Saskatoon Construction - Page 271

midnightrambler · #**5401** Posted **Mar 6, 2009, 3:50 PM**

Quote:

kgc087;4125089]Not to be a party pooper but I think 275 would look terrible if it were that big in that area. Especially walking down 2nd ave. I feel high rise developments like that (20-40) are better suited to the north downtown

I agree, I think the development is great the way it has been presented. There is no need for overkill in building height. I look forward to seeing it be constructed as soon as possible.

Ruckus · #**5402** Posted **Mar 6, 2009, 5:05 PM**

The new rendering for 2seven5 is a huge improvement. It gives us a better perspective on the scale, relationship to the street, and surrounding buildings (I am now more supportive of this proposal).

Although I wonder, will the window glazing be as transparent as shown in the rendering? I hope so

Quote:

Originally Posted by OILERS

Looks good.

As for Macleans, maybe next years article will better reflect the realities of Canadian cities...or they will decide it isn't worth publishing. I am hoping for the latter.

Ruckus · #**5403** Posted **Mar 6, 2009, 5:22 PM**

Progress in Condo Development
Friday, 06 March 2009

A senior's condo behind the Full Gospel Church is one step closer to reality.

The church on Ruth Street and Haultain Avenue has plans with the Alberta-based developer Medican. In exchange for a new church building, Medican will be constructing senior's condos on the east end of the site.

Residents raised concerns about the original design at public consultations, so Medican had to make some revisions. Some residents are still concerned about the amount of extra traffic the condos will bring.

City development services manager Tim Stuart says administration has given the ok for the rezoning, the next step is approval by City Council.

Source

Ricopedra · #**5404** Posted **Mar 6, 2009, 6:25 PM**

Hello, I was born and raised in Saskatoon, went to the UofS, etc, and then moved to Vancouver for nine years. Now I'm in Taipei. I come back every couple of years and my prefered mode of travel once I'm back is by public transit or walking. In both Canadian cities, I feel I've got to be very aware of who's around me, or what 'hood I'm in. In Vancouver I always get hassled for coin, but in Saskatoon, I ALWAYS get verbally threatened on my walks, or feel quite unsafe by the presence of some street punk. Really.

And whether killings are drivebys or domestics, they're targeted, right? So usually you're safe from murder in Canada. Usually. Yes, flying bullets and wrong time wrong place, etc, etc. I just know, if I'm walking down the street after eleven in Saskabush, I don't feel safe. Sorry, but that's my opinion because that's my experience, regardless of the article.

As for the new skyline editions - rock on RL and 275!

midnightrambler · #**5405** Posted **Mar 6, 2009, 7:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricopedra

Hello, I was born and raised in Saskatoon, went to the UofS, etc, and then moved to Vancouver for nine years. Now I'm in Taipei. I come back every couple of years and my prefered mode of travel once I'm back is by public transit or walking. In both Canadian cities, I feel I've got to be very aware of who's around me, or what 'hood I'm in. In Vancouver I always get hassled for coin, but in Saskatoon, I ALWAYS get verbally threatened on my walks, or feel quite unsafe by the presence of some street punk. Really.

And whether killings are drivebys or domestics, they're targeted, right? So usually you're safe from murder in Canada. Usually. Yes, flying bullets and wrong time wrong place, etc, etc. I just know, if I'm walking down the street after eleven in Saskabush, I don't feel safe. Sorry, but that's my opinion because that's my experience, regardless of the article.

As for the new skyline editions - rock on RL and 275!

Truthfully, there are some bad neighbourhoods in Saskatoon. But generally I would say 95% of the city is Safe. Mcleans is sensationalizing the tabloid headlines. Same thing goes for their University rankings. Company ranking's etc...

I would also say there are some bad neighbourhoods in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Regina, etc.. but 95% of their cities are safe.

It doesn't matter what city your in. If Mclean's wanted to actually inform people instead of scare, sensationalize, and sell magazine copies, they would compare neighbourhoods instead of cities as a whole. It just doesn't make much sense the way they have presented their statistics. A city of 200,000 people may have a terrible reputation because of it, when it is clearly one or two or half a dozen neighbourhoods across cities all over the country where all the crime is.

socialisthorde · #**5406** Posted **Mar 6, 2009, 7:56 PM**

Your story is welcome Rico, and I take it for what it is, your experience and to be frank, my experience overlaps with yours to a degree. There are neighborhoods in Saskatoon where I would likely not walk alone at night if I didn't have to, or if I did, I would be very watchful. However, while I don't think this is acceptable, it is not as big a deal for the average Joe or Jane living in Saskatoon as McLean's would suggest. My experience is that I can and do walk in most parts of the city at any hour and feel reasonably safe. I felt the same living in Vancouver.

I don't object to McLeans doing a well researched story on crime here or anywhere else. What I object to is the simplistic approach of taking numbers out of context to intentionally create controversy with no apparent benefit. It is the lame research methodology and the muckraking approach which they used that I find offensive. As I noted above, crime statistics verge on being meaningless, and I think using them to grade anything, including a city is irresponsible. For the record, i find their univeristy rankings equaly simplistic and offensive, even though my alma maters repeatedly score well.

It's actually a shame that we are discussing the article here and thereby giving them waht they want, attention. I heard one of the authors on CBC this AM, and his approach to the whole thing was quite glib, as if he was expecting and indeed wanting an argument. I don't see that as constructive, but rather and trying to sell more magazines at the expensive of tarnishing (however slightly) the reputation of a city.

nook · #**5407** Posted **Mar 7, 2009, 3:35 PM**

There are neighborhoods in larger centres like Toronto and Vancouver that I would not walk through in the day, let alone the night.

Until I feel that way when I'm walking down 20th street in the afternoon, I deem Saskatoon relatively safe.

Ricopedra · #**5408** Posted **Mar 7, 2009, 4:41 PM**

Sorry folks, I was just writing a nice big thesis on comparisons and data for the past half hour, and how they can be manipulated anyway you want to, (Is coffee good for us or not already?!), pressed backspace to delete a letter, and everything dissappeared! Maybe later....

Morogolus · #**5409** Posted **Mar 7, 2009, 9:47 PM**

I don't think Saskatoon is the most dangerous city in Canada and you probably don't need to worry about getting shot by a drive by. Although there are parts of town that I would not walk down after 8pm. It's a combination of factors that seem to come together to give this illusion of danger.

No disrespect to the boys in blue but seems that we have a police force that's more interested in breaking up high school parties and giving speeding tickets then actual violent crimes being committed. You could drive around alphabet city for an hour after 11pm and not see a cop but they're all over 8th street and 2nd ave handing out rolling stop sign tickets. On top of that, they're always involved in some kind of controversy and having to suspend officers (with pay of course)

The sentencing is a joke, people here aren't afraid to commit crimes because if they caught the most they're gonna do is 1-2 years. Three bloody years for killing two kids?! Like what are they smoking, on top of that this guy has been in and out of jail for 10 years. You'd be in jail for the rest of your life in the states and possibly get executed.

I think they need to start implementing metal detectors in nightclubs Most of these stabbings that give our city such a bad name seems to happen in these establishments. It's part of my Monday routine to check SP online and see which bar the stabbing was at this weekend and everyone that I know that frequents the bar seems to have had a knife pulled on them.

Also the economy is probably causing a lot of people who were otherwise getting by to starting alternative incomes.

I think it's wrong for a leaders to just shrug and say that the stats are wrong and report is sensationalized, if it is then great but they still have some problems that need to be addressed. I know this thread is about construction but I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in.

midnightrambler · #**5410** Posted **Mar 8, 2009, 4:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricopedra

Sorry folks, I was just writing a nice big thesis on comparisons and data for the past half hour, and how they can be manipulated anyway you want to, (Is coffee good for us or not already?!), pressed backspace to delete a letter, and everything dissappeared! Maybe later....

Next time just hit ctrl + Z to undo delete.

Jerry · #**5411** Posted **Mar 8, 2009, 9:47 PM**

The King George is slowly starting to reveal itself.
Certainly a great addition to our city and another feather in Meridian's cap.

All that glass will certainly award great views of moose wandering our streets.

Photo source > me.....yes I am usually in lurking mode.

kgc087 · #**5412** Posted **Mar 8, 2009, 9:52 PM**

The KG is really going to be a magnificent building once again. I really like the stone they chose for the "columns" along ground level, something soft and neutral but still not stucco!!

OILERS · #**5413** Posted **Mar 8, 2009, 9:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgc087

The KG is really going to be a magnificent building once again. I really like the stone they chose for the "columns" along ground level, something soft and neutral but still not stucco!!

I really like how this building is starting to look

Let's hope the Rumley will look as good.

kgc087 · #**5414** Posted **Mar 10, 2009, 3:08 AM**

So I'm writing a report for my communications class on the importance of public transportation and how it is the future mode of transport in Canada. I came across this video talking about Canadian cities which is really great! Check it out!

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/natureofthings/2009/livingcity/video.html

kgc087 · #**5415** Posted **Mar 10, 2009, 5:44 AM**

Housing Starts Moderate
Monday, 09 March 2009

Paul Caton with Canada Mortgage and Housing Unit says after a hectic year, Saskatoon home builders are turning their focus in 2009 to completing and then marketing their stock of housing units.

Housing starts are down in both Regina and Saskatoon. In February last year, Saskatoon saw 89 units started but this year, only 24 new housing starts were recorded. There were no new multiple starts versus the 86 multi-starts in that month last year.

And year to date, Saskatoon has seen 45 single dwellings started, down from 2008 when 156 starts were recorded.

Paul Caton says this is the way it's done; you build up an inventory and then liquidate it. And as more renters purchases homes, Caton says we can expect an increase in vacancies in the rental market as well as moderation in the rate of increase for rent.

Caton expects housing starts to pick up again in 2010. (vmf March 9/09)
http://www.saskatoonhomepage.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16934&Itemid=374

midnightrambler · #**5416** Posted **Mar 10, 2009, 3:45 PM**

Quote:

Population boom eyed

City population forecast to increase by 50,000 by 2026

By David Hutton, The StarPhoenixMarch 10, 2009 9:01 AMBe the first to post a comment

The number of people in Saskatoon will boom by 50,000 to 260,000 by 2026, a new population projection report says.

The report, the first commissioned jointly by the city and the Saskatoon Health Region and presented Monday at a city council committee meeting, took into account the area surrounding Saskatoon, which is growing at twice the rate as the city itself.

When the surrounding area is accounted for the population will swell to 303,000 by 2026 from 240,000.

That trend mirrors growth in bedroom communities such as Martensville and Warman in recent years.

"The numbers are reflective of what we've been experiencing lately," said Randy Grauer, manager of the city's planning and development branch.

The numbers paint a picture of a city on the brink of remarkable change. The next few decades will see an explosion in the number of people in the city who are older than 65, with that demographic more than doubling in size to 58,713 in 2026 from 26,413 in 2006, the report says. That includes a huge jump in the 85 and older demographic, which is expected to grow to 18,465 from 4,153.

The economic and social impact of the aging baby boomer generation is huge, Grauer said. Already the city has begun to diversify the types of housing planned for new neighbourhoods such as Stonebridge, Willowgrove, Hampton Village, Evergreen and Rosewood, with more assisted living and senior-oriented housing included. "They're not enclaves for one type of home," he said.

Grauer said if projections are correct, the city will be need about 25,000 more housing units to accommodate the growing population.

"It's not going to be 25,000 2,000-square-foot, two-storey homes with a triple garage," he said. "We need to be flexible."

The growth is coming, as it has traditionally, from people moving from rural centres, but a growing number of people are moving from out of province and out of country, Grauer said.

At the presentation to an executive committee meeting, Mayor Don Atchison noted Monday the increased demand the aging population will place on the city's accessible transit service, which he said is already stretched due to a lack of provincial funding.

The high school enrolment decline already hitting city school divisions will continue, with a 14.7 per cent drop in the age 15 to 19 demographic, mirroring a national trend. But there is positive news at the end of the 20-year period with a jump coming in the elementary-aged demographic that should eventually push up high school enrolment, he said.

With more seniors and a stagnant teenage market, the city will likely see changes in the type of leisure activities and entertainment planned to accommodate the aging population, Grauer said.

[email protected]

SASKATOON AND AREA POPULATION PROJECTION

Age 2006 population 2026 population

City: 209, 215 256,840

5-14 26,083 28,784

15-19 15,340 13,085

20-64 129,190 138,355

65+ 26, 413 58,713

Surrounding area :

31,135 46,479

5-14 4,802 5,982

15-19 2,446 2, 584

20-64 18, 914 29, 288

65+ 2,799 5,419

Source: Saskatoon Community Services Dept.

These reports ^^^^^^^ are a little BS.

I was thinking that they are under-estimating the population figures.

Using the CMA # of 241,100 currently today according to statscan. If we use the growth factor of 2006-2007 which was 4,600 people. We see that in 17 years "2026" if the population grows by 4,600 people per year (which is rather modest) the population of the CMA would be 319,300. I think they are Under more however, it should be around 350,000 for the CMA and 300,000 for the city in 26' But who knows?

In being "Flexible" I wonder if they mean Building Higher?

acron · #**5417** Posted **Mar 10, 2009, 5:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnightrambler

These reports ^^^^^^^ are a little BS.

I was thinking that they are under-estimating the population figures.

Using the CMA # of 241,100 currently today according to statscan. If we use the growth factor of 2006-2007 which was 4,600 people. We see that in 17 years "2026" if the population grows by 4,600 people per year (which is rather modest) the population of the CMA would be 319,300. I think they are Under more however, it should be around 350,000 for the CMA and 300,000 for the city in 26' But who knows?

In being "Flexible" I wonder if they mean Building Higher?

i agree that these reports are quite silly. in 1998 these same people were predicting Saskatoon to decline by 15% by 2009. it's all just an extrapolation of the current available data. its like those clowns in the US a few years ago who told everyone that real estate value will increase annually by 6%-8% ... (dramatic pause)... forever!

anyway, my respectful prediction, which is as about as reliable as the reader's or any "analyst", is that the population of this city will hit 450,000 by 2025.

kgc087 · #**5418** Posted **Mar 10, 2009, 5:27 PM**

Acron I hope you're right, that would be pretty much amazing if that happened. Only 50 000 more people and we would be self sustainable! With all this population growth I sure hope the city doesnt make the terrible move of approving new neighbourhood after new neighbourhood. What a mess Saskatoon would become, people already can't drive and stand traffic, could you imagine slapping another 50 000 people around the perimeter of the city!

socialisthorde · #**5419** Posted **Mar 10, 2009, 5:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgc087

Acron I hope you're right, that would be pretty much amazing if that happened. Only 50 000 more people and we would be self sustainable! With all this population growth I sure hope the city doesnt make the terrible move of approving new neighbourhood after new neighbourhood. What a mess Saskatoon would become, people already can't drive and stand traffic, could you imagine slapping another 50 000 people around the perimeter of the city!

Even worse if those people are out in Warman and Martensville. It is a tough call for the city whether to focus on density and limite sprawl or to try and compete with the exurbs for the folks who hold the (in my opinion slightly delusional) fantasy of city life without being in the city. Hopefully rising gas prices will take care of it

I know a few folks who are regretting their decision to live the "small town life within reach of the city". Funny how the developer adds never mention how miserable that "only 20 minute drive" to Saskatoon can be when you have to do it every day in every type of weather.

Ruckus · #**5420** Posted **Mar 10, 2009, 10:24 PM**

Well, this sucks. The South Bridge will be functional in nature, and not a legacy project with a high-end architectural design.

I hope they install dark sky lighting throughout the entire project...I bet they'll find a way not to though.

____________________

City will reward bridge bidders
The Star Phoenix March 10, 2009

The two unsuccessful bids to develop the $300-million Circle Drive South project will likely get a $600,000 honorarium.

The recommendation was approved Monday by city council's executive committee and will be sent to city council for final approval.

The city is seeking a contractor to design and build the project. Administration will select a short list of three proposals, and present its recommendation by February 2010 to city council.

The deadline to finish the new six-lane south bridge and seven kilometres of connecting freeway is Oct. 1, 2012. The new south bridge is expected to be functional in nature and not a "legacy project" with high-end architectural design, the committee heard.

It is expected the unsuccessful bidders will spend between $2 million and $3 million to prepare proposals. The honorarium is normal industry practice, a report to the executive committee said.

© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix

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