Saskatoon | Baydo Towers | ??m - ??m | 25-25 Floors | U/C

[asdfgh]

Originally Posted by CanadianDriverYXE

November Update! 11/13/23
I would post weekly pictures but there isn't a lot of progress to show, so I choose to just post these pictures monthly.

So it's sitting at 19 stories? or 20? So they have 5 stories to go.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by CanadianDriverYXE

I would post weekly pictures but there isn't a lot of progress to show, so I choose to just post these pictures monthly.

Kind of cruising along at their usual pace. Looks like about 1-1/2 floors added and 2 more closed in over the last month.

[Saskabusher]

Thanks for the photo, CDYXE. You're probably right, once a month is about right for an update. Progress I can see:

-It looks like the core/ height is done.

- 20 floors of 'framing' are done. (They'll add one more round of 4-floor steel posts, which will bring it to 24 storys, and then some extra steel for the 25 fl/penthouse common area. So they should top out by...March?)

-It looks like they've finally got the south-west corner going, with steel in place and the full perimeter shape of the podium.

-A bit more wall-in insulation.

I hadn't noticed the balconies hanging off the river side, but they were there in the last photo....

Well, as Crisis says, cruising along at their usual pace. Haha. I will point out, their "Help wanted, all positions" sign is still up. There are thousands of foreign workers in the tar sands, at Tims, etc. Can't they work in construction? I really wonder how much their pace is affected by their apparent labour shortage....

[asdfgh]

Originally Posted by Saskabusher

Thanks for the photo, CDYXE. You're probably right, once a month is about right for an update. Progress I can see:

-It looks like the core/ height is done.

- 20 floors of 'framing' are done. (They'll add one more round of 4-floor steel posts, which will bring it to 24 storys, and then some extra steel for the 25 fl/penthouse common area. So they should top out by...March?)

-It looks like they've finally got the south-west corner going, with steel in place and the full perimeter shape of the podium.

-A bit more wall-in insulation.

I hadn't noticed the balconies hanging off the river side, but they were there in the last photo....

Well, as Crisis says, cruising along at their usual pace. Haha. I will point out, their "Help wanted, all positions" sign is still up. There are thousands of foreign workers in the tar sands, at Tims, etc. Can't they work in construction? I really wonder how much their pace is affected by their apparent labour shortage....

I drive by on the weekend and it looks like they've added 4 more floors worth of steel, so I think you are spot on with the process of framing it. It's nice those next four floors seem to be being framed fairly quickly. Hopefully soon we'll get a better feel for the actual height compared to the surrounding buildings.

[Saskabusher]

Oh, that's good to hear. I wouldn't want to do that job in -30C, with a windchill factor!

I'm getting really curious to see the first splash of coloured siding fall into place. Not for a while yet, I think.

One other curious thing is that there doesn't seem to be a construction lift on any side of the building. Might it be going up in the core? I've never heard of that before, if it is... but where else? Or maybe that's why it's taking so long and nobody wants to work there because you have to walk up every morning, noon, and night....

[WhipperSnapper]

Construction hoists that fit inside elevator cores do exist

[CanadianDriverYXE]

December 01, 2023 Construction Update.

[Saskabusher]

Well, first of all, thanks for the visual, CanadianDriverYXE, it's very much appreciated.

I'm on a laptop and can't get the whole image at one time without scrolling, so I'll try my phone later.

Anyway, updates have happened! Top of the posts is now 24 floors, and you can see rebar poking up top the core. That could be the final height, which from ground level is still hard to estimate.

Nevertheless, Baydo has come through, when other local developers like North Prairie keep advertising developments and do nothing.

As slow as this project moves, there is progress, which will lead to more diverse housing choices in Saskatoon, love or hate it, when it's finished. The density is welcomed in a city that sorely needs it.

[WhipperSnapper]

thanks for the update

Not sure what diversity of housing is supposed to mean. These will likely lease at the uppermost end of the market given the high cost of construction. They could potentially raise rents for all classes given that there are at least 500 units and if Saskatoon doesn't have rent control.

[Saskabusher]

Diversity of housing was meant to mean different choices for people looking for places to live, bolstering core choices, which are very limited here, thus adding to a market dominated by the single family dwelling, which dominates Saskatoon's market. Baydo said in their ads that these rentals would include spaces for large vehicles, which adds an option for folks who might usually think of an apartment as a no-go off the bat. That's all I meant. This is a very small, developing market, my friend. It ain't TO

[WhipperSnapper]

Umm, Baydo's 500 units potentially raising rents across the board infers the market is small.

Choices in housing is typically centred on price. There can be 100 buildings like in this thread's favourite city, Toronto. However, there's no diversity if they are priced similarly at the peak of the market and out of your range.

[Saskabusher]

Okay, very true. Cheers!

[The Bess]

The only reason people here pick Toronto is because your from there and your opinions are probably formed from that fact. Should move here for a couple months (in the summer) and rethink things. Not every city has to follow a news report or some real estate poll. Not criticizing you W.S just saying we can only see what really happens when its done. Our rent at the moment is one of the cheapest in Canada if you want to use reports.

https://www.mpamag.com/ca/mortgage-i...in-2022/422562

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

thanks for the update

Not sure what diversity of housing is supposed to mean. These will likely lease at the uppermost end of the market given the high cost of construction. They could potentially raise rents for all classes given that there are at least 500 units and if Saskatoon doesn't have rent control.

These are purpose-built rentals that are pretty clearly not luxury. Yes, they might be more expensive than older buildings but why would extra supply ever mean higher rents across the board?

[905er]

I'm curious to see the impact these two towers will have on the skyline. They may be bland AF but the heft in the downtown might be nice.

On a separate note.. I noticed in some recent modellings of Saskatoon's d/t area that there is a proposed tower that looks almost as if it may be slated to be the tallest in Saskatchewan. DOes anyone here know what that proposal is for and what the status is?

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by 905er

I'm curious to see the impact these two towers will have on the skyline. They may be bland AF but the heft in the downtown might be nice.

On a separate note.. I noticed in some recent modellings of Saskatoon's d/t area that there is a proposed tower that looks almost as if it may be slated to be the tallest in Saskatchewan. DOes anyone here know what that proposal is for and what the status is?

This one?

Province overturns city decision to block 112-unit condo development in downtown Saskatoon

It wouldn't be the tallest in Saskatchewan, but it may sneak into Saskatoon's top-10?

[905er]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

This one?

Province overturns city decision to block 112-unit condo development in downtown Saskatoon

It wouldn't be the tallest in Saskatchewan, but it may sneak into Saskatoon's top-10?

Maybe it's this one.. I don't know. Glad to see this one isn't dead.

I recall seeing once a bulky looking thing..kinda Jenga blocky in design. I thought maybe that was the one proposed for downtown area.

[prairieguy]

I believe 905er is referring to the one in Nutana area that is now scaled back. I believe the initial propsal was 33 stories, but due to initial community pushback it has been reduced in height and also design....

I believe this is the new proposal....drastically reduced in scope and height

https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/555-...th-street-east

[phone]

Originally Posted by 905er

Maybe it's this one.. I don't know. Glad to see this one isn't dead.

I recall seeing once a bulky looking thing..kinda Jenga blocky in design. I thought maybe that was the one proposed for downtown area.

Oh, that one is proposed for the Broadway District, across the river:

https://www.saskatoon.ca/engage/555-...th-street-east

The current revised proposal has about 10 stories chopped off the top, and while it looks a little bland, isn't as gaudy as the last version. That said it does look a lot cheaper generally, which depending how you spin it certainly isn't a bad thing necessarily. It will be a nice addition to a densifying area if it goes ahead.

Revised:


Former:

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by 905er

I'm curious to see the impact these two towers will have on the skyline. They may be bland AF but the heft in the downtown might be nice.

I'll try to use this a reminder to pull over and snap a photo one of these days when driving south on Millar Avenue. Even though the taller of the two towers is quite a ways away, it's perfectly lined up with Millar Avenue and both the building and tower crane are now very noticeable from this vantage point in the north end of Saskatoon.