Regina Construction IV

[Stormer]

In defence of the Credit Foncier Building it was a pretty decent heritage structure. It did not look too damaged from the fire. I would have preferred that it was saved, but there is little demand for a building like that especially downtown.

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by gecho111

No work at the Costco site today, but some rebar cages for the piles for foundation were delivered last week. Lots of apartments on the go in Westerra. There are about 18 permits for single story quad-plexes on the east side, probably like these ones in the Towns https://maps.app.goo.gl/NNzSQi2Fm9ULYRgY6

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reginaconstruction/

Hopefully the rents won’t be too high on these apartments

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by YEG-Urbanist

Guess I should have kept my trap shut. I didn't know I would cause such a "drama". LOL

It’s a good thing

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by Stormer

In defence of the Credit Foncier Building it was a pretty decent heritage structure. It did not look too damaged from the fire. I would have preferred that it was saved, but there is little demand for a building like that especially downtown.

Is there anything replacing it?

It's a handsome building, very unfortunate it's being torn down.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by The mayor

That property is owned by the Hill family who knows what there intentions are

That probably means parking lot. They own a large property at Portage & Main including a parking lot with a heritage structure at the north end, they looked into tearing it down but they cant as it's a protected structure.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by pappcam

How do old dilapidated buildings make downtown more vibrant and livable? How is a 100 year old nondescript fire-damaged building going to solve that? I work downtown and I'll tell you it won't.

Sure it won't. Neither will vacant lots. I work downtown and the demolition of older commercial space is a big reason we don't have retail commercial in the core. I've lived a lot of places, Winnipeg, Edmonton, St. John's, Regina, St. Louis and they were all miles ahead of Regina in understanding a sense of place.

A vibrant downtown has a mix of uses, a mix of generations and a mix of rents that can support both chains and local businesses. Regina is losing that ability. That is the point I am trying to make, but sure, tear down some more structures and maybe build a strip mall Timmies.

Obviously, the city and most of it's residents don't care about the core.

[cityboy]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

Sure it won't. Neither will vacant lots. I work downtown and the demolition of older commercial space is a big reason we don't have retail commercial in the core. I've lived a lot of places, Winnipeg, Edmonton, St. John's, Regina, St. Louis and they were all miles ahead of Regina in understanding a sense of place.

A vibrant downtown has a mix of uses, a mix of generations and a mix of rents that can support both chains and local businesses. Regina is losing that ability. That is the point I am trying to make, but sure, tear down some more structures and maybe build a strip mall Timmies.

Obviously, the city and most of it's residents don't care about the core.

Couldn't agree more. It's like this city is hell-bent on erasing any kind of soul or character it has (had). Most other cities have long since begun to turn the corner on the ill-effects of the donut effect and suburban flight with prioritizing their city centres. I don't care how nice the curbs on 11th turrn out to be. There's much more to it than that.

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by cityboy

Couldn't agree more. It's like this city is hell-bent on erasing any kind of soul or character it has (had). Most other cities have long since begun to turn the corner on the ill-effects of the donut effect and suburban flight with prioritizing their city centres. I don't care how nice the curbs on 11th turrn out to be. There's much more to it than that.

Regina has very many many significant beautiful heritage buildings more than a lot of cities unbelievable

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by The mayor

Regina has very many many significant beautiful heritage buildings more than a lot of cities unbelievable

We do seem to be losing the forest for the trees. Part of this is understanding the scale and feel for things and it is often the case that a lesser building in context makes the whole more.

We've got a bunch more vacant historical buildings that will need to come down in the next fifteen years unless we figure out a system for dealing with that outside of waiting for homeless fires to do the heavy lifting of our discussion.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

That probably means parking lot. They own a large property at Portage & Main including a parking lot with a heritage structure at the north end, they looked into tearing it down but they cant as it's a protected structure.

New surface parking lots are not permitted downtown.

[gecho111]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

That probably means parking lot. They own a large property at Portage & Main including a parking lot with a heritage structure at the north end, they looked into tearing it down but they cant as it's a protected structure.

The space around the building is earmarked for use as an outdoor event space. If its the same owner presumably the footprint will be added to that in the near term.

[cityboy]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

We do seem to be losing the forest for the trees. Part of this is understanding the scale and feel for things and it is often the case that a lesser building in context makes the whole more.

We've got a bunch more vacant historical buildings that will need to come down in the next fifteen years unless we figure out a system for dealing with that outside of waiting for homeless fires to do the heavy lifting of our discussion.

It's seems difficult to convey this idea when people point out all the heritage buildings we do still have. Your comment about lesser buildings makes sense to me. How little of the old stock similar to Hill Ave or the Somerset block is left. I would think that it makes sense for the city to incentivize the upkeep of these properties in some way, similar to how they have at least attempted to remove the friction to construct infill residential. We're seeing good strides on that. Not to say new mixed use buildings can't and aren't being built. I would argue though, that when buildings like Centre Square Place and the brick buildings on Broad and Badham get built, the economics dictate what types of businesses can make a go of it. Centre Square had mainly vacancies for years. Or worst case scenario, we get the monstrosity that houses the Tim Horton's on Broad and 11th.

[cityboy]

Originally Posted by Stormer

New surface parking lots are not permitted downtown.

In theory. But why do we still have a surface lot just south of the Delta that was supposed to be temporary for the workers working on the federal building? Or the surface lot that appeared behind the police station where the old Wonderland Arcade was?

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by cityboy

In theory. But why do we still have a surface lot just south of the Delta that was supposed to be temporary for the workers working on the federal building? Or the surface lot that appeared behind the police station where the old Wonderland Arcade was?

The first one you mentioned is no longer being used for parking. I just drove by it yesterday. I do not believe the other one is either. If there are sometimes vehicles there, they are probably illegal.

[cityboy]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The first one you mentioned is no longer being used for parking. I just drove by it yesterday. I do not believe the other one is either. If there are sometimes vehicles there, they are probably illegal.

That's good to hear. Definitely cars at the Broad spot. Would be funny if they are parking illegally considering the proximity to the police station!

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by cityboy

That's good to hear. Definitely cars at the Broad spot. Would be funny if they are parking illegally considering the proximity to the police station!

Probably cops parking there.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by Stormer

New surface parking lots are not permitted downtown.

That's good, thanks for the info.

[Udon'tknow]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The first one you mentioned is no longer being used for parking. I just drove by it yesterday. I do not believe the other one is either. If there are sometimes vehicles there, they are probably illegal.

I think the point though is which is the better option, an empty old buliding with character or a dirt surface lot, whether there are cars parking on the lot or not is irrelevant, the last thing downtown needs is more ugly dirt lots. In addition to this one we also have the on on Albert and Sask Drive. I drove by it today and its a complete eyesore at the edge of downtown. This will likely sit vacant for years just like the Capital Point lot and many others.

[one_brick_at_a_time]

What annoys me the most is zero enforcing of keeping the facade with braces until a new project is built with the facade being included in the new build. This happens all across Toronto and should be the same practice in Regina.

[YEG-Urbanist]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

What annoys me the most is zero enforcing of keeping the facade with braces until a new project is built with the facade being included the new build. This happens all across Toronto and should be the same practice in Regina.

100% agree with you!