Regina Construction III

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by aberrant

Regina downtown may appear to be more "compact" in terms of office towers, but the streetscape and walkability are brutal. Good urban design doesn't have blocks and blocks of office windows and concrete at street grade.

<cough> SGI <cough>

There are a few streets that are absolutely dreadful in the core.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by aberrant

Regina downtown may appear to be more "compact" in terms of office towers, but the streetscape and walkability are brutal. Good urban design doesn't have blocks and blocks of office windows and concrete at street grade.

Yes this is my point about Saskatoon's advantages in busy store fronts. If you look at where most of these are in Saskatoon, they have angle parking. I know urban designers hate parking but Regina keeps losing street parking and it is hurting business. FW Hill Mall and the Plaza have a lot of vacant space. Although I noticed a new head shop (Treehouse) on FW Hill Mall.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

<cough> SGI <cough>

There are a few streets that are absolutely dreadful in the core.

SaskTel's frontage on Sask Drive may be worse.

[brithgob]

When you're talking about the layout of these two downtowns, in some respects you're talking about decisions that were made 130 years ago. Saskatoon is unusual among most cities, in the way the town planners laid out extra-wide streets in the downtown. While it leaves Saskatoon's downtown bereft of that canyon effect, it does allow for more parking and traffic movement.

[Draftsman]

Originally Posted by brithgob

When you're talking about the layout of these two downtowns, in some respects you're talking about decisions that were made 130 years ago. Saskatoon is unusual among most cities, in the way the town planners laid out extra-wide streets in the downtown. While it leaves Saskatoon's downtown bereft of that canyon effect, it does allow for more parking and traffic movement.

I have heard several times over the years that the reason that Saskatoon and Edmonton have wider streets than Regina and Calgary, is because (supposedly) that Saskatoon and Edmonton were 'CN railway' towns and Regina and Calgary were 'CPR towns'. Whether there is any truth to this, and how the railways would have had a say in the early city planning are beyond me.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by aberrant

Amazingly, Saskatoon is expanding, but they also have a well laid out, well serviced, walkable downtown, and exciting districts just off the downtown.

It isnt a one or the other proposition. Or some nonsense that we are just too backwards to bother with infill. Thats just lazy and irresponsible.

Saskatoon also has more urban sprawl than Regina. A greater percentage of their housing starts are also single family homes compared to Regina which is building more multiple units.

What's more, Saskatoon has a vastly larger commuter population with communities like Warman, Martensville and Corman Park far far outpacing Regina's communities like White City or Pilot Butte.

Suburban development is a delicate thing. If you don't have inventory for families, they will simply move out of town and take all their tax dollars with them and still clog the city streets.

[StealthGirl]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

Whether there is any truth to this, and how the railways would have had a say in the early city planning are beyond me.

It's called money. Edgr Dewdney came in as head of the territorial government and moved the capital from Battleford to Regina. He bought considerable real estate with consideration for the future planned CPR. Dewdney Avenue was the major street in Pile of Bones. Troops were moved in for the NW Rebellion by rail before they went north. The rail was central to how the city developed bc there was nothing here. It was bald prairie.

[Festivus]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

It's called money. Edgr Dewdney came in as head of the territorial government and moved the capital from Battleford to Regina. He bought considerable real estate with consideration for the future planned CPR. Dewdney Avenue was the major street in Pile of Bones. Troops were moved in for the NW Rebellion by rail before they went north. The rail was central to how the city developed bc there was nothing here. It was bald prairie.

Theoretically, have a completely flat area is perfect for designing an awesome city! Unfortunately Regina's history of horrible short-sighted town councils goes right back to the beginning.

It's cool to imagine a similar-sized city in the Qu'Appelle valley, though.

[Treesplease]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

It's called money. Edgr Dewdney came in as head of the territorial government and moved the capital from Battleford to Regina. He bought considerable real estate with consideration for the future planned CPR. Dewdney Avenue was the major street in Pile of Bones. Troops were moved in for the NW Rebellion by rail before they went north. The rail was central to how the city developed bc there was nothing here. It was bald prairie.

Troops for the NW rebellion were moved as far as Qu'Appelle and departed on foot/horse northward from there. Qu'Appelle was at one time expected to be the Capital of NWT until shenanigans by Lieutenant Governor Dewdney moved it to pile of bones where, incidentally, he had substantial land holdings (and a pile of bones). Thus Regina was founded on the principles of conflict of interest and duplicity and those ideals are as strong as ever today with the GTH and the RM of Sherwood. The city motto should be "Home of the shady land deal" translated to Latin of course.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by Treesplease

The city motto should be "Home of the shady land deal" translated to Latin of course.

Very nice. According to Google Translate:

"Domus autem terra multum ad nemorosum"

[prairieguy]

As a resident of Saskatoon and frequent visitor to Regina (for business and pleasure...go Riders...), I find it really hard to compare the two downtowns. They have very different and distinct feels to them.

Regina seems to be modeled after more "modern" cities with an emphasis on glass and concrete and high rise office towers. An aesthetic that many attribute to 'successful' cities.

Saskatoon definitely has more of a european feel, with older/character buildings and low rise emphasis. I would have to say more 'streetscaping' emphasis as well, that caters to foot traffic experience.

My own experience is that the Saskatoon model creates a more people friendly experience and the Regina model, as has been mentioned in previous post, has the consequence of people vacating downtown at end of day, instead of going back to downtown for shops, restaurants, lounges and entertainment.

I WOULD agree that Regina's vibe is definitely improving! And I would say BOTH cities could be doing more. And I agree that city planning and councils CAN and SHOULD influence the development of their respective cities....seems a lot of talk but not much action in terms of policies that have some bite/power.

Whew....that was a long ramble.

[Chorduroy]

Originally Posted by Treesplease

Troops for the NW rebellion were moved as far as Qu'Appelle and departed on foot/horse northward from there. Qu'Appelle was at one time expected to be the Capital of NWT until shenanigans by Lieutenant Governor Dewdney moved it to pile of bones where, incidentally, he had substantial land holdings (and a pile of bones). Thus Regina was founded on the principles of conflict of interest and duplicity and those ideals are as strong as ever today with the GTH and the RM of Sherwood. The city motto should be "Home of the shady land deal" translated to Latin of course.

Sometimes I daydream about what it would be like to have Regina transported to the Qu'Appelle valley. Imagine how much better a natural setting that would be!

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Chorduroy

Sometimes I daydream about what it would be like to have Regina transported to the Qu'Appelle valley. Imagine how much better a natural setting that would be!

Many thousands of foundations would be crumbling right now.

[brithgob]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Many thousands of foundations would be crumbling right now.

Aren't they anyway?

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by Chorduroy

Sometimes I daydream about what it would be like to have Regina transported to the Qu'Appelle valley. Imagine how much better a natural setting that would be!

Where exactly would a city the size of Regina fit in the Qu'Appelle Valley?

It would be a small part of the city at its current size.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by brithgob

Aren't they anyway?

Yes, but all the houses would be at the bottom of the valley.

[StealthGirl]

The city has posted their list of streets and alleys to be fixed this year.

https://www.regina.ca/residents/roads-traffic/construction/

[pappcam]

So the city's road construction list includes the Argyle/Ring Road overpass getting a "North Diamond". What exactly are they doing?

[HomeInMyShoes]

I'm guessing adding the NorthWest portion of the configuration to allow traffic onto the Ring Road travelling West from Argyle.

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

As a resident of Saskatoon and frequent visitor to Regina (for business and pleasure...go Riders...), I find it really hard to compare the two downtowns. They have very different and distinct feels to them.

Regina seems to be modeled after more "modern" cities with an emphasis on glass and concrete and high rise office towers. An aesthetic that many attribute to 'successful' cities.

Saskatoon definitely has more of a european feel, with older/character buildings and low rise emphasis. I would have to say more 'streetscaping' emphasis as well, that caters to foot traffic experience.

My own experience is that the Saskatoon model creates a more people friendly experience and the Regina model, as has been mentioned in previous post, has the consequence of people vacating downtown at end of day, instead of going back to downtown for shops, restaurants, lounges and entertainment.

I WOULD agree that Regina's vibe is definitely improving! And I would say BOTH cities could be doing more. And I agree that city planning and councils CAN and SHOULD influence the development of their respective cities....seems a lot of talk but not much action in terms of policies that have some bite/power.

Whew....that was a long ramble.

Great ramble though!!! I agree with you!