Saskatoon Construction III

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by roryn1

I’m not sure how long that sign has been there and this is pure speculation, but they must have been planning on BASF to move their Mississauga headquarters into their building - BASF ended up confirming Calgary as their new head office a few weeks ago... WTC downtown must be no more. This is a great opportunity for city council to enact some legislation to force these people to do something with that lot in the downtown. Such a dead zone - rich folk speculation drastically hurting our downtown.

City council's do not have the power to force private landowners to build anything, nor should they. They do have some control over demolition permits, however.

[roryn1]

Originally Posted by Stormer

City council's do not have the power to force private landowners to build anything, nor should they. They do have some control over demolition permits, however.

I disagree. Surface parking lots are our downtown’s main epidemic to continued infill. The corner of 2nd and 25th is a great example of this - a decade ago there was buildings there and apparently being a parking lot is more of a revenue opportunity to high net worth individuals using these lots as side revenue than building something that actually benefits downtown.

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by roryn1

It turns out the World Trade Center has been built - in Stonebridge!

This image is the perfect representation of who Don Atchison is as a public figure.

[Echoes]

^ OMG you've nailed it.

Anyone have any skills making memes?

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by roryn1

I disagree. Surface parking lots are our downtown’s main epidemic to continued infill. The corner of 2nd and 25th is a great example of this - a decade ago there was buildings there and apparently being a parking lot is more of a revenue opportunity to high net worth individuals using these lots as side revenue than building something that actually benefits downtown.

They cannot force someone to build. They can ban surface parking lots (as they have done in Regina) but not retroactively. In Regina they have made several exceptions to the rule, so it hasn't worked out so well. Also in Regina numerous buildings have been demolished since the ban and several of them have ended up as weed gardens (i.e. no development and no parking lot). In the meantime you can pay over $300/month to park downtown and there is almost no angle parking like in Saskatoon.

[The Bess]

couldn't the city designate the downtown as a special ares setting up borders and taxing empty lots that had buildings on them at the same rate as ones with buildings or does that sound to much like communism

[skyhigh953]

Originally Posted by The Bess

couldn't the city designate the downtown as a special ares setting up borders and taxing empty lots that had buildings on them at the same rate as ones with buildings or does that sound to much like communism

I am pretty sure the City is not allowed to do this - not permitted under legislation. Municipalities, especially in SK, are still fairly handcuffed by the province. The solution to the parking/empty lot problem is creating demand - nurturing our home grown tech scene (and making sure they don’t leave), and having some sort of strategy to attract established companies here. I don’t blame BASF - what makes Saskatoon better than Calgary?

On another note, instead of spending money on a “World Trade Center” sign, north prairie should have replaced their signs on the neighbouring lots that say “Office building - possession 2016”

[Crisis]

I was at the Saskatchewan Real Estate forum here in Saskatoon on April 30th and thought that I'd share one takeaway from the day. Probably surprising to most posters on here, the opinion of people from outside of Saskatoon is that this city has a pretty vibrant downtown core. That observation was made not just in comparison to Regina (most agree that the Queen City has virtually nothing happening after end of business) but to other cities across the prairies as a whole.

Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees when we're standing in the middle of the forest....

[roryn1]

^i don’t disagree that our downtown is kicking ass. There’s always room for improvement though - especially with how many silly surface lots and the odd dead lot like the one kept dead by North Prairie for what, a decade now while we watch North Prairie build commercial buildings that’s sit empty in Stonebridge for 5 years? I know people from Nutrien that PARK at 25th and 2nd in those now open lots that had something on them ten years ago - hopefully with the increase in parking at River Landing Nutrien but no real tangible announcement of any new offices moving downtown we will hopefully see a huge drop in demand for permanent parking spots downtown and those surface lots won’t be such cash cows and that will be the incentive for these rich folk to stop being so selfish and build to benefit our downtown?? I just think simple legislation would push the market quicker. These folk speculating on downtown real estate and just leaving them bare or with parking is doing no one but themselves good... heck I’d even be happy if they love parking so much - build a parkade with retail on the main level. If these people spec buying want to not be such a detriment and want to be serious about their passion of buying a downtown lot specifically for parking, give us a beautiful parking lot lol

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by The Bess

couldn't the city designate the downtown as a special ares setting up borders and taxing empty lots that had buildings on them at the same rate as ones with buildings or does that sound to much like communism

The tax assessment rules are set provincially by SAMA. Municipalities are not allowed to make up their own rules. Municipalities can allow exemptions and they can set the general mill rate. Otherwise they are pretty handcuffed as stated by skyhigh.

I agree there should be more flexibility to tax these lots at higher rates, especially brownfields that can sit idle for decades.

[Westsider4life]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The tax assessment rules are set provincially by SAMA. Municipalities are not allowed to make up their own rules. Municipalities can allow exemptions and they can set the general mill rate. Otherwise they are pretty handcuffed as stated by skyhigh.

I agree there should be more flexibility to tax these lots at higher rates, especially brownfields that can sit idle for decades.

Could the city decide to withhold tax re-appraisals for X years after teardown on commercially zoned properties?

From my experiences with property owners, the decision to transform a building into a parking lot arises from a combination of vacancy and high mill rates. Therefore the tax bill reduces substantially if its turned into surface parking...

If a teardown doesn't get reappraised for X years after being demo'ed it would do two things: (1) incentivize against surface parking and (2) incentive expanded building. Expanded building would be incentivized it would amount to a tax subsidy on infill. Furthermore, this measure would mostly target commercial infill because it would apply only to properties that have been demo'ed.

This has always been my thought. Could the city do this?

[FatBob]

Any news on new commercial tenants or construction updates for Brighton? Last time I was in Saskatoon it looked like the Save On Foods and Keg were coming along nicely but I'm not sure what else is being done there.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Westsider4life

Could the city decide to withhold tax re-appraisals for X years after teardown on commercially zoned properties?

From my experiences with property owners, the decision to transform a building into a parking lot arises from a combination of vacancy and high mill rates. Therefore the tax bill reduces substantially if its turned into surface parking...

If a teardown doesn't get reappraised for X years after being demo'ed it would do two things: (1) incentivize against surface parking and (2) incentive expanded building. Expanded building would be incentivized it would amount to a tax subsidy on infill. Furthermore, this measure would mostly target commercial infill because it would apply only to properties that have been demo'ed.

This has always been my thought. Could the city do this?

The City could not. The Province would have to change the law. The City has some discretion on demo permits, but it is limited.

[Oiler]

Originally Posted by roryn1

^i don’t disagree that our downtown is kicking ass. There’s always room for improvement though - especially with how many silly surface lots and the odd dead lot like the one kept dead by North Prairie for what, a decade now while we watch North Prairie build commercial buildings that’s sit empty in Stonebridge for 5 years? I know people from Nutrien that PARK at 25th and 2nd in those now open lots that had something on them ten years ago - hopefully with the increase in parking at River Landing Nutrien but no real tangible announcement of any new offices moving downtown we will hopefully see a huge drop in demand for permanent parking spots downtown and those surface lots won’t be such cash cows and that will be the incentive for these rich folk to stop being so selfish and build to benefit our downtown?? I just think simple legislation would push the market quicker. These folk speculating on downtown real estate and just leaving them bare or with parking is doing no one but themselves good... heck I’d even be happy if they love parking so much - build a parkade with retail on the main level. If these people spec buying want to not be such a detriment and want to be serious about their passion of buying a downtown lot specifically for parking, give us a beautiful parking lot lol

I wish all developers “cared” about design/city building/etc. as much as you, and the other people on this forum do. But most don’t. It’s a business, and it needs to make business sense above all else...

[Oiler]

Originally Posted by FatBob

Any news on new commercial tenants or construction updates for Brighton? Last time I was in Saskatoon it looked like the Save On Foods and Keg were coming along nicely but I'm not sure what else is being done there.

Ok, check this out. A quote from the Brighton website (link below): “Brighton Marketplace. Being part of the largest master-planned community in Saskatoon has its perks, and one of them is the ease of shopping. Welcome to the Brighton Marketplace, 235,000 SQFT of convenience and amenities at your doorstep.
Located at the intersection of College and McOrmond Drive, we invite you to explore a visionary outdoor shopping experience, come to life. Brighton Marketplace is an unmatched retail experience being developed in the City of Saskatoon. A one-stop-shop to indulge all your senses!

Sounds awesome hey? What does this make you dream of?....


http://brightoncommunity.ca/

[Oiler]

Originally Posted by Oiler

Ok, check this out. A quote from the Brighton website (link below): “Brighton Marketplace. Being part of the largest master-planned community in Saskatoon has its perks, and one of them is the ease of shopping. Welcome to the Brighton Marketplace, 235,000 SQFT of convenience and amenities at your doorstep.
Located at the intersection of College and McOrmond Drive, we invite you to explore a visionary outdoor shopping experience, come to life. Brighton Marketplace is an unmatched retail experience being developed in the City of Saskatoon. A one-stop-shop to indulge all your senses!

Sounds awesome hey? What does this make you dream of?....


http://brightoncommunity.ca/

so this is what Visionary and unmatched are...!

7-11!!!!
Shoppers drug mart!!!!
Save on foods
Tim hortons!!!!!!
Urban cellars
SaskTel store
A&w
Sally beauty supply
Good earth coffee
Pet valu
Cooke insurance
Subway!!!
Motion fitness
Ultracuts!!!
Panago
A dentist and optometrist

Super exiciting!

[roryn1]

Originally Posted by Oiler

I wish all developers “cared” about design/city building/etc. as much as you, and the other people on this forum do. But most don’t. It’s a business, and it needs to make business sense above all else...

A bare parking lot or a empty building with no tenants is a sign those people have too much money on their hands and are terrible business people or if they cant afford to upgrade it, they need to sell to someone who will utilize it. The old police station upgrade is a perfect example. I actually know the profits they were making on the elevated and indoor lots and it easily could have stayed that way. Luckily they were more ambitious than just sucking parking fees - compared to some other land holders in our beautiful downtown that are wrecking it for everyone. Commercial lots continue to get built in the suburbs and just like my office - once they’re in the suburbs, it’s so damn hard to get them back downtown.. so hard.

[EpicPonyTime]

Originally Posted by Oiler

so this is what Visionary and unmatched are...!

7-11!!!!
Shoppers drug mart!!!!
Save on foods
Tim hortons!!!!!!
Urban cellars
SaskTel store
A&w
Sally beauty supply
Good earth coffee
Pet valu
Cooke insurance
Subway!!!
Motion fitness
Ultracuts!!!
Panago
A dentist and optometrist

Super exiciting!

My god. What an amazing list of stores which would revolutionize this city if this was Prince Albert.

[ToonTownRob]

Well, it would appear that Urban Capital got the message (thank goodness):

https://www.highpointsaskatoon.com/

I’m always impressed when an organization is willing to backup and fix mistakes.

[Ricopedra]

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