Saskatoon Construction

[circle33]

Brass Monkey is dead too. From what I heard via friend of a friend it was inevitable (owner drank away any profits). I didn't realize Midtown Billiards was gone too. That'd make the building empty. Something must be up.

[macca]

Originally Posted by circle33

Brass Monkey is dead too. From what I heard via friend of a friend it was inevitable (owner drank away any profits). I didn't realize Midtown Billiards was gone too. That'd make the building empty. Something must be up.

Ah yes, "Burnout Bob".... Owned Lydia's for years, then sold it and opened (briefly) a speaker store on Broadway (now Optika) and The Publican (I acutally liked that place). Something has to be up with that site. It's such an odd building, L-shaped around the building on the corner, with double frontage.

[jaysfan99]

Originally Posted by macca

Ah yes, the trenching. The dug a few holes, covered them with plywood and then left it like that for what, 3, 4 weeks now? And getting the scooter in the shot was totally worth it. Trenching is soooo Euro...

As for the Meridian, I'm not sure. Could be that they feel they can sell that many more units. But I have this from two sources (one said 17, the other 18. 18 as of today.). Has anyone tried contacting Meridian as it suggests on their website. I nominate you, circle.




I see. And this may be the parking structure? As for the Meridian website, that "MoB" page has been there, frustrating me, for a while. And now I have to wait until the fall! Why not put a sign on the site? Or a picture of a possible rendering on the website? Something! Well, I guess they've done something, I just want something more.

I'll believe it when I see it. I just can't see an 18 storey structure going up on Broadway. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see it. I just think it's not very probable. Are you sure someone is not just pulling your chain? I hope not.

The old "Extra Foods Site" may be a parking lot for a few years. Hard to believe that anything will start going up any sooner. The reason I say this, is because the Hotel Spa in South downtown was approved last year, and construction only may be starting in the spring of 2007. Usually takes a few years for anything to happen. DON'T GET ME WRONG. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A NICE HOTEL ON THAT SITE, BUT I CAN JUST SEE THE LOCAL HOTEL OWNERS RAISING A STINK AS SOON AS ANYTHING IS ANNOUNCED. Like anything in Saskatoon,................any progress ussually gets opposition from someone.

[swilley]

Wow, take a day off to install a garage door opener and you miss a lot! 18 stories would be unreal for that area of Broadway! I hope the number keeps climbing. I also hope that the new rumoured tower site downtown does not disapoint, like I'm sure it might. As for tramps moving, I agree that their new location is second rate to the previous, maybe they were forced out???

[Stewie]

I agree - it's hard to get excited when there is so much uncertainty. I look at it like this: the south downtown spa project is subject to different rules than other areas of the downtown 1) because of the property tax incentives to build, and 2) because of the mandate of city council to fill the empty space with diverse tenants / owners who will mimic the overall mosaic of Saskatoon.

In regards to the Extra Foods site - it is a private land sale, which only must meet the building code standards for dense commercial / residential. There are no public requirements for any structure other than normal civic construction approvals, and that can guarantee the owners some flexibility on the size and/or design of the structure. That lot is zoned Dense Commercial, therefore allowing many stories of commercial developement, or as little as 20/80 split of commercial / residential, which would accomodate a hotel or condo development with lower level commercial or mall type of businesses (hopefully a grocery store too) without much red tape.

[swilley]

As mentioned in the Regina thread, a seven story Wingate Hotel may be going up in their downtown. I sure hope we don't get the same....

[CCF]

Originally Posted by swilley

As mentioned in the Regina thread, a seven story Wingate Hotel may be going up in their downtown. I sure hope we don't get the same....

Why not? I think any such development in Regina or Saskatoon is good development. Both cities have seen the whole big box stores move in the past couple years, and finally both cities are having their downtowns rejuvinated. Why would Saskatoon not want such a thing? I lived in Saskatoon last year, and any development to downtown would be a postive one.

Plus, can't be worse than the Hilton.

[swilley]

Originally Posted by CCF

Why not? I think any such development in Regina or Saskatoon is good development. Both cities have seen the whole big box stores move in the past couple years, and finally both cities are having their downtowns rejuvinated. Why would Saskatoon not want such a thing? I lived in Saskatoon last year, and any development to downtown would be a postive one.

Plus, can't be worse than the Hilton.

Because it's only 7 floors! We are all hoping for at least 20!

[CCF]

Originally Posted by swilley

Because it's only 7 floors! We are all hoping for at least 20!

Development is development. It could be one floor and I'd be happy. Converting vacant buildings into businesses that will help the city prosper is better than waiting around for a 20 floor building that many never come.

[Stewie]

As far as I am concerned, single story buildings can be built outside of the core area of the city. When these small buildings occupy dense commercial space, nothing positive is achieved. Saskatoon is a CITY and must develop as such. With 1 or 2 storey buildings occupying vacant space, progress is severely limited.

I agree with Swilley - we need some height!

[CCF]

But 7 stories isn't one story. All I'm saying is that Regina nor Saskatoon can be picky when it comes to development. We have to be happy with what we get, and just hope for the best.

A seven story hotel right across from the Casino, and STC Head Office and depot is better than an ugly old Legion building sitting vacant.

[Stewie]

Development is development, but to be satisfied with smaller buildings in densly zoned areas that could sustain 20+ stories still exhibits negative growth versus availability, therefore it is only natural to be dissapointed.

For example: property taxes in most residential neighborhoods don't increase when large lots are filled with tiny low cost houses bearing tiny tax bases and occupants earning tiny incomes. Small buildings downtown carry small tax revenues for the city. 7 stories is better than nothing, but not as promising for the future as the tax base of 20 stories.

[Stewie]

WOW - 5 pages in 7 days - lets keep this thread growing!! Any information about Saskatoon is good information. I love this city and want it to dwarf it's neighbors -- SOMEBODY PLEASE GET ME SOME MORE MERIDIAN INFO!!!

[CCF]

Originally Posted by Stewie

Development is development, but to be satisfied with smaller buildings in densly zoned areas that could sustain 20+ stories still exhibits negative growth versus availability, therefore it is only natural to be dissapointed.

For example: property taxes in most residential neighborhoods don't increase when large lots are filled with tiny low cost houses bearing tiny tax bases and occupants earning tiny incomes. Small buildings downtown carry small tax revenues for the city. 7 stories is better than nothing, but not as promising for the future as the tax base of 20 stories.

Yes, but you have to realize that the need to develop these buildings at that height are minimal. Of course the cities could demand that they build higher, but I think both cities are happy to get any core development that is proposed.

I mean, what are the provinces tallest buildings...

1) Delta Hotel in Regina - 25 floors
2) Roberts Plaza in Regina- 20 floors
3/4) McCallum Hill Centre in Regina - both buildings are 20 floors

I can't think of the ones in Saskatoon that are above 20 stories. The fact that the Delta at 25 stories is the largest building in the province means that it isn't too often that we'll get buildings at 20 stories. It's nice to dream about adding height.

[Stewie]

OK - the focus of this thread has gone off the wall tonight. Leave the Regina competition to the Regina threads - we're hear to discuss Saskatoon.

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/?id=101606

According to Emporis.com: (check out the link above for photos)

-Hallmark Tower: 27 floors
-Rennisance Tower: 24 floors
-Luther Tower: 22 floors (on east side of river at higher grade making it the tallest point in Saskatoon)
-Terrace Apts: 22 floors
-Carlton Towers: 21 floors
-Marquis Towers: 21 floors
-Saskatoon Tower: 19 floors (which I lived on the 17th floor, and the first floor was on top of 7 floors of above grade parkade, which makes it 26 floors
-Milroy - 22 floors

This doesn't include the countless towers under 20 floors and above 14 floors. Those who suggest that Saskatoon doesn't have height above 20 floors needs to have a reality check. We don't need gov't buildings to have height - residential speaks volumes about economy.

[macca]

Originally Posted by jaysfan99

I'll believe it when I see it. I just can't see an 18 storey structure going up on Broadway. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see it. I just think it's not very probable. Are you sure someone is not just pulling your chain? I hope not.

The old "Extra Foods Site" may be a parking lot for a few years. Hard to believe that anything will start going up any sooner. The reason I say this, is because the Hotel Spa in South downtown was approved last year, and construction only may be starting in the spring of 2007. Usually takes a few years for anything to happen. DON'T GET ME WRONG. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A NICE HOTEL ON THAT SITE, BUT I CAN JUST SEE THE LOCAL HOTEL OWNERS RAISING A STINK AS SOON AS ANYTHING IS ANNOUNCED. Like anything in Saskatoon,................any progress ussually gets opposition from someone.

I'm quite sure nobody is pulling my chain. Both sources are very reliable and would not be interested in jerking me around. If any of you are wondering, I suggest emailing Meridian and expressing interest in leasng commercial space or purchasing a condo. If this project does not go ahead as planned it will likely be because of an investment issue or some local complainig (there's bound to be some from Nutana/Broadway residents). As far as I can tell, the deal is done.

As for the slow pace of riverfront development (south downtown), as Stewie said, it's a different beast there. That land is owned by the city and development was put to open competition. Any proposals would be scrutinized to the max and would have much public debate. The Hotel/Spa would likely be under construction already if the first design had not been rejected. Also, the zoning there is DCD1 - Direct Control District. This essentially allows the city to put any sort of regulations it wants on the entire site. Again, as Stewie said the Extra Foods site is a private sale of land/building with much more flexible zoning.

Speaking of the Extra Foods site, the building is still standing, but the new sewer line is nearly complete. They turned from the street down the alley. I imagine once the trench they dug is filled and covered with asphalt they can begin the demo. I can't imagine the city investing in infrastructure unless something was going to happen on the site soon. If they were going to leave it as a parking lot, even temporarily, it does not makes sense to run new services to a building that might get built sometime in future. If the timetable for construction (for example) was next summer, then I can only logically assume that new services would go in then. From the city's standpoint, why invest thousands in a private project that is potentially months or years away from starting? Unless I am misinterpreting everything that is happening, I don't see how this thing won't get started soon.

On an off topic note, how about the investigative journalism at the SP? They write an article trying to figure out what's going on at that site, and we all can come up with far more than they have. Someone at the SP couldn't have checked the city's site for the road construction schedule and discovered what I did? It's kind of pathetic. Instead of asking Lorne Sulley what might be going there, why not ask why the city is running new services to a future gravel lot?

[jaysfan99]

Originally Posted by CCF

But 7 stories isn't one story. All I'm saying is that Regina nor Saskatoon can be picky when it comes to development. We have to be happy with what we get, and just hope for the best.

A seven story hotel right across from the Casino, and STC Head Office and depot is better than an ugly old Legion building sitting vacant.

As far as I'm concerened, 7 stories would be a BIG disapointment. Especially if it ends up looking anything like "The Riverfront". I really hope it is something modern with glass.

[swilley]

Originally Posted by Stewie

Those who suggest that Saskatoon doesn't have height above 20 floors needs to have a reality check. We don't need gov't buildings to have height - residential speaks volumes about economy.

I know, everyone from Regina assumes that they have the ten tallest buildings in the province all the time.... Here is the run-down according to the cities section on this web-site. I believe it is more current than emporis since I updated it this winter....

Too much to cut and paste so here are the links....


Saskatoon Most heights are estimated by SSP staff because trying to get that info from the city was like pulling teeth

Regina
Most of Regina's buildings are diagramed, something I am slowly trying to do to Saskatoon's......

And to add my two cents again, I know the whole quality before quantity debate, and I know something is better than nothing. But, we have seen to many small scale projects go up in Saskaoon's core, it's about time we got a tall modern looking tower. Just say NO to red brick! or pink stucco.....

[CCF]

Yikes. I don't know why I bother trying to discuss anything. I wasn't bashing Saskatoon. I was just discussing both cities, and automatically you jump on my back.

[swilley]

Originally Posted by CCF

Yikes. I don't know why I bother trying to discuss anything. I wasn't bashing Saskatoon. I was just discussing both cities, and automatically you jump on my back.

Well, to say that the 4 tallest in Saskatchewan are in Regina and 3 of them being 20 stories is kinda asking for it in a Saskatoon thread. Considering Saskatoon has more 20+ story buildings than Regina.... No hard feelings though, just a correction is all....