Regina Construction III

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

It's not on the holding list so there's zero chance of that happening.

I'm not sure why people are so pissed at the 13 Leopold decision. The owner knew what he was getting in to, turned down money from the city, and arrogantly thought council would defer to him.

I think that's the other thing that bugs me about this situation - either the owner is playing naïve, or he actually didn't do any research. I spent a few minutes looking into money available to heritage building owners - quickly became apparent that an owner of a heritage building has to be prepared to spend a significant amount of his/her own money... the municipal & provincial supports (money & otherwise) are inconsequential. Better than nothing, but immaterial in a restoration or maintenance project.

[jigglysquishy]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

I think that's the other thing that bugs me about this situation - either the owner is playing naïve, or he actually didn't do any research. I spent a few minutes looking into money available to heritage building owners - quickly became apparent that an owner of a heritage building has to be prepared to spend a significant amount of his/her own money... the municipal & provincial supports (money & otherwise) are inconsequential. Better than nothing, but immaterial in a restoration or maintenance project.

I think he's playing naive. Maybe he legitimately didn't do the research, but I find it hard to believe someone would buy a house, have meetings with the city, but still fail to look up the address on the city website.

The city does offer 10 years tax free for heritage properties to restore them which for this propertywould be $50,000. He was willing to do a half million dollar addition anyways so I find it hard to believe the numbers don't work out.

If you're gonna buy a house spend five minutes and do some damn research.

[Stormer]

Regina downtown business organization looks to expand

http://leaderpost.com/business/local-business/regina-downtown-business-organization-looks-to-expand

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Credit: Michael Bell - LP

[Nathan]

For me it's just the inconsistency. If they really would like to preserve heritage value and the feel of neighbourhoods, they should look at how many demolitions and modern rebuilds have happened in Lakeview and Cathedral over the last few years and really put a moratorium on it. Yes, not all of those homes were gems, but the collective effect is becoming pretty apparent. Cathedral is really the only area in the city that truly has a distinctive style, and it's been gradually eroded and lost.

I think there was some noise lately about looking into making sure infill matches the character of neighbourhoods, but it really hasn't felt like much was done since then.

There is also a double standard in how the city treats more normal citizens and deeper pocketed/business citizens (think demolition downtown).

This just seems like an odd case to plant their flag to show they're doing something.

[jigglysquishy]

It's the unfortunate reality of heritage holding. It's basically impossible to prevent demolition if the property isn't on a list.

The oddest part for me is that the building is being protected largely because of its former occupant, who was a business owner involved in school construction. I understand protecting important figures homes, but the gentleman wasn't exactly a local celebrity or historically important person.

Huge news on the BID expanding. They've helped lead the charge in getting more retail downtown. Saskatoon has had huge success with their BIDs attracting investment too. It could go a long way to making Broad more vibrant.

[UrbanClimate]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Regina downtown business organization looks to expand

http://leaderpost.com/business/local-business/regina-downtown-business-organization-looks-to-expand

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Credit: Michael Bell - LP

Map of proposed expansion, from same LP article:

[CCF]

I think the BID could have a more positive impact on the state of downtown by increasing their role/responsibilities. The BID pursuing more capital projects would greatly benefit the downtown neighbourhood.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Does anyone know what the Downtown BID's revenue/budget is? Their annual reports are outdated and useless.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by Nathan

For me it's just the inconsistency. If they really would like to preserve heritage value and the feel of neighbourhoods, they should look at how many demolitions and modern rebuilds have happened in Lakeview and Cathedral over the last few years and really put a moratorium on it. Yes, not all of those homes were gems, but the collective effect is becoming pretty apparent. Cathedral is really the only area in the city that truly has a distinctive style, and it's been gradually eroded and lost.

I think there was some noise lately about looking into making sure infill matches the character of neighbourhoods, but it really hasn't felt like much was done since then.

I think it would be hard to post something that makes my blood boil more than this.

There is nothing more damaging that a city could do than make an entire neighbourhood into a museum. The reason that Cathedral is good and the reason that I chose to make my home in it is because of the contrast found in Cathedral. You find rich & poor, ugly & nice, new & old and everything else.

It's nice to walk down a street and see variation. Rather than an entire street of 2.5 story Victorian style homes.

Though my own home is old, I've been involved in new homes in Cathedral and they are a welcome addition to the neighbourhood. They revitalize the neighbourhood. They bring different people in. They bring new ideas.

The infill guidelines should be renamed "Cathedral/Lakeview NIMBY rules".

The idea that we should preserve an random period in time disgusts me. I've dealt with the people who actively attack and insult those choosing to do something different. Disgusting.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

I think he's playing naive. Maybe he legitimately didn't do the research, but I find it hard to believe someone would buy a house, have meetings with the city, but still fail to look up the address on the city website.

I'm a little perplexed where you all are getting the idea that he was naive on this issue. Dodd's himself explained:

Our purchase was not a wild impulse. We had watched the property list and re-list at ever declining asking prices over the course of time. We
were aware the house was on the Heritage Holding List, and suspected this, along with the poor condition of the house (the house had been uninhabited for years), was preventing a sale. We looked into the Heritage Holding Bylaw and what that might mean for a potential owner. We contacted City administration and learned there are some 300 buildings on this list established in the ‘80’s. Further, its inclusion on the Holding List did not mean that the house could not be demolished, but rather that there was a process to follow prior to doing so. We also learned there were only two properties in the history of the City that had been made Heritage Properties against the wishes of the owners. Given that no one else had stepped up to purchase the home, we elected to do so and follow the process required to remove it from the Heritage Holding List.

It is very clear that they knew what the status. He then talked to the administration who agreed with his take and recommended removing the property from the holding list! The property was 1) in terrible condition, 2) had no historic value and 3) had no architectural merit.

He was perfectly right to assume he would be able to redevelop the property. He spent $370,000 on a lot. He was obviously very intent on doing something significant. I mean he works downtown and this would be an amazing opportunity to build something nearby.

This whole thing was a travesty.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

I think it would be hard to post something that makes my blood boil more than this.

There is nothing more damaging that a city could do than make an entire neighbourhood into a museum. The reason that Cathedral is good and the reason that I chose to make my home in it is because of the contrast found in Cathedral. You find rich & poor, ugly & nice, new & old and everything else.

It's nice to walk down a street and see variation. Rather than an entire street of 2.5 story Victorian style homes.

Though my own home is old, I've been involved in new homes in Cathedral and they are a welcome addition to the neighbourhood. They revitalize the neighbourhood. They bring different people in. They bring new ideas.

The infill guidelines should be renamed "Cathedral/Lakeview NIMBY rules".

The idea that we should preserve an random period in time disgusts me. I've dealt with the people who actively attack and insult those choosing to do something different. Disgusting.

Meh. I like modern style homes (e.g. Usonia), but I'm not a fan of them in those 2 heritage neighbourhoods; they just end up looking out of place and awkward. I love walking through and seeing all the different colours and variations of the craftsman style homes in Cathedral mixed in with the odd brick/stone house. I'd be more in favour of the transition area south of downtown having an interesting mix of modern and Victorian/traditional; it feels like it would suit that area much better.

To each their own though.

[Dan0myte]

The simple option for Dodds at this point would be to put that property back on the market, try and get his money back and buy this instead:

http://sk.onepercentrealty.com/listingdetails.cfm?lid=49113&pfuse=mapsearch&start=1

It's two houses down from 13 Leopold on a similar sized lot and ready to build on. Plus he'd save $70,000 plus demolition costs.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by Dan0myte

The simple option for Dodds at this point would be to put that property back on the market, try and get his money back and buy this instead:

http://sk.onepercentrealty.com/listingdetails.cfm?lid=49113&pfuse=mapsearch&start=1

It's two houses down from 13 Leopold on a similar sized lot and ready to build on. Plus he'd save $70,000 plus demolition costs.

If you would have told someone in 2006 that an empty residential lot would be for sale for 300,000 you'd be laughed at. We may be in a correction or even a downturn but Regina today is not anything like the Regina of 10 years ago.

[StealthGirl]

I think part of the problem with 13 Leopold is that is such a visible location. If it was a block back, that house would've been taken down by now.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by Dan0myte

Plus he'd save $70,000 plus demolition costs.

Demo doesn't actually cost that much.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by Nathan

To each their own though.

You can't act like it's "just your opinion" when you are literally advocating the city "put a moratorium on" modern houses.

"I don't like modern houses" is an opinion. "I don't like modern houses and they should ban them" is a completely different, and horrific, thing.

[thefourthtower]

http://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/global-transportation-hub-inks-new-deal
The Global Transportation Hub on the west side of Regina has announced a new tenant: Brightenview Development International — which is also seeking to build a wholesale-warehouse-logistics facility near Dundurn, south of Saskatoon.

But Thursday’s news was Brightenview’s plan to spend $7.6 million to buy 30 acres of land in the GTH areas.

Brightenview CEO Joe Zhou said more details will be announced “when conditions are removed, which is expected later this year.”

However, his news release noted the GTH’s recent designation as a foreign trade zone (FTZ) point in Canada.

Expanding on that, Brightenview spokesman Lorne Nystrom said the two projects “go hand-in-hand,” adding that FTZ status is “very, very important” to overseas businesses looking at Canada.

“When it sits in a zone, you don’t pay tax on it,” he said. “Then you can assemble it there, you can add value to it there, you can add to it there — and, then, when the buyer buys it, the buyer pays the tax on the way out.

And in November, the GTH sold 13 acres worth $2.6 million to a private company that wants to build a commercial service centre for truckers at the GTH’s northeast corner. Construction is expected to start in 2016

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

You can't act like it's "just your opinion" when you are literally advocating the city "put a moratorium on" modern houses.

"I don't like modern houses" is an opinion. "I don't like modern houses and they should ban them" is a completely different, and horrific, thing.

Did you really take that as an agenda that I'd like the city to pursue?

I was saying that the demolition of tens of character homes within the neighbourhoods (replaced by generic stucco suburb style homes or super modern homes) is a worse thing by far than what the Dodds would like to do, so if they wanted a "hill to die on" that'd be the more justifiable position.

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Golden Mile redevelopment floor plan has been released in the PDF builder download.

http://www.onereit.ca/property/21/golden-mile-shopping-centre

[Lutz]

Originally Posted by thefourthtower

http://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/global-transportation-hub-inks-new-deal
[B]The Global Transportation Hub on the west side of Regina has announced a new tenant: Brightenview Development International — which is also seeking to build a wholesale-warehouse-logistics facility near Dundurn.

Because the development is Dundurn has turned out so well. There are various news articles quoting the CEO as stating that it would be done by this point in time. Not a good track record for major projects in this province. They may have bought the land at the GTH, but i doubt much will come of it..

Also, please stop using lime as a color to highlight what you view as import peices of the article. Its painful to read.