Saskatoon Construction III

[phone]

Originally Posted by drm310

Developer pauses downtown grocery over rejected request in Rosewood
"You couldn't pay me to do another project in the city of Saskatoon right now."

The StarPhoenix
Author of the article: Bryn Levy
Publishing date: Nov 02, 2022



The developer behind a proposal to build a grocery store in downtown Saskatoon says the project is now delayed indefinitely due to a recent city council decision.

“You couldn’t pay me to do another project in the city of Saskatoon right now. We’re going to finish what we have, and we’re going to look elsewhere,” said an audibly exasperated Jeffrey Drexel, president of Arbutus Properties.

Drexel spoke to Postmedia on Tuesday by phone from Vancouver, where Arbutus is headquartered.

Council on Monday evening voted 8-1 to reject a request to remove what’s known as the holding symbol on a parcel of land in Rosewood where Arbutus wants to build an apartment tower. The hold blocks work on the building until the lot is serviced. Arbutus is required to put in $7 million worth of sewer infrastructure as a condition of allowing work to proceed.

[...]

Full article: https://thestarphoenix.com/news/loca...st-in-rosewood

I admire Arbutus's willingness to step up and put forward novel proposals, but they always come across as somewhat petulant when the City declines to contravene its own process for the developer's benefit. Seems to me like a tit for tat move rather than something driven by actual business considerations.

[Echoes]

A major rehabilitation of the Murray Library on campus is set to begin, with a crane expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

The project includes upgrades and repairs to the Tyndall stone building envelope. Some of the stone facade will be removed to add banks of windows between the 3rd and 6th floors.

[asdfgh]

I just noticed this on the city's engagement page. Has anything about this been posted before?

It's a pretty nice-looking building and a great concept. Nice to see something more urban and mixed-use being proposed.
https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/8th-...roadway-avenue

[phone]

Originally Posted by asdfgh

I just noticed this on the city's engagement page. Has anything about this been posted before?

It's a pretty nice-looking building and a great concept. Nice to see something more urban and mixed-use being proposed.
https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/8th-...roadway-avenue

Oh man. I so hope that goes ahead! That corner has been a dead spot for as long as I can remember.

[phone]

Originally Posted by Echoes

A major rehabilitation of the Murray Library on campus is set to begin, with a crane expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

The project includes upgrades and repairs to the Tyndall stone building envelope. Some of the stone facade will be removed to add banks of windows between the 3rd and 6th floors.

Any renderings? A part of me will mourn the loss of our Tyndall-clad death star library, but I acknowledge that the addition of windows is most certainly for the best.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by asdfgh

I just noticed this on the city's engagement page. Has anything about this been posted before?

It's a pretty nice-looking building and a great concept. Nice to see something more urban and mixed-use being proposed.
https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/8th-...roadway-avenue

What a great bookend for Broadway. Excellent scale and form for that intersection.



https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/8th-...roadway-avenue

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by phone

Any renderings? A part of me will mourn the loss of our Tyndall-clad death star library, but I acknowledge that the addition of windows is most certainly for the best.

Not that I've seen, but I found a library master plan from 2013: https://library.usask.ca/documents/M...28-06-2013.pdf

See images page 49-51. If that's still the plan then it's a pretty modest intervention.

[phone]

Originally Posted by Echoes

Not that I've seen, but I found a library master plan from 2013: https://library.usask.ca/documents/M...28-06-2013.pdf

See images page 49-51. If that's still the plan then it's a pretty modest intervention.

Hmm. I like it. Yes it is rather modest, but a tasteful way to bring some light into the building without compromising its look and feel any more than necessary (though they could easily have taken it further without much additional derogation).

[phone]

Spent a few minutes perusing the minutes for upcoming city council committee meetings.

With regard to the arena:

5. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
5.1. Arena Site Selection and Public Engagement Results
A report is forthcoming.
5.2. Downtown Entertainment and Event District - Land Acquisition - Midtown Plaza North Lot
A report is forthcoming.

Other notes:

Plans continue to forge ahead for the Circle Drive west realignment.

The city is going to regulate those godforesaken scooty puff juniors that are clogging up the Meewasin trails. Those things are among the banes of my existence and our trails/multi use paths will be rid of them next year, it looks like.

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by Echoes

A major rehabilitation of the Murray Library on campus is set to begin, with a crane expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

The project includes upgrades and repairs to the Tyndall stone building envelope. Some of the stone facade will be removed to add banks of windows between the 3rd and 6th floors.

Wonder if the renos will include re-enforcing the building so they can finally fill the shelves on the 6th floor...

[Roquentin]

Originally Posted by phone

The University has confirmed that Sask Polytech will be building its new campus on Preston Ave near Innovation Place. Not much in the way of details but obviously major project with huge implications for Saskatoon.

Wow, I don't love that. I wish they'd been able to make the current location work. That part of town will be left with a big gap to fill. I guess that could also be called an opportunity, but things happen slowly here. I predict big box stores after a long vacancy/demolition process, though I'd much rather see high-density mixed use of course. With respect to the other side of the river, Preston will be in need of a BRT line before long. I wonder what the timeline is on that.

Originally Posted by Echoes

STC is moving its wellness centre from downtown to 415 Fairmont Drive (former JW Kingdom Hall in Fairhaven). I also understand they'll be absorbing the last of the Lighthouse shelter beds in the new facility.

One (of many) nice insights from the following article is that the STC will continue to pursue opening another wellness centre on 20th, if they can find the cash: https://www.mbcradio.com/2022/10/sas...meless-shelter
I fully support the move to 415 Fairmont Drive --- these services should exist throughout the city and not be limited to the core and inner city. I hope that the temporary shelter on 1st will be funded through the winter though, because I worry about the availability of emergency shelter space downtown (in the long term, too).

Originally Posted by asdfgh

It's a pretty nice-looking building and a great concept. Nice to see something more urban and mixed-use being proposed.
https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/8th-...roadway-avenue

This is exactly what I've been hoping for there. I'd take a dozen more of these scattered around Broadway and the core in a heartbeat.

[Built different]

I don't think this has been posted yet. This was released all the way back in 2018. It's the University of Saskatchewan College of Engineering Master Plan, designed by Brook McIlroy. Recently, the University said demolition of the old arena will begin. Hopefully they have maintained the same design. The University could really benefit from a project like this.


https://brookmcilroy.com/projects/un...g-master-plan/

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by Built different

I don't think this has been posted yet. This was released all the way back in 2018. It's the University of Saskatchewan College of Engineering Master Plan, designed by Brook McIlroy. Recently, the University said demolition of the old arena will begin. Hopefully they have maintained the same design. The University could really benefit from a project like this.


https://brookmcilroy.com/projects/un...g-master-plan/

Looking at some of the description in the link:

The design is based on both a new 25,000 m² (270,000 ft²) state-of-the-art addition as well as a renovation of the 33,500 m² (360,000 ft²) existing complex

This is a much larger (and far more more expensive) undertaking than what I'd Understood was the plan for the expansion. Looks great, though.

[ninipanini]

Is this the south west corner of Broadway and 8th? While going by there yesterday, I did notice that a lot of the trees that were on that lot were cut down... maybe some movement there finally? I can't remember when the old houses on that lot were demolished, but I think it must go back close to 20 years at this point. Would be great to see this location get some use!

Originally Posted by Echoes

What a great bookend for Broadway. Excellent scale and form for that intersection.



https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/8th-...roadway-avenue

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by ninipanini

Is this the south west corner of Broadway and 8th? While going by there yesterday, I did notice that a lot of the trees that were on that lot were cut down... maybe some movement there finally? I can't remember when the old houses on that lot were demolished, but I think it must go back close to 20 years at this point. Would be great to see this location get some use!

I was wondering the same thing. I saw this post yesterday, then on the local CTV news, there was a story that made me think of this. A man was cutting down trees at 8th & Broadway, when one of the trees fell on him. He was taken to hospital but injuries weren't thought to be serious.

[Pardot Kynes]

The 8th and Broadway development looks really nice. Props to anyone who can sleep while living on that corner.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Roquentin

Wow, I don't love that. I wish they'd been able to make the current location work. That part of town will be left with a big gap to fill. I guess that could also be called an opportunity, but things happen slowly here. I predict big box stores after a long vacancy/demolition process, though I'd much rather see high-density mixed use of course. With respect to the other side of the river, Preston will be in need of a BRT line before long. I wonder what the timeline is on that.

I completely agree with you. Losing an anchor like this will be destabilizing to the neighbourhoods around the current campus. I wish they viewed the campus project as a city-building opportunity to create something more meaningful than just plunking down a cluster of buildings. I would've loved for them to look at a portion of the City Yards (maybe along 25th where the arena is unlikely to end up), which could've helped jumpstart the North Downtown neighbourhood while giving Downtown a bit of a shot in the arm and keeping the campus centrally located.

An "innovation corridor" on Preston with the U of S, Innovation Place, and SK Polytech is a nice sounding idea, but I'm imagining the new campus in a windswept field. At least it's not going out on the periphery of the city, and at least a BRT route is planned for Preston.

Originally Posted by Built different

I don't think this has been posted yet. This was released all the way back in 2018. It's the University of Saskatchewan College of Engineering Master Plan, designed by Brook McIlroy. Recently, the University said demolition of the old arena will begin. Hopefully they have maintained the same design. The University could really benefit from a project like this.

https://brookmcilroy.com/projects/un...g-master-plan/

Thanks for sharing! I've never seen this before, and I was actually just thinking about mentions of this project from a couple years ago when the university had announced demolishing Rutherford and looking to give away those old agricultural buildings to make way for this. I wonder what the timeline is.

Originally Posted by ninipanini

Is this the south west corner of Broadway and 8th? While going by there yesterday, I did notice that a lot of the trees that were on that lot were cut down... maybe some movement there finally? I can't remember when the old houses on that lot were demolished, but I think it must go back close to 20 years at this point. Would be great to see this location get some use!

Yes, this is the southwest corner. Per the info on the city website, it's proposed for the entire block between 7th and 8th.

[EpicPonyTime]

It's really hard not to look at SIAST's plans to relocate and feel disappointed. Edmonton's downtown benefits so much from the buildup of MacEwan's campus. Not to mention the smaller colleges like NorQuest which have their own small campuses. MacEwan has really helped spur development in its vicinity, which was the former site of the Rathole and rail yards years ago. Imagine if they incorporated a new SIAST campus in the plans for north downtown. Oh well, a man can dream.

[roryn1]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

It's really hard not to look at SIAST's plans to relocate and feel disappointed. Edmonton's downtown benefits so much from the buildup of MacEwan's campus. Not to mention the smaller colleges like NorQuest which have their own small campuses. MacEwan has really helped spur development in its vicinity, which was the former site of the Rathole and rail yards years ago. Imagine if they incorporated a new SIAST campus in the plans for north downtown. Oh well, a man can dream.

100% agree. I just did a week long class at the University of Calgary campus downtown and it was so much fun to stay at a Marriott only a few blocks away, walk to class, enjoy the food and atmosphere calgary has to offer downtown.

With this being the set in stone reality this just means folks need to prioritize transport from campus to downtown better - similar to how LRT makes MIT/Harvard easily accessible to Boston’s downtown. Boston’s education institutions are almost identical comparable distance from their downtown as well - as a shining golden start example to strive towards aha

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by Pardot Kynes

Props to anyone who can sleep while living on that corner.

Saskatoon is dead after 9pm. With the exception of some jerks doing a burnout at the intersection, I don't think this building will be affected by sound. Also, as someone who grew up on a farm but has also lived beside the Skytrain and now lives on Robson street, you get used to sounds pretty quickly.