Regina Construction IV

[The mayor]

https://regina.ctvnews.ca/catalyst-p...ttee-1.6021930
The new committee’s purpose is to oversee major projects brought forward in previous Executive meetings that were named “catalyst projects” due to their ability to generate growth within Regina.
These catalyst projects include a new aquatics centre, a new baseball diamond and potentially a new ice hockey rink located in the REAL District.
The committee was created to coordinate the projects and ensure each program works in unison and not against one another.

[The mayor]

Question $
? Are they any empty newer buildings Downtown that could be used for a Central library , there must be a lot of empty space

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Loved the 2011 Library proposal.

[ReginaGuy]

Originally Posted by The mayor

Question $
? Are they any empty newer buildings Downtown that could be used for a Central library , there must be a lot of empty space

You can't just drop a library in any random building. The structure has to be specially designed to support the weight of the books

[High Street]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Loved the 2011 Library proposal.

It is pretty, but it shows the library on two lots they don't own.

[StealthGirl]

Was that the proposal that required the Masons to give up their location on the west point of Victoria Park? Sadly will never happen. I still think that 12th Avenue where the Novia was could be an amazing location, but it's not profitable enough for the Hills.

Evraz announced today they are putting their North American assets up for sale. I wonder if that's the end of the steel plant here? I don't know enough about the industry to know if another company will buy it and keep the operations here.

[Robk]

A new Wendy's and a small strip mall.

I only see the strip mall and no new Wendy's

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Originally Posted by Robk

A new Wendy's and a small strip mall.

I only see the strip mall and no new Wendy's

[High Street]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

Was that the proposal that required the Masons to give up their location on the west point of Victoria Park? Sadly will never happen. I still think that 12th Avenue where the Novia was could be an amazing location, but it's not profitable enough for the Hills.

Evraz announced today they are putting their North American assets up for sale. I wonder if that's the end of the steel plant here? I don't know enough about the industry to know if another company will buy it and keep the operations here.

The masons own the lot with their Temple, plus the one next to it (which is used for parking and used to be a YM(w?)CA). As I understand it, the library folks tried to get an agreement with the masons to transfer the property and allow masons to use space in a new future state library.

Masons weren't sure they could use library space for social events (w/alcohol), cooking etc over the long term (talking hundreds of years here). It is a fairly busy space. Plus, the parking revenue funds a lot of their building. I am also not really sure it is good for the city to lose its historic masonic temple. The masonic temple is said to be the oldest purpose-built structure in Regina, used for its original purpose. Hopefully, the library finds a good space.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by High Street

The masons own the lot with their Temple, plus the one next to it (which is used for parking and used to be a YM(w?)CA). As I understand it, the library folks tried to get an agreement with the masons to transfer the property and allow masons to use space in a new future state library.

Masons weren't sure they could use library space for social events (w/alcohol), cooking etc over the long term (talking hundreds of years here). It is a fairly busy space. Plus, the parking revenue funds a lot of their building. I am also not really sure it is good for the city to lose its historic masonic temple. The masonic temple is said to be the oldest purpose-built structure in Regina, used for its original purpose. Hopefully, the library finds a good space.

The Masons once offered to sell to the library, so I ignore their whining about not being consulted last time.

They are a dying breed with and elderly population. The building is old and made of brick, but that's it. It's not architecturally interesting whatsoever.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

So why are they pushing for the renos? Is this a negotiating tactic to show how wasteful it would be, sort of like when it was announced that the old Taylor Field would need $150M in upgrades to modernize it?

Age old tactic.

[High Street]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

The Masons once offered to sell to the library, so I ignore their whining about not being consulted last time.

They are a dying breed with and elderly population. The building is old and made of brick, but that's it. It's not architecturally interesting whatsoever.

They have the agency to do what they wish with their property.

[Festivus]

Originally Posted by High Street

They have the agency to do what they wish with their property.

I don't think anyone is arguing for use of eminent domain or anything, just that it's a shame that such valuable real estate is being used for a seldom-used weird fraternal group.

I've been in that building a few times (for non-culty purposes) and it's not in good shape.

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Save the Masons facade and add it to the new Library property. The old men can sit on some nice new benches outside weekly.

[Stormer]

credit: Balfour Apts. Facebook Page

[UPP]

Originally Posted by Festivus

I don't think anyone is arguing for use of eminent domain or anything, just that it's a shame that such valuable real estate is being used for a seldom-used weird fraternal group.

I've been in that building a few times (for non-culty purposes) and it's not in good shape.

The masons have no interest what-so-ever in selling that building. They adhere to (worship) the 'Grand Architect' and strongly base their organization on all things construction and civic design. You can tell a masonic's car with their G and an A in the shape of a geometric compass.

Masons have attempted, with some success, to design cities based on their masonic symbols. Regina is one of them. Victoria Park is designed as a giant directional compass and the masonic temple was purposely built at the western point of the compass.

So yeah, they aren't selling that building anytime soon.

[McBean]

I really do not know the solution, but the current downtown Regina library is a mess. I work downtown and the police are there every single day (many arrests). The homeless go in there to use the Internet and keep warm or cool and use washrooms. It is a public place so you have to let them in.

[StealthGirl]

Originally Posted by McBean

I really do not know the solution, but the current downtown Regina library is a mess. I work downtown and the police are there every single day (many arrests). The homeless go in there to use the Internet and keep warm or cool and use washrooms. It is a public place so you have to let them in.

The answer is for the govt to put money into things they don't want to put money into --- safe injection sites, mental health, social services, etc -- and dealing with the root causes of the behaviour. There's no political will to do that.

[McBean]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

The answer is for the govt to put money into things they don't want to put money into --- safe injection sites, mental health, social services, etc -- and dealing with the root causes of the behaviour. There's no political will to do that.

yup, you are correct

[Dougler306]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

The answer is for the govt to put money into things they don't want to put money into --- safe injection sites, mental health, social services, etc -- and dealing with the root causes of the behaviour. There's no political will to do that.

You would have more public support for this, if in fact safe injection sites reduced drug use, reduced overdoses and reduced loitering and crime in the area

Sadly none of that occurs with safe injection sites, in fact the opposite happens and mental health gets even worse because your permit it and encourage it, crime goes up because that's how addicts fund there use, drug dealers hang around praying on addicts, so more criminal activity.

The only benefit I can grasp out of injection sites is that someone can call 911 faster as they just watch you overdose on camera.