Regina Construction III

[Treesplease]

Originally Posted by Devon

The sad reality.

I agree with you though, as long as it creates a better streetscape (and not just because it wouldn't be a parking lot no longer), I am fairly happy with it. Affordable housing is also quite dire.

My guess is that it remains as a parking lot.

[UrbanClimate]

Here's a clearer image:


http://www.cbc.ca/sask/news/

[TechnicalRecession]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Most importantly Namerind already owns the adjacent parcel which I assume is this building:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.4497224,-...1!3m2!1sOi9Jo8_wzVSu6T61mxloIQ!2e0?hl=en

Personally I'd be fine with them tearing down that building and replacing it with this new one, even if it isn't the most attractive building around. The existing building is pretty drab 60's or 70's era structure. Frankly, that whole block is bad in my opinion, the east side has the two somewhat unattractive Sasktel buildings, the west side has parking lots and this ugly building. It is saved somewhat by the two nice older buildings on the south west side of the block and they've recently redone the street, sidewalks, light posts and planted some nice elms. But there is a complete lack of any retail or draw to that street dominated by concrete and smokers in front of Sasktel. A building with a grocery store would at least create some street level activity, I'd definitely shop there during the week.

Any bets this gets built before Capital Pointe?

[TechnicalRecession]

Originally Posted by UrbanClimate

Here's a clearer image:


http://www.cbc.ca/sask/news/

Correct me if I am wrong but are there not 16 stories in the render as opposed to the 15 mentioned in the article? Just like that the building has grown a floor, haha..

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by TechnicalRecession

Correct me if I am wrong but are there not 16 stories in the render as opposed to the 15 mentioned in the article? Just like that the building has grown a floor, haha..

The bottom retail level appears to be the equivalent of 2 parking levels, so it would be 15. I assume this render is the Lorne St frontage.

[thefourthtower]

This is a very large proposal , it looks like a hotel project , I love these developments that just come out of the blue , who knows what else is lurking around the corner to be unveiled , now only if they get built that would awesome

[thefourthtower]

Originally Posted by UrbanClimate

Here's a clearer image:


http://www.cbc.ca/sask/news/

It would be great to have a grocery store

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by brithgob

I didn't know anyone knew who IKEA was in 1976. I only became aware of them from their former West Edmonton Mall location.

My dad did

When IKEA entered Canada (10 years or so ahead of entering the US), they apparently did a bit of a dog & pony show across Canada - basically using a "pop-up" store (I imagine something like the Bookmobile) to develop brand recognition (the things that had to be done before the Internet, eh?)

According to my dad, Regina was one stop on this tour... and this started the rumour that IKEA was interested in Regina.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the rumour has ebbed & flowed -- gaining most traction after the downtown Superstore closed.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by CoR East

I am still not sure what you are getting at. The city did not choose Namarind to build this project. The city is not building the project, Namarind is. The City does not build affordable housing, or any other kind of housing for that matter. This lot has been vacant for decades, it is not as if the City had a line up to buy the land and develop it. There are many out there who might have bought it for 'future' development (for the right price), but that would have ensured that it remained a surface parking lot for a long, long time. Both the Downtown Plan and the Official Community Plan direct the city to encourage housing in the downtown. In this particular case, the stars seem to have lined up, and Council's vision and a development opportunity have come together.

I don't know a lot about Namerind, but I did attend a presentation by them several months ago (unrelated to this project).

They impressed me. Struck me as slow, steady, well-thought out growth with an economic & social development focus. Each investment seems to have a very logical connection to their mandate (even if the link isn't immediately apparent to the casual observer). They now own 294 homes in Regina, some condos, a landscaping company, a small strip mall on Winnipeg, a pharmacy in the mall... http://www.namerindhousing.ca/index.php/current-projects

Given this passing experience with them, and the info on their site, I'd give them the benefit of the doubt on this project (and I'd also be willing to bet their building is started/built before Capital Pointe, but that's not saying much )

[urbanregina]

Originally Posted by TechnicalRecession

Any bets this gets built before Capital Pointe?

Funny you should mention that. CoR East posted to the Capital Pioint Thread

City of Regina weekly building report includes $1,850,000 permit for 1971 Albert Street for Hotel Construction to ITC construction group.

It sounds like there may be some promise there...

[North_Regina_Boy]

In other hotel news. They are working on the fourth floor framing for the hotel on Pasqua and Diefenbaker!

Also some of the windows have gone in.

[Drofmab]

Anyone know what they are buillding in front of the (former) Vic Square Zellers' doors? They've had the Univ Park Dr entrance blocked for a while, the work doesn't seem minor - and almost seems as if they're building something in the driving lane... are they changing the parking/traffic flow for the mall (if so, this is very close to the UPD entrance, I can foresee traffic backing up onto UPD), or am I over-thinking something simple, like utility work?

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

Anyone know what they are buillding in front of the (former) Vic Square Zellers' doors? They've had the Univ Park Dr entrance blocked for a while, the work doesn't seem minor - and almost seems as if they're building something in the driving lane... are they changing the parking/traffic flow for the mall (if so, this is very close to the UPD entrance, I can foresee traffic backing up onto UPD), or am I over-thinking something simple, like utility work?

It was stated on this thread that there are new Jysyk, Mark's and Atmosphere going in there, so I assume they are creating some new common or multiple entrance.

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

Ugh! This project resembles buildings akin to 1960s-70s movie/TV show hospitals.

[Chorduroy]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

Ugh! This project resembles buildings akin to 1960s-70s movie/TV show hospitals.

Agreed! I sincerely hope this is not the final render. I'm guessing they are trying to keep costs down with cheap materials, but surely the design can be better than this!

[brithgob]

I'm not getting the hate for this design at all

[thefourthtower]

I love the renderings very retro sixties seventies , a great addition to the core , its not every day something like this gets announced

[A4Regina]

The addition of these two buildings would be a huge boost to downtown. I like the idea of having all these people live above a grocery store. Hopefully that way there will be enough people to support it. It'll be great to see the west side of downtown rejuvenate itself.

As for the design, it is extremely dated and doesn't look like a design made for 2014. I'm not expecting a world class building as it is affordable housing, but a decent podium with street level interaction would be great. The Mustard Seed (an affordable housing complex) in Calgary has a pretty good design that this development could take after:


http://bcw-arch.com/projects/residential-mixed-use/mustard-seed-calgary/

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by Chorduroy

Agreed! I sincerely hope this is not the final render. I'm guessing they are trying to keep costs down with cheap materials, but surely the design can be better than this!

Retro would be nice; however, this render is still likely very preliminary.

[StealthGirl]

Originally Posted by CoR East

I am still not sure what you are getting at.

I didn't mean the city picked them to build. What I didn't understand was why a valuable piece of real estate basically had a private sale instead of tendering. Stormer's link with the information about Namerind owning the adjacent parcel and the background work already being done makes it easier to understand.

Are there any details about the proposed grocery store? Would this be an independent or are they seeking a major brand to do more of a boutique sized store downtown?