Saskatoon Construction II - Page 53

Echoes · #**1041** Posted **Sep 19, 2011, 2:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCricket

We invite students, faculty and staff to join President Peter MacKinnon, along with partners and special guests, for a celebration of new student housing at the U of S and a special announcement.When: Monday, September 19 at 11 a.m. (Refreshments to follow)
Where: The cul-de-sac on the new Aird Street extension, between the College Quarter residences and McEown Park on Cumberland Avenue.
Alternative location in the case of bad weather: Williams Building Gymnasium, 221 Cumberland Ave. N. Signs will be posted.
We will offer tours of the new residence from noon - 2 p.m. for students, faculty and staff, and from 5 - 7:30 p.m. for residents of the neighbouring communities.

For more information, contact:
University Communications at 966-6607

Does anyone know if this "special announcement" is going to be anything significant?

Such as news on the Clarion Project...

prairieguy · #**1042** Posted **Sep 19, 2011, 4:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roquentin

Hi all,

I apologize in advance if this is not the proper place for my post. I moved to this beautiful city a couple of weeks ago to work at the university. Saskatoon has always had a special place in my heart, and I love it here so far (absence of a downtown grocery store notwithstanding). Here's my question: are there any pubs (preferably downtown) that open early on the weekends to show English Premier League football matches?

I'll keep my fingers crossed that someone here knows of such a pub, and I look forward to following this thread as I continue to settle in to life in Saskatoon.

Thanks,
R

Welcome (back???) to the city. Although this bar is not downtown, I believe Sports on Tap on the exhibition grounds would offer up this soccer. It has numerous TV screens (some incredibly large) and really focuses on covering all sports. You could call them to check.

The Bess · #**1043** Posted **Sep 19, 2011, 10:27 PM**

Quote:

Does anyone know if this "special announcement" is going to be anything significant?

Such as news on the Clarion Project...

funding for graduate student residences

A4Regina · #**1044** Posted **Sep 19, 2011, 10:41 PM**

There was the announcement of the new "Graduate House" for the college quarter area this morning i think. There's a new rendering of the place out by the corner of aird and cumberland.

Crisis · #**1045** Posted **Sep 19, 2011, 11:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bess

funding for graduate student residences

$6.5M donation by Drs. Russell & Katherine Morrison.
http://www.globalsaskatoon.com/u+of+s+student+housing+milestones/6442485092/story.html

skSK · #**1046** Posted **Sep 20, 2011, 12:44 AM**

Here's a few images I found... haven't been by the corner to see the rendering that's up yet... I'm sure if these aren't right, I'll hear about it.

Looking south-southeast:

Looking south:

Looking east-southeast (towards new undergrad residences):

At-grade detail from Aird Street:

At-grade detail from Greenway:

Plan:

Echoes · #**1047** Posted **Sep 20, 2011, 4:21 AM**

^ I like it! Nice reference to the Williams Building with the brick thrown in with modern elements. A nice contrast to the Undergrad Residences too, I think. It's nice to see variety... not all buildings on a campus have to match. As long as they are of a high design and material quality they will be cohesive.

skSk, where'd you find these renderings? Mods might ask you to provide a link for sourcing purposes, but I'd just like a link to explore further...

skSK · #**1048** Posted **Sep 20, 2011, 5:15 AM**

All images were from the following website:

http://www.wsuklai.com/portfolio/internship/gradres.html

Scruff Bucket · #**1049** Posted **Sep 20, 2011, 8:10 AM**

We got back Sunday night from our weekend visit to Saskatoon for me to attend a seminar! I wish we could have stayed longer -- I didn't get enough time to visit my alma mater at U of S and see the new developments around there -- but I do appreciate all of my visits to 'Toon town! I did manage to glimpse at some of the construction activity around some parts of the city!

On that note, I'm pretty impressed by the amount of construction of new and maintenance projects! (Stonebridge neighbourhood, South Bridge and road construction, River Landing area and various other condo developments) I'm equally awed by the general, overall busy-ness of the city, esp. the numbers of people at places like shopping malls and other shops, in the downtown area, and volume of traffic on the streets. I guess the difference in the population of 50k between our fine cities can help do just that! It just seemed busy in Saskatoon this weekend, and reminds me of the continuous bustle I see when we're back visiting (my wife's) family in Toronto!

We wanted to try Saboroso Brazilian Steakhouse, but unfortunately, they're opening this Tuesday! Next time!

Brutopian · #**1050** Posted **Sep 20, 2011, 7:45 PM**

From the City of Saskatoon, River Landing website:

RIVER LANDING OPEN HOUSE
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 5:00PM - 8:00 PM
Saskatoon Farmers’ Market (414 Ave B South)

The public is invited to attend a come-and-go open house on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market at River Landing to discuss and provide feedback on the new design proposed by Victory Majors Investment Corporation for an urban plaza (River Landing Village) to be constructed on “Parcel Y” in River Landing.

Victory Majors will be asking the City of Saskatoon and the Meewasin Valley Authority to consider amendments to the existing zoning of the lands to permit greater building height and density than is currently allowed.

Specifically, the proposed amendments to the DCD1 District include:

•Section 13.1.3.1 a) Offices – Increase the maximum gross floor area of Offices from 30 % up to a maximum of 100,000 square feet to 40 % up to a maximum of 250,000 square feet per site.
•Section 13.1.3.3 a) Maximum Building Height – Increase the maximum building height on Parcel YY from 68 metres to 95 metres.
•Section 13.1.3.3 b) Building Setbacks – Provide the flexibility to reduce or eliminate building setbacks based on the merit and intent to the overall urban design, wind mitigation, accessibility and at-grade openness.
•Section 13.1.3.3 c) Maximum Floor Space Ratio – Increase the maximum floor space ratio on Parcel YY from 4:1 to 6:1.
Representatives from Victory Majors Investments Corporation, Meewasin Valley Authority and the City of Saskatoon will be available at the open house to answer questions and provide additional information.

Morogolus · #**1051** Posted **Sep 20, 2011, 8:52 PM**

I can see every NIMBY in the city showing up.

Rabble Rabble Rabble!

drto · #**1052** Posted **Sep 20, 2011, 9:48 PM**

It would be great if a few of you Saskatoon forumers could attend and lend some support to the aforementioned ammendments. For me, especially, I would love to see the approved 95m height increase as this is our chance to see a beautifully positioned south entrance into downtown.

Echoes · #**1053** Posted **Sep 21, 2011, 12:32 AM**

Another look at 'Graduate House':

Source: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Photos+student+housing/5431782/story.html

skSK · #**1054** Posted **Sep 21, 2011, 1:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echoes

^ I like it! Nice reference to the Williams Building with the brick thrown in with modern elements. A nice contrast to the Undergrad Residences too, I think. It's nice to see variety... not all buildings on a campus have to match. As long as they are of a high design and material quality they will be cohesive.

Agreed. I think that if they would have gone for something a little closer to the university aesthetic (lots of fieldstone, Tyndall stone, and glazed glass), the effect might have been too institutional. This looks interesting, adds to the urban flair of the proposed College Quarter development, and I think as a whole fits in quite nicely with the surroundings in its own unique way.

Plus I'm really liking the scattered windows and panelling. It breaks up what would otherwise be a fairly boring facade and creates a kind of pigeonhole-like, alcoved building that looks more intimate than its size would suggest. (And that's my pseudo-architectural two cents!)

gowest · #**1055** Posted **Sep 21, 2011, 2:04 PM**

It's nice to see work starting at McNab Park. The old fourplex's have been dozed down and work has started on the sewer and water lines. Big improvement on the way to or from the airport. More construction has started at Blairmore, possibly Staples. Maybe with all the new apartments in Blairmore they may finally get a new eating outlet. The City and Highways are trying to see just how much traffic they can get off the highway and put it thru one lane near Walmart. With the new expansion at Agrium started, they have a huge increase in traffic from highway 7. The City has to get off their butts and get the new intersection of 7 and 14 done before someone gets killed in that area. I forgot it's the west-side so we'll just let it go for another 20 years or so. Spend an hour out there and watch how much traffic both vehicle and pedestrian go thru there. Most of which is large trucks. With the election coming up to replace Mo I hope who ever wins can carry on with his drive to improve the Blairmore area.

The Bess · #**1056** Posted **Sep 21, 2011, 2:52 PM**

did anyone manage to make it to the river landing open house yesterday?

skyhigh953 · #**1057** Posted **Sep 22, 2011, 2:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gowest

The City has to get off their butts and get the new intersection of 7 and 14 done before someone gets killed in that area. I forgot it's the west-side so we'll just let it go for another 20 years or so.

I'm not sure what made you write a statement such as this, but need I remind you that someone has just this year been killed at Attridge & Central, an east-side intersection that the City hasn't addressed either. And it's been dangerous for the last 15 years at least. College and Central, where there have been numerous major accidents, was supposed to get a flyover when the College/Circle overpass was built, but got cut due to cost. The whole "east-side favouritism" thing has been dis-credited many times on this forum, but for some reason here we are again.

Dalreg · #**1058** Posted **Sep 22, 2011, 4:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyhigh953

I'm not sure what made you write a statement such as this, but need I remind you that someone has just this year been killed at Attridge & Central, an east-side intersection that the City hasn't addressed either. And it's been dangerous for the last 15 years at least. College and Central, where there have been numerous major accidents, was supposed to get a flyover when the College/Circle overpass was built, but got cut due to cost. The whole "east-side favouritism" thing has been dis-credited many times on this forum, but for some reason here we are again.

East/West, who cares.
The highways coming into the city from the west have been a cluster fuck for decades.....

As have numerous other intersections. Just because some dies at an intersection isn't the point. Attridge and Central are to neighbourhood streets which handle large amounts of traffic. But no way does it warrant an overpass. 33rd and Idlwyld handles huge traffic, should it get an overpass? Warman Road and 33rd as well? Most intersections on 8th street are busy as well. The list is endless.

skSK · #**1059** Posted **Sep 22, 2011, 4:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyhigh953

College and Central, where there have been numerous major accidents, was supposed to get a flyover when the College/Circle overpass was built, but got cut due to cost.

I thought the reason was more to do with the proximity to the College and Circle interchange; there'd be quite a bit of weaving and dodging as EB College traffic moves to the right to take the flyover onto Central, and NB Circle-cum-EB College traffic not using the flyover would have to switch fairly quickly into the centre or left lanes. I think there were also concerns with safe grade increases. However, I can see how cost could have been a related factor; they did after all scrap the plans to add decorative stone that would have tied the overpass to the university aesthetic.

Brutopian · #**1060** Posted **Sep 22, 2011, 7:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bess

did anyone manage to make it to the river landing open house yesterday?

I attended the open house. John and Kay Nasser were there. A rep from Tonko was there. Urban planners from the City were there. It was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the newly-revamped proposal for Parcel Y. A good showing from the public, as well. Lots of interested folks. The renderings for the project on view at the open house were the same as the ones made available to the public when the project was announced a few weeks ago.

I asked about whether or not the proposed height of the condo tower (95 metres) poses an issue with the north-south flight path (approach) to the airport. I was told no, it does not pose an issue. I was told that the 95 metre height in that particular location is not an issue with the airport authority. (I learned that they could even build 10 metres higher -- to roughly 105 metres -- in that spot if they wanted.)

The proposed rezoning goes before Council in November, I believe. If it is passed, then the required permits must be obtained in order to begin construction. Once those ducks are in a row, construction could start in spring 2012.

The City was also interested in hearing public opinion on what kind of building height/density Saskatoon residents would like to see in the tracts of land around the Farmer's market. Ranges of 3-4 stories to 10-12 stories were presented as options.

Did anyone else make it to the open house? Any other info to share?