Saskatoon Construction

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by kgc087

So I really think 22nd street needs a HUGE overhaul. the centre median should be widened with the addition of a raised planter. Bike lanes should be installed and the street should be made 2 lanes. If there are three then one lane should be a bus lane only. Along the sidewalk they should put in trees and just low planters. If the city did this up only part way to stimulate a gentrification it would greatly aid the one already taking place along 20th. I think this is a prime opportunity for d/t to almost begin to expand its borders for high density condos etc beyond idylwyld.

Agree with everything except the bike lanes. Unless there is adequate protection (e.g. hard curbs or concrete barriers), mixing cyclists and motorists on a high volume/speed roadways will become an exercise in futility. People are less inclined to use bicycle lanes if they are located on a higher volume/speed roadway. The potential for serious injury is too great. See 25th Street, or an even better/worse example can be found along Preston Avenue from 14th St. to 108th or maybe it's all the way to 115th..?. Why should a cyclist -- traveling at 10-20 km/hr -- ride with cars, trucks, and buses traveling between 50-70 km/hr? Painted lines are great for increasing awareness, but are limited in their capacity to provide a safe, comfortable route for cyclists.

Reducing the speed limit is also an effective way to safely introduce cycling lanes on higher volume roads. But, that is likely not on the table in this town.

I'm supportive of mixing bicycles and cars on low volume/speed, narrower streets (e.g. 2nd Avenue). There, motorists are more attentive and traveling much slower. A collision between a car and cyclist is less severe than if it were to occur along a high volume/speed, wider roadway.

Sort of a rant...(I spent part of my summer surveying/mapping pedestrian and cyclist usage, etc for the City Centre Plan...wink wink to you lurkers).

And x2 to expanding beyond Idylwyld -- ideal land for high density residential!

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

Agree with everything except the bike lanes. Unless there is adequate protection (e.g. hard curbs or concrete barriers), mixing cyclists and motorists on a high volume/speed roadways will become an exercise in futility. People are less inclined to use bicycle lanes if they are located on a higher volume/speed roadway. The potential for serious injury is too great. See 25th Street, or an even better/worse example can be found along Preston Avenue from 14th St. to 108th or maybe it's all the way to 115th..?. Why should a cyclist -- traveling at 10-20 km/hr -- ride with cars, trucks, and buses traveling between 50-70 km/hr? Painted lines are great for increasing awareness, but are limited in their capacity to provide a safe, comfortable route for cyclists.

Reducing the speed limit is also an effective way to safely introduce cycling lanes on higher volume roads. But, that is likely not on the table in this town.

I'm supportive of mixing bicycles and cars on low volume/speed, narrower streets (e.g. 2nd Avenue). There, motorists are more attentive and traveling much slower. A collision between a car and cyclist is less severe than if it were to occur along a high volume/speed, wider roadway.

Sort of a rant...(I spent part of my summer surveying/mapping pedestrian and cyclist usage, etc for the City Centre Plan...wink wink to you lurkers).

And x2 to expanding beyond Idylwyld -- ideal land for high density residential!

I say this b/c in d/t Toronto a lot of the major road ways are having bicycle lanes implemented on them. So I figure if high speed, high use roads in TO can have bicycle lanes so can Saskatoon's I think with the narrowing of roads etc. and appropriate streetscaping people will slow it down. Perhaps better enforcement of speed control. Maybe the sidewalk could be greatly widened and have planters along the edge and in the middle so the cyclists are on one side and protected. The pedestrians benefit from greenery and the motorists have unobstructed driving.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by kgc087

I say this b/c in d/t Toronto a lot of the major road ways are having bicycle lanes implemented on them. So I figure if high speed, high use roads in TO can have bicycle lanes so can Saskatoon's I think with the narrowing of roads etc. and appropriate streetscaping people will slow it down. Perhaps better enforcement of speed control. Maybe the sidewalk could be greatly widened and have planters along the edge and in the middle so the cyclists are on one side and protected. The pedestrians benefit from greenery and the motorists have unobstructed driving.

Sorry if I came off a little standoffish in that last post.

I would like to think we could adopt whatever the bigger centres are implementing for cycling initiatives and successfully apply them here. It can be done, but that's only part of the policy process. Developing our own solutions would serve us just as well, or better in the long run. Ultimately, it really depends on the character of the local roads, and the network...or let's be honest, whatever some politician thinks would sell well.

22nd Street, 8th Street, Idylwyld Drive, College Drive -- the most challenging and intimidating roads for cyclists to ride on. North Circle Drive doesn't even deserve a mention -- what a mess!

[kgc087]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

Sorry if I came off a little standoffish in that last post.

I would like to think we could adopt whatever the bigger centres are implementing for cycling initiatives and successfully apply them here. It can be done, but that's only part of the policy process. Developing our own solutions would serve us just as well, or better in the long run. Ultimately, it really depends on the character of the local roads, and the network...or let's be honest, whatever some politician thinks would sell well.

22nd Street, 8th Street, Idylwyld Drive, College Drive -- the most challenging and intimidating roads for cyclists to ride on. North Circle Drive doesn't even deserve a mention -- what a mess!

I agree with you, they are nightmares, but I don't think they should stay the way they are. They should be remediated to be pedestrian/cyclist friendly. It just will allow for a more enjoyable city which can be more transit oriented etc. Essentially the underlying goal of what I'm saying is to discourage autos.

[Echoes]

From the agenda of today's Executive Committee meeting of City Council:

Outlined construction schedule of the 25th Street extension:
- Water and sewer, Sept.-Oct. 2010
- Roadways and streetscaping, Aug. 2011-Nov. 2012

- A public open house is planned for Sept. 9. This will include a presentation of the concept plan for the Idylwyld Gateway Project, intended to create a prominent and visually appealing entrance to Warehouse/Downtown at 25th and Idylwyld.

All I can say is, FINALLY.

----

And, on the agenda for tomorrow's Planning and Operations Committee meeting:

- Proposed implementation of the Central Avenue Master Plan (CAMP) to revitalize the Sutherland Business District, with recommendations related to land use and future development, improved traffic flow, streetscaping, and the maximization of pedestrian safety.
- The master plan is available in PDF here.

[Ruckus]

Thank you Country for posting a link to the CAMP. Central Avenue has certainly been neglected over the years (decades). The suggestion in the report regarding completion of the Berini Drive - Mckercher Drive extension being contingent on relocation of the CPR yards is an interesting revelation, and a little discouraging. Too bad about the community's resistance to upzoning R2 to RM2 or greater. Where will the expected new commercial and retail development draw customers from? Maybe land use rezoning can be revisited at a later date.

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by Country

- A public open house is planned for Sept. 9. This will include a presentation of the concept plan for the Idylwyld Gateway Project, intended to create a prominent and visually appealing entrance to Warehouse/Downtown at 25th and Idylwyld.

All I can say is, FINALLY.

It will be interesting to see how this concept plan incorporates the new Police Services bldg that is currently out for Design-Build qualification submissions. A 22,300m2 police station will have a pretty big impact on that area.

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

The suggestion in the report regarding completion of the Berini Drive - Mckercher Drive extension being contingent on relocation of the CPR yards is an interesting revelation, and a little discouraging.

That extension would be a great asset to traffic flow in the area, particularly with regard to the pressure it would take off Central Avenue and, to a certain degree, Attridge. I guess I always thought that extension would involve a flyover across the CPR yards. That would be notoriously expensive though, and the cost would surely outweigh the benefit.

Can't see CPR moving their yards any time soon either. We know how notoriously difficult rail companies can be to deal with. However, if they ever did re-locate their yards they'd be sitting on a veritable gold mine of residential and mixed-use redevelopment potential.

Originally Posted by Crisis

It will be interesting to see how this concept plan incorporates the new Police Services bldg that is currently out for Design-Build qualification submissions. A 22,300m2 police station will have a pretty big impact on that area.

Good point. I've heard that the City's intention is to have a new Police building that is in keeping with the warehouse character of the area. I'm hoping for an approx. 3 floor building with a contemporary take on the warehouse architecture of the 20th century.

----

More scouring of City agendas...

This one from today's Administration and Finance Committee meeting:

- proposed reconfiguration of downtown transit routes which will remove bus service from some downtown streets and consolidate them on others. The space occupied by the no longer needed bus stops on these streets will increase on-street parking supply in the downtown by 113 stalls.
- details on route changes and route map available in the A&F agenda.

Sorry folks, these agenda items are a bit of a yawn, but there's not much else to discuss. But some of the items working their way through City Council and the committees are buzz-worthy, like the proposed expansion of the AGS, and the Vacant Lot program. I guess we'll see what happens with those at City Council on Wed. night.

[prairieguy]

This whole board has been a bit of a yawn this summer

For our peak construction period there is precious little happening outside of the U of S and a few isolated builds (i.e Holiday Inn. some low density commercial, and the usual housing construction) It has been a very disappointing summer given the hype that was on this board only a year ago...

My fingers are crossed that we still may see some more action (Lake Placid; 2seven5?? ) before the end of fall.

On a purely speculative/hypothetical nature, the recent news of the BHP attempt to take over Potash Corp provides some interesting prospects. Part of BHP's proposal was a guarantee that headquarters for their potash operations be located in Sask (I assume that would mean Saskatoon, since they are already here). Would that potentially mean an even larger building required then the Discovery Plaza??? or would they just take over the existing Potash Corp offices??

An a related topic....does anyone know if City Hall or SREDA have any specific, and active, strategies to recruit head offices to Saskatoon? I was just in Regina and there was news of Mosaics new $100 million office tower. Why is it that Saskatoon, as the business centre of Sask, unable to attract this kind of corporate development?

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

On a purely speculative/hypothetical nature, the recent news of the BHP attempt to take over Potash Corp provides some interesting prospects. Part of BHP's proposal was a guarantee that headquarters for their potash operations be located in Sask (I assume that would mean Saskatoon, since they are already here). Would that potentially mean an even larger building required then the Discovery Plaza??? or would they just take over the existing Potash Corp offices??

An a related topic....does anyone know if City Hall or SREDA have any specific, and active, strategies to recruit head offices to Saskatoon? I was just in Regina and there was news of Mosaics new $100 million office tower. Why is it that Saskatoon, as the business centre of Sask, unable to attract this kind of corporate development?

I've been thinking the same thing prairieguy, especially after reading today's S-P packed with BHP-PotashCorp coverage and a headline font probably not used since D-Day (I kid).

An S-P Editorial in today's paper broached the subject of head office recruitment in the wake of a possible BHP takeover:

In spite of this affection for a company with such a deep history in the province, it's worth remembering that even PotashCorp has moved many of its head-office jobs to Chicago.

The Saskatchewan government should be pressing for more than just a re-established presence in the province. BHP Billiton is the largest mining company in the world -- one that is only diversifying into potash in order to broaden its many other resource assets.

Considering the strength of Saskatchewan's resource base, from potash to uranium to diamonds to gold to oil, the provincial government should be courting the Australian giant to move significantly more than its potash offices to the province.

Full article here.

So yeah, with regard to head office recruitment to Saskatoon, WTF??? Mosaic was courted into becoming a lead tenant in the new Hill Tower in Regina, and Grant Devine did some head office recruitment for that city during his tenure (however short-lived).

I remember an Enterprise Saskatchewan report from earlier this year outlining it was actively involved in two head office expansions/recruitments. I assume Mosaic would be one of them, what of the 2nd? FCC expansion in Regina?

Or will something - anything - be finally coming down the pipe for Saskatoon?

[A4Regina]

Besides the UofS, I remeber tons of construction proposed for saskatoon..What happened to all of the highrises that were proposed last year? To my knowledge i remember the Lighthouse tower, River Landing complex, 2seven5, sky tower, and that ugly condo/apartment building remai proposed. Would be a shame if some of these went down the drain.

[mike474]

Originally Posted by A4Regina

Besides the UofS, I remeber tons of construction proposed for saskatoon..What happened to all of the highrises that were proposed last year? To my knowledge i remember the Lighthouse tower, River Landing complex, 2seven5, sky tower, and that ugly condo/apartment building remai proposed. Would be a shame if some of these went down the drain.

I have no faith in any of these projects. That's why I moved to where the real action is... montreal

[ninipanini]

I'm in Minneapolis right now, thought you might enjoy the view! There's some nice footage at the end of some waterfalls which has a hydro plant attached to it... maybe somewhat similar to what we can hope for at the weir?!?!

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lkun2fOs2dc

[kgc087]

So I got an email the other day from the Star Phoenix asking if I would like to be a blogger talking about the future of Saskatoon along with about 10 other people. Basically we are supposed to propose and discuss whether or not we think Saskatoon should go up or out, focus on roads or transit etc. Can't wait to post a few visionary replies!

[kgc087]

City eyes $8-million expansion to gallery plan

Additional parking, space for growth proposed for facility

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/travel/Cit...an+plan/3410874/story.html#ixzz0x3eVAlwO


The City of Saskatoon is eyeing an $8-million expansion of the Art Gallery of Saskatchewan, less than six months after releasing its plan for a $58-million downtown project.

A proposal going before city council tonight asks councillors for $510,000 to fund design fees for an architect to add a second level of underground parking, which would create 94 more parking spaces and an 800-square-metre "shell space" -- an empty space intended for future gallery use.

Architectural firms KPMB and Smith Carter begin their contract in September, and the city wants to ensure everything the gallery needs for future expansion is included in the final plan, said city special projects manager Sandi Schultz.

"It's important to build into the design now, because we won't be able to go in afterwards," Schultz said. "We want to be able to, over the long-term, meet the needs of a growing city."

Construction of the two additions could cost $8 million, preliminary estimates show. Cost approval won't be debated tonight, but an estimate will eventually come to council for approval.

If council funds the $510,000 cost of the new design work -- $210,000 for the shell space, $300,000 for the underground parking -- the money will be borrowed, as was the city's $26-million share of the project.

The gallery's budget "has no capacity to fund an expansion," the report to council said. The administration recommends borrowing $510,000 from a recreational and cultural facilities fund.

In April, city council approved the functional program plan -- the instructions for the project's architects -- for the gallery, which will form the River Landing destination centre with an expanded Remai Arts Centre.

"As we put together all of the needs, it became evident we couldn't meet all the dreams and aspirations within the existing budget," Schultz said.

"We identified the budget in advance of having a detailed functional program plan, and that's where there was a disconnect."

Once the design is done, city officials would have a more accurate cost of the expansion and could develop a funding strategy, Schultz said.

The new gallery replaces the Mendel Art Gallery. Construction is expected to start in 2012.

The original functional program plan -- which details the configuration of the gallery, who might use it and for what purpose -- included one level of underground parking.

The second level would add 94 new parking spaces in the downtown area, the report says.

The gallery expansion would add floor space on the centre's third floor, which would remain empty until the city provides more funding to bring the room up to gallery standards, the report said.

[email protected]
© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/travel/Cit...an+plan/3410874/story.html#ixzz0x3eQk6CI

[drm310]

Lighthouse: Dead - now going to expand their existing building
River Landing Village: Infinite holding pattern
2seven5: Waiting for firm tenant commitments before construction
Sky Tower: Seems to have quietly vanished in the wake of the AGS proposal
Ugly Remai building: No news - hopefully will remain unbuilt

By contrast, the U of S building projects (Health Sciences, Place Riel, College Quarter) are all in progress, full steam ahead.

Originally Posted by A4Regina

Besides the UofS, I remeber tons of construction proposed for saskatoon..What happened to all of the highrises that were proposed last year? To my knowledge i remember the Lighthouse tower, River Landing complex, 2seven5, sky tower, and that ugly condo/apartment building remai proposed. Would be a shame if some of these went down the drain.

[acron]

Originally Posted by kgc087

So I got an email the other day from the Star Phoenix asking if I would like to be a blogger talking about the future of Saskatoon along with about 10 other people. Basically we are supposed to propose and discuss whether or not we think Saskatoon should go up or out, focus on roads or transit etc. Can't wait to post a few visionary replies!

do it. i agree with 75% of your views, at the same time your vision clashes with the status quo in the community. its a breath of fresh air. you've been talking about the green roof tops for a while. i thought that was rediculous at first, now i think its awesome. maybe you can change more people's minds?

also, supposedly riverlanding will break ground for the under ground parking in the middle of september....

[Echoes]

Originally Posted by acron

also, supposedly riverlanding will break ground for the under ground parking in the middle of september....

That would be nice. Where'd you hear this, acron?

Also, congratulations kgc087 on the blogging invite. You'll do well!

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Country

I've been thinking the same thing prairieguy, especially after reading today's S-P packed with BHP-PotashCorp coverage and a headline font probably not used since D-Day (I kid).

An S-P Editorial in today's paper broached the subject of head office recruitment in the wake of a possible BHP takeover:

Full article here.

So yeah, with regard to head office recruitment to Saskatoon, WTF??? Mosaic was courted into becoming a lead tenant in the new Hill Tower in Regina, and Grant Devine did some head office recruitment for that city during his tenure (however short-lived).

I remember an Enterprise Saskatchewan report from earlier this year outlining it was actively involved in two head office expansions/recruitments. I assume Mosaic would be one of them, what of the 2nd? FCC expansion in Regina?

Or will something - anything - be finally coming down the pipe for Saskatoon?

The difference between Regina and Saskatoon in this regard can be summed up in two words: Hill Family

[Echoes]

^ How very true.