Saskatoon Construction - Page 45

Only The Lonely.. · #**881** Posted **Dec 16, 2006, 9:48 AM**

But that place has the biggest collection of vintage paint cans in the midwest. How can you turn your back to history Saskatoon?

ToddStoon · #**882** Posted **Dec 18, 2006, 5:25 PM**

I have to agree that the Northern Paints building is the least desirable of saving. But I'm not against saving other buildings that *are* historically or aesthetically significant.

I'm sad that the Legion is going to be bulldozed. It's quite nice inside and the outside has stone work that most of our buildings don't have. Yes, I'm all for development of the downtown but I really wish that there was some way that this could be incorporated into the development. What Saskatoon has is a lot of 'blah' architecture and some of the more interesting buildings keep getting 'dozed. I think you can be pro-development and pro-historical significance. So, although in this case I think it's ludicrous, there are buildings that do deserve to be preserved and kept to enhance Saskatoon and give it a sense of place.

circle33 · #**883** Posted **Dec 19, 2006, 2:23 PM**

Remember you heard it here first folks....

Demolition scheduled for Broadway building

Click

Published: Tuesday, December 19, 2006

A backhoe will quash the debate over the future of the Northern Paints building on Broadway Avenue.

Demolition is scheduled for Wednesday, weather permitting, said Al Sarich, manager of Silverado Demolition and Excavating.

Sarich was hired by Meridian Development, the private developer who has drawn up plans for a 12-storey condominium that will replace the Northern Paints building.

The high-rise sparked debate earlier this month about the scale of new developments and the fit of the new building in the Broadway community.

"People weren't aware of what could happen on Broadway until that building was proposed," said Mark Bobyn, president of the Nutana community association.

The condo tower would be good for business on Broadway, Bobyn said. However, the zoning on Broadway is from an "older era" and needs to be re-examined, he said. Each property on Broadway could potentially permit developments of 25 storeys.

"It's a drastic change to what makes Broadway attractive to people right now," he said.

The tall orange backhoe looming beside the single-storey building at the corner of Broadway and Ninth Street is indicative of a "lack of subtlety," which concerns the community, Bobyn said.

"It's sad to see an older building go that's fitting with the scale and the age of the rest of Broadway," Bobyn said.

Among the community concerns are wind flow and shadowing. Having a large building in that area affects the real estate value of people's houses adjacent to the property, Bobyn added.

The developer, Karl Miller, is not doing interviews, his assistant said.

The community has invited the developers to meetings about this project and others, Bobyn said. Miller has been invited to attend the community association's open meeting at 7 p.m.

on Jan. 9 to discuss Broadway's zoning and its effects on the surrounding neighbourhoods.

"We'd like for him to be part of that discussion," Bobyn said. "Seeing new people come into the neighbourbood is certainly a natural part of the city's growth.

"We just have to find new ways to fit them in."

-----------------------------------------------------------

The community association appears somewhat more sane than the Heritige Society, though I get the feeling they don't really want outsiders moving in on their good little thing.

Dalreg · #**884** Posted **Dec 19, 2006, 9:38 PM**

"It's sad to see an older building go that's fitting with the scale and the age of the rest of Broadway," Bobyn said."

I'm sure everyone on Broadway is just praying for this pile of bricks to be saved! Will anyone be down there tomorrow to capture this occasion? A pic or two would be nice.

Echoes · #**885** Posted **Dec 20, 2006, 4:31 AM**

good suggestion Dalreg... it would be sweet to capture on film the demo that will level this hideous building to the ground and defeat the CAVE people in their useless fight. it's nice to see it's coming down tomorrow, it is encouraging to know that this project is beginning to move ahead SOMEWHAT. i really despise the snail's pace at which development moves around here
anyhow... the northern paints building will go down and with any luck, the MoB will go up. Hurrah

circle33 · #**886** Posted **Dec 20, 2006, 3:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Country

i really despise the snail's pace at which development moves around here

I gotta believe it's the labour shortage we keep hearing about that keeps thing moving slow. The rising costs associated with the shortage are most likely what caused the project to be scaled back to 12 stories. At the same time, they wasted no time in putting up the Walmart at Stonegate or Stonebridge or whatever the f*ck they're calling that new subdivision. I supposed it's easier to find the skills and equipment to put up a low rise than a high rise.

On a positive note, the billboards that sat atop the Northern Paints Building were taken down yesterday.

swilley · #**887** Posted **Dec 20, 2006, 3:19 PM**

Now that the MOB seems to be a go, any fresh rumours on the Extra-foods site?

circle33 · #**888** Posted **Dec 20, 2006, 3:23 PM**

/\ I'll be getting drunk with the owners son tonight. By the end of the evening I'm sure I will have asked him what's going on about 100 times. I'm not sure that he knows anything, but if he does.....

Echoes · #**889** Posted **Dec 21, 2006, 1:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by circle33

/\ I'll be getting drunk with the owners son tonight. By the end of the evening I'm sure I will have asked him what's going on about 100 times. I'm not sure that he knows anything, but if he does.....

hmm, maybe you could get the son to convince his dad that what's best for the extra foods site is a 40 story office tower. hah! but yea... we need another story to break soon about a new development or i may go nuts.
well, the northern paints is no more... i saw the backhoe at work this afternoon. what a wonderful sight it was.

Echoes · #**890** Posted **Dec 21, 2006, 1:21 AM**

My confession...
Contrary to the majority opinion on this thread that the Riverfront condo is ugly, I quite like it. I was taking a good look at it from the RUH parkade today. I think it's a pleasant addition to the skyline.

Ruckus · #**891** Posted **Dec 21, 2006, 1:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Country

My confession...
Contrary to the majority opinion on this thread that the Riverfront condo is ugly, I quite like it. I was taking a good look at it from the RUH parkade today. I think it's a pleasant addition to the skyline.

I'd also like to add that it fits in nicely, especially on how well the exterior color compliments neighboring St. Johns Cathedral(the tallest spire on Spadina).

swilley · #**892** Posted **Dec 21, 2006, 2:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Country

My confession...
Contrary to the majority opinion on this thread that the Riverfront condo is ugly, I quite like it. I was taking a good look at it from the RUH parkade today. I think it's a pleasant addition to the skyline.

I agree that it looks ok from that view. I wish it wasn't so wide though... To me it looks disproportionate. A building that wide and thin needs to have a 'stepped' design to look great from all angles imo.

circle33 · #**893** Posted **Dec 21, 2006, 3:15 PM**

It needed to be that wide to fully block the Parkville Manor from view. There's a building, though barely 2 years old, I'd vote to demolish.

swilley · #**894** Posted **Dec 21, 2006, 4:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by circle33

/\ I'll be getting drunk with the owners son tonight. By the end of the evening I'm sure I will have asked him what's going on about 100 times. I'm not sure that he knows anything, but if he does.....

So, anything to report?

circle33 · #**895** Posted **Dec 21, 2006, 5:21 PM**

/\ No. He doesn't know anything.

I did notice that a new 'from scratch' restaurant is opening on the northwest corner of 22nd and 3rd. There' sure have been a lot of eateries opening as of late.

Echoes · #**896** Posted **Dec 22, 2006, 3:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by circle33

It needed to be that wide to fully block the Parkville Manor from view. There's a building, though barely 2 years old, I'd vote to demolish.

i second that. its an embarassment that the parkville is so new, yet so incredibly ugly. calling it ugly doesnt even cut it actually. who did that building anyways? its a shameful pile of bricks.

circle33 · #**897** Posted **Dec 22, 2006, 2:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Country

who did that building anyways?

Wolfe Construction was the contractor, and the owners of the Park Town Hotel financed it. I'm not sure where the blame lies, but someone should be held accountable.

Echoes · #**898** Posted **Dec 26, 2006, 5:20 AM**

well happy holidays to everyone, i can see we're all taking a break from the thread.. i really hope that the new year will usher in new proposals and some progress in this city! at least the MoB renderings are expected in January i believe

question.. i overheard somewhere that The Co-operators insurance company has its head offices in saskatoon. is this true? i really wasnt aware. if so, where are they located?

brithgob · #**899** Posted **Dec 27, 2006, 3:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Country

question.. i overheard somewhere that The Co-operators insurance company has its head offices in saskatoon. is this true? i really wasnt aware. if so, where are they located?

Co-operators Life is headquartered in Regina, and the overall group head office is in Guelph, according to their website.

Stewie · #**900** Posted **Dec 27, 2006, 5:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by circle33

/\ No. He doesn't know anything.

I did notice that a new 'from scratch' restaurant is opening on the northwest corner of 22nd and 3rd. There' sure have been a lot of eateries opening as of late.

That location has a long history of unsuccessful cafe's and lunch shops. I hope this one sticks around for a while. A nice 40 story building on the empty parking lot across 22nd street from it would help business I am sure.