Saskatoon Construction III

[zachjeffries]

I'm sure some of you have seen that I've been a longtime reader of the forum. I want to invite you out for a Pints & Politics I'm hosting next week. It would be great to meet some development minded folks casually in person now that we are able to do so again!

Here are some details:
https://www.facebook.com/events/4939555079479293/

For those not into FB:
Join Councillor Zach Jeffries for a casual Pints & Politics event on October 12th! Pop by to discuss city issues and any ideas that you have for Saskatoon. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are free for folks in attendance and everyone is welcome to join!

Pints & Politics with Zach Jeffries
Rock Creek Grill & Bar (side room)
#102 - 1820 McOrmond Drive
7:00pm to 9:00pm (come and go)

Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have any questions or to let me know that you're able to make it. No need to RSVP, you can just show up.

[Roquentin]

The house south of St. John's Anglican Cathedral has recently been demolished. It looks like the property is being combined with the parking lot just south of it to form, drumroll please, a larger parking lot. As far as I know, the church owns it all.

Now, spokespeople for the Cathedral were opposed to the (imminent --- fingers crossed, knock on wood) Knox Church parking lot redevelopment next door. However, the Anglicans now have their very own redevelopment site on Spadina. I'd be very surprised (and happy!) if they did anything with it in my lifetime besides manage it as a parking lot, but the potential is there.

[canuck10]

Originally Posted by Roquentin

The house south of St. John's Anglican Cathedral has recently been demolished. It looks like the property is being combined with the parking lot just south of it to form, drumroll please, a larger parking lot. As far as I know, the church owns it all.

Now, spokespeople for the Cathedral were opposed to the (imminent --- fingers crossed, knock on wood) Knox Church parking lot redevelopment next door. However, the Anglicans now have their very own redevelopment site on Spadina. I'd be very surprised (and happy!) if they did anything with it in my lifetime besides manage it as a parking lot, but the potential is there.

Yes I noticed this too. And 3 or 4 years ago another house immediately south of the one you are talking about was demolished and became commercial parking space. This year, as you say, the second house (immediately south of the church) was demolished, a new fence has been erected, and the commercial parking has been expanded.

However, these lots aren't owned by the church. Rather they are owned by a company that is owned by Frank and Ellen Remai. I have no idea what the long term plan is but for now it seems they are content to use them for parking revenue.

What I found odd is that in the spring this year the house next to the church was shrouded with scaffolding and insulated tarps and appeared to be undergoing extensive Renos and then later this summer it was demolished.

[Roquentin]

Originally Posted by canuck10

However, these lots aren't owned by the church. Rather they are owned by a company that is owned by Frank and Ellen Remai. I have no idea what the long term plan is but for now it seems they are content to use them for parking revenue.

Oh, interesting! Thanks for the correction! That makes me more optimistic about the land's future. For whatever reason, I'd always assumed the house was a residence for members of the clergy.

Baseless speculation time, but I wonder if the approval of the Knox plans played a role in the renovation/demolition timeline.

[Sask.ks]

Originally Posted by canuck10

What I found odd is that in the spring this year the house next to the church was shrouded with scaffolding and insulated tarps and appeared to be undergoing extensive Renos and then later this summer it was demolished.

Was it a very old house? There might have been asbestos in the insulation, which could explain the scaffolding and tarps earlier this year.

[The Bess]

Didn't the remais propose a high-rise there at one time about 13 floors tried to make it fit in with the church. Alot thought it was ugly. There was a render i think in the beginning of construction II.

[SaskE30]

Originally Posted by The Bess

Didn't the remais propose a high-rise there at one time about 13 floors tried to make it fit in with the church. Alot thought it was ugly. There was a render i think in the beginning of construction II.

Yes, there was. It used to be on the old JC Aken architecture website before it went offline. If I recall correctly, it was proposed right around the time of the completion of The riverfront condo building just down the block. The proposed building had the same general architectural style which isn't surprising given that it was the same architect and developer.

Turns out, I still have a screenshot of it!

[EpicPonyTime]

I don't hate it (certainly appreciate the brick exterior), but I shudder at the thought of that building being located in such a prime piece of riverfront land.

[roryn1]

Originally Posted by Roquentin

Oh, interesting! Thanks for the correction! That makes me more optimistic about the land's future. For whatever reason, I'd always assumed the house was a residence for members of the clergy.

Baseless speculation time, but I wonder if the approval of the Knox plans played a role in the renovation/demolition timeline.

So they also own the city leased parking lot at 5th and 24th st and barely take care of it. Have the remai’s actually built anything downtown (no they didn’t build remai modern and the picasso thing is overrated)? I think they’re more known for tearing down buildings and putting up parking lots which they then may eventually sell to another developer. They’re not in my good books - when I lived at 5th and 25th we approached them as a neighboring site to enhance the beautification of the street and they shut us down instantly. They also dumped a monster hill of mud on our lawn the following year lol. They are very difficult to deal with…

I think the last thing they built was that cheap hotel on 8th about 10 years ago. They’re mostly land spec flippers now/parking lot business.

[905er]

Originally Posted by SaskE30

Yes, there was. It used to be on the old JC Aken architecture website before it went offline. If I recall correctly, it was proposed right around the time of the completion of The riverfront condo building just down the block. The proposed building had the same general architectural style which isn't surprising given that it was the same architect and developer.

Turns out, I still have a screenshot of it!

This is hideous.. please tell me it was't approved. .. this already looks like an early 90's build.

[The Bess]

Quite different from the Cameco building proposal he did.

[Roquentin]

Wow! Thanks for posting the screenshot!

I'm just happy to know that it won't be a church parking lot forever. Oh, for a crystal ball, haha!

I'd love to know what will eventually happen to the three small commercial buildings just south of this. That whole block, including the Star Phoenix et al., has got to be the block of downtown with the most potential to completely change the feel of the area! If only the pace of development here weren't quite so glacial.

[Saskabusher]

^yes, agreed! but if the spire tower goes up, that'll fill a massive hole in the skyline and bring it into the 2000s at least. fingers crossed!

[Saskabusher]

anyone going for pints and politics w zackjefferies? Nice of you to invite, Zack! unfortunately I can't make this one...

[phone]

Originally Posted by 905er

This is hideous.. please tell me it was't approved. .. this already looks like an early 90's build.

I have vague memories of this proposal from the late 00s (unless I'm mistaken). Don't worry, it is long dead in the water.

[Echoes]

It's incredible to me that many opponents of Knox Tower would feel that a design like that with brick and other mimicry would better complement the nearby churches than a contemporary glass tower.

Design like that does an absolute disservice to adjacent heritage. It only serves to blend St. John's into the brick tones of the higher building rather than to contrast with the heritage church and help it stand out as a distinct building from a distinct era.

The Remai site will be developed someday - no question - but it's unlikely that it will be with that hideous thing. Thank God.

[Echoes]

Delete.

[Echoes]

Delete.

[mmx]

The new library first look is fairly disappointing IMO. For a $130 million 4-storey building I was expecting something less derivitive, a little more different, exciting. Then again when you are talking public facility guess you got to prepare to be brutally underwhelmed.

[phone]

Originally Posted by mmx

The new library first look is fairly disappointing IMO. For a $130 million 4-storey building I was expecting something less derivitive, a little more different, exciting. Then again when you are talking public facility guess you got to prepare to be brutally underwhelmed.

It's fine, yes it is somewhat derivative but it's certainly not ugly or unattractive. "Brutally underwhelmed" would be an overstatement to me. I'm just plain "whelmed"

It looks like it will be perfectly functional, spacious, full of light, and a much needed revamp over the current facility. I'm looking forward to it.