Saskatoon Construction III

[prairieguy]

Not really construction related, but I found a youtube video that someone poste of one of the fireworks shows from this past Saturday to kick off Wintershine Festival. Pretty impressive. For those that don't know, you could register online to watch it virtually (as no live viewing was allowed) and it was done to music. Obviously this person had access to a deck or something to watch from. The ending is pretty spectacular!!
Good for you Saskatoon!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=retg...uGEMfKcR9TafGA

I also saw a cute video taken of family watching fireworks from a room at the Alt Hotel from there floor to ceiling windows. Little kid was pretty into it! That would be a great promo video for the Alt!

[Wyku]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

Not really construction related, but I found a youtube video that someone poste of one of the fireworks shows from this past Saturday to kick off Wintershine Festival. Pretty impressive. For those that don't know, you could register online to watch it virtually (as no live viewing was allowed) and it was done to music. Obviously this person had access to a deck or something to watch from. The ending is pretty spectacular!!
Good for you Saskatoon!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=retg...uGEMfKcR9TafGA

I also saw a cute video taken of family watching fireworks from a room at the Alt Hotel from there floor to ceiling windows. Little kid was pretty into it! That would be a great promo video for the Alt!

It sounded like there were a lot of streaming issues for the event from chatter on Twitter (vocal minority?). It seems like a waste to not have a video of the official stream available for people to view after the fact--I looked on the Wintershines website and FB page and didn't see anything mentioned about it.

[prairieguy]

I was surprised to find nothing on the website either. I had to go to Youtube to see if any private citizen posted anything. Maybe they are just slow to get something up on their platforms.

That's too bad if they had streaming issues during the event. Technology can be your friend....or NOT!

[Debratty]

Originally Posted by roryn1

I guess the old second ave starbucks is closing today! Huge loss for downtown

Lawson Starbucks closed and heard the Starbucks from Hilton is gone as well. I'm sure sales are down on 2nd Ave from lack of people working downtown.

[roryn1]

https://thestarphoenix.com/business/...-for-saskatoon

This is exciting but i’m sad about the location of this. This could be beautiful if it was along the river. Who wants to stay in a hotel not downtown ...

[Echoes]

https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/after-8...move-1.5311423

I'm curious what might be afoot behind this story of Burnett's Keys moving out of its longtime downtown storefront. The owner of Burnett's say "the building was sold to new owners who had different plans for it".

Will be sad to see that great neon sign disappear, but I'm curious what's up.

[Echoes]

The cynic in me says the new owner is just putting up surface parking to rent to people working in the new River Landing towers.

[prairieguy]

Originally Posted by roryn1

https://thestarphoenix.com/business/...-for-saskatoon

This is exciting but i’m sad about the location of this. This could be beautiful if it was along the river. Who wants to stay in a hotel not downtown ...

Likely people wanting a golf vacation or "nature/spa" feel like stay, but still be in a city.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

Likely people wanting a golf vacation or "nature/spa" feel like stay, but still be in a city.

Agreed.

Located in the dip adjacent to the "red barn" at the Willows, I think they're looking for a bit of seclusion. Not to mention that Dream already owns the land, as compared to trying to buy very expensive land near the river. Also, getting zoning / development approval for anything adjacent to the river is very difficult.

I think they're working on the "if you build it, they will come" philosophy. This isn't the only group kicking around the Nordic Spa idea in the region, but they are the most public.

[prairieguy]

I think it is a great concept to bring to a winter city...but having said that, they need to ensure that it is viable in the winter time. Indoor mineral pool, steam/sauna options, etc are needed to make it a destination hotel/spa in our winter months.

Even if they could keep some of the hot tubs accessible in winter, that could be a "nordic attraction for some". I am sure they are considering 4 season attractions, but it has to be MORE then a series of outdoor pools.

Good luck to them and when this covid madness is over (or under control) my wife and I will be booking a weekend!

[roryn1]

Originally Posted by Echoes

The cynic in me says the new owner is just putting up surface parking to rent to people working in the new River Landing towers.

The whole side of The Lighthouse there would be a great place for more social services for lighthouse tenants and users. That back alley of the lighthouse can get scary as that’s where most of the tenants banned from the lighthouse camp out.
Fingers crossed it’s a gov related new building specific to social services.

Or could the arena fit there if they were moving the lighthouse to a new destination? finally tear down the continental hotel that was abandoned by its owner, and move the old ugly courthouse? I bet negotiating land price on that lot would be a lot easier than negotiating with Midtown’s management.

https://i.ibb.co/CvSYkZM/30-F70-DAD-...A6-E04-D83.jpg

[Roquentin]

Originally Posted by roryn1

Or could the arena fit there if they were moving the lighthouse to a new destination? finally tear down the continental hotel that was abandoned by its owner, and move the old ugly courthouse? I bet negotiating land price on that lot would be a lot easier than negotiating with Midtown’s management.

Hah! Now that's an idea! But it is interesting to think about what might happen if the Lighthouse were to move. I'd guess that the value of Burnett's would increase. My prediction is that the Burnett's building is not long for the world, and that another parking lot will soon be born.

[Debratty]

Originally Posted by roryn1

https://thestarphoenix.com/business/...-for-saskatoon

This is exciting but i’m sad about the location of this. This could be beautiful if it was along the river. Who wants to stay in a hotel not downtown ...

Land at river would be pricey and can see why they chose the site they did. I think this is a great addition to something unique for our city. It's a bold move in these times but shows how great some our developers are in Saskatoon with long term vision. I like the location personally as think about a conference/wedding having an option for golf/spa. Golf course sits empty in the Winter and the Nordic spas I have been to are busier in winter months. Saskatoon needs more things to do in the winter(for our own sanity) and judging by the response of the social media it is going to be an attraction that will help local businesses. I was looking at Dream's Development and think overall there is a lot of value being thought through. Saw a new professionally developed course being added in tiers.

[Debratty]

Originally Posted by Roquentin

Hah! Now that's an idea! But it is interesting to think about what might happen if the Lighthouse were to move. I'd guess that the value of Burnett's would increase. My prediction is that the Burnett's building is not long for the world, and that another parking lot will soon be born.

Lighthouse is another issue that needs to be addressed for sure. Sounds like too many programs going on and too many politics. Problem is if you get funding(private) to help move will the provincial govt(social services) provide operating funding or zoning in another location?

There was a $1 billion dollar federal fund for Affordable Housing available and will be interesting to hear if they captured options to address any issues. No sense having an arena downtown if you have 10 people holding up signs asking for money.

[Debratty]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

I think it is a great concept to bring to a winter city...but having said that, they need to ensure that it is viable in the winter time. Indoor mineral pool, steam/sauna options, etc are needed to make it a destination hotel/spa in our winter months.

Even if they could keep some of the hot tubs accessible in winter, that could be a "nordic attraction for some". I am sure they are considering 4 season attractions, but it has to be MORE then a series of outdoor pools.

Good luck to them and when this covid madness is over (or under control) my wife and I will be booking a weekend!

I think this spa will help increase Saskatchewans population so look out August-November babies in years to come! ha ha To be able to spa and ski would be something I've never done in 1 day or even 1 same year. LOL

My wife and I have gone to 2 Nordic Spa's(Winnipeg and Muskoka area) and both visited in winter and all pools were operating outdoors with heated sidewalks. would be nice to see a covered pool if extreme cold as never thought about those days. We love them so much and can't wait.

[Debratty]

Not building-related but I had to comment, who is not jumping up and down for Babs to coach U of S hockey?

https://www.sportsnet.ca/usports/art...20head%20coach.

Did he have any part in the development of that university arena?
Do you think he will be influential on the downtown arena?

[triskit]

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I feel like the courthouse would be better suited to the old library branch once that has relocated.

[YXE]

There is just no way the citizens and council members have an appetite to relocate an entire block of existing businesses etc. to build an area. Imagine the public outcry - it would be a death sentence for council members; they won't do it.

There was some discussion on twitter that the city's purchase of a building near Idylwyld could be for the future entertainment district. I'm less sold. Remember, as part of the "Imagine Idylwyld" project, the city is planning on doing significant work to that mini side street next to the Y/TCU Place. Occam's razor would suggest they bought the building to help facilitate these changes. I would love to be wrong!!

What the city should do: expand TCU in its existing facility & build the arena across the street.

what I wish the city would do: build the arena on the Toys 'R 'Us lot. Include an adjacent tower or two for the amazing river views.

On a totally random note, I wish a developer would approach the provincial government in regards to purchasing the plot of land across from the Bez. I would love to see a tower go up right in the middle of downtown. Ugh.

[YXE]

https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/c...-festival-site

"Plus, with the River Landing rehabilitation finished and the nearby megaproject nearing completion, the south downtown is starting to seem saturated, even congested."

Hear me out on this one, Tank: No.

[Echoes]

^ Yep, that column is a bad take.