Saskatoon Construction II

[Brutopian]

See post below.

[Brutopian]

StatsCan released CMA population figures for cities across Canada yesterday that are current as of July 1, 2015.

Here are the figures for Saskatoon, Regina, and Winnipeg from the StatsCan Report:

Saskatoon
Year 2012: metro pop 281,400
Year 2013: metro pop 291,000
Year 2014: metro pop 298,900
Year 2015: metro pop 305,000

Regina
Year 2012: metro pop 225,000
Year 2013: metro pop 231,300
Year 2014: metro pop 237,000
Year 2015: metro pop 241,400

Winnipeg
Year 2012: metro pop 759,600
Year 2013: metro pop 770,300
Year 2014: metro pop 782,600
Year 2015: metro pop 793,400

[Brutopian]

City set to start north bridge

Reporter Phil Tank, Saskatoon StarPhoenix

February 11, 2016

The City of Saskatoon has planned an event Thursday expected to mark the start of construction on the north commuter bridge.

Representatives of the provincial government and the consortium that won the massive P3 contract to replace the downtown Traffic Bridge and build the new bridge are expected to attend.

The start of construction of the north bridge is contingent on approval from several provincial and federal bodies. The Meewasin Valley Authority, an agency charged with conservation and enhancement of the South Saskatchewan River Valley, approved the start of construction at its board meeting Friday.

The phase of construction approved by Meewasin includes building berms, piers and girders for the north bridge by the Graham Commuter Partners consortium. Graham crews have already begun demolishing the 109-year-old Traffic Bridge and are working to refurbish the piers that will continue to support the new structure.

[........]

Read more:
http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/city-set-to-start-north-bridge

[SkydivePilot]

This morning, CBC News reported that Saskatoon is the 4th-fastest growing city in Canada. (Regina was 5th.)

Data was as of last July. (That data may already be very dated now.)

Calgary/Edmonton were #2 and 3.

Kelowna was ranked #1.

[jigglysquishy]

With those Saskatoon numbers in it should mean Saskatoon will hit 310,000 sometime in 2016 while Regina hits 250,000 sometime in 2017.

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by Brutopian

Yeah, not sure what the rationale was for using an outdated map of Saskatoon. Nevertheless, it is interesting to see from this plan how easily Martensville and Warman could merge into one city in the future.

With the rate Warman is growing I'd expect it to annex Osler and Martensville in as quickly as 20/30 years.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

With the rate Warman is growing I'd expect it to annex Osler and Martensville in as quickly as 20/30 years.

I've lived in Warman for about 20 years now and, while I agree that it is growing very rapidly, I think that the three communities mentioned would be hard pressed to grow into a single community before the end of this century. When looking at the map in the regional growth plan, notice that there is still a lot of undeveloped area within the borders of what they show for Warman, not to mention a pretty significant wetlands area between Martensville and Warman.

[prairieguy]

Just an opportunity for a beautiful nature reserve in the middle of the "new community". A tourist attraction for nature lovers within driving distance of a major (over 300,000) city of Saskatoon!

[prairieguy]

Pretty dismal article on current and forecast office vacancy rate for downtown Saskatoon.

http://thestarphoenix.com/business/local-business/downtown-office-vacancy-could-hit-20-by-year-end

It made me think of 2 factors:

- that crazy old police station that can't possibly be easily converted into office space is included in the sq footage total. (why our city didn't accept the offer a few years ago for a National lung research facility - or whatever it was - is beyond me. Didn't get their asking price but not it sits empty for years to come??)
- second is the lack of zoning restrictions that has allowed for such widespread suburban office development. I live near Stonebridge and it is crazy how much office space exists in that suburban area with more being built. Would like to see either restrictions on suburban office development or incentives for downtown development

Hopefully this horrible resource based hit to the economy will turn around and the cycle to better times will be here sooner then later.

[Brutopian]

Ceremony kicks off construction of new bridge

By Bryn Levy, CKOM News

February 11, 2016

A ceremony Thursday afternoon officially launched the construction of the North Commuter Parkway Bridge.

The sod-turning event, attended by officials from the city, provincial and federal governments, also marked the official launch of the new Traffic Bridge. Both spans were bundled together as part of a private-public partnership project (P3).

[........]

Read more:
http://ckom.com/article/563768/ceremony-kicks-construction-new-bridge

[EarlyByrdProductions]

Survey for active transportation plan (bike lanes, etc) for Saskatoon.
I think the city could really benefit from a few of us giving our 5 min feedback:

https://saskatoonatp.metroquest.ca

[po9u]

I think many here will find this of interest: we are getting the ball rolling on a advocacy group similar to Saskatoon Cycles that focuses on walkability and pedestrian issues in Sasaktoon. Our plan is be an effective voice lobbying politicians (especially civic ones) and the media.

We are shooting for an introductory meeting in early March, it would be great to see some people on this board get involved:

http://walkingsaskatoon.org/
@walkingyxe

[jigglysquishy]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

With the rate Warman is growing I'd expect it to annex Osler and Martensville in as quickly as 20/30 years.

It'll be entirely up to the provincial government. When the Ontario government fixed the mass annexation on Ottawa it was the equivalent of Osler being annexed by Saskatoon.

Annexation doesn't have to follow logic. It entirely follows politics.

I suspect with the "rural" character in this province politically we'll never see large scale urban annexations.

[macca]

Originally Posted by po9u

I think many here will find this of interest: we are getting the ball rolling on a advocacy group similar to Saskatoon Cycles that focuses on walkability and pedestrian issues in Sasaktoon. Our plan is be an effective voice lobbying politicians (especially civic ones) and the media.

We are shooting for an introductory meeting in early March, it would be great to see some people on this board get involved:

http://walkingsaskatoon.org/
@walkingyxe

Excellent

[Echoes]

It's 'Eighth Street Version 4.0,' top planner says

ALEX MACPHERSON, SASKATOON STARPHOENIX
Published on: February 16, 2016 | Last Updated: February 16, 2016 6:47 PM CST

As the City of Saskatoon prepares to unveil its Growth Plan to Half a Million, its director of planning and development says it’s time to embrace a new model of urban development, beginning with major transportation corridors like Eighth Street.

“We’ve had 50 good years of this single-rise, single-purpose strip mall, but that’s slowly falling out of favour with a lot of the larger cities that have been able to transform their corridors,” Alan Wallace said. “And that’s what we have to look at in Saskatoon, what’s the next model?”

Wallace said that since people are unlikely to stop driving cars — the foundation of the city’s postwar development — transformation means combining traditional traffic with robust public transit and pedestrian options. He envisions streets lined with mixed-use buildings and dotted with transit stations for the proposed Bus Rapid Transit program.

“We need to enhance public transportation, or we’re not going to be a successful large city,” he said. “That’s a fact. We’re not dreaming this up … We can’t limp along with the transit system at four per cent ridership as we approach half a million people.”

Beefing up the city’s public transit — use of which dropped off sharply last year — will lead to bus stations planned for Eighth Street becoming social and business hubs, drawing even more people into the area, Wallace said. That will in turn persuade developers to tackle projects more suited to foot traffic: mixed-use buildings with alternative parking options that “serve the street a little bit better,” he said.

[....]

http://thestarphoenix.com/business/local-business/its-eighth-street-version-4-0-top-planner-says

[Arts]

Originally Posted by Echoes

It's 'Eighth Street Version 4.0,' top planner says

ALEX MACPHERSON, SASKATOON STARPHOENIX
Published on: February 16, 2016 | Last Updated: February 16, 2016 6:47 PM CST



http://thestarphoenix.com/business/local-business/its-eighth-street-version-4-0-top-planner-says

Aside from the transit strike which no doubt cost transit a number of loyal customers, didn't the city also make significant changes to bus routes in 2014? When people plan where they live according to their transportation needs, and then there is a major change like that it takes years to rebuild the ridership because of the high costs and time lag of moving.

Also, whose job is it to embrace this new model of urban development? Is city council and the mayor even on board?

[prairieguy]

I hear lots of chatter about a new approach to development and planning for 8th street but certainly see NO or very little commitment or action to bringing that to fruition. We have a large space (Cumberland Mall) that has been leveled and is being re-developed. If this is not held to the "new standard" now, it will be built in the 60's fashion and sit like that for another 50 years....once again being a lost opportunity. Same for large empty building and front parking lot at old C0-OP store. Will this be re-developed with the new lens of a multi-use, more then single story design???? I doubt it. We will not get many opportunities like this where space on 8th is open to new development....i have little faith it will be done with any vision to the future.

Stop all the talk and please start enforcing the walk!!!

[jigglysquishy]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

I hear lots of chatter about a new approach to development and planning for 8th street but certainly see NO or very little commitment or action to bringing that to fruition. We have a large space (Cumberland Mall) that has been leveled and is being re-developed. If this is not held to the "new standard" now, it will be built in the 60's fashion and sit like that for another 50 years....once again being a lost opportunity. Same for large empty building and front parking lot at old C0-OP store. Will this be re-developed with the new lens of a multi-use, more then single story design???? I doubt it. We will not get many opportunities like this where space on 8th is open to new development....i have little faith it will be done with any vision to the future.

Stop all the talk and please start enforcing the walk!!!

The City has zero capacity to enforce it until it's approved by Council.

The Growth Plan is going to Council some time in the next month, but until then it's nothing more than talk.

That being said, I fully expect the Growth Plan to be approved and its parts (BRT) to be a huge election issue come this fall.

It's a shame how the timing worked out for the old Safeway lot, but there's nothing we can do until Council puts down their votes.

I do expect the biggest push against it will be Atchinson. He's very very pro-car and has been a proponent of several sprawly projects.

[ToddStoon]

8th St. 4.0 will be 4-0 years until it really happens.

[Echoes]

Gallery: P3 schools in Saskatoon
The StarPhoenix

I had no idea this much progress had been made on the new schools. I guess I don't get out to these parts enough.