Regina Construction III

[Nathan]

Lots of very interesting history in this thread on the last page. Thanks everyone for the additions to the thread!

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

Thanks for posting those photos, Stormer. You beat me to naming the Albert & 14th gas station. I do remember it was a Texaco. Would you mind sharing where you are finding these old photos? They really bring back memories.

As a side note, the B/A station on Albert & 15th had a really large neon sign, as shown in the photo you posted, and it was animated, meaning the lights moved in patterns. It was a landmark neon sign in it's day, even though there were lots of neon signs in those days.

Okay, now I am off topic, but there used to be a McGavin's Bakery (commercial bakery) on the NW corner of Albert & 4th Avenue, where the Tim Horton's and strip mall now sit. There was a big neon sign on the roof "Don't say bread, Say McGavin's". Saskatoon's McGavin's was a much more attractive building (now Earl's), which also had the same neon sign on top. I believe they had altered it to read Earl's instead of McGavin's. Being a kid in the 60's was a great time. This city has changed so much in my lifetime.

They are mostly from Historical Regina Facebook group. You can find anything on there including McGavins

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by Stormer

They are mostly from Historical Regina Facebook group. You can find anything on there including McGavins

How does one join that group? I'm already a member of the "If you grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan ... you remember ..." group but this one is asking if I know someone in the group and since I can't see the members I have no idea if I know someone in there.

[Draftsman]

Originally Posted by Stormer

They are mostly from Historical Regina Facebook group. You can find anything on there including McGavins

Thank you, Stormer. I don't do Facebook, but this alone might make it worthwhile.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

Thank you, Stormer. I don't do Facebook, but this alone might make it worthwhile.

I don't really "do" Facebook either but I'm a member of "If you grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan ... you remember ..." and now "Historical Regina". Pretty interesting reading and browsing those 2 groups.

[LittleBoy]

Took your suggestion and joined Historical Regina. So crazy looking through the photos of buildings and realizing that most of them are gone. Imagining what downtown and transition would look like if those buildings were maintained makes me sad. Such a waste.

[StealthGirl]

In North America, there is a trend to rebuild cities every 30-50 years. We could learn something from Europe where they embrace keeping history maintained and in use.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

In North America, there is a trend to rebuild cities every 30-50 years. We could learn something from Europe where they embrace keeping history maintained and in use.

Completely disagree. We should embrace Japan which rebuilds regularly as required and thus has much more affordable housing than the rich cities of Europe and North America. This idea that one style of architecture should be around forever is antithetical to growth and good communities.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

Completely disagree. We should embrace Japan which rebuilds regularly as required and thus has much more affordable housing than the rich cities of Europe and North America. This idea that one style of architecture should be around forever is antithetical to growth and good communities.

I don't agree with you much but you are 100% right on this IMO. This strange "time makes the heart grow fonder" mentality we have about architecture bothers me. An old nothing building is not worth spending money on and saving just because it's old. It seems people would rather have a city full of derelict crumbling buildings instead of new and modern ones mostly because it's not their money that would be needed to keep these crumbling buildings from falling into disrepair or falling down.

[StealthGirl]

Originally Posted by pappcam

I don't agree with you much but you are 100% right on this IMO. This strange "time makes the heart grow fonder" mentality we have about architecture bothers me. An old nothing building is not worth spending money on and saving just because it's old. It seems people would rather have a city full of derelict crumbling buildings instead of new and modern ones mostly because it's not their money that would be needed to keep these crumbling buildings from falling into disrepair or falling down.

I said nothing about keeping crumbling buildings. Obviously a wreck that is not maintained is not valuable.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

I said nothing about keeping crumbling buildings. Obviously a wreck that is not maintained is not valuable.

I never called your post out. I was just mentioning what I see in here sometimes where people seem to think old buildings are almost always better than something new. Obviously some buildings are very important historically and some of them should be kept around, or at least attempted to be kept around.

I still have no idea how the Travellers Building was considered worth keeping around in any form. A very unremarkable building was allowed to rot on one of our city's major thoroughfares because some people decided that that decrepit building was important somehow.

[LittleBoy]

Originally Posted by pappcam

A very unremarkable building was allowed to rot on one of our city's major thoroughfares because some people decided that that decrepit building was important somehow.

The allure of old buildings relates to their style, not necessarily just the nostalgia associated with vintage things. If new builds were being constructed in similar styles to those of early 20th century Regina, I'd have no problem with new development. The shame comes when no effort is exuded in the design of a building with cookie cutter buildings being constructed in their place.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

The allure of old buildings relates to their style, not necessarily just the nostalgia associated with vintage things. If new builds were being constructed in similar styles to those of early 20th century Regina, I'd have no problem with new development. The shame comes when no effort is exuded in the design of a building with cookie cutter buildings being constructed in their place.

This just goes to show that people have a the mistaken belief that only neo-classicism matters. There is fantastic contemporary architecture but we never get any because people lose their mind and want us to recreate a style from 2500 years ago.

[skphc08]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

This idea that one style of architecture should be around forever is antithetical to growth and good communities.

Not necessarily, particularly as North American growth tends to be primarily suburban. If old buildings are well-maintained, growth can easily happen around them or in the suburbs.

[905er]

nothing still happening in Regina? ...capital pointe???

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

The allure of old buildings relates to their style, not necessarily just the nostalgia associated with vintage things. If new builds were being constructed in similar styles to those of early 20th century Regina, I'd have no problem with new development. The shame comes when no effort is exuded in the design of a building with cookie cutter buildings being constructed in their place.

I wouldn't consider the Traveller's Building to be of any style. It was a boring orange brick box with windows.

[LittleBoy]

Originally Posted by pappcam

I wouldn't consider the Traveller's Building to be of any style. It was a boring orange brick box with windows.

First, I had never suggested the Traveller's building as an example, and I personally think that it was a decrepit mess in recent years, but still, that doesn't eliminate the structural beauty intrinsic to the building.



I'm not saying one architectural style or period is best and should be the only focus of design, but the effort exuded in the design and construction of average core buildings in Regina has gone downhill. Yes, we do have nice-shiny towers downtown, but the average infill property in central areas is pretty ugly.

Too many people put emphasis on the one big project that will change the look of a city and forget about the smaller infill lots doing nothing to improve the streetscape and overall beauty of central Regina. Rome wasn't built in a day, and it's easier to simply maintain the beauty you already have than trying to rebuild your central area every 30 years. Right now we can't even get our central area rebuilt once, let alone every 30 years...

[StealthGirl]

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

Right now we can't even get our central area rebuilt once, let alone every 30 years...

Our downtown really is becoming a jack o'lantern, full of holes everywhere. Lots of empty lots. I expect the YWCA is going to be a tough building to repurpose when they move out. That'll be another empty one.

When SGI wanted to leave the downtown and build elsewhere, they were pretty much told no, that the city would not give them a permit to build elsewhere, yet there is no commitment to make non-Crowns stay downtown. But then, there is no commitment to the reports that are produced either. We are under serviced for indoor pools , yet the city is focused on replacing one outdoor pool with a summer water park.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

Okay, now I am off topic, but there used to be a McGavin's Bakery (commercial bakery) on the NW corner of Albert & 4th Avenue, where the Tim Horton's and strip mall now sit. There was a big neon sign on the roof "Don't say bread, Say McGavin's".

I worked here for about a year in 1985-86, doing data entry on a really primitive (by today's standards) computer system. It wasn't long after I left that the bakery building was closed and then demolished.

The Carling brewery was across the street (where the strip mall is now). It was always interesting driving by Albert and 4th. It always smelled so good. I always assumed as a kid that it was from the bakery, but it was in fact the yeast from the beer brewing.

I forget what year the Carling plant was shut down and when it was demolished. I think it had already happened by the time I was working at McGavin's.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

I worked here for about a year in 1985-86, doing data entry on a really primitive (by today's standards) computer system. It wasn't long after I left that the bakery building was closed and then demolished.

The Carling brewery was across the street (where the strip mall is now). It was always interesting driving by Albert and 4th. It always smelled so good. I always assumed as a kid that it was from the bakery, but it was in fact the yeast from the beer brewing.

I forget what year the Carling plant was shut down and when it was demolished. I think it had already happened by the time I was working at McGavin's.

Carlings was originally Adanac and then Drewery's.