Regina - Downtown Catalyst Projects Discussion

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by esquire

It wouldn't take much. No one would be expecting Times Square to materialize along Broad. Just a nice row of low-rise, one to three storey commercial buildings, restaurants, etc. near the arena would be fine.

There's no demand for it. Regina has so much unused commercial space and they keep building more on the periphery. If Regina were 450,000 people it might spur some development. Right now I don't think the economics are there to support anything outside of maybe a Tims next door.

Broad Street makes the most sense to me. Railyards is my second choice. I am saying the Railyards just because I don't ever really see any meaningful connection to the core from it and I don't see any demand to actually use the space. Build a couple of nice pedestrian bridges across to the arena and there's some synergy with the hotel and mall for events. Maybe spur a bit of development in the future around it, but right now that land is going to sit for I would guess at least fifteen years.

[Stormer]

Some of the renders of the Aquatics Facility were lifted from the new facility in New Westminster. I assume with permission.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/new-west...nity-centre-canada-games-pool-centennial

[thurmas]

Is there plans for the worlds largest humptys with the new arena development?

[Stormer]

I think the baseball stadium plans are even more bonkers than the Aquatics Centre. $25 million for a summer collegiate baseball league team? Do people even know their season is only 2.5 months long? This is not even a single A league. If this went on prime land at the Yards, it would be a terrible waste.

[cityboy]

Originally Posted by Stormer

I think the baseball stadium plans are even more bonkers than the Aquatics Centre. $25 million for a summer collegiate baseball league team? Do people even know their season is only 2.5 months long? This is not even a single A league. If this went on prime land at the Yards, it would be a terrible waste.

Agreed. That land presents a rare opportunity. I don't see developers lining up to build residential on the Taylor Field site so the aquatics/ball diamond/ soccer field should be built there , if anywhere.

[McBean]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Does anyone else think $173 million for an aquatics centre is... absolutely insane? It will also lose $5.3 million per year on operations according to the study so add at least another $100 million to that in present value.

I am totally with you here Storm. Complete waste of money. And the city has been going Hard on this since the new mayor was elected. Not sure why either.

[CCF]

My list of preferred locations for each facility based off of existing conditions of the site, ability to accommodate the facility of its size, and potential to "catalyze" development or complement existing uses

Arena:
1) 1800 Block of Rose or 1800 Block of Broad
2) The Yards

Library:
1) Existing site but incorporating the existing building into the design (or at the very least, maintaining the northeast corner/façade of the building)

Aquatics centre:
1) Next to the Lawson, incorporating the Lawson into the design (if financially feasible and if there is an expected programming need for the old and the new)

Ballpark:
1) REAL grounds west of Confederation park, and seating oriented to allow views opening up towards the downtown
2) If the City has landholdings elsewhere in the interior of the Warehouse District (i.e., North of Dewdney) work with the proponents on this. An urban ballpark would be great, but a venue used this infrequently should not be pitched as a catalyst and great land opportunities shouldn't be squandered (i.e., No to The Yards).

Soccer stadium:
It's still vague/unclear if this and the ballpark are to be combined, but if it's to be it's own facility
1) REAL next to existing indoor soccer pitches
2) Same as above. An "urban" venue would be great, but this and the ballpark should not occupy lands that have great potential (i.e., The Yards) but some sort of secondary site within the Warehouse District would be neat during the summer.

Also, outside of the library and aquatics centre, the City should limit any public $ it contributes. I believe the City's support on these projects should be limited to providing land.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by CCF

Ballpark:
1) REAL grounds west of Confederation park, and seating oriented to allow views opening up towards the downtown
2) If the City has landholdings elsewhere in the interior of the Warehouse District (i.e., North of Dewdney) work with the proponents on this. An urban ballpark would be great, but a venue used this infrequently should not be pitched as a catalyst and great land opportunities shouldn't be squandered (i.e., No to The Yards).

Totally agree. A baseball park might help lift the surrounding area, but it would take more than 1,000 fans coming for a two and a half month long season. For a pro team like a AA or AAA team playing a full-length season and drawing larger crowds it would make sense. But not for something like the WCBL.

Putting this type of venue in a downtown or near-downtown setting like The Yards would be a waste of space, IMO. This kind of thing would be a perfect use for the Taylor Field site, close enough to be convenient and central but not creating a dead zone on the edge of downtown 95% of the time.

[cityboy]

Originally Posted by CCF

My list of preferred locations for each facility based off of existing conditions of the site, ability to accommodate the facility of its size, and potential to "catalyze" development or complement existing uses

Arena:
1) 1800 Block of Rose or 1800 Block of Broad
2) The Yards

Library:
1) Existing site but incorporating the existing building into the design (or at the very least, maintaining the northeast corner/façade of the building)

Aquatics centre:
1) Next to the Lawson, incorporating the Lawson into the design (if financially feasible and if there is an expected programming need for the old and the new)

Ballpark:
1) REAL grounds west of Confederation park, and seating oriented to allow views opening up towards the downtown
2) If the City has landholdings elsewhere in the interior of the Warehouse District (i.e., North of Dewdney) work with the proponents on this. An urban ballpark would be great, but a venue used this infrequently should not be pitched as a catalyst and great land opportunities shouldn't be squandered (i.e., No to The Yards).

Soccer stadium:
It's still vague/unclear if this and the ballpark are to be combined, but if it's to be it's own facility
1) REAL next to existing indoor soccer pitches
2) Same as above. An "urban" venue would be great, but this and the ballpark should not occupy lands that have great potential (i.e., The Yards) but some sort of secondary site within the Warehouse District would be neat during the summer.

Also, outside of the library and aquatics centre, the City should limit any public $ it contributes. I believe the City's support on these projects should be limited to providing land.

I think this sums up my opinion completely, CCF! The only thing that I'm wondering about is the ball park and soccer field. They somehow think this can be combined. I can't picture how this would look. However, I'm concerned this will end up in The Yards. With the amount of land it will gobble up including parking, it will just be a frozen wasteland for a big chunk of the year.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by cityboy

I think this sums up my opinion completely, CCF! The only thing that I'm wondering about is the ball park and soccer field. They somehow think this can be combined. I can't picture how this would look. However, I'm concerned this will end up in The Yards. With the amount of land it will gobble up including parking, it will just be a frozen wasteland for a big chunk of the year.

I believe NYCFC plays at Yankee Stadium. It appears doable, although not ideal.

It certainly makes sense from a cost sharing and land use perspective.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

So, did anyone mention that the Provincial Court is on the block of the supposed preferred arena site? This can’t be a serious option.

That building is very cheaply built and probably due for replacement.

[CCF]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

So, did anyone mention that the Provincial Court is on the block of the supposed preferred arena site? This can’t be a serious option.

New catalyst project *unlocked*

[jigglysquishy]

Rebuilding the court house is going to cost $10+ million and require complete buy in from the provincial government.

It would have to be rebuilt before demo of the existing one.

And it's not even talked about in their documents.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

Rebuilding the court house is going to cost $10+ million and require complete buy in from the provincial government.

It would have to be rebuilt before demo of the existing one.

And it's not even talked about in their documents.

I would say $30-60 million.

[Stormer]

It appears they are proposing the baseball/soccer facilities for Taylor Field and they would be separate.

[esquire]

Baseball at Taylor Field again. Like the old days.

[Festivus]

Major development in Regina is just a series of lies.

"By using public money to build a new football stadium, we can clear up a bunch of land for low-income housing and community spaces!

"By using that land set aside for low-income housing and community spaces for a new publicly funded sports stadium, we can generate money in the community!"

It's lie after lie.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Festivus

Major development in Regina is just a series of lies.

"By using public money to build a new football stadium, we can clear up a bunch of land for low-income housing and community spaces!

"By using that land set aside for low-income housing and community spaces for a new publicly funded sports stadium, we can generate money in the community!"

It's lie after lie.

One of the City Councilors said there were "whispers of low-income housing" at the Taylor Field site when it was demolished but nothing definitive! LOL

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by Festivus

Major development in Regina is just a series of lies.

"By using public money to build a new football stadium, we can clear up a bunch of land for low-income housing and community spaces!

"By using that land set aside for low-income housing and community spaces for a new publicly funded sports stadium, we can generate money in the community!"

It's lie after lie.

Agreed.

[Stormer]

2022 Councilor Bresciani: “I had heard that there were whispers that the Taylor Field was going to be designated for some affordable housing. But there has been nothing that has moved that forward,” she said.

2016 Mayor: “There will be varying degrees of density,” Fougere said. “There will be affordable housing.”