Saskatoon Construction

[circle33]

I found this link by Googling. I'm calling BS on the interior pictures.

[macca]

I assume those are pictures of the interior of the Wichita Rumley.

[Ruckus]

Damn, definitely a new standard for downtown luxury.

[Ruckus]

Not sure if anyone else is aware of this but it appears the pyrotechnics (aka fireworks) for September 21 "Bridging 125" have been canceled or the city incorrectly updated their scheduled activities segment as outlined.

Originally Posted by City of Saskatoon

Schedule of Activities - September 21, 2007

(The Traffic Bridge will be closed to vehicles all day)

5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Food and Merchandise Vendors on the Traffic Bridge
Enjoy a tasty snack or purchase a unique gift item as you stroll along the bridge.

(If you wish to become a vendor, please click here for the downloadable application form.)

5:00 p.m. Dedication Ceremony for Future Statue at Traffic Bridge Roundabout (3rd Avenue and Spadina Crescent)
Chief Bear, Mayor Atchison, and other special guests will dedicate the site for the future statue. The statue, to be created by local artist Hans Holtkamp, will feature Chief Whitecap and John Lake looking toward the river. The statue will be cast in bronze and be twice life-sized; to be installed in Summer 2008.

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Entertainment at River Landing Amphitheatre

* Re-enactment of the meeting of Chief Whitecap and John Lake. Sit back and watch the story of how these two leaders came to meet on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. This historical event will be told through a beautiful blend of narration, actors, and First Nations dancing.
* Didgeridoo Performance: David Hunter has been playing the didgeridoo for over 15 years, and will delight audiences with his musical creativity.
* Sankofa Drumming Troupe: This seven-member troupe, led by master drummer, dancer, and performer Joseph Ashong, will showcase West African drumming at its best.
* Fada Dance: Enjoy the energy, imagination, and funky music as the entertainers do fire dancing, Kathak and comedic dance. The company incorporates its eclectic fusion of fiery movements with a witchy and magical nature.

8:00 p.m. – 8:10 p.m. Musical Light Show on the River
Five floating docks will be anchored in the river between the Traffic Bridge and the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge. Laser lights on the river will perform in synchronization with a mesmerizing musical sound track on shore. The special lighting on the Traffic Bridge will also be turned on to commemorate the Bridge’s 100th anniversary.

http://saskatoon.ca/org/mayors_message/bridging125.asp

A quote of the original scheduled activities for September 21.

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

Schedule of Activities - September 21, 2007

(The Traffic Bridge will be closed to vehicles all day)

5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Food Vendors on the Traffic Bridge
Enjoy a tasty snack as you stroll along the bridge.

5:00 p.m. Statue Dedication Ceremony at Traffic Roundabout (3rd Avenue and Spadina Crescent)
Chief Bear, Mayor Atchison, and other special guests will dedicate the site for the future statue. The statue, to be created by local artist Hans Holtkamp, will feature Chief Whitecap and John Lake looking toward the river. The statue will be cast in bronze and be twice life-sized; to be installed in Summer 2008.

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Entertainment at River Landing

8:00 p.m. – 8:10 p.m. Musical Light Show on the River
Five floating docks will be anchored in the river between the Traffic Bridge and the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge. Laser lights will perform in synchronization with a mesmerizing musical sound track on shore. Blazing pyrotechnics from the barges will cap the performance. The special lighting on the Traffic Bridge will also be turned on to commemorate the Bridge’s 100th anniversary. People can watch the show from both sides of the river and on the Traffic Bridge.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2999432&postcount=1885

I'm a little disappointed, a bunch of laser lights and music I remember seeing laser lights at the Exhibition about 10 years ago and they sucked balls. Maybe the technology has improved immensely over the last decade?

Perhaps my sense of entitlement overshadows the reason for celebration on the evening of September 21st; the meeting between Chief Whitecap and John Lake, and the 100th anniversary of the Traffic Bridge.

Which raises another point, when do we get to celebrate the our other bridge's centennials? 2016 for University Bridge and 2032 for Broadway Bridge, not sure if the other bridges are really worth celebrating, at least for their aesthetics. http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/resources/bridges/index.htm

[Ruckus]

City sees big growth in condo conversions
Lori Coolican, The StarPhoenix
Published: Saturday, September 01, 2007

Eager to cash in on Saskatoon's growing housing shortage, investors and developers submitted applications to convert nine more buildings -- representing 386 homes in the city -- into condominiums during the first three weeks of August.

That brings the total number of condo conversion applications received by the city this year to 24 buildings, for a total of 951 individual units poised to leave the rental market and be put up for sale, at a time when rentals units are so scarce the city is conducting a public campaign urging homeowners to take university and college students into their homes as boarders.

"I'm just stunned, I can't even talk right now. It's enraging," Coun. Pat Lorje said after hearing the latest numbers Friday.

At the last city council meeting, Lorje was the only councillor who supported a suggestion from Justice Minister Frank Quennell that the city impose a temporary moratorium on condo conversions.

Paul Gauthier, head of the city's community services department, said the midsummer flood of condo applications may have been sparked by fear that the city would follow Quennell's advice in an effort to protect the rental market.

"I think we had a bit of a surge there when there was talk about a moratorium," Gauthier said.

"We had heard that some of these were coming in, and so it may have accelerated the number that have come in at one time."

Randy Grauer, the city's development services manager, said in early May nearly 1,000 rental units had been converted to condos in Saskatoon since 2002, with about 75 per cent of those happening in the last three years. A 2005 survey showed about one-third of the converted condo units were returned to the rental market, Grauer said.

The latest applications are for buildings in Nutana, Brevoort Park, City Park, Wildwood, College Park, Sutherland, Varsity View and the Central Industrial area. All of them are for buildings containing less than 100 units, which means they don't require the prior approval of city council to proceed. Only two of the 24 buildings slated for conversion this year are larger than 100 units.

A rash of university students, immigrants, seniors and working singles wrote letters to city council in recent weeks to describe their frustration with the trend.

"Condo conversions have got to stop!" wrote Bernice Stefaniuk, whose landlord notified her in late April that her apartment building on Lansdowne Avenue is going to condo.

"When I phoned the owners and talked to them, they informed me that they could use various ways to get the tenants out. . . . Less than two months later, I received a letter (saying) that my rent was going up to $1,185 from $640 -- an increase of 85 per cent as of Oct. 1."

The owners of Stefaniuk's building did not submit their condo application to the city until Aug. 3.

Conversions involving less than 100 units are automatically processed by civic administrators, who can't turn an application down unless it fails to comply with the city's condo conversion policy. The policy stipulates that existing rental tenants can remain in their homes for up to two years without being forced out by a huge rent increase.

However, most conversion applications are approved in four to six months. Once the approval is given, it can't be taken back if the property owner stops abiding by the policy, Gauthier conceded.

"One of the problems we have with this policy is if (the applicants) say they're going to do all of this and then they don't actually do it, it's difficult for us to challenge it. That's where our ability to put teeth into this starts to fade."

Some developers empty their buildings of rental tenants before submitting their conversion applications, "so a lot of that policy doesn't apply," he added. "That's why we're reviewing that policy, to try to put a few more teeth at the front end."

Gauthier said civic staff are gathering legal advice on potential ways to close the loopholes, such as temporarily denying building permits to developers who are obviously circumventing the condo conversion rules, "so there'd be no incentive for them and they would actually be penalized for going around the policy."

Meanwhile, a civic committee has approved a five-year tax break and a $15,000 rebate of subdivision fees for a numbered holding company's plans to convert six west-side apartment buildings into condos. The buildings, located at 601 Ave. W South, 2309 17th St. West, and 525, 529, 601 and 605 Ave. X South, have already been purchased by a developer and contain a combined total of 160 apartment units.

According to a report on its way before city council Tuesday, the developer is "in the process of renovating" the units and intends to spend $1.75 million on improvements before putting them up for sale.

City council approved a five-year tax abatement for the project in June, under the city's municipal enterprise zone incentive policy. The $15,000 rebate was awarded in July because the project qualified for assistance with subdivision charges.

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007

[Ruckus]

WCB to move into Bayside building
The StarPhoenix
Published: Saturday, September 01, 2007

The Saskatchewan Workers Compensation Board (WCB) is moving into the second floor of the former Bayside building, occupied for the past two years by the Ashley Furniture Home Store and Konto Furniture.

WCB spokesperson Janice Siekawitch said WCB staff likely won't move into the space until spring or summer.

The Saskatoon office of the WCB is located in a building on Third Avenue owned by Saskatoon-based Concorde Group.

The WCB tendered for larger office space and more parking spots earlier this summer.

Brian Bird, owner of the Ashley-Konto furniture stores, said this week the former Bayside building will be put to more productive and profitable use as office space.

In an interview with The StarPhoenix, he emphasized the closing out of the furniture stores should not be seen as a sign they have not done well since moving into the two-storey building at 24th Street and Second Avenue in fall 2005.

Bird says an unnamed national company has committed to taking the main floor space and the combination of that company and the government agency will put 180 employees into the downtown building. Bird says his stores employ 10 people.

[email protected]

[Ruckus]

City of Saskatoon not for sale: Richards
The StarPhoenix
Published: Saturday, September 01, 2007

The City of Saskatoon is not up for sale, says the city manager, despite a report that recommends two companies purchase naming rights for recreational facilities under construction.

"We're not in the market to sell everything but where it's appropriate and council feels it's appropriate, we will try and sell it. That doesn't mean carte blanche, everything's for sale by any means," said Phil Richards.

The executive committee of council, which includes all 10 councillors and the mayor, has recommended accepting the proposed deals with Nordic Industries Ltd. and Hamm Construction. At their regular meeting on Tuesday, the councillors and the mayor will be asked to accept their earlier recommendation.

According to the proposed agreement between Nordic and the city, an accessible playground under construction in Morris T. Chernesky Park will be named Nordic Playground in exchange for $175,000, payable to the city over 15 years. The park is adjacent to the Shaw Centre, which will house an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a walking track and fitness centre as well as outdoor soccer and ball fields.

The estimated cost of the park is $350,000, including $50,000 to $60,000 of fencing material and labour that will be purchased from Nordic, provided the company's rate is competitive, says a report prepared by the city's community services department.

Hamm Construction's proposed agreement with the city stipulates that the Shaw Centre's fitness facilities and fields be named Hamm Walking Track, Hamm Fitness Centre, Hamm Soccer Fields and Hamm Ball Fields. The construction company will pay the city $500,000 over 15 years.

In both cases, the city is responsible for the cost of signs and is obligated to promote the recreational facilities using their new corporate names.

************

City responding to the criticism of selling naming rights for the library?

Personally, I don't have extreme criticism of corporate naming. Less money from the public purse and the businesses (local or otherwise) get some exposure as well, everybody wins.

But the public ownership of space and structures should be balanced with private ownership or the perception of private ownership.

Simply put, I don't want the whole city whored out and blanketed with advertising and corporate names, on the flip side I don't want a perception of public ownership prevails, no room for private interests (see Regina, Viterra is a start ).

I think Richards and others at City Hall understand this balance.

[Wormo]

Originally Posted by SASKFTW

and the 125th anniversary of the Traffic bridge.

Am I missing something here?¿?

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Wormo

Am I missing something here?¿?

For what its worth, here's a

[Jonitecture]

you know what we need...PICTURES!

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Jonitecture

you know what we need...PICTURES!

What happened to imagination?

Sept 21st is my next planned photo excursion, but I've also been known to appear at construction sites at random times of the month, so anything is possible.

I know joel_piecowye has a camera, and a good eye (winner at Showcase of Arts at the Exhibition, on display at The Centre Magenta and Lavendar Galleries August 14th until September).

[joelpiecowye]

lol thanks but i cant really drive yet, but i like a couple months i can so then i will take some photos.

also there are some new stuff comming out soon for example the north east sector on sept 11th and i believe we will find out what company got the land, the type of building and the blueprints for the riverlanding parcel of land. Does anyone know when its going to be shown to the public? i know they said fall.

also if anyone wants to see the proposed rosewood plans here they are

http://www.saskatoon.ca/org/land/residen...%20Flyer%20Rev%20-%20June%205%202007.pdf

[Ruckus]

For Immediate Release: September 4, 2007
CM07-392
RIVER LANDING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PARCEL “Y”
TO BE UNVEILED ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

The City of Saskatoon today announced that a Request for Proposal submission has been received from Lake Placid Investments Inc. for Parcel “Y” River Landing. Submissions will be available for public viewing and input in the City Hall lobby starting at noon on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 until Monday, September 10, 2007.

In addition to the major redevelopment of the riverfront, the Prairie Wind landmark, and Persephone Theatre, the City of Saskatoon is proposing that the private sector build an exciting new mixed-use urban complex on River Landing Phase I.

The proposal will be considered by City Council at its meeting of September 17, 2007. Citizens will also be able to review portions of the submissions and provide input online starting Thursday, September 6, 2007 at www.riverlanding.ca.

-30-

Media, for more information:

Phil Richards
City Manager
975-3209

*****************

I'll be the first to upload the submission. I have class at 12:30, so I'll swing by City Hall and snap a few photos....should have them uploaded by mid-afternoon.

[Ruckus]

Very impressed with the Lake Placid proposal, a fitting addition to River Landing and indeed Saskatoon. Photo's uploaded shortly.

[circle33]

Then shortly after we can start a pool predicting the date they cancel the project due to escalating costs.[/pessimism]

[circle33]

It's online already

[shmakim]

Yahoo!

It's a thing of beauty, that proposal. The complex is sleek and modern.... no brown brick or stone in sight, except where it's a classy feature, and even then it's done up more nicely than anything currently in town. I'd dare say that's the prettiest building in town. Or rather, could be the prettiest....

Okay, we've learned our lessons about waffling on proposals, and waiting for competing packages. Approve it, approve it, approve it! And let's get started.

When was the last time a 20 storey tower was built in Saskatoon? Methinks it's the absolute best we can hope for at the moment.

And all that work will be done with local labour, another economic boost.


On a slightly different note, I notice that Calgary's housing boom has levelled off, and Saskatoon's is beginning to, but house construction continues at a frantic pace. Calgary seems to have moved on to a commercial construction boom, which is apparent from the ridiculous number of cranes in the downtown core. Might Saskatoon be poised for a boom in commercial construction (or at least existing commercial real estate) in the near future? Can it be supposed that Saskatoon's following a similar, if diminished, pattern as Calgary?

[eric121]

What an awsome proposal!!... Nice to see a timeline and costs included.

[Stewie]

RE: Hotel / Condo plan annouced today - this is truely a 'big city' proposal. I am overwhelmed at the general appearance and design; it is exactly what this city needs. It's about time that some developers are prepared to think big when it comes to downtown Saskatoon construction. This certainly puts the Remai proposal to shame.

[macca]

I don't think this proposal is perfect, but I am quite impressed. This really does put Remai to shame, both their original proposal and their pull out.

I've looked it over once in person and once online, and here are my initial thoughts (because you clamour for my thoughts, I know):

Negatives: I'm not in love with the architecture. I like the massing and some of the colour choices, but it seems a bit boxy and "modernist".

The plaza is a nice idea, but I think access to it might be too limited and would be empty a lot of the time. Unless there is a lot of flow out of the buildings (which I hope there will be), I fear the public at large may not venture in there. I think it would benefit from being a shortcut through the site so that those on there way from downtown to the waterfront would pass through. Perhaps then vendors could set up inside and those passing through would linger there.

Positives: The plaza, despite the access issue, is ingenious in that it is built on the parkade. What a terrific way to hide what is typically the worst part of a highrise (see the new riverfront condo near the University Bridge). Vehicle access does not impede pedestrian traffic, and the site in general tries to respect pedestrian movement.

It's a mixed use facility with hotel, office and residential, and incorporates retail on the ground floor. I don't think we could ask for more, use wise.

I really hope this project goes ahead and actually gets built. Kudos to Lake Placid, as Stewie said, this is the kind of thing Saskatoon needs.