Regina Construction III

[LittleBoy]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The hotel was closer to the corner. The steel was actually built to the 5th floor before it was halted due to the bankruptcy of the GTP. Some of the steel was eventually salvaged and used in the Hotel Sask.

To me this is one of the biggest "what-if's" about Regina. If it had been built, College between Albert and Broad would have been ridiculously beautiful. At the same time, if it went through Hotel Sask would not have been built and one could further question the effect that would have on Regina's downtown.

[LittleBoy]

I remember that. I believe it was basically that one rich family close by that kiboshed it all because it would ruin their view. The Schumiatchers or something?

Imagine being so rich that you get to dictate the placement of a freakin art gallery because it blocks your view

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

Imagine being so rich that you get to dictate the placement of a freakin art gallery because it blocks your view

Yes he was rich (and very philanthropic) but I think he was just really good at making his point. He was a very accomplished lawyer.

[StealthGirl]

The museum is set back as far as it is because some of the steelwork was left in the ground. Not all was reused for the Hotel Sask.

[Draftsman]

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

To me this is one of the biggest "what-if's" about Regina. If it had been built, College between Albert and Broad would have been ridiculously beautiful. At the same time, if it went through Hotel Sask would not have been built and one could further question the effect that would have on Regina's downtown.

I agree. But you also have to keep in mind that the Grand Trunk railway tracks were to go on the north side of what is now College Avenue (originally known as 16th Avenue). I remember reading somewhere that the reason why some blocks north of College Avenue between Elphinstone Street and Albert Street are higher than the street is because they had to build up the land so that it would be a level grade for the tracks. So yes, what would College Avenue have been like if this had gone through? I don't think it would have been as grand as it is today.

[LittleBoy]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

I agree. But you also have to keep in mind that the Grand Trunk railway tracks were to go on the north side of what is now College Avenue (originally known as 16th Avenue). I remember reading somewhere that the reason why some blocks north of College Avenue between Elphinstone Street and Albert Street are higher than the street is because they had to build up the land so that it would be a level grade for the tracks. So yes, what would College Avenue have been like if this had gone through? I don't think it would have been as grand as it is today.

Oh wow, I am a fool. What point is there to a railway hotel without a railway? Thanks for the info.

Further on your point, railways are such a dividing factor within urban design and a railway on College would have completely segregated the park and the Legislative Building from Transition and Downtown. Very interesting to ponder indeed.

That being said, I still think College between Albert and Broad, consisting of Hotel Qu'appelle, Darke Hall, the Conservatory Building, and the College Building would have to be one of the prettiest streets in the country.

[Draftsman]

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

Oh wow, I am a fool. What point is there to a railway hotel without a railway? Thanks for the info.

Further on your point, railways are such a dividing factor within urban design and a railway on College would have completely segregated the park and the Legislative Building from Transition and Downtown. Very interesting to ponder indeed.

That being said, I still think College between Albert and Broad, consisting of Hotel Qu'appelle, Darke Hall, the Conservatory Building, and the College Building would have to be one of the prettiest streets in the country.

I agree with you, but even without the hotel, I still feel that College Avenue between Albert & Broad is a pretty special stretch. Maybe I am biased as I have lived right off of College in this section for 30+ years.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

I agree. But you also have to keep in mind that the Grand Trunk railway tracks were to go on the north side of what is now College Avenue (originally known as 16th Avenue). I remember reading somewhere that the reason why some blocks north of College Avenue between Elphinstone Street and Albert Street are higher than the street is because they had to build up the land so that it would be a level grade for the tracks. So yes, what would College Avenue have been like if this had gone through? I don't think it would have been as grand as it is today.

The GTP track did exist along College. There was a station W of Albert and a grand station was planned across from the hotel.

Edit: I will post some info and pics on the Regina Historical thread

[sastaunik44]

I heard the old Sears home has been leased...any idea by whom?

[Baker58]

Originally Posted by sastaunik44

I heard the old Sears home has been leased...any idea by whom?

It does have a leased sign. I have been meaning to ask for a few days. Not sure who would be coming that they could take up 40k square feet when a lot of retail companies are hurting

[LittleBoy]

We're already seeing so many of these big box stores close, and the effect that it could have on the city scares me. I predict we are going to see a huge erosion of wealth and prosperity in wealthier suburban areas with the decline of big box retailing. Quance, Victoria East, South Albert, and more are comprised of big box store after big box store. At a certain point there won't be any more companies to take over empty spaces and this would make that whole area into some sort of dystopian area. Glencairn is already among the worst neighborhoods in the city and it is not moving in the right direction, and this could end up spilling over into surrounding areas.

On top of that, these areas are so fundamentally flawed due to trying to appeal to these stores that redevelopment would be much more hassle than it is worth, at least until there is significant infill.

The death of the suburbs at the benefit of urban growth wouldn't necessarily make me sad but it would have a drastic effect on the populace.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

Glencairn is already among the worst neighborhoods in the city and it is not moving in the right direction, and this could end up spilling over into surrounding areas.

It's been known since the 1990s - maybe even the 1980s - that Glencairn would one day become a rough neighbourhood in all likelihood. This would happen both in the presence and absence of big-box retailing.

[one_brick_at_a_time]

I really feel it’s the big box retailers that don’t have a big enough online presence to compliment their brick and mortar locations that will suffer. That’s just the retail landscape. Ex. Hudson’s Bay luckily got on the train starting their online ordering a couple years ago, but sadly Home Outfitters did not and totally screwed themselves over. There will still be enough demand for shoppers shopping in person, but that will be for the retailers that survive because of wise, keeping on trend with the changing market. Remember when they said book stores would all close because of the wave of kindle type shoppers and then people still wanted to buy actual books so book stores stayed open?

[Festivus]

I don't know that I would list South Albert as a location of box stores. Besides the Southland Mall, there aren't any large retailers from Gordon Rd to 25th Ave, at least that I can think of.

[LittleBoy]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche...Po2hakFC2ju6EwUWbn4rfGj3puuFy-DVL2RDIX0I

"Conexus paid $3.25M to lease Wascana Park land for its new head office"
"Brandt is building 4-storey commercial building on parkland leased for $1"

I don't think this is new information but to me the Conexus and Brandt projects are not equivalent evils

[Festivus]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

The only thing I can think of at risk, besides Southland Mall, is Sobeys and Co-op, when the latter moves to Harbour Landing.

Ah yes, that's true! I wasn't thinking about grocery stores. South Albert is definitely a hub for those! It seems that within 5 years it will be comprised of grocery stores, liquor stores, and restaurants, lol.

[Festivus]

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche...Po2hakFC2ju6EwUWbn4rfGj3puuFy-DVL2RDIX0I

"Conexus paid $3.25M to lease Wascana Park land for its new head office"
"Brandt is building 4-storey commercial building on parkland leased for $1"

I don't think this is new information but to me the Conexus and Brandt projects are not equivalent evils

True. To me they are evil in different ways. The Brandt deal is much shadier in terms of corruption/favouratism, and the Conexus deal is much worse in terms of taking up park space.

[yveseluj]

Crane coming down at SaskTel this weekend.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by yveseluj

Crane coming down at SaskTel this weekend.

This is now officially Downtown's ugliest building after they spent close to $30 million on renos.

[Festivus]

Should have just gone full-Brutalist and made the sides solid concrete with no windows.