Regina - Downtown Catalyst Projects Discussion

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Hmm it’s almost like affordable housing isn’t a profitable venture and maybe the ability to house people who can’t afford rent shouldn’t be tied to the willingness of private interests to get involved or be incentivized to do so. Oops, are we still allowed to talk about this in here? Pappcam is watching!

There is a housing thread ready for your thoughts, djforsberg

[CCF]

Originally Posted by Newstart

the affordable housing project that was approved how long ago? and clearly is having issues getting off the ground? I would hardly say the story would be "city squashes affordable housing project for arena"...

I've already seen the narrative going around on Twitter so.... ???

[Newstart]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

It’s hard and unnatural to break up conversations between threads. The catalyst project may or may not having a housing component to it so it’s all related.

Well you and I disagree greatly on this topic overall clearly. I agree with your statement here.

The Catalyst Project SHOULD include affordable housing elements AND it is done in partnership with private interest in numerous cities across North America. The Housing doesn't have to be for profit, the expertise to develop and build it however should and can be done with profit. The simple reality is the private sector builds for FAR FAR less expense and bloating as any level of Government does.

We can get into philosophical debates on who is mature and who isn't because of the political leanings or beliefs of capitalism and/or communistic type beliefs however I would hope we can agree that for a true Catalyst it requires residential, and a portion of that should be affordable. Its clear that for a decade + of attempts to kick start residential development by Municipal Level has not worked, so do we keep posturing and saying how this mayor and council or that mayor and council or this premier or that premier have failed OR do we look at solutions that are executed elsewhere in North America with varying degrees of success with private sector partnerships to execute.

A combination of the Catalyst Projects with private sector residential and public sector funding on affordable housing will start the catalyst that Regina so greatly deserves.

[StealthGirl]

I don't see any residential happening with the Regina Catalyst projects. The supporters are claiming it will follow these rec facilities, but the same things were said to get the stadium.

[Newstart]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

I don't see any residential happening with the Regina Catalyst projects. The supporters are claiming it will follow these rec facilities, but the same things were said to get the stadium.

Yes, there is nothing on the plans. what I'm saying is there SHOULD be. It would go a long way.

[cityboy]

Originally Posted by CCF

oof.

How is mixed-use development in Harbour Landing a bad idea? That's exactly what Regina's suburban neighbourhoods need more of.

I agree with you in theory on this. Too bad they botched it by surrounding it in parking instead of having it right on Gordon. There was supposed to be more of this mixed use type of development on Chuka which would make perfect sense as it would be transit oriented but the city caved and allowed the zoning amendment for the green Tim's or whatever. The whole block could have been similar to Green Falls Landing or even better with parking hidden but folks in Regina don't care because they refuse to get out of the car for coffee.

[StealthGirl]

Problem in Harbour Landing is they had a good concept planned out and then council allowed developers to change things on the fly instead of sticking to the plan. The school was adequate for the original plan.

And the Greens has the terrible councilor who wants to increase parking.

[CCF]

Originally Posted by cityboy

I agree with you in theory on this. Too bad they botched it by surrounding it in parking instead of having it right on Gordon. There was supposed to be more of this mixed use type of development on Chuka which would make perfect sense as it would be transit oriented but the city caved and allowed the zoning amendment for the green Tim's or whatever. The whole block could have been similar to Green Falls Landing ore even better with parking hidden but folks in Regina don't care because they refuse to get out of the car for coffee.

If the other mixed-use building (to the west) ever was built I think it would make a lot more sense. Right now it looks lost being the only building of its type and density. in fact, that entire street should have adopted that form. But mixed-use development is trickier and higher-risk and we have a very risk adverse and conventional development industry so...

[cityboy]

Originally Posted by CCF

If the other mixed-use building (to the west) ever was built I think it would make a lot more sense. Right now it looks lost being the only building of its type and density. in fact, that entire street should have adopted that form. But mixed-use development is trickier and higher-risk and we have a very risk adverse and conventional development industry so...

I'm not in the area often -is the building to the West still on the plans or have they built strip mall in it's place instead?

[Newstart]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

Problem in Harbour Landing is they had a good concept planned out and then council allowed developers to change things on the fly instead of sticking to the plan. The school was adequate for the original plan.

And the Greens has the terrible councilor who wants to increase parking.

parking is a difficult one. how are you supposed to decrease parking in an area with minimal transit, and even less public access services such as medical, dental and recreation?

I mean the simplest end of things is to stop allowing Power Centres with suburban apartments galore...Then parking can be reduced because the core of apartments is focused in the urban core and suburbia can be for the single family homes.

[Newstart]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

I hate to derail this conversation but what in your mind is "communist type of beliefs"? Is it any kind of public funding? Would this be a communist project because the public is going to likely be paying for most of it?

As for the theoretical housing project, I am not sure why you are so hung up on who builds it. Like I said, I was only talking about who funds and operates it. As someone who grew up in a Regina Housing, a public housing project, it was just as modest but much better quality and more family-friendly than the Boardwalk apartments I lived in during university.

The notion that "private sector builds for FAR FAR less expense and bloating as any level of Government does" shows that you haven't worked with many corporations before. As someone who works in IT and has been at many different companies, I have seen bloat and waste in every kind of organization from corporation to Crown. It doesn't matter so much as the type of company it is as it does who is in charge of it and the culture of the company. I can go into further detail including talking about the incentives of corporations being tied to quarterly earning and profit growth above anything else but I already hear in the back of my head people whining that their eyes dared scan some text that may not be on topic or agree with their hard-set beliefs (instead of being big boys and girls and just skipping it or putting me on the ignore list, but that would be too hard), but when I see someone posting nonsense, I am going to rebut it.

Anyways, back to the totally 100% capitalist Catalyst project that needs public funding to get going...

AHHHHH yes this explains it. IT, you know all.

Try 20 years in the trades, building, development, ownership, and non-profit housing. Along with large and small corporations. I'm not speaking out of my backside on some theoretical notion, I'm speaking from real, practical, actual experience.

[WhipperSnapper]

Big budget cost centers are universally taken advantage of in bidding processes. I agree a small developer will be able to deliver more efficiently than a large public housing corporation. The developer is in it to be profitable. $500 million in secured loans to build 400 affordable units out of 1300 total units leasing at 10% below market value in Toronto is a joke.

[The mayor]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/regina-brewing-committee-1.6636447
Regina brewing company questions catalyst committee's focus on large building projects

District Brewing advocating for more funding for affordable housing, more public transit
What business of it is there’s , always will be homelessness they should promote development not hinder it , I would boycott them

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Bahahaha. Boycott them because they are calling for funding for affordable housing and public transit? That’s fucked up, dude. I don’t like their beer but they just gained a bunch of respect from me because I don’t expect this from business. The mayor, on the other hand, has got to be the dumbest, most out of touch ones we have had in a long time just from her comments in the story, even compared to the one she succeeded.

Your crazy one has nothing to do with the other , every time someone one’s to build something they ask for affordable housing it’s a never ending cycle , both can be accomplished ,l

[Festivus]

We've talked about this before, but The Mayor would — to a 1kmx1km cube of concrete, he loves any construction so much (even if it took 1,000 homeless people to build).

[StealthGirl]

Originally Posted by The mayor

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/regina-brewing-committee-1.6636447
Regina brewing company questions catalyst committee's focus on large building projects

District Brewing advocating for more funding for affordable housing, more public transit
What business of it is there’s , always will be homelessness they should promote development not hinder it , I would boycott them

The owner of Rebellion Brewing has also been quite verbal with similar concerns. I understand it. These businesses are close to where these projects are proposed. I have no problem with them speaking up.

It's ridiculous that our council wants to spend a sizable amount of federal transit funding, an amount our city could never invest on their own, on a swimming pool. We need transit investment.

[StealthGirl]

Paul does great city coverage. Alexander Quon (CBC Sask) has been doing some great coverage lately too, esp after Masters tried to tell Stefani Langenegger the city never planned for housing at Taylor Field. Alexander and Stefani are two good ones to follow on Twitter if you aren't already.

[aberrant]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

The owner of Rebellion Brewing has also been quite verbal with similar concerns. I understand it. These businesses are close to where these projects are proposed. I have no problem with them speaking up.

Just to clarify, I am the owner.

I absolutely speak up about homelessness, and we have donated $30,000 this year to organizations that support homelessness. I've personally volunteered at the shelters, and I participate in discussions with local leaders regarding homelessness when invited.

I have made one public statement about a proposed baseball stadium on the Yards (the article and quote is below). I haven't made any public statements about the Catalyst Committee.

I ultimately view homelessness and capital projects for sports and culture as seperate issues, while also understanding they all must be funded by the same taxpayer.

https://leaderpost.com/sports/local-spor...-for-new-dewdney-avenue-baseball-stadium

“In general, the concept of a baseball stadium downtown is very appealing,” said Mark Heise, chair of the Regina Warehouse District and president and CEO of Rebellion Brewing on Dewdney Avenue. “It has been batted around for three or four years now. It’s still in the preliminary stages, but they have done some work on it. They would admit that there is still a lot of work to do to flesh out the concept and design, how it gets used and who would operate the facility.”

[The mayor]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan?cmp=DM_SEM_NEWS_SASK_RSA
The mystery of Regina's Taylor Field site and the 'commitment' to affordable housing

[Newstart]

Councillor Stevens has a Poll he has just put out on the Taylor Field Site.

https://www.andrewstevensward3.ca/taylor...N4Lyg59XbXS3ve1sIP6zP0IZBy7k0-e1B78RefWY