Saskatoon Construction III - Page 162

scotty c · #**3221** Posted **Mar 30, 2021, 4:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roryn1

255 2nd Ave N looks like it’s about to get a major reno: https://listingsprod.blob.core.windo...f-83be4ccc8629
Right next to the new library! I wonder if the Library investment spurred this.

Is WCB moving out of that building? Maybe they just need to bring it up to standard to attract a new tenant?

roryn1 · #**3222** Posted **Mar 30, 2021, 12:58 PM**

Must be - and a cheap reno at that since 2nd ave is supposed to be our retail block... I think you’re just starting to see lease’s ending on a lot of commercial buildings downtown and with covid and working from home, most probably won’t be renewed.

Commercial is going to be a hard sell, if it wasn’t already downtown. It’s crazy that none of these fat cat property developers are seeing this and not converting to condos... condos will still do fine post pandemic. My downtown condo building is bustling.

I know a few are fatigued from working from home, but that’s mostly only because of gathering restrictions - not work from home itself. I personally don’t ever plan on working in my downtown office again, and if they forced me back I’ll probably switch companies since so many offer permanent work from home now. The cost savings is immense, and our building was designed by a architect that didn’t lay it out to be collaborative nor are there plans for it to be modernity collaborative.

Ricopedra · #**3223** Posted **Apr 3, 2021, 11:33 AM**

edited

Ricopedra · #**3224** Posted **Apr 7, 2021, 5:14 PM**

edited.

Ricopedra · #**3225** Posted **Apr 7, 2021, 5:27 PM**

edited

Echoes · #**3226** Posted **Apr 7, 2021, 5:51 PM**

I think that parkade had structural issues.

Crisis · #**3227** Posted **Apr 8, 2021, 2:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echoes

I think that parkade had structural issues.

Yup, maintenance had been deferred/ignored through the decades and the structure was in need significant structural remediation. I don't recall if the parkade was torn down before or after The Bay relocated to Midtown, but without the draw of The Bay across the street, it wouldn't be practical to sink millions of dollars into a parkade that would be only partially occupied.

Ricopedra · #**3228** Posted **Apr 9, 2021, 2:17 PM**

edited?

Ricopedra · #**3229** Posted **Apr 9, 2021, 2:21 PM**

edited

Arts · #**3230** Posted **Apr 9, 2021, 5:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crisis

Yup, maintenance had been deferred/ignored through the decades and the structure was in need significant structural remediation. I don't recall if the parkade was torn down before or after The Bay relocated to Midtown, but without the draw of The Bay across the street, it wouldn't be practical to sink millions of dollars into a parkade that would be only partially occupied.

This was also in the wake of several deadly parking structure collapses in QC and the world, and I have a vague recollection that they weren't collecting enough revenues to pay the escalating maintenance costs.

reddo · #**3231** Posted **Apr 11, 2021, 2:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricopedra

Of course, in other issues, this was the only skywalk we had in Saskatoon, and I miss it muchly, regardless of the haters. It gave us kids the only big city view we could get. Cheers.

Isn't there still a skywalk down by st Paul's? I know it's not downtown. Also the university has a lot of them

Ricopedra · #**3232** Posted **Apr 11, 2021, 11:05 AM**

edited

Crisis · #**3233** Posted **Apr 12, 2021, 2:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricopedra

Thanks. Can you post a link for the structural issues? If the Bay had stayed open for instance, would they've had to tear the parkade down?

Sorry, just going from memory of living here at the time and being a recent civil engineering grad. I do recall that there were areas with the top mat of rebar exposed.

If it's any consolation, the parkade I used in Edmonton 25 years ago had the exact same issue. Not a reassuring feeling driving over exposed rebar. Just hope the engineers were using a really fat factor of safety in their calculations.

So, a fairly common issue where proper maintenance on the traffic topping wasn't getting done. I think it's less a shoddy construction issue and more of "concrete is maintenance free - no need to spend any money" issue. Nope - there's a reason parkade decks have traffic toppings to protect the concrete from corrosive salts, etc. that fall off the vehicles parked there.

Sask.ks · #**3234** Posted **Apr 13, 2021, 11:57 PM**

Looks like they’re tearing down the Bamboo Shoots building on Main Street:

I emailed the City about the development appeal for this site (the 15-storey mixed-use tower) and it’s been approved! They just haven’t posted the decision to the City website yet.

Roquentin · #**3235** Posted **Apr 14, 2021, 6:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sask.ks

I emailed the City about the development appeal for this site (the 15-storey mixed-use tower) and it’s been approved! They just haven’t posted the decision to the City website yet.

Hey that's fantastic! 15 stories is pretty tall for the Broadway area --- it will set a nice precedent! With all of the new developments on that part of Main Street, I wonder how long the strip mall on the NE corner of Broadway and Main will last.

(I also wish I had a crystal ball to see the future of Extra Foods --- whatever else happens, I hope there's a grocery store there forever.)

roryn1 · #**3236** Posted **Apr 14, 2021, 6:30 PM**

That’s so exciting! It’s going to be nice to have another dense block join Saskatoon. This will be the 2nd most dense block in the city next to 25th and 5th. We really haven’t had dense blocks prior to this, so hopefully the city sees this and invests in this two areas a lot more than they currently do. These are heavy tax dollars parts of the city that deserve better services.

Fyi - bamboo shoots is now basically downtown at 25th and Idylwyld

Echoes · #**3237** Posted **Apr 14, 2021, 7:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roquentin

(I also wish I had a crystal ball to see the future of Extra Foods --- whatever else happens, I hope there's a grocery store there forever.)

Same here. Baydo's project, the tower on the Bamboo Shoots property, and the rezoning on Main Street next door that was just approved (plus hopefully Highpoint someday) all bode well for growing the store's local customer base. I try to shop there as much as I can (although it doesn't suffice for all my grocery needs) and it seems really well-supported and embraced by the neighbourhood.

Funny that the NIMBYs opposing these Broadway area developments can't see that it helps keep their main street grocery store alive. All they see is negative, never positive.

SaskE30 · #**3238** Posted **Apr 14, 2021, 7:57 PM**

The old Bamboo Shoots building is officially history.

Roquentin · #**3239** Posted **Apr 14, 2021, 10:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roryn1

This will be the 2nd most dense block in the city next to 25th and 5th.

I don't know, do you really think that this strip can compete with the Market Mall megacity???

Sask.ks · #**3240** Posted **Apr 14, 2021, 10:39 PM**

I really hope we see some real renders of the tower at the Bamboo Shoots site...just because the appeal got approved, doesn’t mean they’ll actually build it! Hopefully we hear more from either the developers or Kindrachuk Agrey in the coming weeks.

NorthPrairie had their development appeal approved for their proposal at the College Drive and Clarence Ave site years ago and we all know how that turned out (good ol NorthPrairie)