Regina Construction III

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by mattpa

What are you talking about people still move to winnipeg

...from North Korea.

[thefourthtower]

I read somewhere that a 100 million building was taken out for the new mosaic

[jigglysquishy]

Every other large prairie city has been making commitments to sustainable design, walkability, and public transit. Why can't Regina join the mix?

Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg all have rapid transit and are either constructing or planning more. Saskatoon is planning rapid transit and wants to start building in 2017.

Saskatoon wants 50%(!) of all growth to be infill. Regina is targeting 10-15%.

Calgary and Edmonton are engaging large scale infill projects that are attempting to be walkable and sustainable neighbourhoods (Campus West and Blatchford). Saskatoon is slugging through with North Downtown and the University lands. Can Regina match those visions in the old stadium lands?

Regina is falling further and further behind the other four prairie cities when it comes to urbanity and sustainability. We can't just sit back and say that's how things are done and we don't want to "force people". There's four cities at our doorstep doing things better and we need to demand better of ourselves.

[thefourthtower]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

Every other large prairie city has been making commitments to sustainable design, walkability, and public transit. Why can't Regina join the mix?

Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg all have rapid transit and are either constructing or planning more. Saskatoon is planning rapid transit and wants to start building in 2017.

Saskatoon wants 50%(!) of all growth to be infill. Regina is targeting 10-15%.

Calgary and Edmonton are engaging large scale infill projects that are attempting to be walkable and sustainable neighbourhoods (Campus West and Blatchford). Saskatoon is slugging through with North Downtown and the University lands. Can Regina match those visions in the old stadium lands?

Regina is falling further and further behind the other four prairie cities when it comes to urbanity and sustainability. We can't just sit back and say that's how things are done and we don't want to "force people". There's four cities at our doorstep doing things better and we need to demand better of ourselves.

fun times are ahead

[Lutz]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

Every other large prairie city has been making commitments to sustainable design, walkability, and public transit. Why can't Regina join the mix?

Because that wouldn't benefit the mayor and his buddies. Look at the positions he held prior to become mayor. It has conflict of interest written all over it. He benefits from expanding the burbs so developers can charge high prices for their large lots and big houses rather than from infill.

[thefourthtower]

you are totally out to lunch there is a lot of envey here I can see why

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by thefourthtower

you are totally out to lunch there is a lot of envey here I can see why

You do not have to be so dismissive of posts that disagree with your sensibility that everything is going wonderful. It is not conducive to a healthy discussion.

[jigglysquishy]

Originally Posted by thefourthtower

you are totally out to lunch sasaatoon lol

I live in Regina and damn right I'm jealous of Saskatoon.

I'd say up until around 2010 the two cities were neck and neck when it came to urbanity, quality communities, and overall outlook.

There's been a huge change since then.

Both have had booms in their downtowns, but Saskatoon has seen probably twice the growth in their night life and restaurant scene.

Cathedral and Broadway are essentially a wash, but Broadway does have more stores and a live venues.

Regina has no answer for Riversdale. What was the ghetto in 2010 is now the hippest neighbourhood in the province.

Saskatoon has seen tremendous growth in its transit and is planning on implementing rapid transit. Where is Regina on that front?

Saskatoon is densifying and planning large scale infill projects. Regina doesn't necessarily have these opportunities, but it's still a case of Regina falling behind.

Since 2006 the Saskatoon CMA has grown by 67,000 people. The Regina CMA has grown by 43,000 people. Both are high numbers, but that's a discrepancy of around 50%.

Just compare Saskatoon's Growth Plan with Regina's Growth Plan. Saskatoon is being progressive with their growth while Regina is effectively doing things as more of the same.

I want Regina to be a great city. But right now it's not and not really heading in the right direction.

It's not some impossible task. Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg are all doing it. Why shouldn't we demand excellence in Regina?

[thefourthtower]

For infill housing what do you call the Regina railway lands huge growth there huge

[wacko]

There will also be opportunities for infill projects once the old Mosaic Stadium is torn down. In either case though, it will likely take several years to see the projects become realized.

For now, I suppose we await the next upturn in commodities for the next building boom...

[A4Regina]

The warehouse district has lots of potential to turn itself into a broadway/riversdale/cathedral -esque type of neighbourhood.

Its proximity to downtown makes it a great place for some residential (condos, apartments, even hotels) & main floor retail (pubs, grocery, clothing, etc.).

It has the bare bones now, all it needs is some incentive and initiatives to get things rolling. Tie everything into the railyard lands, add some express routes to and from some areas outside of downtown (like UofR), and we have a great urban neighbourhood just outside the core.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

I live in Regina and damn right I'm jealous of Saskatoon.

I'd say up until around 2010 the two cities were neck and neck when it came to urbanity, quality communities, and overall outlook.

There's been a huge change since then.

Both have had booms in their downtowns, but Saskatoon has seen probably twice the growth in their night life and restaurant scene.

Cathedral and Broadway are essentially a wash, but Broadway does have more stores and a live venues.

Regina has no answer for Riversdale. What was the ghetto in 2010 is now the hippest neighbourhood in the province.

Saskatoon has seen tremendous growth in its transit and is planning on implementing rapid transit. Where is Regina on that front?

Saskatoon is densifying and planning large scale infill projects. Regina doesn't necessarily have these opportunities, but it's still a case of Regina falling behind.

Since 2006 the Saskatoon CMA has grown by 67,000 people. The Regina CMA has grown by 43,000 people. Both are high numbers, but that's a discrepancy of around 50%.

Just compare Saskatoon's Growth Plan with Regina's Growth Plan. Saskatoon is being progressive with their growth while Regina is effectively doing things as more of the same.

I want Regina to be a great city. But right now it's not and not really heading in the right direction.

It's not some impossible task. Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg are all doing it. Why shouldn't we demand excellence in Regina?

You bring up some good points but forget to mention probably Saskatoon's greatest problem that could seriously cripple it in years to come: the growth of it's suburbs. Towns like Martensville, Warman, and the whole Corman Park area are growing at a far greater rate than even the city of Saskatoon itself. None of these people pay taxes to the city but all of them put strain on the city's infrastructure.

Infill is great and density is wonderful but a healthy balance must be achieved otherwise young families simply move out of the city to burbs. Young families with children don't want to live in 2 bedroom apartments in the downtown. They want 3-4 bedroom homes near paths and green spaces. Regina must be doing something relatively right on that front because the growth of it's bedroom communities (White City, Pilot Butte, Balgonie, Pense, Grande Coulee) isn't anywhere near the growth of Saskatoon's bedroom communities.

[jigglysquishy]

Originally Posted by UPP

You bring up some good points but forget to mention probably Saskatoon's greatest problem that could seriously cripple it in years to come: the growth of it's suburbs. Towns like Martensville, Warman, and the whole Corman Park area are growing at a far greater rate than even the city of Saskatoon itself. None of these people pay taxes to the city but all of them put strain on the city's infrastructure.

Infill is great and density is wonderful but a healthy balance must be achieved otherwise young families simply move out of the city to burbs. Young families with children don't want to live in 2 bedroom apartments in the downtown. They want 3-4 bedroom homes near paths and green spaces. Regina must be doing something relatively right on that front because the growth of it's bedroom communities (White City, Pilot Butte, Balgonie, Pense, Grande Coulee) isn't anywhere near the growth of Saskatoon's bedroom communities.

It's a fallacy that urban living is a 2 bedroom apartment downtown. How about a 3 bedroom 2000 sq. ft. place for $550,000? The high cost of downtown living comes from using concrete to build and going high. Lowrise, dense, walkable townhouses can still achieve the urban density but at 50% the cost of a highrise.

While Saskatoon's commuter towns are growing, so are Regina's. The Bypass is going to cause an explosion in growth in those towns as well.

The City of Saskatoon still grows by more people per year than the entire Regina CMA.

The commuter towns in both cities are a huge problem and it comes down to provincial irresponsibility in allowing them to grow.

[OOO AHH OGEMA]

Originally Posted by Dan0myte

It was very odd last fall when a delivery crew brought 100 or so pre-built 2x4 walls to the site and just set them on the ground with no coverings whatsoever. Seems like a gigantic waste of money if that's all garbage now.

That being said, the steel structure for the entryway I'm sure is fine so at least they can start there.

The steel has come down at the stalled hotel construction at Albert & Parliament. It is loaded and heading off site so this project may be done.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

It's a fallacy that urban living is a 2 bedroom apartment downtown. How about a 3 bedroom 2000 sq. ft. place for $550,000? The high cost of downtown living comes from using concrete to build and going high. Lowrise, dense, walkable townhouses can still achieve the urban density but at 50% the cost of a highrise.

While Saskatoon's commuter towns are growing, so are Regina's. The Bypass is going to cause an explosion in growth in those towns as well.

The City of Saskatoon still grows by more people per year than the entire Regina CMA.

The commuter towns in both cities are a huge problem and it comes down to provincial irresponsibility in allowing them to grow.

You're first point would be a terrible waste of space. If they put townhouses in the old rail yard, that would be horrific.

Your last point, which I bolded, is a frightening thought.

I have included some statistics from statcan.gc.ca with census figures as well as more recent estimates from Saskatoon and Regina. Unfortunately, I could not find 2014 estimates for Regina's city population.

I have also included housing starts for Regina and Saskatoon from 2014 and 2013 which shows that Regina isn't that massive urban sprawl of single detached houses that some are preaching. It also shows how a very large portion of Saskatoon's housing starts are actually outside Saskatoon. These are from cmhc.ca

Saskatoon population:

2006 2011 2014 (estimate)
222,189 (met) 260,600 (m) 300,634 (met)
202,408 (city) 233,923 (c) 257,300 (city)
19,781 (diff.) 26,677 43,334


Regina population
2006 2011 2014
193,100 (m) 210,556 (m) 232,090 (m)
179,282 (city) 194,971 (c) ?
13,818 (diff.) 15,585


Housing starts:

Saskatoon:

2014 2013

City:
singles: 1078 multiples: 1742 s. 1208 m. 1190

Metro (bedroom communities):

singles: 449 multiples: 212 s. 450 m. 132

Regina:

2014 2013
singles: 576 multiples: 1467 s. 1026 m. 1860

Metro (bedroom communities):
singles: 131 multiples: 49 s. 220 m. 16


I think the simples stats prove out that the idea that Saskatoon is getting so 'dense' and 'urban' while Regina continues to sprawl, etc is widely overblown.

And I also stand by my assertion that suburban growth in Saskatoon is a serious issue. 1243 housing starts in suburban Saskatoon in 2013-2014 should be cause for concern.

[jigglysquishy]

True European townhouses can achieve a density of 15,000 - 20,000 people/km^2. That's a higher density than any neighbourhood in Canada outside of central Toronto/Montreal/Vancouver and 10x the density of our suburbs.

It's half the cost of highrises and has better walkability/street life. That should be the standard throughout the City.

No argument on Martensville/Warman growing. They're absolutely booming, largely due to the proximity to the north industrial area.

White City/Balgonie/Pilot Butte are all booming too, just not at the rate of Martensville/Warman.

The City of Saskatoon wants 50% infill. They have no control over the growth outside their boundaries. Same with Regina, though they're only targetting 15% infill.

The province is fully within their rights to deny development to the RM of Corman Park and the RM of Edenwold. They just choose to allow the development to go through without a financing plan in place.

[thefourthtower]

Last time I checked this was a Regina site , preach at river landing

[StealthGirl]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

White City/Balgonie/Pilot Butte are all booming too, just not at the rate of Martensville/Warman.

Same challenge though of suburbs putting pressure on city infrastructure. For example, a lot of Regina's east end elementary schools are over capacity and have far more Prairie Valley School Division students than they should.

So the question really becomes how do you affect change in the city? And will anyone run again Mayor Construction in the next civic election (October 2016)?

[CCF]

Calgary's East Village neighbourhood should serve as a model for Regina in the redevelopment of the Railyards and Taylor Field neighbourhoods.

The redevelopment of East Village is being directed by the City of Calgary through its development agency and is developing as a truly pedestrian friendly, mixed use neighbourhood, with a variety of housing types and forms, geared towards differing income levels and lifestyles.

I would agree that Regina is falling behind many other Canadian cities with respect to planning. The issue within the Regina context is that there is very little initiative from the City in investing in creating places, spaces, or projects for people. Much of the focus of the City seems to relate to supporting private sector development (which really isn't creating the type of City that is sustainable, vibrant, dense, walkable, transit friendly, compact, etc, etc). Developers will gravitate towards doing what is easiest and profitable - and can't be faulted for doing so. The City needs to act as a leader and take the initiative in enacting policies that are representative of modern day planning.

Unfortunately again, I don't see the City of Regina taking action in spearheading projects, or setting and enforcing appropriate polices , as is the case in cities elsewhere in Canada.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

Same challenge though of suburbs putting pressure on city infrastructure. For example, a lot of Regina's east end elementary schools are over capacity and have far more Prairie Valley School Division students than they should.

So the question really becomes how do you affect change in the city? And will anyone run again Mayor Construction in the next civic election (October 2016)?

The Prairie Valley students aren't really an issue because that division has to purchase the services from either Regina Catholic or Regina Public. This is why Grande Coulee always touted that you could attend Luther College for free if you lived in Grande Coulee. Prairie Valley paid tuition to Regina High Schools whether Luther, LeBoldus or Sheldon. This practice is now ending with French Immersion now offered in White City and high school students being forced to go to Lumsden from Grande Coulee. (with the exception of grandfathered families which, of course, never seems to end)