Regina Construction IV

[StealthGirl]

Semple is an arrogant jerk.

[blacktrojan3921]

They should really just build a new office downtown.

[Missinglink]

Originally Posted by blacktrojan3921

They should really just build a new office downtown.

Maybe they should just build somewhere else where they are appericated like maybe Illinois. Im sure they would like the jobs.

[Festivus]

Originally Posted by Missinglink

Maybe they should just build somewhere else where they are appericated like maybe Illinois. Im sure they would like the jobs.

That's the sort of attitude that only hurts everyone. "If you don't like the current shitty conditions life gives you, then maybe you don't deserve anything at all." Or maybe, workers and communities deserve better, and companies should provide better. People aren't cattle to be merely kept alive with only basic necessities.

[StealthGirl]

Regina council has a poor history of saying yes to all development and being afraid that enforcing any standards around design will mean the business leaves. Brandt isn't going anywhere. We need them to build downtown.

Really that whole block where the Travellers Building was is a lot of open space. It could be redevelope into something that would really help downtown if there was any sort of will.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

Regina council has a poor history of saying yes to all development and being afraid that enforcing any standards around design will mean the business leaves. Brandt isn't going anywhere. We need them to build downtown.

Really that whole block where the Travellers Building was is a lot of open space. It could be redevelope into something that would really help downtown if there was any sort of will.

I don't think this is correct.

The current bylaws don't allow the city to dictate design. And that is a good thing. There is currently a movement afoot to have design dictated in older neighbourhoods and this is a terrible idea. It is going to lead only too repetitive, boring designs based on architecture that died out in 1929. And attempts to replicate old design with new materials results in the godawful design like Conexus put up.

As for places like the Traveller's Building, I'm not entirely sure what you expect from the city. The location is bad. There's no way to fix that overnight. The whole street has effectively died and no right-thinking developer is simply going to waltz in there and build something.

The main tool in the city's arsenals is tax relief. But with a building like that, even a 5 year full tax abatement would result in probably only tens of thousands of savings. And on a multi-million dollar project it's simply peanuts. Moving beyond that you move into the city providing grants or simply expropriating the land. The latter only results in lawsuits and nothing specifically better.

It would be great if the city could direct a massive campaign of mixed use construction along broad street but you're contending with a bad neighbourhood, car-centric culture, questionable economics, and one land owner hoarding properties for a future arena.

[blacktrojan3921]

There's always reviving the Rose St building.

[blacktrojan3921]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Haha I missed the sarcasm that you saw. My point still stands and I also agree with you. Our growth-focused society is allowing companies like Brandt to take advantage of this desperation to increase GDP. It allows companies like Amazon to force communities in a race to the bottom for the "privilege" of hosting one of their facilities. Well, it needs to be a privilege for any company to operate here and hopefully our progressive city council helps make that a reality.

Companies like Walmart will sometimes put on a show and close down when their workers unionize, but the reality is, companies will always choose to make any kind of money, even if they have to pay their workers more and/or pay more taxes, when the resources and skilled labour is available. Just look at the grocery chains with their short-lived hero pay early last year. They still made huge profits doing that. In cities in the States where they raised their minimum wage to $15/hour, stores and restaurants still continue to operate with minimal price increases. People need to stop believing the propaganda and have some courage and dignity to tell these companies to pay up or fuck off. Brandt is no exception.

As long as we still live in a neoliberal culture and economic system thanks to the conservative revolution of the 80s, where there is little government involvement in the markets, that isn't likely going to happen anytime soon.

[Dougler306]

Originally Posted by Missinglink

Maybe they should just build somewhere else where they are appericated like maybe Illinois. Im sure they would like the jobs.

Completely agree. I know 2 machinist, one male, one female that work for Brandt and are paid very nicely. I also know 2 plumbers that work in ther mechanical division and also get paid very well. I want more money to per hour but the reality is it will not happen in this economic environment. Its cut throat out there!

Only thing that drives wages up in this country is the price of oil. When oil fetches high prices that trickles down into everything else and that's how high wages are produced. Wage increases have been at a virtual stand still for the last 5 years or more only in the last few months have you seen some wages go up. Company's needs to make money and when that happens you see the trickle down, in my opinion.

[skthunder77]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Yikes. Didn’t think people still actually believed that. The reality is, these companies are making huge amounts of money and workers are getting less and less of the benefits. If you or anyone can’t see that, especially after the obvious K-shaped post-Covid economic recovery, I don’t know what else to tell you.

"Lining up, waiting on the trickle down
Something's up, taking time to get around
Belly up, all the drinks are on the crown
It's just a matter of a trickle down"
- Gordon Downey and Gordon Sinclair

[The mayor]

https://www.ckom.com/2021/07/09/hund...ide-moose-jaw/

Marsh called the location a “natural fit,” being close to potash mines as well as to Moose Jaw and Regina, where power consumption is high. He also cited access to a natural gas pipeline and a transmission line.

Moose Jaw Mayor Fraser Tolmie poses for a photo with SaskPower CEO Mike Marsh. (Joseph Ho/980 CJME)
The total price tag for the project is $760 million. SaskPower

[McBean]

Originally Posted by Missinglink

Maybe they should just build somewhere else where they are appericated like maybe Illinois. Im sure they would like the jobs.

Brandt will just continue developing in the RM of Sherwood, avoiding any City of Regina taxes. Watch, they'll build their new Regina Pats hockey arena out by the Costco just outside of Regina / Sherwood RM borderline

[Festivus]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

I was driving by Evraz today and was just in Saskatoon last weekend checking out their newer north bridge and it got me thinking, what led to the difference between our cities in where a majority of industrial is between city and surrounding RM? I know there is some industrial in the RM of Corman Park around Saskatoon, but it seems like the city has captured most of it, especially to the north. When it comes to Regina, however, there seems to be a lot more industrial in our surrounding RMs. Most of the people working at these places live in Regina so it would be nice if the facilities that are generating a lot of revenue and profits for themselves would contribute more to our public services.

It's the eternal struggle of cities and surrounding areas—people usually either live or work in the cities (and rely on them for attraction of other people and business), but also don't want to pay the cost of living or working in that city.

[McBean]

Originally Posted by Festivus

It's the eternal struggle of cities and surrounding areas—people usually either live or work in the cities (and rely on them for attraction of other people and business), but also don't want to pay the cost of living or working in that city.

True that.

[StealthGirl]

https://beheard.regina.ca/budget-2022

Pre-budget survey. I don't trust the city to listen, but important to try to get as many people to respond.

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Is there an update on the former downtown YMCA property? What do we think it will become? Demolish or?

Also wondering status of the new downtown transit hub and where it will be located.

[The mayor]

I have always loved this tower it was known as Henry Bakers the Last Erection Mayor who built it
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saska...ment-1.6105902
Regina city hall's roof beyond 'useful life' and will be replaced

A crane will be used to bring materials and equipment onto the roof

[The mayor]

https://www.westerninvestor.com/sask...katoon-3969122

Office vacancy rates spikes in Regina, Saskatoon
Much of the empty space being seen in older Class A, B and C class buildings, and tenant incentives are increasing
According to the Colliers’ survey, there is 803,000 square feet of vacant office space in Regina’s downtown, out of a total of 4.5 million square feet. Most of the vacant space is in Class B and C buildings.

Net absorption of downtown office space in the second quarter was negative by 198,000 square feet, and went negative by about 48,000 square feet in the previous quarter.

[jigglysquishy]

I don't think there are any companies that really care what their employees want.

Employers want the office, which is why it will return.

[blacktrojan3921]

I am still looking for work, which is difficult because of my Crohn's so I'm likely to be a liability during the pandemic.