Saskatoon Construction II

[Temperance]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

The market also demands horrendous sprawl. We have a decision to make about Saskatoon. Either we demand a great city and force business in the core, or we allow private interest to dictate and end up like our terribly sprawled American brothers.

Agree completely. City planning involves all kinds of interventions in the "free market". Saskatoon is sprawling far too much - it's time for the city to make some policy decisions for the future, instead of just doing the easy thing.

[saskatoonborn]

Originally Posted by Echoes

I think the idea of limiting office development outside of the CBD would be focused more on restricting large office buildings of a certain square footage from being built in suburban areas, such as Cameco's office campus, the office proposal near the airport, and some of the Stonebridge office developments.

I do not see why smaller stand-alone offices, office tenants in strip malls, or attached to warehouses/manufacturing facilities in industrial areas would be be restricted. You are correct, it does not make sense for all office space to be downtown.

Thank you for expanding on that for me Echoes. On reading the other comments its a very difficult position for development. There seems be a number of factors that need to happen simultaneously for development to occur. No one factor will cause a tipping point or explosion in downtown development.

[Roquentin]

When Edmonton's downtown was struggling in the 90s, the city began to offer developers cash for every residential unit they built. I forget how much was in the fund ($5M?), but the incentive, unless I'm mistaken, was $4500 per unit. Huge success. Should be done here (but not before I sell my condo!).

[Cicero]

Originally Posted by Roquentin

When Edmonton's downtown was struggling in the 90s, the city began to offer developers cash for every residential unit they built. I forget how much was in the fund ($5M?), but the incentive, unless I'm mistaken, was $4500 per unit. Huge success. Should be done here (but not before I sell my condo!).

I don't know the details (obviously), but I'm pretty there are no property taxes on new properties built downtown for 5 years after they've been built. There's some kind of incentive in place, and it's been there for quite awhile now. IIRC, Atchison was the mouthpiece for this in one of his earlier terms.

edit: some quick googling shows my memory, although vague, isn't wrong.

http://ww8.saskatoon.ca/DEPARTMENTS/Comm...ing/Pages/DowntownHousingIncentives.aspx

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/su/su...ng-Incentives-Program-Saskatoon-Sask.pdf

http://www.downtownsaskatoon.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Case-Study-SASKATOON.pdf

[Roquentin]

Many thanks for the links! It's great that these incentives exist, but they all seem to fall a bit short of the mark. Small ad hoc tax abatements might not be enough. It seems clear that the city needs to make a more ambitious investment in the downtown. Your second link gives the history of the Housing Development Program. The program's goal, as specified in 1999, was to add 1400 to 2100 new residential units to the downtown between 1999 and 2025, but between 1999 and 2005 only 104 units were added using the program's incentives. That is such slow progress, and it seems unlikely that the program's goals will be met. So as for the new goal (well, not that new) of adding 10000 people to the core... Well, it won't happen by maintaining the status quo.

[Echoes]

Bike lanes slated for 23rd Street
2-year plan could begin in summer

By Phil Tank, The StarphoenixFebruary 25, 2015

The City of Saskatoon has settled on 23rd Street East for a dedicated bike lane project downtown, despite the obstacle posed by the bus mall.

City officials held a meeting Tuesday to consult with various groups, including cycling advocates and downtown business interests, to determine the best of three options for a two-year bike lane demonstration project this summer.

A plan to install dedicated downtown bike lanes for two years on Fourth Avenue and 24th Street stalled last year when concerns were raised about the number of on-street paid parking spots that would be eliminated to make way for the lanes.

Alan Wallace, the city's director of planning and development, said the plan for bike lanes on 23rd would only eliminate six parking stalls.

"We're leaving this meeting in a real positive mood," Wallace said. "I'm encouraged that we're going to have a 23rd Street bike lane downtown."

The recommendation for 23rd Street will advance to the March 9 meeting of city council's transportation committee for consideration. The other two options involve lanes on 24th Street. If approved by the committee and then council at the end of March, the lanes could be ready by the end of June.

Wallace said plans for Fourth Avenue were abandoned until 2016 because of an increase in traffic expected on the connecting Broadway Bridge due to the partial closure of the University Bridge this summer for repairs. The Fourth Avenue part of the demonstration project would only run for one year.

Cathy Watts, a spokeswoman for the cycling advocacy group Saskatoon Cycles, said the choice of 23rd Street is not ideal, but they are willing to live with it to help launch bike lanes in the city.

Her main objection is the presence of the bus mall, where on-street cycling is illegal and will remain so under the demonstration project.

"We don't want to be the ones stopping the bike lanes because of the mall," Watts said. "This is not our preferred option, but we will compromise."

[....]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/travel/Bik...Street/10840949/story.html#ixzz3Slg444LV

[jigglysquishy]

Thank God.

This city needs more urbanist policy. Bike lanes, dense housing, rapid transit, and walkability are all part of making Saskatoon more livable. If all of these things come to fruition we could be seeing a much stronger Saskatoon in as little as five years.

Edit: The city's update on Growing Forward. I encourage everyone to come out on March 3rd and get your voice heard.

Some things of note

5 Year Plan
* Dedicated bus lanes on College Drive and 3rd Avenue (between 22nd street and 25th street)
* BRT Stations on College and 3rd Avenue
* Densification along Preston and 22nd West

10 Year Plan
* Dedicated bus lanes on 25th Street downtown and the entirety of 22nd Street
* Park & Rides at University Heights, Centre Mall, and Confederation Mall
* Signal Priority on 8th Street for buses
* Densification on 8th Street and Confederation Mall

[Echoes]

^ Encouraging stuff. In a perfect world I'd say "DO IT ALL NOW!", but I understand the kind of undertaking this is, and that it's going to take time, money, and strong and consistent political leadership.

The latter is what I'm most worried about.

[jigglysquishy]

http://transitego.saskatoon.ca/hiwire?.a=iRealTimeDisplay

Live bus tracking is up! Huge step forward for transit. The days of waiting outside wondering where your bus is are gone.

[HomeInMyShoes]

^Congratulations Saskatoon. Best thing that happened to Regina transit in decades. Service still —, but at least I know when to be there.

Every now and then there are outages with GPS on some buses, but overall its been awesome.

[Echoes]

Finally! I hope that the launch of real time tracking the new transit microsite is a first step in truly reinventing the transit service.

Of utmost concern to me is the functionality of the real time tracking on the mobile site. When I use the service, it will be on my smartphone and not a computer.

[Arts]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

http://transitego.saskatoon.ca/hiwire?.a=iRealTimeDisplay

Live bus tracking is up! Huge step forward for transit. The days of waiting outside wondering where your bus is are gone.

Only seems to work on desktop, not available on my android (I think because the map uses Java).

hopefully they enable it for smartphones soon


edit: oh nevermind, works if I request full desktop version in chrome. Still should be on the mobile version of the site though

[Irvin]

Overwaitea Foods has indicated from a press release that they are expanding into Saskatchewan in 2016 - The site plan for Preston Crossing's expansion indicates a store of 52,000 sq. ft. (food store size) which in my thinking Overwaitea's brands entrance into Saskatoon - Save On Foods could be coming.

[Brutopian]

Willowgrove schools to open March 9

Opening follows months of construction delays

Reported by CKOM News

Feb 26, 2015

After months of delays, two Willowgrove schools will finally open its doors.

Classes at Holy Family Catholic School and Willowgrove School, that share the same building in the Willowgrove neighbourhood, will start March 9.

Students, parents and teachers can visit the school next week ahead of classes. Teachers will set up their classrooms on March 6 while students continue to attend classes at their temporary schools.

[........]

Read more:
http://ckom.com/story/willowgrove-schools-open-march-9/537919

[Brutopian]

Victoria's Secret opens in Midtown Plaza

Reported by Karin Yeske, Newstalk 650 CKOM

Feb 27, 2015

After months of anticipation, Victoria’s Secret has opened its doors in Midtown Plaza.

Some of the people walking by the line outside the newly opened lingerie store didn’t understand the buzz, but the girls that waited in line since 6 a.m. definitely thought it was worth it.

The first 20 people to scramble into line after the mall doors opened at 6 a.m. were given a $50 gift card. The slinking line slowly filled up with about 50 more people before the velvet rope swung open at 9:30 a.m.

[........]

Read more:
http://ckom.com/story/victorias-secret-opens-midtown-plaza/538057

[hunter12]

Originally Posted by Irvin

Overwaitea Foods has indicated from a press release that they are expanding into Saskatchewan in 2016 - The site plan for Preston Crossing's expansion indicates a store of 52,000 sq. ft. (food store size) which in my thinking Overwaitea's brands entrance into Saskatoon - Save On Foods could be coming.

Or any of the other following developments:
1. Rosewood
2. Holmwood - 2 separate retail developments planned
3. Kensington
4. Hampton Village

[hunter12]

Canadian Tire at Preston Crossing is expanding

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Canadian+Tire+expanding+Preston+Crossing/10812465/story.html

[hunter12]

Originally Posted by Echoes

^ Encouraging stuff. In a perfect world I'd say "DO IT ALL NOW!", but I understand the kind of undertaking this is, and that it's going to take time, money, and strong and consistent political leadership.

The latter is what I'm most worried about.

Except that dedicated bus lanes on University Bridge and 25th Street will only work with a bridge at 24th otherwise it is not feasible at all.

I like the idea of dedicated bus lanes on 2nd Ave to Queen, Queen street to Spadina, a new bridge for buses, emergency vehicles, and cyclist only from Queen street to the University (north of Education building). This could lead to a bus terminal north east of education building. It would be close to both the main campus and innovation place. Then out to Preston Ave north of Sycnotron. Would make it easy to bring buses in via preston ave from the north east, east and south.

[jrochest]

Originally Posted by hunter12

I like the idea of dedicated bus lanes on 2nd Ave to Queen, Queen street to Spadina, a new bridge for buses, emergency vehicles, and cyclist only from Queen street to the University (north of Education building). This could lead to a bus terminal north east of education building. It would be close to both the main campus and innovation place.

That's a bad place for a bus terminal, pretty far away from most of the campus and not centered on the Bowl like Place Riel. I walk in from the parking lot beside Education and that's 10 minutes to the Arts Tower; it would be absurdly far from places like Engineering and Ag. The Innovation Place has its own massive parking lots and it's also a — long trek (about 20 minutes) from there.

[hunter12]

Originally Posted by jrochest

That's a bad place for a bus terminal, pretty far away from most of the campus and not centered on the Bowl like Place Riel. I walk in from the parking lot beside Education and that's 10 minutes to the Arts Tower; it would be absurdly far from places like Engineering and Ag. The Innovation Place has its own massive parking lots and it's also a — long trek (about 20 minutes) from there.

Valid points. I was just looking for other viable options because dedicated bus lanes on College Drive, University Bridge, and 25th Street is an absolute NO GO with the amount of traffic already using this route. It is the main route into downtown from the east. Would only be feasible with a bridge at 24th Street.