

Seems like it's more the changing reality of the real estate market in Riversdale that may be displacing some of these uses and users to 33rd St rather than some deliberate diabolical plan by the City to create a new skid row. How is it the City's fault that a certain "crowd" may have shifted to bars like Manchester's in the absence of the dive bars on 20th? Certainly there are crime issues, but that's an issue for policing (and socioeconomic policy, but I'll leave that alone). I highly doubt that the Police are deliberately neglecting the area ("Leave it alone, boys, that's the new skid row. Let the place tank.")

On the upside, I hear that 33rd street business owners will soon be forming a Business Improvement District (BID), which involves and requires City support. The BID will give the area a united front to take ownership of and advocate for the area, tackle issues, promote itself, host special events, and lobby for streetscaping and public realm improvements. Then there's the South Caswell and North Downtown plans located on Caswell's fringes which will see tons of (public) investment poured into those areas in coming years....

[gowest]

Interesting to look at the Smart Centre web site with the picture of the site from the air. It shows how much more developement there has been in the last two or three years. Still no indication of Lowes but great to see all work going on that site. The picture was taken before highway 7 was paved behind Walmart. If you look close you can see the pile of junk in the ditch along 22nd St north of Walmart. Great thing to see as you enter the city from the highways. Only good thing right now is that it looks like part of the construction project. I've contact the city a couple of times to get the junk pile moved but it still sits there. I'd hate to see what would happen if someone's car left the road for some reason and hit this and they were injuried badly. I hate to put it this way but that would have been removed quickly if it was in another location in the city.

[dsmmace]

Lowes is not part of the smart center land.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by dsmmace

Lowes is not part of the smart center land.

Well none of it is really SmartCentres land, since they sold the property to Great West Realty, but do continue to manage it. The Lowes, however. is going into the N-W corner of that site, north of Walmart and west of the soon-to-be-constructed Boston Pizza.

Lowes might own that parcel themselves, but most of us would still look at that chunk of land bordered by highways 7 & 14, Betts ave and Hart road as one development.

[gowest]

Originally Posted by Crisis

Well none of it is really SmartCentres land, since they sold the property to Great West Realty, but do continue to manage it. The Lowes, however. is going into the N-W corner of that site, north of Walmart and west of the soon-to-be-constructed Boston Pizza.

Lowes might own that parcel themselves, but most of us would still look at that chunk of land bordered by highways 7 & 14, Betts ave and Hart road as one development.

Who ever owns it, it shows up on the Smart Centres web site as #15. It's great to see something big going into that location and they are working fast on site.

[Echoes]

If you've been wondering about the interior of the Nexus Building on 2nd Ave N, here's your look:

Art deco with a side of Sin City










It's a little rich for my blood, but to each their own.

[Temperance]

Some pretty crazy light fixtures in that place.

[Temperance]

I was at the parking day event yesterday in Riversdale. It struck me again how dramatically that neighbourhood has changed (and is continuing to change). What is really missing are a couple more stores and, especially, a couple of bars. Any word on any bars opening up on 20th in the near future?

[nook]

Originally Posted by Temperance

I was at the parking day event yesterday in Riversdale. It struck me again how dramatically that neighbourhood has changed (and is continuing to change). What is really missing are a couple more stores and, especially, a couple of bars. Any word on any bars opening up on 20th in the near future?

Bars on 20th might not get the clientele that you think they'll get. That's probably why they haven't set any up since the Barry Hotel was ripped down.

[Devon]

Originally Posted by nook

Bars on 20th might not get the clientele that you think they'll get. That's probably why they haven't set any up since the Barry Hotel was ripped down.

I've experienced first hand and have had numerous friends experience the same thing, but it's not exactly easy getting a cab from 20th on any given night past midnight. They generally just don't show up. It's an unfortunate part of having drinks late in Riversdale, whether it's at the Hollows, Odd Couple, or an event such as an art opening.

[Temperance]

Originally Posted by Devon

I've experienced first hand and have had numerous friends experience the same thing, but it's not exactly easy getting a cab from 20th on any given night past midnight. They generally just don't show up. It's an unfortunate part of having drinks late in Riversdale, whether it's at the Hollows, Odd Couple, or an event such as an art opening.

If you build it they will come? Surely a nice place on 20th could make a go of it? Maybe I'm wrong.

[Temperance]

The owner of Winston's just posted the following message on Facebook. Curious to hear what you guys think:


Ok. Going To bring up a hot topic. Light House downtown Saskatoon and the effect it has had and what needs to be done. Nothing? No issues? Or has it done damage to a growing and flourishing downtown by bringing an element of criminal activity that is being ignored by city council and police department. To have hotel guests tell us that they won't stay at the hotel anymore because they feel uncomfortable on our main downtown walking mall street is very upsetting. And that is only in the last 6 months I have ever heard that.
I have spent the last 30 years downtown and seen tremendous changes. We have had such a great momentum with private investment along with city as well, it is a shame to see it ruined.
Let me be perfectly clear. I want to help people. My wife and I do it personally what we can. As a business we raise money for breast cancer research through pink drinks campaign, pints for prostate and also seasons for change. I am not against the Light House. People in need, need assistance. That is fine. But the other ppl it brings to downtown are the problem.
Like it or not, you can't deny it. If you disagree, you are welcome to come have a pint with me, and come sit out front on 20th street and lets experience it together and you can then comment.

[Devon]

Originally Posted by Temperance

If you build it they will come? Surely a nice place on 20th could make a go of it? Maybe I'm wrong.

I sure hope so! It hasn't effected me, I just work around it by using other options now that I'm aware that its a near hopeless cause. It's just unfortunate that a taxi service isn't one, especially during the winter.

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by Temperance

The owner of Winston's just posted the following message on Facebook. Curious to hear what you guys think:


Ok. Going To bring up a hot topic. Light House downtown Saskatoon and the effect it has had and what needs to be done. Nothing? No issues? Or has it done damage to a growing and flourishing downtown by bringing an element of criminal activity that is being ignored by city council and police department. To have hotel guests tell us that they won't stay at the hotel anymore because they feel uncomfortable on our main downtown walking mall street is very upsetting. And that is only in the last 6 months I have ever heard that.
I have spent the last 30 years downtown and seen tremendous changes. We have had such a great momentum with private investment along with city as well, it is a shame to see it ruined.
Let me be perfectly clear. I want to help people. My wife and I do it personally what we can. As a business we raise money for breast cancer research through pink drinks campaign, pints for prostate and also seasons for change. I am not against the Light House. People in need, need assistance. That is fine. But the other ppl it brings to downtown are the problem.
Like it or not, you can't deny it. If you disagree, you are welcome to come have a pint with me, and come sit out front on 20th street and lets experience it together and you can then comment.

I'm rather appalled he thought it was a good idea to make such a post on the Facebook of his establishment rather than a private account.

I can't say I disagree with the core of his argument, though. I really wish they opted to move the Lighthouse to a different part of the city rather than renovate it. With all the construction going on in the area that corner could be prime real estate... and it's taken up by a care centre. That's something I could see downtown a few years ago, but now that downtown is seeing development and especially once/if River Landing gets going, the Lighthouse is going to be an oddity.

On a side note, I went to the Lighthouse website and looked at the history of the building. I'd like to nominate the conversion of the building from the Empire Hotel to the Executive Motor Inn as one of the greatest crimes in the history of Saskatoon's architecture and heritage.

[circle33]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

On a side note, I went to the Lighthouse website and looked at the history of the building. I'd like to nominate the conversion of the building from the Empire Hotel to the Executive Motor Inn as one of the greatest crimes in the history of Saskatoon's architecture and heritage.

You ain't kidding. Hard to imagine someone thought that was a good idea but it was the dawning of the space age; those were the esthetics of the time. And that campy neon palm tree that used to grace the roof during the Capri era, as much as I liked it, was no consolation for the loss.

[Arts]

Regarding the Senator - maybe if people feel unsafe, it's rather because Winston's is drawing in the criminal element, and not the other way around as Beavis suggests. Perhaps the onus is on him to provide a feeling of a safe and secure environment to his patrons? The Radisson is in even much closer proximity to The Lighthouse, I wonder if they share the same safety concerns?

[prairieguy]

Originally Posted by Arts

Regarding the Senator - maybe if people feel unsafe, it's rather because Winston's is drawing in the criminal element, and not the other way around as Beavis suggests. Perhaps the onus is on him to provide a feeling of a safe and secure environment to his patrons? The Radisson is in even much closer proximity to The Lighthouse, I wonder if they share the same safety concerns?

Interesting question...I would be very interested to hear what other commmecial properties and hotels have to say about this, but doubt that any would ever speak publicly on such a hot social issue.

I have to say I do commend Winston owner for expressing a controversial opion, whether it is one I share or not. I think it brings good discussion to perhaps an area that the city could be doing more to address. My wife works downtown and avoids at all costs walking in front of Lighthouse as she has been harrassed and feels threatened in the past. I don't necessarily think it should be moved, but would like to see more "programs" in place to assist these people and perhaps lessen the negative connotation and experience other residents can experience there. I think staff at the lighthouse perhaps need more assitance in 'curbing' the street activity in front of their building.

Since this IS a construction forum, does anyone think the presence of the Lighthouse downtown impact building activity downtown?? Or has it no impact at all??