Regina Construction III

[BrannyMuffin]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

Actually, the Regina Farmer's Market is held in the Core Ritchie Neighbourhood Centre in the fall and winter months.

This land is too valuable and important and must have something more dynamic built on it. I work downtown and a lot of the success of the market in the summer months is because of the location. Wednesday markets are very popular with office workers. I doubt any of us could go all the way over the railway tracks on our lunch breaks to shop the market. As for the baseball park, I feel it is a waste of land that will sit empty for long periods of time and will not benefit the area very much.

No kidding. It’s a summer league. It’s done by mid-August because most of the players need to be back in school.

[Draftsman]

Originally Posted by Festivus

To paraphrase Flegel: "Regina doesn't deserve nice things, so let's not shoot that high."

That sounds like the motto for most of our city councillors!

[StealthGirl]

Too much focus by council on old Taylor Field and the Railyards while the downtown core sits and rots like last year's Jack O'Lantern with holes everywhere. Broad Street is mess, but it's not just Broad.

[Draftsman]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

Too much focus by council on old Taylor Field and the Railyards while the downtown core sits and rots like last year's Jack O'Lantern with holes everywhere. Broad Street is mess, but it's not just Broad.

And before the Taylor Field and Railyard lands there was City Square Plaza, which I don't mean to open any old cans of worms, was a waste of money. That money should have been put towards a total re-do of the sidewalks in the main downtown core, and a complete re-do of the Scarth Street Mall. The sidewalks are a huge black eye for our city. This is where some of the highest property taxes are, and with corporate, national and international offices located here, plus people from out out town staying at hotels or doing business and shopping. I always have to walk looking down to see where I am stepping (not kidding) as I am afraid of tripping and falling. I am not yet a senior but I can sure feel for those poor souls having to walk on our absolutely terrible and disgusting sidewalks while that useless square is, well, useless for much of the year. The City's idea of repairing the sidewalks (if they even do repair them) is to pave over the concrete or pavers with asphalt. What other medium-size city does that shit? Empty tree wells that are another hazard to walking and not breaking your neck. Check out the north side of 11th Avenue between Scarth Street and Cornwall Streets. Pardon me, but this really bugs the heck out of me! I am really resisting to use much stronger words, but it all goes back to City Hall with their misplaced priorities. Now that I think of it, who in their right mind wants to be mayor or councillors?

Sorry for my rant, but I love my city. I was born here and have lived my whole life here. I hate to see people who don't give a damn about it running it

[LittleBoy]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

And before the Taylor Field and Railyard lands there was City Square Plaza, which I don't mean to open any old cans of worms, was a waste of money. That money should have been put towards a total re-do of the sidewalks in the main downtown core, and a complete re-do of the Scarth Street Mall. The sidewalks are a huge black eye for our city. This is where some of the highest property taxes are, and with corporate, national and international offices located here, plus people from out out town staying at hotels or doing business and shopping. I always have to walk looking down to see where I am stepping (not kidding) as I am afraid of tripping and falling. I am not yet a senior but I can sure feel for those poor souls having to walk on our absolutely terrible and disgusting sidewalks while that useless square is, well, useless for much of the year. The City's idea of repairing the sidewalks (if they even do repair them) is to pave over the concrete or pavers with asphalt. What other medium-size city does that shit? Empty tree wells that are another hazard to walking and not breaking your neck. Check out the north side of 11th Avenue between Scarth Street and Cornwall Streets. Pardon me, but this really bugs the heck out of me! I am really resisting to use much stronger words, but it all goes back to City Hall with their misplaced priorities. Now that I think of it, who in their right mind wants to be mayor or councillors?

Sorry for my rant, but I love my city. I was born here and have lived my whole life here. I hate to see people who don't give a damn about it running it

Is this a joke? The beautification of City Square Plaza is one of the best investments the city has made. I understand your frustration but it really doesnt have to be an either/or situation. You can appreciate the value that a beautified City Square provides and recognize that money needs to be put towards beautification of other downtown areas.

[cityboy]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

And before the Taylor Field and Railyard lands there was City Square Plaza, which I don't mean to open any old cans of worms, was a waste of money. That money should have been put towards a total re-do of the sidewalks in the main downtown core, and a complete re-do of the Scarth Street Mall. The sidewalks are a huge black eye for our city. This is where some of the highest property taxes are, and with corporate, national and international offices located here, plus people from out out town staying at hotels or doing business and shopping. I always have to walk looking down to see where I am stepping (not kidding) as I am afraid of tripping and falling. I am not yet a senior but I can sure feel for those poor souls having to walk on our absolutely terrible and disgusting sidewalks while that useless square is, well, useless for much of the year. The City's idea of repairing the sidewalks (if they even do repair them) is to pave over the concrete or pavers with asphalt. What other medium-size city does that shit? Empty tree wells that are another hazard to walking and not breaking your neck. Check out the north side of 11th Avenue between Scarth Street and Cornwall Streets. Pardon me, but this really bugs the heck out of me! I am really resisting to use much stronger words, but it all goes back to City Hall with their misplaced priorities. Now that I think of it, who in their right mind wants to be mayor or councillors?

Sorry for my rant, but I love my city. I was born here and have lived my whole life here. I hate to see people who don't give a damn about it running it

I agree with this 100%. It's embarrassing. Also, so disheartening to see that Harvard let all the trees on Hamilton die. I'm hoping that the work on Vic. is the start of the whole downtown getting some TLC as it's sorely needed.

[Dan0myte]

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

Is this a joke? The beautification of City Square Plaza is one of the best investments the city has made. I understand your frustration but it really doesnt have to be an either/or situation. You can appreciate the value that a beautified City Square provides and recognize that money needs to be put towards beautification of other downtown areas.

I feel like this viewpoint is in the minority amongst Reginans. I generally hear that the Plaza has done more harm then good when it comes to accessibility, traffic and public transit in the downtown core. The bricks look nice and it has it's uses for Farmers Markets and outdoor movie nights, but in comparison to both the cost and the headaches it's caused elsewhere it was not a well thought out plan.

[LittleBoy]

Originally Posted by Dan0myte

I feel like this viewpoint is in the minority amongst Reginans. I generally hear that the Plaza has done more harm then good when it comes to accessibility, traffic and public transit in the downtown core. The bricks look nice and it has it's uses for Farmers Markets and outdoor movie nights, but in comparison to both the cost and the headaches it's caused elsewhere it was not a well thought out plan.

Would you not also then say that things like Victoria Park, Scarth Street Mall, or Cornwall make headaches for traffic, transit, and accessibility? But nobody complains about those things? Public spaces that can be enjoyed by all are some of the most important things a local government can invest in. I think everyone can talk poorly of the efficiency and some planning decisions regarding the plaza, but to say it was an waste of money isn't fair.

[Nathan]

I like the idea of the Plaza, but I think it was poorly executed. Having traffic continue to use it means at grade uses along the buildings are less attractive (picturing restaurants with patios onto the square in summer). Also, half of it has dead space. There is no at-grade interaction in front of SaskTel and BDC.

The square would have been much better on the Scarth Street side where there was already traffic disruption a block farther down. Could then have made it closed to traffic, not built a stage, and the already existing restaurants could have used some of the square's space instead of having to purchase the sidewalk to build out a patio (if I remember correctly).

[Baker58]

Originally Posted by Nathan

I like the idea of the Plaza, but I think it was poorly executed. Having traffic continue to use it means at grade uses along the buildings are less attractive (picturing restaurants with patios onto the square in summer). Also, half of it has dead space. There is no at-grade interaction in front of SaskTel and BDC.

The square would have been much better on the Scarth Street side where there was already traffic disruption a block farther down. Could then have made it closed to traffic, not built a stage, and the already existing restaurants could have used some of the square's space instead of having to purchase the sidewalk to build out a patio (if I remember correctly).

I dont think it would have worked on scarth or Cornwall because the streets were too narrow.

They really should have just left 12th Avenue closed between scarth and lorne permanently but at this point that is just beating a dead horse.

[one_brick_at_a_time]

I don’t mind the plaza, and it’s done so nothing we can do. I want that grey brick to contour down Scarth Street to replace that ugly tan and brown brick. What it is missing from the Plaza is tree cells amongst the brick for trees, raised plant boxes for shrubs and flowers that you could sit on and a fountain or water feature. That would fill it in more. It also needs 100% for the Novia Cafe chunk to be developed ASAP!

[BrutallyDishonest2]

The plaza is fine. They just need to close it to traffic. People whine because they want a 10 lane highway through downtown.

[someguy]

The plaza is terrible city planning. Jennifer Keesmaat should be permanently banned from Regina for coming up with the concept, and any administration involved should have been fired for even taking it to council.

Why would you build a plaza immediately adjacent to the other plaza that already has all of the street front businesses that you want on a plaza? 12th Avenue doesn't have the private infrastructure to make it successful. Although you can add programming to what they have built, the city created a competing space for what was already working so well downtown.

The 12th Avenue plaza isn't a build it and they will come situation. HSBC in Tower 1 will be there for a long time, B of C will be at their corner, and Sasktel with have a data center on their corner. The only opportunity to activate the space is the former Novia Cafe building, but that has been dilapidated since the 80's.

The city should have continued the FW Hill mall along Scarth Street. The farmers market could have continued along scarth from the Cornwall Centre all the way to 13th. Then, when sears closed, they could have continued the market indoors throughout the Christmas season.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

And that's why you're not a planner, because you think you can invent things out of thin air.

[aberrant]

They developed a great downtown plan, which included the plaza.

Then they completely diverted away from the plan and
- opened the plaza to traffic
- removed the one-ways, which screwed up downtown transit and traffic flow
- stopped investing/maintaing downtown infrastructure
- continued approving surface parking lots downtown

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Originally Posted by aberrant

They developed a great downtown plan, which included the plaza.

Then they completely diverted away from the plan and
- opened the plaza to traffic
- removed the one-ways, which screwed up downtown transit and traffic flow
- stopped investing/maintaing downtown infrastructure
- continued approving surface parking lots downtown

I agree with all your points except the one ways. I like what they did with 11th Avenue.

[aberrant]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

I agree with all your points except the one ways. I like what they did with 11th Avenue.

You like that there is no longer a right turning lane from Broad onto 11th, which creates a huge traffic snarl on Broad?

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by aberrant

You like that there is no longer a right turning lane from Broad onto 11th, which creates a huge traffic snarl on Broad?

I'll never in a million years figure that one out. Is it for pedestrian safety or something?

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by pappcam

I'll never in a million years figure that one out. Is it for pedestrian safety or something?

Yes. The bump-outs are all designed for pedestrian safety. They are doing all of Vic from Albert to Broad with them. I support it completely and hope they do all of downtown. Enough with the car supremacy.

[yveseluj]

They also do it throughout Harbour Landing and it's fantastic. I'm happy to see it downtown.