Regina Construction III - Page 447

spictacular mcluvin · #**8921** Posted **Feb 20, 2019, 7:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draftsman

I have lived in Regina my entire 61 years, and remember that there were 3 gas stations at the corner of Albert & 15th. Only one of those locations is still active - the PetroCan. The NW and SE corners are both currently vacant lots. A little trivia here...the gas station on the SE corner, after having been vacant for a number of years was converted into Regina's first Honda car dealership - CML Honda. CML (Canadian Motors Limited) was Regina's Ford delearship for many years until Bennett-Dunlop purchased it. There was a Co-op gas station on Albert & 12th where the Sherwood Place office building now sits. I don't recall any others on Albert between 11th and College Avenues.

Since you've lived here so long. Do you remember specificaly where the Rent-A-Wreck was located? I know it was on the east side of Albert street on either 14th or 15th Avenue but cant remember exactly which corner it was on.

It was around in the early 80s.

Draftsman · #**8922** Posted **Feb 20, 2019, 11:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spictacular mcluvin

Since you've lived here so long. Do you remember specificaly where the Rent-A-Wreck was located? I know it was on the east side of Albert street on either 14th or 15th Avenue but cant remember exactly which corner it was on.

It was around in the early 80s.

Well, you've got me stumped on this one. I remember R-A-W but I thought it was further north on Albert Street, like near 1st Avenue.

Festivus · #**8923** Posted **Feb 21, 2019, 3:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by djforsberg

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche...t-deal-for-brandt-says-critics-1.5026910

How can the downtown compete when land in Wascana Park is being pretty much being given away.

Can I get land for $1/yr too? Maybe I need to donate tonnes of money to the Sask Party first...

So basically they get the land for free and then will rent out tens of thousands of square feet of office space and turn a tidy profit. Exactly what the park was intended for!

StealthGirl · #**8924** Posted **Feb 21, 2019, 5:43 PM**

Just garbage. I don't think this building belongs in the park and it especially shouldn't be a sweetheart deal like that.

Here's the list of who is on the PCC if you wish to express your thoughts on this to the people making this mess. https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/g...mmission#minister-and-board-of-directors

pappcam · #**8925** Posted **Feb 21, 2019, 6:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

Just garbage. I don't think this building belongs in the park and it especially shouldn't be a sweetheart deal like that.

Here's the list of who is on the PCC if you wish to express your thoughts on this to the people making this mess. https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/g...mmission#minister-and-board-of-directors

So leave the other building to crumble. Do you wanna pay for a new CNIB building? FFS, this thing isn't on Willow Island. It's replacing a decrepit building right beside the CBC monstrosity.

Am I a bad person because I don't care and am just happy someone wants to build something in our faltering city?

Arts · #**8926** Posted **Feb 21, 2019, 7:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Not a bad person - just a very misguided one. This has nothing to do with someone wanting to build something in our "faltering" city. Its a handout being given to a private company, Saskatchewan's richest private company, while bypassing not only fundamental ethics but the procurement processes that are in place to make these things fair and transparent. We have numerous places in the city that this project was better suited for, particularly the multiple empty lots in downtown Regina. And why is the CNIB deserving of cheap office space in a prestigious location over other non-profits? And the commercial vacancy rate is pretty high isn't it? Why do we need more commercial spaces in this economic environment? How can anyone be supportive of this project when considering all these facts because it all screams corruption... (Unless they are personally profiting from it)

I agree with the first part of your comment, about private company being given handout by the public for no good public reason. IMO it would be perfectly fine for CNIB to have a sweetheart deal, because they are a non-profit institution and have historical precedent to be able to lease the land for next to free. But this deal isn't between CNIB and the park/province - it's been given to Brandt who's using the CNIB portion for a free ride to corporatize the public park. I think if other non-profits want to operate out of the park and they fit within the intended purposes that would be great, but they need to own the buildings they choose to occupy on said public parkland. I'm not surprised when the private sector tries to do this shit but I'm somewhat revolted by CNIB's willingness to be a part of this for-profit scheme, and I'm completely flabbergasted that the province is so corrupt as to allow this (can't think of any other reason besides personal gain why a politician would so blatantly go against the public interest like this - it's like they thought they could just get away with it... incredible especially in light of the GTH scandal).

StealthGirl · #**8927** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 3:11 AM**

The whole point of the Wascana Centre Authority (previous to PCC) was to keep the park separate from the City's control and to ensure the park was preserved. Yes, CNIB was grandfathered in because they weren't under the set core values. The city could have made arrangements for them to have space elsewhere or even gone with a new construction on the same site, but in a similar scale. The new building is very big.

Brandt is not doing this to be philanthropic. They are using CNIB to get land that wouldn't be available otherwise. They are getting a crazy good deal that they can rent out to whomever they like at some of the highest rates in the city. The deals were done with a lot of secrecy. I'm not against making money. I just don't think the park is the place to put this building. When SGI wanted out of downtown, the city told them no and said they would not issue any building permits. Yet this same standard is not expected of non-Crown businesses. Brandt should be downtown.

pappcam, I don't think you are a bad person for not caring. But I do care. I think that this is bad for the park. I probably would not care if they were on the other side of Broad Street. I don't want this development in the central part of the park. I believe in the core tenets of the park. Every little bit cuts it back.

pappcam · #**8928** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 3:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

The whole point of the Wascana Centre Authority (previous to PCC) was to keep the park separate from the City's control and to ensure the park was preserved. Yes, CNIB was grandfathered in because they weren't under the set core values. The city could have made arrangements for them to have space elsewhere or even gone with a new construction on the same site, but in a similar scale. The new building is very big.

Brandt is not doing this to be philanthropic. They are using CNIB to get land that wouldn't be available otherwise. They are getting a crazy good deal that they can rent out to whomever they like at some of the highest rates in the city. The deals were done with a lot of secrecy. I'm not against making money. I just don't think the park is the place to put this building. When SGI wanted out of downtown, the city told them no and said they would not issue any building permits. Yet this same standard is not expected of non-Crown businesses. Brandt should be downtown.

pappcam, I don't think you are a bad person for not caring. But I do care. I think that this is bad for the park. I probably would not care if they were on the other side of Broad Street. I don't want this development in the central part of the park. I believe in the core tenets of the park. Every little bit cuts it back.

It's nowhere near the central part of the park. It's on Broad Street next door to the CBC.

Missinglink · #**8929** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 3:30 AM**

I was really hoping for years that when that decrepit CNIB building had to be torn down that it would go back to being green space as that is what the park was meant to be. On the other hand I wish that the CBC bunker was never allowed to have been built but of course they obviously had friends in high places that approved it at the time. I would love to see a inquiry into it also. As its also a eyesore and brings absolutely no value to the park.

HomeInMyShoes · #**8930** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 1:28 PM**

@missinglink: I don't disagree with any of that sentiment.

I'm hopeful a Money Mart gets a lease in the Brandt Building.

HomeInMyShoes · #**8931** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 1:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by djforsberg

You have got to be kidding me. These conspiracies against the CBC are a little ridiculous. It’s a crown corporation and perfectly suitable for the park.

So you'd be okay if it was SGI going into the park, but not Brandt?

pappcam · #**8932** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 2:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by djforsberg

That’s the central part of the park...

It's as far north in it as you can go. Has everyone all of a sudden forgotten what centre means?

Shall I get an easel?

pappcam · #**8933** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 2:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Maybe. Then again, how many employees are located at CBC vs SGI? These are all part of the discussion but the only reason the CBC is being brought up is because of right-wing conspiracy theories against our clearly-moderate-leaning public broadcaster and they have no place here in a discussion about companies that do not share their profits with the public getting a free lease in a public park, via extremely sketchy means. It’s seriously idiotic, and obviously partisan, bringing the CBC building into this.

Lol. This whole story is partisan. It's the evil right wing gov't and the soulless capitalist corporation vs the little person, or so most of you would have people believe.

I'm not a fan of the current gov't but this whole thing would be way down the list of why I'm not happy. There are way more important stories than this.

HomeInMyShoes · #**8934** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 3:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Maybe. Then again, how many employees are located at CBC vs SGI? These are all part of the discussion but the only reason the CBC is being brought up is because of right-wing conspiracy theories against our clearly-moderate-leaning public broadcaster and they have no place here in a discussion about companies that do not share their profits with the public getting a free lease in a public park, via extremely sketchy means. It’s seriously idiotic, and obviously partisan, bringing the CBC building into this.

It works both ways. I don't like either decision historically. I was curious because there is a line somewhere and I'm not entirely sure where it sits for me, but I would probably lean towards none than any exceptions. Certainly a sweetheart lease deal is pathetic because the increased office space means less lease-paying tenants on other commercial sties in the core. Which is economically terrible and will do nothing but impede potential development in the core for years.

People may say this is a one-off oppotunity. What about the museum? What about Rehab which is going on 30 years since they expanded? What about the MacKenzie Art Gallery?

When we talk about CNIB and the Conservatory/Darke Hall we have to keep in mind the other candidates for similar deals. I know there is a line there somewhere, but I don't currently see where it is and now that the government has control of the park there is little the actual stewards of the park can do.

I'd say get used to development in the park. Starting with a destination water park, partly funded by some company in exchange for restaurant leasing options within the development. The city could use some dollars to make redevelopment of the pool work.

End rant.

HomeInMyShoes · #**8935** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 4:36 PM**

Which would bring us to the problem that the province has the voting majority for what it deems fit. Like, you know removing architectural review members for their own lackeys.

Everyone should get used to this because it is how the structure is set up now.

HomeInMyShoes · #**8936** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 5:05 PM**

Were you at any of the protests? I was, but that isn't changing the government and the current polls aren't saying the Saskatchewan Party is losing the next election.

I need to stop, you are just pushing my buttons. Not in a terrible way, but my inner anger is ridiculous on this.

I would say a better avenue would be to get some sort of National status for the park so it is outside the bounds of provincial idiots and in the hands of federal idiots. That would ensure enough Bureaucracy to prevent anything from happening.

LittleBoy · #**8937** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 5:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

I would say a better avenue would be to get some sort of National status for the park so it is outside the bounds of provincial idiots and in the hands of federal idiots. That would ensure enough Bureaucracy to prevent anything from happening.

Could federal park status be given to an urban park? I'm not sure what the requirements are, but with the history and significance of Wascana, I think some sort of federal status is a great idea.

StealthGirl · #**8938** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 6:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

Could federal park status be given to an urban park? I'm not sure what the requirements are, but with the history and significance of Wascana, I think some sort of federal status is a great idea.

The federal government won't even give the RCMP Heritage Centre Museum federal status. It gets zero federal funding which is ridiculous. The Canadian Museum of Human Rights (Winnipeg) might be the only federal museum outside Ottawa/Gatineau.

NotToScale · #**8939** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 7:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by djforsberg

our clearly-moderate-leaning public broadcaster .

hahaha …. actually laughed out loud

Missinglink · #**8940** Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 7:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by djforsberg

You have got to be kidding me. These conspiracies against the CBC are a little ridiculous. It’s a crown corporation and perfectly suitable for the park.

What conspiracies are you talking about? The CBC bldg. is there in the park and it looks like hell. That's not a conspiracy that's fact. take your blinders off.