Major development proposed for U of S
Proposal includesarena, student housing,performing arts space
Dave Deibert, The StarPhoenix
Published: Friday, January 05, 2007
Months after Griffiths Stadium was given a million-dollar makeover, the area surrounding the home facility of the University of Saskatchewan football squad could be receiving a facelift of its own.
U of S officials are looking at developing the huge parcel of land between College Avenue, 14th Street, Preston Avenue and Cumberland Avenue. The possibilities for the 148 acres -- enough space for roughly 74 Canadian football fields -- include student housing, condos and townhouses, along with space for the school's performing arts program and a hockey arena to replace the 78-year-old Rutherford Rink.
"It's a big complex program, and there's going to be a lot of different people involved in this," said Richard Florizone, U of S vice-president of finance and resources.
"We're at the very early stages, and what I think good development is all about is trying to get all the different stakeholders' views on the table and try to understand where we can go."
Many of the preliminary ideas for what could be developed on the land are "back-of-the-envelope sketches right now," said Florizone. The big challenge for the U of S will be balancing the wants with the needs, and figuring out which is which.
"Enrolment at the University of Saskatchewan is obviously key. And a key tool in managing enrolment, retaining enrolment, if you look at universities across North America, is on-campus housing," he said.
"But we know that those projects aren't financially self-sustaining, that you can't take out a mortgage, build a residence and the rent pays the cost. The numbers don't work. So you need to figure out a way to do that. That's where the idea of condos or some other type of housing has been raised as a potential idea.
"The idea is, can you do some of that development, can you do it in combination perhaps with some commercial development, (and) do it in a way that doesn't compromise any of the existing programs and existing activity? That's what we've just started to look at."
To help with the process, the U of S has enlisted Stanley Kwok, president of Stanley Kwok Consultants Inc., one of the most prestigious consulting firms in the country. Kwok has been in Saskatoon a couple of times to look at the U of S property and begin casual discussions with students, faculty, the City of Saskatoon, the local real estate community and residents in the area.
Among those who would be most affected are scientists within the college of agriculture and bioresources. Much of the land is currently being used for experimental plots by members of the college.
"Our immediate reaction was, 'Nope, nope. That's important land to us. We don't want to lose it.' We're still at that stage. If they do go ahead with it, as it develops, we'll have to start thinking as to what the alternatives are," said Bruce Coulman, head of the plant sciences department.
"It's pretty valuable land because of its proximity for teaching and research. . . . We consider it extremely important to our college, and it is, but ultimately a decision will be made by the senior management of the university and what they think is in the best interests of the university."
Early talks have taken place between the university and the college about whether the research could be moved elsewhere. Florizone doesn't know the answer to that.
"We thought we'd try to ask the questions all at once, and look at the research, look at the financial viability, look at what the city and residents say, and throw that all together and see if we have something that flies," he said.
"It would be great to have it all. It'd be great to get our ice rink. It would be great to get our student residence space. It would be great to continue to have the research lands and continue to build the research intensity at the University of Saskatchewan, which is one of our key strategic directions, and it would be great to do it in a way that thrills the local community. It really adds to the city."
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoen...052a-6def-464a-a2f4-18a9d561261a&k=66636
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This all sounds very exciting. I understand the importance of having crop land for research, however, having it the middle of the city, while it may be convenient to those researchers, is not (in my opinion) the best use of that land. Frankly I think there is far too much crop/farm land within our city limits. Stonebridge would be far less offensive a project if were located, say, between Preston, Circle Dr, College and 108th St.
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This was talen from the above mentioned ^^ Master Plan
, most positive council meeting that I've ever seen!
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