Murray Wood: The Art of the CUSMA Deal
Insults, complaints that Canada is so mean, warnings the U.S. doesn't need us. It's all standard operating procedure. Th...
Saskatoon’s downtown could look a lot different if a proposed project that would take over the former Star Phoenix building at 204 Fifth Avenue North is given the green light by Saskatoon City Council.
The plan for the area that is less than a block from the South Saskatchewan River includes residential towers on both the north and south ends of the block. The north tower could reach 24 storeys high, while the south tower could reach 35, making it the tallest building in the city.
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The development would also see 600 residential units and 540 parking spaces, along with offices, retailers, and a grocery store.
Ward 6 councillor Jasmin Parker called the proposal exciting. She said the project was quite ambitious but could be a stepping stone to helping the city reach some of its goals downtown.
“It would bring that density downtown. One of the big parts of creating vibrancy downtown is just having more residents … more people that can support small businesses downtown, that can support entertainment facilities downtown, that will invest their dollars in their neighbourhood and create more of a neighbourhood downtown,” she said.
“I think this project will provide another option for living. When you look at the residential properties downtown, they cater to a variety of different styles of living — there are different kinds of options. And I think this just adds to the diversity of options,” said Parker.
Parker said any increase in the number of residents would contribute two things.
“For sure, it will help boost local businesses in the area. And I think the more financial success local businesses have, the more businesses are going to be driven to be downtown,” she said.
“I know that the more animation and the more people we have on the streets of downtown make it inherently safer. So, it’s not the only thing we need to do to make sure that we’re making downtown a safer place to be, but people feel safer when there are other people on the street with them,” said Parker.
Keith Moen, executive director for North Saskatoon Business Association, said that some aspects of the project stick out to him.
“From my understanding, it’s going to be largely residential but have mixed use for some commercial development, including plans of hopefully having a grocery store in it, and I think that’s a great addition to the downtown scene,” he said.
“And obviously, with the height of the building and the number of residents there will be in that particular residence, it will be self-feeding. Talk about literal vertical integration, having the people, your primary customers, living right above your store. I think that’s a great use of that property,” said Moen.
He said there are many examples of the need for this kind of project.
“I think it’ll be transformational. When you look at River Landing, for instance, in terms of the residents, the condos that were available there, and how quickly they sold out, I think that shows the type of demand that there is for downtown products like this.
“And so I think that having a developer that’s willing to take the risk and put up the capital to develop the city in such a way is very commendable, and I wish them the best of luck,” he said.
Moen said that while he hasn’t heard any concerns regarding the project yet, he doesn’t doubt that there will likely be some backlash.
“There’s always nimbyism, regardless of whatever you’re trying to do. So there will be folks that will not be happy with the development. I would expect that to be probably because of the height of the building and impeding their view of certain things. I suspect that’ll be the biggest complaint.
“I suppose that other complaints will be around, noise and traffic and congestion and all those sorts of things. And don’t get me wrong, there are concerns, valid concerns, that will be brought forward that will need to be addressed,” said Moen.
People will have a chance to provide feedback and ask questions about the proposal as part of the city’s community engagement phase at a public information meeting on May 7, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Saskatoon City Hall.
Following that meeting, the application will go forward to the city’s municipal planning commission.
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