Saskatoon Construction III

[GTR200]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

I agree that the city yards would not be my first choice....I know relatively speaking it is 'close' to the downtown core. But rather then develop another "district' with hotels and restaurants, I think we should view our current downtown as THE district to support and develop.

I am not sure that the area between the Hilton and Holiday Inn is sufficient for what would be considered, but I do like that location. Need to get the YM to move!!

I wonder if there is sufficient room for an arena if the Hilton was demolished.
I also like the idea of the Y moving to another location. I'm sure if the city wanted this to happen, they could influence the board. I'm sure the new Y location could also house the new libray.

[The S'toon Goon]

The idea of combining a library, convention center and arena is pretty intriguing. More money, but if it's more bang for the buck in the long run it should be strongly considered.

[Arts]

Originally Posted by GTR200

Ok, so here is the plan.
Demolish the Sturdy Stone and current library, and the city hall.
On those two blocks we can build a new city hall (10 storeys tall), new libray, convention center and arena.

To be honest, I'd just settle for getting rid of that ugly library and sturdy stone building.

I love that everyone enjoys visualizing their version of city planning like it's simcity (just like I do - knock it all down and do the whole thing the right way...again). But seriously we should not be knocking anything down, not city owned assets and certainly not private property. We have so much space to build in our CBD that from a skyline enthusiast POV we certainly should keep as many multi-story buildings as is feasible. I personally think the Sturdy Stone, as brutalist as it is, is great for the skyline, it's interesting unique and helps define our fingerprint - the only universe is which we should tear it down is one where the Standard Trust Building is able to be restored back in place to it's former glory.

[WoodlandCritter]

Originally Posted by GTR200

Ok, so here is the plan.
Demolish the Sturdy Stone and current library, and the city hall.
On those two blocks we can build a new city hall (10 storeys tall), new libray, convention center and arena.

To be honest, I'd just settle for getting rid of that ugly library and sturdy stone building.

I actually like the sturdy stone, well I like the concrete parkade, we don't have many large brutalist archtitectural forms that show the exposed concrete like it does.

[roryn1]

Originally Posted by WoodlandCritter

I actually like the sturdy stone, well I like the concrete parkade, we don't have many large brutalist archtitectural forms that show the exposed concrete like it does.

This is a building I came across in New York recently:



Sturdy Stone definitely has the potential to be beautiful - one day when we are prosperous again... maybe in ten more years.

[Echoes]

I like the Sturdy Stone too. Its exterior just needs a good deep scrub, haha.

[Arts]

Originally Posted by Echoes

I like the Sturdy Stone too. Its exterior just needs a good deep scrub, haha.

Look how stunning she was in 1979 (from Saskatoon Public Library archives):



granted, this image looks a touch over-exposed.

[WoodlandCritter]

A few of the photos I took of the Sturdy Stone a few years back.













Not sure what reno's have been done on the interior, if any.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Arts

Look how stunning she was in 1979 (from Saskatoon Public Library archives):



granted, this image looks a touch over-exposed.

Love seeing it brand spanking new but it's discouraging to look at this photo and think about how poorly the trees on 3rd Ave and in the plaza have fared in the past 40 years.

[Echoes]

Council backs planning for downtown arena/convention centre
"This is not just a City of Saskatoon project, this is a community project," Coun. Troy Davies said.

PHIL TANK, SASKATOON STARPHOENIX Updated: November 13, 2018

Saskatoon city council endorsed starting to plan for a new downtown arena and convention centre and identifying the best spot for a district around the facility.

City manager Jeff Jorgenson said the decision, supported by council in a 10-1 vote on Tuesday, means the city will no longer focus on renovations to Saskatoon’s aging suburban arena, SaskTel Centre, or the downtown convention centre, TCU Place.

Instead, it focus on a combined facility or facilities downtown and establishing a district around the arena/convention centre, similar to Edmonton’s Ice District.

“I think it’s important for the citizens of Saskatoon to know that we’re not approving an arena today, we’re approving a process to look at an arena,” Coun. Bev Dubois said at Tuesday’s governance and priorities committee meeting.

Coun. Sarina Gersher alone voted against the plan, saying she’s heard concern from residents about the number of capital projects the city has taken on. Otherwise, councillors and the mayor spoke in favour of the strategy.

“We are going to see this accelerate, I predict, given the interest around the table,” Coun. Mairin Loewen said.

Several councillors stressed the downtown facilities represent a long-term plan and no decision on funding or a location is imminent.

Jorgenson cautioned that even the timeline to identify a location is a long one.

“I don’t see that as weeks or even a few months,” he said. “That’s going to take some time.”

SaskTel Centre marked 30 years since its opening earlier this year, while TCU Place marked 50 years. The city-owned facilities commissioned a study that recommended new facilities over continued renovation.

“We’re not starting from scratch here,” Coun. Troy Davies said. Many other cities have replaced aging arenas, so Saskatoon can learn from them, he added.

Davies got support for several motions, including hearing back on a funding approach that would minimize the need to use property taxes to pay for the new facilities.

[....]

https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-ne...-spot-for-a-district-around-the-facility

[EpicPonyTime]

There's really just three locations that could work in my mind: the Midtown parking lot, the Toys R Us lot, or the city yards.

I think the parking lot or city yards could be something special, however my concern is plopping an arena in the city yards might require the city to alter their plans for the area. I was a huge fan of the proposals they released a few years ago. I also wonder how it might affect the proposed soccer stadium out there (if that's still a thing).

[jrochest]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

There's really just three locations that could work in my mind: the Midtown parking lot, the Toys R Us lot, or the city yards.

I think the parking lot or city yards could be something special, however my concern is plopping an arena in the city yards might require the city to alter their plans for the area. I was a huge fan of the proposals they released a few years ago. I also wonder how it might affect the proposed soccer stadium out there (if that's still a thing).

Either of the parking lots would be great -- they're within walking distance of Riversdale, Caswell and Nutana (across the bridge) and they're right beside Idylwyld. I think putting it at the city yards would be too overwhelming for Caswell. The yards might not be developed into a park/affordable housing/artists space, as is currently the plan, but having a massive arena dropped into a residential area would be out of scale, and could really hurt the neighborhood.

[scotty c]

Originally Posted by jrochest

Either of the parking lots would be great -- they're within walking distance of Riversdale, Caswell and Nutana (across the bridge) and they're right beside Idylwyld. I think putting it at the city yards would be too overwhelming for Caswell. The yards might not be developed into a park/affordable housing/artists space, as is currently the plan, but having a massive arena dropped into a residential area would be out of scale, and could really hurt the neighborhood.

You’re thinking the bus barns. The city yard is east of Idylwyld and isn’t a residential area. Right now it’s storage for city equipment and supplies.

[prairieguy]

Although the City Yards provide the most "space" to design something special....I would not like to see another "district" being developed there (restaurants, clubs, shops, etc). I think we need to place our arena/convention centre in the 'existing' downtown core and build on the entertainment and supporting services that are already there.

Our downtown is quite vibrant and energetic for a city our size with many great restaurants and shops....so, don't take away from that....rather lets build on that vibe!

So...if it is physically possible for it to fit, I would support the midtown north parking lot or Toys'R'Us.

[Arts]

“We are going to see this accelerate, I predict, given the interest around the table,” Coun. Mairin Loewen said.

ugh, and that is why I've been resistant about this, not because I don't love progress but because the actual completion of this in not for several tomorrows... Like a commenter posted on reddit, this city has "go-fever".

[YXE]

It would be foolish for the city to progress too far on this before completing and implementing BRT. BRT should be the absolute backbone of this district, especially if they want to build either on the Midtown parking lot or Toys R Us where neither would have any available parking. (I don’t give a shit about parking, but for this to be aligned for success then it’s just necessary to have a highly functional BRT system)

I am confident that council understands this, and that the arena talk will just become a greater component of BRT talks.

[scotty c]

Originally Posted by YXE

It would be foolish for the city to progress too far on this before completing and implementing BRT. BRT should be the absolute backbone of this district, especially if they want to build either on the Midtown parking lot or Toys R Us where neither would have any available parking. (I don’t give a shit about parking, but for this to be aligned for success then it’s just necessary to have a highly functional BRT system)

I am confident that council understands this, and that the arena talk will just become a greater component of BRT talks.

Either of the 2 Midtown locations would add to the argument to have BRT run along 1st rather than 3rd.

[YXE]

Yes, I am confident now that with the city looking to plan for an arena that BRT will run down 1st avenue.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by scotty c

Either of the 2 Midtown locations would add to the argument to have BRT run along 1st rather than 3rd.

Not saying I agree or disagree, but the City report on putting the arena Downtown notes that there are merits to locating rapid transit a bit further away from literally outside the arena's front doors:

A key consideration for any large future facilities in Saskatoon is its location relative to the Bus Rapid Transit network (BRT). Locating large destinations, such as the convention centre and arena, a short walk to a high-quality transit station will leverage investments in BRT to support the travel demands associated with these facilities. High frequency transit on the regular BRT routes, in close proximity to these facilities, helps to create the conditions for higher event ridership. It is important to note that a BRT system will be important to the success of a Downtown arena, but it does not necessarily require “front-door” access. In some circumstances, cities have intentionally located transit stations several hundred metres away from arenas and similar venues. This helps “meter” the pedestrian traffic, lowering peak transit demand. It also may prompt additional economic activity in the surrounding area as people stop at adjacent restaurants, etc. after events. Regardless of whether the north/south BRT route is located on 1st Avenue or 3rd Avenue, all of the potential Downtown arena locations that have been considered to date are within a 400-600 metre (5-7 minute) walk of anticipated BRT station locations.

Source

This does make some sense to me. It could help with the likely event of logjams of people waiting on the 1st Ave sidewalk for buses. As people spread out from the arena, some will be headed for transit, some to restaurants and bars, some to parking lots and parkades, and some home on foot. It would also allow the operation of 1st Ave to focus on other functions: taxi/Uber pickup/dropoff, access transit, special shuttles and coach buses, or even street closures for large events related to the arena.

[roryn1]

Originally Posted by Echoes

Not saying I agree or disagree, but the City report on putting the arena Downtown notes that there are merits to locating rapid transit a bit further away from literally outside the arena's front doors:

Source

This does make some sense to me. It could help with the likely event of logjams of people waiting on the 1st Ave sidewalk for buses. As people spread out from the arena, some will be headed for transit, some to restaurants and bars, some to parking lots and parkades, and some home on foot. It would also allow the operation of 1st Ave to focus on other functions: taxi/Uber pickup/dropoff, access transit, special shuttles and coach buses, or even street closures for large events related to the arena.

This makes sense from a normal climate city’s perspective, but here’s my experience going tin Russel Peters via downtown transit Monday night:

Drove a simple 3 blocks to the 2nd ave transit stop just because it was very very cold. The transit stop is right in front of 2nd Ave Lofts and you and others were lucky that a pizza guy let us into their lobby to stay warm while we waited for the bus.
When leaving the Sasktel Center, there’s no signage for transit and we accidentally got out on the wrong side and Russel Peters decided he needed to park his stupid tour bus right out front of the facility and we couldn’t get back in so we had to run around the entire Sasktel center to get to the bus. Logistical nightmare when the bus is in a different place at every event.


My vote is for BRT directly next to major facilities. Hands down.
We are not a normal city where I’m going to be forced to stop at a pub enroute to BRT on a Very cold day which is 8 months in Saskatoon.
I would personally walk to a bar or restaurant after and then walk back to the BRT when I’ve had too much to drink.