Saskatoon Construction III

[alt_center]

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

Wow, that is quite a fascinating proposal! As someone not familiar with Meridian, what are the odds this actually goes forward? What would be the expected completion date?

Meridian is just putting the finishing touches on the Escala. In that building the river view units got snapped up fast (although non river view unit sales have been dissappointingly slow). In this building it seems like almost all units would have a river view (some better than others obviously).

I would guess the minimum construction time would be 2 to 2.5 years, so it would be coming "online" after the worst of the pandemic has passed (fingers crossed).

So if I were to guess, I'd say it has a good chance of happening. Of course I though the same for Highpoint (which got delayed after disappointing pre-sales).

My theory about Highpoint is that they will move the majority of the parking to the podium to reduce the cost and come back to the market at a lower price point.

[prairieguy]

I understood that the underground parking in Highpoint contributed to stabilizing the "riverbank slumping" issue that can exist there. But I might be wrong about that...

I understand they have decided to cut back on commercial space, so hope the building is essentially the same without the one floor of office/commercial. I would still like to see main floor/street level retained for a restaurant of some kind.

[alt_center]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

I understood that the underground parking in Highpoint contributed to stabilizing the "riverbank slumping" issue that can exist there. But I might be wrong about that...

I understand they have decided to cut back on commercial space, so hope the building is essentially the same without the one floor of office/commercial. I would still like to see main floor/street level retained for a restaurant of some kind.

I think you are right about the riverbank stabilization... I am assuming they will still have to put in lots of deep piles but that's still got to be way cheaper than 4 floors of underground parking. I too really hope they keep some kind of street level interaction if it ever gets built.

BTW I saw them put in deep pilings at Escala... the hydraulic drill drilled 50 - 60 foot deep holes in 5 mins.... amazing how much power a hydraulic hose can deliver.

[Arts]

Originally Posted by Wormo

Browsing through the Development Appeals Board notices, I came across an early peek at Meridian's proposed project for the parking lot of the Knox United Church at Spadina and 24th.

19 storeys, with one floor of underground parking and four levels of parking in the podium, bistro space on the ground floor, two levels of office on the 3rd and 4th facing Spadina, and 112 residential units from the 5th to 19th floors.

Thanks for posting this! I really like the esthetic of this and think it suits this area well - exactly what I could hope for and I love seeing the cluster of midrise towers while coming down university bridge (wish the Baydo towers currently being worked on a block over was more akin to this one)... however I do not like how this is situated on the site, the church will lie in it's shadow full time, seems to close and the massing is just way off (maybe it's the way it wraps around the end of the church or else not quite enough of a setback from the road).

[tenraptors]

Originally Posted by Wormo

Browsing through the Development Appeals Board notices, I came across an early peek at Meridian's proposed project for the parking lot of the Knox United Church at Spadina and 24th.

19 storeys, with one floor of underground parking and four levels of parking in the podium, bistro space on the ground floor, two levels of office on the 3rd and 4th facing Spadina, and 112 residential units from the 5th to 19th floors.




Source is this pdf. There are a few more renderings, elevation drawings and some floor plans if you want to take a look.

Wow, I had a really negative reaction at first glance but the more I look at it the more I love it

[Draftsman]

Originally Posted by Wormo

Browsing through the Development Appeals Board notices, I came across an early peek at Meridian's proposed project for the parking lot of the Knox United Church at Spadina and 24th.

19 storeys, with one floor of underground parking and four levels of parking in the podium, bistro space on the ground floor, two levels of office on the 3rd and 4th facing Spadina, and 112 residential units from the 5th to 19th floors.




Source is this pdf. There are a few more renderings, elevation drawings and some floor plans if you want to take a look.

I do hope this gets constructed with only minor changes. It reminds me of two beautiful condos (IMHO) ... 1 Bloor Street East in Toronto, and Aqua Tower in Chicago (on a smaller scale of course, but it should still be very dramatic!)
Sorry, I don't know how to post images from another site, so if someone would mind doing so, please do!

[EpicPonyTime]

That tower would be such a nice addition to Saskatoon. Rarely does the city see any proposal even remotely approaching that level of creativity.

[Ricopedra]

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[Gravity Wins]

That building has a real Vancouver vibe to it. Love it or hate it, it will add diversity to the Saskatoon skyline and make things more interesting. Hope it happens!

[canuck10]

Originally Posted by Ricopedra

The Knox tower. If it's named after the church hopefully the church is on their side. That might help with any appeals.

The church owns the land they are proposing to build on so they must be on side, perhaps begrudgingly (I have no idea). Churches are struggling to survive so I expect their support may be predicated on the financial benefits. I do wonder if the property is to be subdivided and sold to Meridian or would they simply lease the land from the church. I also wonder what the church will do for parking since this building will take up all their current parking space. Maybe they get a few permanent parking spots for staff in the parkade. And maybe the commercial spots in the parkade could be made available for church parking on Sundays.

[Ricopedra]

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[ToonTownRob]

I love the meridian proposal and admire how the curvature of the balconies and change of glazing creates a rippling three-dimensionality on what is actually a very flat tall building!

BUT... I simply hate the location and sighting. (Sorry.) It is way too close to the church and destroys it aesthetically. Churches are “high rises of old” and need a minimum amount of space around them in order to be viewed and properly appreciated and enjoyed. Every time I see a large tall building jammed up against one I think “How would the owners/residents of that tower feel if a new, proportionately larger building came and jammed up against THEM in the exact same proportionate way?

The Meridian tower is beautiful, and deserves a great site. It does not deserve to start life with the legacy of being the building that destroyed the Knox’s place in Saskatoon’s built environment.

Come on guys! Show some respect! The Knox is a grand old lady of Saskatoon, and you’re like some big new young football player who shoves her aside to take your place in the sun!

If you want your own work to be appreciated, you should start by showing respect and appreciation for what came before you. This doesn’t do that.

We have so many sites that are open and screaming for development in Saskatoon. Why do we again have to destroy our existing built heritage to do something new? It’s not moving forward if every time we go forward we take one or two steps back.

[roryn1]

Tees and Perse has resumed some work on the building on the last week - hopefully it is work that will lead to completion! Anyone know?

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by ToonTownRob

We have so many sites that are open and screaming for development in Saskatoon. Why do we again have to destroy our existing built heritage to do something new? It’s not moving forward if every time we go forward we take one or two steps back.

First of all, the location probably is a large motivating factor for Meridian. Right on Spadina, two blocks from the Bessborough, a short walk (or bike!!!) from the University; the lot is also obviously for sale or lease considering Meridian even proposed it. I assume the church has already thought through the parking issue if it is considering this project on its land.

Second, whether or not a high-rise takes away from a neighbouring building is a matter of taste and context. In Europe where every building seems to be a five story mixed use apartment, the steeples of catholic and protestant churches have dominated for centuries. In North America, new and old live side-by-side in harmony. Downtown cathedrals sit in the shadows of modern skyscrapers without being overshadowed.

That stretch along Spadina is beautiful, but the gap between St. John's and Knox is an ugly parking lot and should be filled. In addition, development companies will only be motivated to build great architecture if a) the location is prime (this one is), or b) there is competition for limited space (not the case in Saskatoon's core). If a development company wants to build a great building in our downtown we shouldn't tell them no and expect them to build to the same standard in a worse location.

Let Meridian add to Saskatoon's top-notch inventory and provide some pressure on other property managers to upgrade existing buildings or lower prices!

[SaskScraper]

Let me get this straight. Some posters on here have some apprehension to the Knox Tower development But they don't to the commie block blight that's being constructed a couple blocks north by Baydo?

I'm still waiting for the "there's too much glass in the Knox project as compared to Baydo's commemoration to Stalingrad, make it uneconomical in our climate and isn't energy efficient compliant enough with all that GLASS..." comments.

In reality this is the best the city could hope for. Meridian is just adding one more project at a time to their portfolio of exceptional contributions to the city no matter how much municipal government couldn't tell the difference between high quality developments like this and highrise slum that they approve for construction downtown on 25th street.

My only misgiving about the Knox Tower proposal is that it isn't a couple more floors of underground parking and add another dozen residential storeys on top to make it more effective 'aqua' look and a bigger profile in the city. Projects like this are the best thing to keep neighbouring churches economics viable and allowing them to raise funds from their deserted parking lots and for restoration work for their heritage status of their churches.

[905er]

the knox tower is a welcomed addition compared to the Kiev style commie block Baydo abortions. I really hope Saskatoon gets this tower.. it'll break up all the brick in that part of town.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by SaskScraper

Let me get this straight. Some posters on here have some apprehension to the Knox Tower development But they don't to the commie block blight that's being constructed a couple blocks north by Baydo?

You just trying to stir up discontent?

Few, if any, posters on this board are enamoured with the look of the Baydo development but most do like the increased density that it brings. Many have, in fact, expressed their distaste for the Baydo design.

In contrast, most of the posts that I've seen about the Knox development are very supportive of it. The only significant downside to the project noted by some is that it takes away from the prominence of the 2 churches along that stretch of the riverbank. Seems like fair comment to me.

To imply that people prefer the Baydo development to the Knox development is some pretty extreme hyperbole.

[phone]

Originally Posted by Crisis

You just trying to stir up discontent?

Given their post history in the national forum, I am going to go with "yes" on this one.

[SaskScraper]

Originally Posted by 905er

the knox tower is a welcomed addition compared to the Kiev style commie block Baydo abortions. I really hope Saskatoon gets this tower.. it'll break up all the brick in that part of town.

I couldn't have said it better or more succinctly myself.
Sometimes it takes an opinion from outside in the more dynamic real world to help explain it to the local toontown folk.

After reading the post from someone that couldn't tell the difference in quality between Baydo's 25th st project & Urban Capital's Highpoint proposal, I had to just shake my head.

[ToonTownRob]

I agree that the Meridian proposal needs and deserves a prominent site on the river bank.

The Ukrainian museum of Canada and the parking lot beside it are/were for sale. That would be an excellent site for this without destroying the spacing around an already existing great building.

And the podium wouldn’t need its inefficient L shape to adapt to an inappropriate site.

It strikes me as odd how often some people seem driven to form their opinions based on ideologies rather than looking at each opportunity based on its individual merits, with an understanding and acceptance that there is lots of grey in the world, and that’s okay. It is rare that anything is rightly just black or white.