Saskatoon Construction III - Page 129

prairieguy · #**2561** Posted **Apr 6, 2020, 5:28 PM**

I think it will be an excellent addition along the 25th St corridor connecting to Idylwyld. Hopefully the design is inspiring and functional and create a much needed 'anchor' at that end of downtown. If and when the railyards/cityyards are ever developed, this is a great amenity to have in that area.

Echoes · #**2562** Posted **Apr 6, 2020, 8:47 PM**

All in all a decent location for the new library.

I was hoping for something a bit more central to the established core of the Downtown, and it's too bad that the library will no longer be an anchor of a "civic precinct" around City Hall (with the Police already disembarked from this area there's not much of a precinct to speak of anyway).

But on the positive side, this site is close to the future BRT system, helps reinforce 2nd Ave as a central spine (anchored by the Remai on the south and the library on the north), and an entire block length gives them a lot of room to work with (to incorporate outdoor green space/plaza, and perhaps some co-location or development partnership opportunities). I do not think that the land was prime for any private development opportunities for the foreseeable future, and this project will hopefully spin off some further development in this pretty dead part of Downtown. The buzz of 2nd Avenue abruptly falls off at 23rd Street.

roryn1 · #**2563** Posted **Apr 7, 2020, 2:08 PM**

This CTV article states it’s now 70,000 sqft. Apparently a 5% cut in the budget cut the size of the building down 40%, and they mention that the majority of the land will be used for “green space”
Everything that comes out of the heads of this library’s mouth makes me sick as a taxpayer. I grew up and went to a library building the quality of the liquor store they bought and ended up pretty darn fine. But this monster tax bill that we can’t afford is all for architectural pride or something, so I will keep my mouth shut. It’s being built very close to my condo, so I’m excited for it raising my property value - out of greed and on the backs of other taxpayers.

https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/mobile/...rary-1.4885181

prairieguy · #**2564** Posted **Apr 7, 2020, 2:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roryn1

This CTV article states it’s now 70,000 sqft. Apparently a 5% cut in the budget cut the size of the building down 40%, and they mention that the majority of the land will be used for “green space”
Everything that comes out of the heads of this library’s mouth makes me sick as a taxpayer. I grew up and went to a library building the quality of the liquor store they bought and ended up pretty darn fine. But this monster tax bill that we can’t afford is all for architectural pride or something, so I will keep my mouth shut. It’s being built very close to my condo, so I’m excited for it raising my property value - out of greed and on the backs of other taxpayers.

https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/mobile/...rary-1.4885181

The size of the LOT is 70,000 sq ft. There are no plans as to building yet, but I am sure it will be multiple floors, so they likely will still be sticking to their goal of around 120,000 to 140,000 sq ft building.

Echoes · #**2565** Posted **Apr 7, 2020, 3:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roryn1

This CTV article states it’s now 70,000 sqft. Apparently a 5% cut in the budget cut the size of the building down 40%, and they mention that the majority of the land will be used for “green space”
Everything that comes out of the heads of this library’s mouth makes me sick as a taxpayer. I grew up and went to a library building the quality of the liquor store they bought and ended up pretty darn fine. But this monster tax bill that we can’t afford is all for architectural pride or something, so I will keep my mouth shut. It’s being built very close to my condo, so I’m excited for it raising my property value - out of greed and on the backs of other taxpayers.

https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/mobile/...rary-1.4885181

The article does not state that. It states that the parcel of land upon which the building will be constructed is 70,000 square feet (odd to cite the area of that much land in square feet, but then again, it's CTV). There is no mention of what the impact to the building's square footage will be from the reduced budget.

Indoor/outdoor green space is mentioned as a feature - which is absolutely nothing new - the SPL's business case from last year mentions this as part of the proposed building program. No mention in the article of the "majority of the land" being used for this. Your tendency to hyperbolize hurts the credibility of your complaints about the project.

Temperance · #**2566** Posted **Apr 7, 2020, 3:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roryn1

This CTV article states it’s now 70,000 sqft. Apparently a 5% cut in the budget cut the size of the building down 40%, and they mention that the majority of the land will be used for “green space”
Everything that comes out of the heads of this library’s mouth makes me sick as a taxpayer. I grew up and went to a library building the quality of the liquor store they bought and ended up pretty darn fine. But this monster tax bill that we can’t afford is all for architectural pride or something, so I will keep my mouth shut. It’s being built very close to my condo, so I’m excited for it raising my property value - out of greed and on the backs of other taxpayers.

https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/mobile/...rary-1.4885181

I could not disagree with you more. Libraries can be great public amenities and good libraries that serve multiple functions tend to be very popular. I would gladly swallow the very small tax raise this could theoretically represent (or better yet, find the money by cutting corporate welfare policies). Libraries are often the only truly accessible community learning and gathering spaces.

The site isn't bad, but I would have liked to see the library being part of larger neighbourhood revitalization initiatives (like the civic precinct). Still, I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with.

YXE · #**2567** Posted **Apr 7, 2020, 5:33 PM**

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tec...tone-1.5523929

I mean no harm to our friends out West but this has to be taken advantage of by our different levels of government. This could be a huge opportunity for our city to take advantage of. Thoughts?

Crisis · #**2568** Posted **Apr 7, 2020, 5:49 PM**

$9M for 70,000 sqft works out to $5.6M per acre. I'd say the previous owners of that property made out pretty well in this transaction.

I'll reserve my opinion on the library itself until we find out some more about it.

prairieguy · #**2569** Posted **Apr 7, 2020, 6:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YXE

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tec...tone-1.5523929

I mean no harm to our friends out West but this has to be taken advantage of by our different levels of government. This could be a huge opportunity for our city to take advantage of. Thoughts?

That is very interesting. Likely would be a tough sell for Saskatoon...but if we get our small but thriving tech sector here to tout the benefits of business and life in our community...who knows? We could certainly point to the growing tech sector in Saskatoon and also the very reasonable cost of living and cultural/recreation amenities. I think we really need to "sell" the benefits, as we are just not top of mind for those thinking to relocate.

I agree....not under the best circumstances, but definitely a potential opportunity to do some recruiting!

mmx · #**2570** Posted **Apr 7, 2020, 11:44 PM**

Well if we are going to take away Alberta's tech desperadoes, then hows about recruiting a top notch architect to the city to get the school up and running while we are at it. I nominate Todd Saunders. Why him? He seems to have an affinity for teaching and that Douglas Cardinal building on the campus. There is going to be a need to design a library, convention place, and arena soon. So that, along with Meewasin transitioning to Chapter Three of the Moriyama master plan, mean incentives to lure a dynamic designer like TS from Scandinavia to Saskatoon would certainly be there.

Ricopedra · #**2571** Posted **Apr 8, 2020, 9:28 AM**

edit

Ricopedra · #**2572** Posted **Apr 8, 2020, 9:49 AM**

edit

Crisis · #**2573** Posted **Apr 8, 2020, 2:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricopedra

It looks like they're just dumping dirt there, not digging - probably from the Broadway site? Also, is that a 'for sale' sign up? That could mean they're flipping the land before the city deadline and the project is dead. Just me looking in from afar....

Looks to me that the "For Sale" sign is still the original one from the City of Saskatoon, If so, then there's really no cause for concern. Could be wrong, though, and certainly open for correction from someone more in the know.

scotty c · #**2574** Posted **Apr 8, 2020, 2:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crisis

Looks to me that the "For Sale" sign is still the original one from the City of Saskatoon, If so, then there's really no cause for concern. Could be wrong, though, and certainly open for correction from someone more in the know.

Yeah I walk past there occasionally at lunch. It’s the same sign that’s been there for months.

Echoes · #**2575** Posted **Apr 8, 2020, 3:07 PM**

I noticed excavators working onsite when I drove past yesterday.

roryn1 · #**2576** Posted **Apr 8, 2020, 3:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echoes

I noticed excavators working onsite when I drove past yesterday.

My condo faces that lot and I’ve been watching it in excitement. Unfortunately though, They’ve been piling dirt there, not removing dirt. It’s like they’re using it to store dirt from another nearby excavation? I have no clue what the purpose of adding dirt to that lot serves..