Regina Construction III

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Dan0myte

Investigation into Wascana Village debacle has cost the Provincial Government $900,000 (all which could be billed to the RM) and the RM of Sherwood has spent $425,000 in legal fees, for a total of $1.325 Million.

http://www.newstalk980.com/story/investigation-rm-sherwood-wascana-village-tops-1-m/534382

"As part of The Municipalities Act, the RM could be on the line for all of those costs, or part of them. No decision has yet been made in that regard, a government spokesperson confirmed Monday."

Given the egregious (and ongoing) nature of this conflict of interest, this should have been a no-brainer for the Province. If they're not going to charge the RM for the investigation, they will never charge any entity for a similar investigation.

Even if the Province had a momentary urge to give the RM Council the benefit of the doubt, the Council's dismissive & delusional response to the investigation should indicate to the Province that they still don't get it ("it" being the absolute, basic, fundamental concept of conflict-of-interest).

The Council's response to the scandal should have cause the Province to dissolve the Council (for the second time, it should be noted) - they clearly don't have the capacity, or ethical orientation to do their job.

[TannerF]

There have been a couple petitions to the RM council on behalf of rate payers against the Wascana Village project every since it was created. RM council basically ignored them, but the petitions were sent to the province at the same time. There is talk about another petition to fight against the RM decision to cover individual councillors legal costs and there are still a few councillors that might have some kind of personal interest in Wascana Village that hasn't been revealed yet or else it doesn't make sense why the RM is still trying to push forward after the inquiry findings were released. It will not surprise me if the province removes more members of council before the October by election. There is also a rate payers meeting hosted by the RM in the end of February that could be very interesting with what has been made public.

[skphc08]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

The (former) medical office next to them (facing SaskTel) is empty.

That's a much slower space for mall traffic. If I owned that Shoppers, I don't think I would trade additional space [if that's even the case] for a worse location.

[Dan0myte]

Originally Posted by skphc08

That's a much slower space for mall traffic. If I owned that Shoppers, I don't think I would trade additional space [if that's even the case] for a worse location.

I think he's saying they would expand into that space, not trade.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Dan0myte

I think he's saying they would expand into that space, not trade.

Exactly. If the article is right, and all Regina stores will be converted, with the groceries taking up about 1/3 of sqft, I'm not sure the current Cornwall footprint can handle that.

Hard to visualize, though... perhaps with a complete redesign of the personal care, food & cash registers, the groceries could be accommodated with minimal reduction to current product selection.

Expanding to the other space would also require an entrance by SaskTel, and/or a ramp in the store for accessibility... eats up floor space (the small lift to Canada Post wouldn't be sufficient), so may not work logistically.

From Cornwall's perspective, expanding Shoppers into this space is likely a best case scenario - it's lot been a dead area that nothing seems to last in. Given this, Cornwall might be willing to assist Shoppers.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

Exactly. If the article is right, and all Regina stores will be converted, with the groceries taking up about 1/3 of sqft, I'm not sure the current Cornwall footprint can handle that.

Hard to visualize, though... perhaps with a complete redesign of the personal care, food & cash registers, the groceries could be accommodated with minimal reduction to current product selection.

Expanding to the other space would also require an entrance by SaskTel, and/or a ramp in the store for accessibility... eats up floor space (the small lift to Canada Post wouldn't be sufficient), so may not work logistically.

From Cornwall's perspective, expanding Shoppers into this space is likely a best case scenario - it's lot been a dead area that nothing seems to last in. Given this, Cornwall might be willing to assist Shoppers.

Wouldn't at least 15% of Shoppers already be food?

[Dan0myte]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

it's lot been a dead area that nothing seems to last in.

The Famous Players was always the draw to that end of the mall. When that went that whole hallway died. The Sasktel Store survives because of the connection to the Sasktel building and the dentist's office has just 'always been there', but anything retail relied on that theatre for foot traffic.

Shoppers would be very smart to expand north into that area and have a wrap-around glass wall. Not only would it modernize the mall more but it would become Regina's first true downtown grocery store. Reorganzing their current space to fit the fresh produce is only going to confuse and congest the area that's already a cramped mess.

[brithgob]

Originally Posted by Dan0myte

The Famous Players was always the draw to that end of the mall. When that went that whole hallway died. The Sasktel Store survives because of the connection to the Sasktel building and the dentist's office has just 'always been there', but anything retail relied on that theatre for foot traffic.

Shoppers would be very smart to expand north into that area and have a wrap-around glass wall. Not only would it modernize the mall more but it would become Regina's first true downtown grocery store. Reorganzing their current space to fit the fresh produce is only going to confuse and congest the area that's already a cramped mess.

First in a while, you mean. There were always grocery stores in the old days.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by brithgob

First in a while, you mean. There were always grocery stores in the old days.

What were the old grocery stores? I can think of Tomboy on 17 block Broad, Safeway - Regina Inn Mall, Dominion in Mid-Town Centre, Safeway on 19 block Hamilton and of course the original SuperStore on the edge of downtown.

Others?

[brithgob]

Originally Posted by Stormer

What were the old grocery stores? I can think of Tomboy on 17 block Broad, Safeway - Regina Inn Mall, Dominion in Mid-Town Centre, Safeway on 19 block Hamilton and of course the original SuperStore on the edge of downtown.

Others?

I thought the one in Midtown was Loblaws. If you're counting 14th Ave there was Rever's IGA. Farther back I believe the Army and Navy had a grocery store on Broad.

[Draftsman]

Originally Posted by Stormer

What were the old grocery stores? I can think of Tomboy on 17 block Broad, Safeway - Regina Inn Mall, Dominion in Mid-Town Centre, Safeway on 19 block Hamilton and of course the original SuperStore on the edge of downtown.

Others?

Foodland on the corner of 11th Avenue & Lorne Street (where the SaskTel Electrical Energy Centre is currently located). This was a very busy store. They had a fleet of delivery trucks and even 'borrowed' trucks during the holidays. I know this as my aunt & uncle worked there, as did my brother during high school. They had a bank of phones in the back where women took the phone orders.

Safeway was actually on the 18 block of Hamilton, not 19. It stood where The Hamilton condos are (1867 Hamilton Street). The Hamilton Street Safeway store was closed when the new one located at the Regina Inn Mall opened.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by brithgob

I thought the one in Midtown was Loblaws. If you're counting 14th Ave there was Rever's IGA. Farther back I believe the Army and Navy had a grocery store on Broad.

Pretty sure it was Dominion. More info on the Midtown here from Draftsman:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=6065566&postcount=327

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

Safeway was actually on the 18 block of Hamilton, not 19. It stood where The Hamilton condos are (1867 Hamilton Street). The Hamilton Street Safeway store was closed when the new one located at the Regina Inn Mall opened.

Right. Got my blocks mixed up. Here it is on the left:

[Draftsman]

Originally Posted by brithgob

I thought the one in Midtown was Loblaws. If you're counting 14th Ave there was Rever's IGA. Farther back I believe the Army and Navy had a grocery store on Broad.

If you are going to mention Rever's then one should also mention the Crescent Marketplace on 14th Avenue (between Broad Street and the General Hospital).

There were also numerous corner grocery stores located in Regina's core. I think most have been closed or torn down. One that still operates is the Italian Star Deli.

[Draftsman]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Right. Got my blocks mixed up. Here it is on the left:

I love that picture. I was probably around 5 years old at the time

[SkydivePilot]

At earliest, that pic was taken in 1963. (SPC building opened in '63.)

[StealthGirl]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

"As part of The Municipalities Act, the RM could be on the line for all of those costs, or part of them. No decision has yet been made in that regard, a government spokesperson confirmed Monday."

Given the egregious (and ongoing) nature of this conflict of interest, this should have been a no-brainer for the Province. If they're not going to charge the RM for the investigation, they will never charge any entity for a similar investigation.

The challenge there is that the RM likely does not have the money to cover the costs and RMs (like school boards) are not permitted to run a deficit.

Where is the Brewed Awakening location in Harbour Landing? I've seen the photos of the building in progress but I don't know where it is.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Wouldn't at least 15% of Shoppers already be food?

Yes, probably. Butit was a cramped mess before Loblaws took over, seems even worse since recent changes started (though, having PC products is welcome).

They may be be able to reorganize things & fit food into the current footprint, but they'd need to cut core health & beauty products to do it. And I really struggle to see how it would work (short of completely gutting the store).

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

The challenge there is that the RM likely does not have the money to cover the costs and RMs (like school boards) are not permitted to run a deficit.

Where is the Brewed Awakening location in Harbour Landing? I've seen the photos of the building in progress but I don't know where it is.

There are ways to cover the costs (paid over a period of time, to allow for rate increases)... as a taxpayer, I am annoyed that I have to pay for the inept governance in this RM. In theory, the RM could probably sue Eberle to recoup costs...but a conviction would probably be nice to have in the pocket before doing this. And this could be throwing good money after bad.

I wasn't aware that Brewed Awakening was opening in Grasslands. It's not in their current site plan. Is this a recent rumour?

[TannerF]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

The challenge there is that the RM likely does not have the money to cover the costs and RMs (like school boards) are not permitted to run a deficit.

Where is the Brewed Awakening location in Harbour Landing? I've seen the photos of the building in progress but I don't know where it is.

https://www.facebook.com/brewedregina

According to Facebook Brewed Awakening looks to be connected to Home Suites