Regina Developments Overview Blog

Updates

2010-08-21T12:37:00.002-06:00

After taking a long summer break, I finally updated some of the developments for the Regina Area and Regina Downtown. If I'm missing something please let me know!

Mosaic potash move will add jobs to Regina

2010-08-21T12:06:00.002-06:00

A move by the potash company Mosaic into new corporate headquarters in Regina will include adding 60 new jobs to the company.

New office tower planned for downtown Regina at Hamilton and 12th Ave.

2010-06-04T10:04:00.001-06:00

REGINA — A new addition to Regina's skyline is being proposed.
Regina-based Harvard Developments announced Thursday that an application has been submitted to the City of Regina proposing a new office tower — 18 to 20 storeys tall — for the northwest corner of 12th Avenue and Hamilton Street.
"It's a project we've been working on for a while," Rosanne Hill Blaisdell, managing director for Harvard Buildings, said Thursday. "We're certainly in a market that has a very low vacancy rate. We've had a lot of companies inquiring about space and we really just don't have any. There hasn't been an office building built in Regina in almost 20 years. We're looking at the opportunity of doing that now."
The building would be the first major 'A' class office tower to be built in Regina since 1992, according to Harvard. Harvard is the development manager and is partnering with Greystone Managed Investments, which is acting on behalf of its institutional pension fund investors.
Harvard is currently working through the urban design review process with the city's staff and plans to unveil more details this summer.
"We certainly hope to be under construction this summer yet," Hill Blaisdell said, noting most of the existing buildings on the site are empty and one is occupied by a tenant that is moving in a month. "We're excited to be part of the continuing growth."
The lead tenant in the proposed new tower would be The Mosaic Company, the world's largest producer and marketer of concentrated potash and phosphate. Mosaic has mine operations in Saskatchewan at Belle Plaine, Esterhazy and Colonsay and offices in a smaller existing building in Regina. Mosaic would occupy the upper floors of the new building and would have the rights to the building's top signage.
"Part of our growth plan in Saskatchewan is to grow our business unit," Norm Beug, Mosaic's vice president of potash operations, said Thursday. "With that comes the need to be able to grow some of our support roles. Vacancy rates are still low in the city. We see a need ourselves for some more space. We're in a smaller, older facility. We need a new permanent home — and this one fits the bill for us."
"It's absolutely wonderful," Mayor Pat Fiacco said on Thursday about the proposed project. "It fits in perfectly with the downtown neighbourhood plan."
Fiacco pointed out that three other towers — a 26-storey hotel and condo complex at Albert Street and Victoria Avenue, a smaller office tower for Albert Street and 11th Avenue and a residential tower in the 2000-block of Rose Street — all are in the works.
"In the last 20 years, at least, I don't think we've ever seen this type of major development all at once," he said. "All of this is private-sector investment, which is exciting."
Fiacco said Harvard and the city's staff are working to ensure the built form of the tower fits in with the downtown neighbourhood plan. He noted that having such an example will make it easier for developers to understand the new rules.
"Harvard has been working on this for a couple of years now," Fiacco said. "This type of development doesn't happen overnight. It's all coming together. It speaks to confidence in Regina's economy. This is going to create jobs and contribute to this neighbourhood."
John Hopkins of the Regina and District Chamber of Commerce said that, with low vacancy rates, "something had to happen" — either a tower had to be built or offices would have to leave the downtown.
"I think it's excellent news for the downtown and excellent news for the community," Hopkins said. "It shows that we're continuing to grow. It builds upon the downtown plan. This is a good news story for everyone."
Leon Brin of Regina Downtown said that organization is excited about the proposed project.
"I think anybody who has spent any time in downtown Regina has heard the speculation about that particular property and that particular corner," he said. "To actually see something in black and white that speaks to development, that speaks to a change in appearance of that part of the city, is a really good thing.
"I'm just trying to think of the last time that we actually faced the prospect of more than one construction crane in downtown Regina," he continued. "I know for a lot of people that they don't necessarily measure progress in terms of the amount of construction activity going on — but the reality is, that's what it speaks to."

Leaderpost, June 4, 2010

Complex building project

2010-05-18T09:07:00.001-06:00

The $55.5-million Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory, which officially opens today, not only boasts the single-largest building permit ever issued by the City of Regina, but is probably the most complex building of its kind in the province.

"It's without a doubt one of the most complicated buildings ever built in the province of Saskatchewan,'' said James Youck, an architect with P3 Architects in Regina.

Youck said the architectural firm and various contractors worked many long hours "co-ordinating the mechanical systems with the rigorous requirements of a lab architecturally, then combining that with the electrical and structural needs of the building.''

The brand new disease control laboratory located at 5 Research Drive at Innovation Place Regina is even attracting its fair share of international admirers.

"It's a national and international benchmark for public disease control labs,'' Youck added.

Of course, one-of-a-kind projects, like the Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory, pose all sorts of challenges during the design and construction phase. And, with added complexity, usually comes cost overruns.

The contract for construction of the new Saskatchewan Disease Control Lab was awarded in late May 2007 and scheduled to be completed by spring 2009.

The building permit was for $42.1 million -- the largest single building permit issued in history of the City of Regina.

"There was little experience in building a new public health lab of this nature and one underestimated the complexity of the effort to build the lab of this nature and to build it right,'' Bob Firnesz, executive director of the provincial lab.

"Given the attention to detail and the complexity of a building like this, the original estimates were out," Firnesz added.

To start with, the construction industry and the province's economy changed significantly during the five-year design and construction phase, which impacted the original estimates.

"In addition to that, given the planning stage versus the completion stage was quite a lengthy time, some of the technology changed during that time which required editing the original plan," Firnesz said.

The bottom line is that the final cost was significantly higher than the original estimate.

"The most recent estimate in terms of dollars was for $52.3 million and the final costs are expected to be approximately $55.5 million," Firnesz said.

In addition to the stringent health safety and security measures, the new laboratory boasts state-of-the-art heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

"It's pretty unique project for the province and the group of people that were handling it,'' said Wyatt Eckert, an architectural technologist at P3. "It was a big, huge learning curve obviously.''

Eckert said the building is also designed and built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, an internationally recognized "green building certification system."

LEED certification verifies that a building is designed and built to improve performance in energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction and improved indoor environmental quality.

"Right now, we're comfortably at a LEED silver level; there is the potential to get to LEED gold,'' Eckert said. "That would be absolutely outstanding for a building of this type. Labs don't generally make it that far up the ladder.''

For example, the building "envelope'' is "very tight,'' with triple-pane windows filled with argon gas and heat-reflecting coatings. Automatic dimmers control lighting, reducing energy costs, while rainwater is collected from the roof and used for irrigating landscaped areas around the building.

Electronic monitoring is employed throughout the building for the protection and safety of the public and staff. "There are monitoring points for everything from air handling units to environmental cooling rooms, incubators and autoclaves,'' Eckert said. "Then there's a whole other level of monitoring for laboratory equipment, specifically.''

Eckert said the building's HVAC systems have to be extremely robust to ensure the continued functioning of the laboratory equipment.

"There's not a lot of room for error. If an airhandling unit goes down in summer ... you could heat up the space to 28 degrees pretty quick and that would compromise all their testing. That's not acceptable, so everything is tightly controlled and monitored."

A 2.5-megawatt emergency power system ensures the continued operation of the laboratory at about 90-per-cent capacity in the event of a power failure for up to 48 hours, he added.

Security, of course, is paramount at a facility that routinely handles and tests for infectious diseases, viruses, pathogens, toxins and other contaminants. The only access the public has to the building is a corridor off the main entrance.

"It's monitored 24-7,'' said Dr. Greg Horsman, medical director of the laboratory.

The building structure itself is built to withstand vibration, especially the room in the basement of the laboratory that houses the electron microscope.

"The electron microscope room is on an isolation pad,'' Eckert said. "This (pad) is about one-foot thick and has its own piling system, so that there's no vibration from the building picked up by the electron microscope."

The Containment Level 3 lab, which handles severe transmissible diseases, like pandemic influenza, anthrax and SARS, has a vestibule equipped with three safety doors and a shower for staff. "In Containment Level 3, you have to shower out, that's so you don't take anything you've been working on outside (the lab)," Horsman explained.

The CL3 lab also has its own air handling system. "Everything here is on HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters,'' Eckert said. "The containment units for the HEPA filters are built so that if there are any spills, it can't penetrate the floors, which are also sealed.''

Besides the banks of HEPA filters, which prevent any airborne contaminants from leaving the lab, solid and fluid waste is handled by the EDS (effluent decontamination system).

"All of the fluid effluent waste from this lab all goes to the basement through stainless piping to an effluent cooker -- essentially a big autoclave -- that boils everything that comes out of the CL3 lab,'' Youck added.

"Nothing leaves the lab and gets into the general airstream or water system or anything like that, without going through a sterilization process or a HEPA filter," Youck said.

In fact, the Saskatchewan lab is closely based on one in Richmond, Va., which combines a public health lab and the bio-terrorism unit for the U.S. Eastern seaboard.

"This lab is equivalent to anything at the CDC (Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta). This is comparable to any public health lab anywhere in the world, if not better.''

Leaderpost, May 18, 2010

A look at downtown Regina's impressive City Square space

2010-05-07T16:39:00.000-06:00

REGINA — Picture yourself perhaps three years into the future, walking east on 12th Avenue in downtown Regina.

You approach Victoria Park. The shape of the street is much different than it is now — it curves dramatically into what used to be the north side of the park.

To your right, on the north side of 12th Avenue, there are two structures — each about 15-feet high and almost as wide as half a city block — made of interwoven metal elements.

These tree-like structures provide a barrier to sun and wind the way real trees would. (But real trees can't be planted here because a large percentage of SaskTel's internet infrastructure runs under this part of 12th Avenue.)

In between the structures, at Cornwall Street, is a space with a stage and a fountain. The fountain, about four feet high, features 24 little spouts of water triggered by motion sensors to dance up as you pass — unless it's windy out. In that case, wind sensors will keep this "little Las Vegas in Regina" from giving its water show.

The fountain can be turned off and turned into a stage. An overhead structure can support full light and sound equipment to facilitate live performances, and the street can be shut down to encourage concert-goers to gather.

To your left, on the south side of 12th Avenue, the plaza curving into the park is paved just like the rest of the street, with a two-tone grey paving stone with granite flecks. People walk and gather in the plaza space. All along the curve are tall lighting structures and benches. These 17 "living rooms" provide places to gather and visit in the park.

Down the middle of this much wider 12th Avenue are tall lighting structures. The space is bright at night, and the lighting can be adjusted — bright when the plaza space is turned into a skating rink in the winter, dim when concerts on the stage require such an environment.

They also provide a visual indication of the south border of the lane for vehicle traffic. The north border is provided by a series of red metal markers. Vehicles can enter this block — "a pedestrian realm cars are invited into" — from both directions, but they need to drive up onto the paving stones and the speed limit in this area is only 30 km/h.

The plaza space is characterized by twinkling lights for a "Midwestern carnival kind of feel," and, in the winter, Christmas lights fill the trees to create a festive mood.

At each north corner of the park are two buildings — very small, but with interesting architectural features. They are constructed out of Indiana limestone and copper.

On the northwest corner, where the plaza continues around into part of Scarth Street, the building is used by Regina Downtown for its ambassador program. You can rent sports equipment here for activities in the park, where a path has been taken out and the grass has been replaced with a more durable type to make it a great playing field.

On the northeast corner, the building is used by a food vendor providing fare that is "unique to Regina" — think something like Milky Way or Italian Star, to paraphrase examples from Denise Donahue.

Donahue is a neighbourhood planner in the City of Regina's new City Centre Branch who presented all of the above information on the vision for the City Square project to the city's municipal heritage advisory committee at its last public meeting. Quotes above also are hers.

The City Square Project — which Donahue described as a "special place" — was first announced under the name "WOW Project" by Mayor Pat Fiacco more than two years ago. Last year, council approved a master plan for the downtown, the public showpiece of which is the City Square project.

Construction on the project is expected to being in the next few weeks. PCL Construction Management recently was awarded the contract to build the City Square, to the tune of $9,514,648.50, tax included.

The construction is going to make that part of downtown a tough place for traffic, at least for this summer, for sure. The work is being planned so the area will be as accessible as possible and the city will be communicating changes — such as the conversion of 11th and 12th Avenues to two-way planned for mid-June — and restrictions, as they happen, to commuters.

Donahue noted 11th and 12th Avenues were converted to one-way years ago to allow traffic to go through the downtown faster. "Now we want traffic to slow down in our downtown — (to) embrace businesses and culture," she said, noting the concept is like the "naked streets" idea of integrated uses.

Once completed, the changes won't mean any reduction from the current number of parking spots downtown. The number of spaces will be reduced by 1.6 per cent during construction and drivers can expect an extra 10 seconds of travel time per intersection.

The creation of the City Centre Branch for which Donahue works was another component of the downtown plan. She noted that its work will continue after construction is done.

"The big thing about this project is the programming that's going to follow after," she said, noting the hope is to have much and varied activity going on around the square.

You might not even have to wait nearly as far as three years into the future to experience the City Square for real.

The city's construction schedule is ambitious and the priority it puts on the project was made clear last month when, to cover a price tag higher than expected, extra dollars were moved at the last minute before this year's budget was finalized.

"It's going to be pretty interesting to see how this all plays out this summer," Donahue said, noting the construction schedule depends on good weather to finish as planned.

Future plans call for ornamental gardens and flower beds in the southeast part of the park, where they can be used for photographs by people getting married at nearby churches. Another stage, in the west part of the park, is also a possibility. Changes planned to the Central Library mean opportunity for the square to interface with that facility.

And discussions are taking place about relocating some public art currently in the area, including moving the large buffalo figure on Scarth Street designed by Joe Fafard into the City Square. The artist is happy with the idea, Donahue said, noting the buffalo originally was to be illuminated by lights from underneath, and a move provides the opportunity to do that.

But most of the major City Square elements are on the to-do list for this year and the grand opening of the City Square is planned for 2011. "It's going to be a party," Donahue said.

May 7, 2010, Leaderpost

Construction Season Begins!

2010-05-06T13:21:00.003-06:00

Construction on the city's infrastructure has already begun a few days ago, but today a website was revealed that details and maps out the major work planned for this upcoming season. These major construction projects are as follows:

Roads

Project: Lewvan Drive Asphalt Recap
Location: Lewvan Dr - Sherwood Dr to Stapleford Cres
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: June 10, 2010

Project: Angus Street Asphalt Recap
Location: Angus St - 7th Ave to 5th Ave
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: July 7, 2010

Project: 4th Avenue Asphalt Recap
Location: 4th Ave - MacKay St to Park St
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: July 25, 2010

Project: Francis Street Asphalt Recap
Location: Francis St - Victoria Ave to 10th Ave
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: August 7, 2010

Project: Castle Road Local Improvement
Location: Castle Road - Grant Rd to Grant Dr
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: September 7, 2010

Project: Deergrove Cres Local Improvement
Location: Deergrove Cres - Shannon Rd to Shannon Rd
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: September 7, 2010

Project: Church Drive Full Depth Reclamation
Location: Church Dr - Rink Ave to Rink Ave
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: September 15, 2010

Project: Fleet Street Asphalt Recap
Location: Fleet St - Victoria North Service Rd to Dewdney Ave
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: September 20, 2010

Project: Albert Street Asphalt Recap
Location: Albert St - College Ave to Sask Dr
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: October 10, 2010

Project: Victoria Avenue Local Improvement
Location: Victoria Ave - Angus St to Albert St
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: October 10, 2010

Project: University Park Drive Asphalt Recap
Location: University Park Dr - Arens Rd to Victoria Ave
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: October 15, 2010

Project: McCarthy Boulevard Asphalt Recap
Location: McCarthy Blvd - Mikkelson Dr to 1st Ave North
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: October 30, 2010

Project: Lewvan Drive Asphalt Thin Lift
Location: Lewvan Dr - Sask Dr to 1st Ave N (halfway)
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: June 7, 2010

Project: Edingburgh Drive Asphalt Thin Lift
Location: Edinburgh Drive - Assiniboine Ave to Moffat Bay
Start Date: May 3, 2010

Project: Gillmore Drive Asphalt Thin Lift
Location: Gillmore Dr - Maple Ridge Dr to Devonshire Dr
Start Date: May 3, 2010

Project: Lakeridge Road Asphalt Thin Lift
Location: Lakeridge Road - Rochdale Blvd to Rousseau Cres/Harrison Way
Start Date: May 3, 2010

Project: McCarthy Boulevard Asphalt Thin Lift
Location: McCarthy Blvd - Whelan Dr to Wadge St/Lakeridge Rd
Start Date: May 3, 2010

Project: Parliament Avenue Asphalt Thin Lift
Location: Parliament Ave - Rae St to Albert St
Start Date: May 3, 2010

Project: Venture Road Asphalt Thin Lift
Location: Venture Road - Hector Cres W to Sherwood Dr
Start Date: May 3, 2010

Project: Wadge Street Asphalt Thin Lift
Location: Wadge Street - Wellband Dr to McCarthy Blvd
Start Date: May 3, 2010

Project: Wascana Circles Asphalt Thin Lift
Location: Wascana Circle - Wascana Meadows (11200-11300 BLK)(N.LEG) to Wascana Gardens Dr
Start Date: May 3, 2010

Project: Wellband Drive Asphalt Thin Lift
Location: Wellband Dr - Radway St/Hague Cres to Devonshire Dr/Radway St
Start Date: May 3, 2010

Project: Wetmore Crescent Asphalt Thin Lift
Location: Wetmore Crescent - Edinburgh Dr/Moffat Bay to Edingburgh Dr
Start Date: May 3, 2010

Project: Truesdale Drive Asphalt Recap
Location: Truesdale Dr - University Park Dr to Quance St
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: July 7, 2010

Project: 8th Avenue Asphalt Recap
Location: 8th Ave - Winnipeg St to Broder St
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: June 27, 2010

Project: 7th Avenue Asphalt Recap
Location: 7th Ave - Winnipeg St to McDonald St
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: July 30, 2010

Project: Broder Street Asphalt Recap
Location: Broder St - 7th Ave to 8th Ave
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: June 27, 2010

Bridges

Project: Arcola Avenue Bridge over Ring Road Rehabilitation
Location: Arcola Ave Bridge
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: September 15, 2010

Project: Albert Street Memorial Bridge Completion
Location: Albert St Bridge
Start Date: May 3, 2010
End Date: May 22, 2010

Water & Sewer

Project: Water Main Relining Project
Location: Massy Rd - from Parker Ave to Balfour Dr and from Cardinal Cres to Castle Rd
Start Date: May 2, 2010
End Date: May 21, 2010

Domed Stadium Update

2010-04-29T09:50:00.000-06:00

Still no decision

A decision still has yet to be made. But work continues behind the scenes on making a new domed stadium in Regina a reality. Minister Ken Cheveldayoff says the province continues to look for interested partners.
"We engaging the private sector in a big way, and at some point, in the near future we'll have an update for Saskatchewan residents," said Cheveldayoff.
The province has also been working with other levels of government as well. A study released earlier this year pegs the cost of the 33 000 seat, covered facility at around 430 million dollars. It would be the only retractable roof stadium between Toronto and Vancouver. It's still not clear who will pay for it.

NewsTalk980, April 29, 2010

New Office Building Coming To Regina Downtown

2010-04-07T15:36:00.002-06:00

Another vacant lot in Regina's downtown is about to be filled in.

An Alberta-based developer is planning to build a four storey, 80,000 square foot office building at Albert Street and 11th Avenue. That lot is currently vacant and has been for several years since the Coronette Theatre that once stood there was torn down.

Dwain Anderson with Anderson Builder's Group says after working mostly in the housing sector in Alberta Regina seemed like a logical destination.

"We've got to be able to be fairly mobile and be able to move around," explained the resident of Edson, Alberta. "I'm from a small town so there's not a lot of big office buildings being built there. Once you're an hour away it doesn't matter if you're six hours away; you just go where the market is." Anderson's company has already worked in the province; it was responsible for a large housing project in Warman, near Saskatoon.

Anderson says the four-level project is more cost-effective for a smaller company than trying to build additional height. "To go more than 4 storeys you're into concrete and steel," he explains, noting that more stringent building requirements and more expensive materials drive the cost up substantially. "The rent rates go up accordingly."

The project will also feature underground parking for tenants, one of the recommendations of the city's Downtown Plan. Anderson says the process of designing a building that falls within that plan's guidelines was easier than he originally anticipated.

Dale Griesser with real estate service company Avison Young says the project will take some pressure of the city's low vacancy rate.

"The 80,000 square feet is going to bridge the gap over the next couple of years and service some of the immediate office space needs," he insists. He says companies are being turned away every month because of a lack of large blocks of office space in the city. Avison Young's latest real estate survey shows Regina has the lowest overall office vacancy rate out of Canada's major cities.

NewsTalk980, April 7, 2010

Work continues on potential domed stadium in downtown Regina: Minister Ken Cheveldayoff

2010-04-01T09:42:00.002-06:00

REGINA — As the Manitoba government provides a $90-million loan to allow construction of a new football stadium in Winnipeg to proceed, the decision-making process about a possible new facility in downtown Regina continues, Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said Wednesday.
"We're doing some work behind the scenes, doing our homework, talking to those private sector groups that have put information before us and looking at best practices and what has happened with other models around North America," Cheveldayoff said.
Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger on Wednesday announced details of the latest deal to build a new home for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at the University of Manitoba in the Fort Garry area of the city. The deal gives David Asper's Creswin Properties until 2016 to pay back the loan on the $115-million, 33,000-seat stadium. If Creswin fails to do so, new property taxes from the redevelopment of the Canad Inns Stadium site will cover the government commitment.
Cheveldayoff said he wasn't aware of all the details of Manitoba's plan.
A feasibility study released last month said a retractable-roof facility to house the Saskatchewan Roughriders could cost $431 million, and the government is now exploring possible financial arrangements. The Saskatchewan government will have more to say in June about the possibility of a new, covered stadium for Regina, Cheveldayoff said.
Also in the mix is a proposal that came forward from 10 Saskatchewan First Nations — backed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida Inc. Backers said the proposal was contingent on the sale of the two government-owned casinos, which the government is not willing to consider, said Cheveldayoff.
"We ask them to look at the feasibility study and to build their creativity around that study as a basis. That's our message to all of the private sector groups that are looking at it," Cheveldayoff said.
"We've had interest from hoteliers and from those that are interested in development around the facility so that's something that we're looking at as well."
Premier Brad Wall has also indicated that federal funding must be on the table if a potential new domed stadium is to proceed.
"We're just continuing to do our work now and we'll be talking to the federal government in between now and June," Cheveldayoff said.

Leader Post, April 1, 2010

Feasibility Study

Construction on Broad Street pedestrian bridge begins

2010-03-23T09:55:00.002-06:00

REGINA — A major step towards the construction of a new pedway just west of the busy Broad Street Bridge is under way this week.
On Monday, a 240-ton crane was installing steel for the pedestrian bridge that will connect the north and south shores of Wascana Lake.
"We're expecting the concrete slabs later this week or early next week, so the steel and the slabs should be in place by the end of the month," said Wascana Centre Authority executive director Bernadette McIntyre.
"Some of the connecting pieces will have to be poured on site and then there's some electrical work, some railing work — so there's still a fair bit of work to do. But this is a major step in the next few days."
She expects the bridge will open in early July and landscaping of the northwest area will continue through the summer.
"We're very excited — this will be another enhancement to Wascana Centre, which we feel is very important to the citizens of Regina and area," McIntyre said.
Not only is the project on schedule, it's on budget.
The total cost of the project is just more than $1 million. Funding the project has been a joint effort between Wascana Centre, the provincial and federal governments and the National Trails Coalition.
Wascana Centre contributed $132,000 previously for work on the trail near the bridge site while the two levels of government each chipped in $283,666 for the bridge itself and another $122,000 came from the National Trails Coalition.
"Without those three granting bodies, we wouldn't be building this bridge," McIntyre said.
Wascana Centre has earmarked another $254,000 of its annual construction budget for the project.
The centre is still hoping to secure an additional $200,000 in funding for seating areas on either side of the new bridge.
"We haven't made any progress on that at this point," McIntyre said. "Whenever we get some donations, we will build the seating shelters. If there's anyone out there who is interested in having the bridge named after them ... we'd certainly be glad to talk to them."
Interested donors can contact McIntyre at the Wascana Centre Authority.

Leader Post, March 23, 2010

Breaking new ground

2010-03-22T09:21:00.000-06:00

Grasslands to include a 'mixed-use urban village'

Grasslands, the commercial real estate development located south of Harbour Landing in southwest Regina, will establish several firsts for the city and province.
"Grasslands is a first for Regina in a bunch of different ways,'' said Blair Forster, vice-president of development for Harvard Developments, which is developing the 86-acre site.
For starters, Grasslands is the "first large-scale, master-planned" commercial real estate project in the city, he said.
The massive commercial development on the east side of the city was "developed by many people over many years,'' Forster said. As a result, the east side has a hodge-podge of strip malls, big box retailers and conventional shopping malls.
"It's a little disjointed,'' Forster said.
Not only does Grasslands have a master plan, it has architectural controls "that deal with architecture, landscape, sidewalks,'' Forster said.
Unlike most suburban 'power centres,' where shoppers drive from one parking lot to another, Grasslands will be pedestrian friendly.
"The project, when complete, is going to be walkable. That's a very, very important aspect to us and the City of Regina," Forster said.
In fact, Forster says "each and every storefront in that project is connected ... by a series of walkways, so you don't have to jump in your car and drive across the street, if you choose not to.''
But no commercial development project, no matter how well designed, will attract shoppers without good anchor tenants. And Grasslands boasts great anchor tenants, Forster said.
"The way these projects build momentum and develop is... with your anchor tenants,'' he said. The 185,000-square-foot Walmart Supercentre -- the first in Regina and second in Saskatchewan -- got the ball rolling when it opened its doors last month.
Forster said Walmart is enjoying a 50-per-cent increase in customer traffic since moving from its former location at the Southland Mall. And Walmart appears to be pleased with the move to Grasslands, as well.
"Walmart Canada is delighted to be the first large retailer to open in what will clearly become a retail hub in Regina south," said Susan Schutta, director of corporate affairs for Walmart Canada.
Schutta repeated Walmart's pledge to "save Canadians money so they can live better. Based on the strong traffic we see in our new supercentre, this is a commitment that resonates with Regina residents."
The other major anchor tenant, which was announced on Thursday, is Lowe's home improvement centre. The $20-million, 103,000-square-foot big box store, with 32,000-square-foot garden centre, will be the first in the province.
Forster said the two anchor tenants, plus a hotel (Day's Inn), Co-op gas bar, food service, fashion stores and banking facilities (Royal Bank), round out the first phase of the project.
"Now you've created a destination (shop) for the area,'' which will be completed late this fall, Forster said.
The second phase of Grasslands will see "junior box" stores fill in some of the gaps. "Those tenants are a little more pioneering, so they will follow ... the anchor tenants.''
Finally, the third phase of Grasslands -- "the jewel of this project'' -- is what Harvard is calling the "mixed-use urban village,'' Forster said. "That's the part of the project that is very pedestrian-scale, a town centre with two-storey buildings framing it."
The third phase will have "more fashion retail, higher-end dining opportunities, looking onto a highly programmed town square,'' he said.
The village square will feature live entertainment in the summer, a skating rink in the winter, with soda pop fountains in the summer and fire pits in the winter, he said.
"Not only is that (village square) going to form the heart of Harbour Landing community ... I think it's going to be a destination for the surrounding area.''
"It's going to have a village feel to it. Through design and architecture and landscaping, you've got to give people a sense that they've travelled away a little bit.''
But Grasslands isn't trying to replicate a Tyrolean village either. "It's a celebration of our Saskatchewan heritage. You're going to see -- right from our signage to our landscaping, a lot of native and ornamental grasses," Forster said.
"We want the project to be sustainable, so we're using drought-resistant (plants). In the architecture, we're trying to use natural stones that are native to Saskatchewan. We're trying to go back to where this province evolved from over time. It's nostalgic.
"It's not going to be Disneyland. But it's going to feel comfortable to the people of this province.''
When all is said and done, Grasslands will be one of the largest -- if not the largest -- commercial developments of its kind in the province.
When completed sometime in 2013 or 2014, the project will encompass one million square feet of retail space, including some office space and related "amenity'' services.
Forster said the entire Grasslands project will cost about $350 million to build. "That's the construction value of the buildings on site. With all the money the tenants will put into these buildings, it's huge.''
But Forster isn't worried that the project is too big.
"We did a retail survey three years ago that showed Regina was deficient by about one million square feet of retail space in the southwest.
"So, even at full implementation in 2013 or 2014, we're still going to be at an imbalance. We're just filling a need that exists outside the downtown core."
And, unlike many property development companies, Harvard intends to manage the project after it's completed.
"Harvard's got a very long-term vision for its involvement in this community. The reason we spend a little bit more money and agonize over architectural controls and sustainability initiatives (is), we're going to own this project in perpetuity.
"We're not a merchant builder. We're not building this to sell it ... to a pension fund. We're going to own it and it's going to stay in the company for ... the foreseeable future.''

Leader Post, March 22, 2010

Home Improvement Giant Comes to Sask

2010-03-18T17:02:00.001-06:00

Lowe's expected to open next year

It has been rumored for months and now it's confirmed- a giant home improvement store is coming to Regina.

Lowe's will be opening its doors next year on Gordon Road in the city's Grassland development near the new Walmart.

Spokesperson Maureen Rich says the store has a lot to offer Regina. "Some of the differentiating products that you'll see will be really tailored to the Saskatchewan market, to the climate and to the residents and their lifestyles in that area."

The economical benefits include a community investment of about $20 million, creating up to 150 new jobs.

It is the first location to open up in Saskatchewan and one of the first stores in Western Canada.

Lowe's first opened in Canada in 2007 and currently has 16 stores in Ontario, with construction underway in Calgary. They are the world's second largest home improvement retailer next to Home Depot.

NewsTalk980, March 18, 2010

Capital Pointe page and more

2010-03-18T13:32:00.003-06:00

The Capital Pointe page has been updated to include a better rendering and more links to news stories and the developer's official site.

The Downtown Utilization map is currently being put together and I will hopefully have that up soon! I want to map out underutilized lots including vacant lots and surface parking as well as map out parkades. If there is anything else related that might be useful I would like to hear it.

Look for a new poll soon...

Plans for Regina Public Library's Prince of Wales branch unveiled

2010-03-12T10:06:00.003-06:00

REGINA — Plans for a new Prince of Wales library branch are now public.
Regina Public Library Board chairwoman Darlene Hincks Joehnck said plans for the replacement branch are in the concept stage. The concept design was displayed at a well-attended open house in Regina on Wednesday night.
"The Prince of Wales branch is one that really needed to be replaced," Hincks Joehnck said. "I know that there's a lot of interest in the community for the new branch."
The new facility will be built on to the Core Ritchie Neighbourhood Centre, she added.
"The funding for this branch is solely funds raised from the lottery," she said, referring to the library's annual home lottery. "We've partnered with the City of Regina to build on to their community centre, so we created some efficiencies there, rather than building a new, free-standing building."
The replacement facility will be a basic branch, with about 3,000 square feet of space, Hincks Joehnck continued, noting wryly that is "a little bigger than the existing Prince of Wales library," which is about 1,000 square feet.
The new branch will feature opportunities for people to use computers and for children to participate in programming, she said.
"The significant part is our board committed to restore the branches," Hincks Joehnck said. "This Prince of Wales branch is one that's really needed in the community.
"With the ... home lottery we were able to build our new branch, without going to the taxpayer for more money."
Library officials still are accepting community input about the concept design, as they want to make sure it meets the community's needs, remarked Hincks Joehnck.
She added that, if all goes as planned, the hope is that a tender will be released so construction can get started in May, and be completed during this construction season.

Leader Post, March 12, 2010

City Square

2010-03-11T15:43:00.006-06:00

There hasn't been much discussion around the City Square project starting this year downtown so I thought I'd put up some information about it in hopes of sparking some talk.

According to the city:

City Square is an exciting new project underway to help revitalize Regina’s downtown. City Square will improve and expand downtown Regina’s most important public space, Victoria Park, to create more ways for people to enjoy the park space.

That includes creating a more welcoming environment for special events and festivals, revising transit and traffic systems to support City Square and improving the pedestrian and cycling environment.

Victoria Park

Traffic and Transit

Transit Routes

Links
City Square (City of Regina)
City Square rational (PDF)
Victoria Park (PDF)
Traffic and Transit (PDF)
Transit Routes (PDF)
Downtown Neighbourhood Plan Draft / Revisions (City of Regina)

Regina Developments Map

2010-03-09T15:43:00.003-06:00

The Regina Developments Map has been updated. I added the SE bypass and made a few error corrections. If I am missing anything, please let me know!

I will go through the downtown page very soon and I am still working on providing links to official documents and news stories on MOST of the developments I have listed so look for these updates in the near future!

Florida Seminole tribe confirms involvement in $1.2 billion Regina stadium, entertainment complex

2010-03-05T12:23:00.003-06:00

REGINA — The president of the Seminole Tribe of Florida Inc. confirmed Friday he has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to partner with Saskatchewan First Nations on a massive proposed football stadium and entertainment complex in Regina.
"We do have an MOU. There is an MOU. We're looking at opportunities," Richard Bowers said in an interview with The Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
It's the latest in a series of developments this week that had cast doubt on the involvement of the Seminoles, one of the most financially successful First Nations in North America, in the proposed $1.2-billion project.
Bowers said Regina is a strong potential market, and the Seminoles would bring their expertise. They operate casinos throughout south Florida, as well as more than 100 other venues worldwide through their Hard Rock brand, which they purchased in 2007 for nearly $1 billion.
Earlier in the week, another senior official said the Seminoles had no plans to invest in such a project. The official said the Seminole tribe's name is often used by groups seeking legitimacy.

Leader Post, March 5, 2010

Second Stadium Proposal Revealed

2010-03-03T22:49:00.005-06:00

Douglas Cardinal Multipurpose Entertainment Facility Project

Second Stadium Proposal In Play

Group of First Nations makes bid
There are now two domed stadium proposals for Saskatchewan to consider. News Talk Radio has learned that the chiefs of ten First Nations are pitching a Las Vegas style hotel and casino, linked to a domed stadium with a retractable roof. They've signed up well known architect Douglas Cardinal to design it. Cardinal confirmed the project to News Talk Radio this week, but said an official announcement wasn't expected for at least another couple of weeks.

The proposal is on the same site in Regina as the stadium concept outlined earlier this week, the current CP railyards north of downtown Regina. Crown Investment Corporation President Ron Styles confirms he has met with the group.

"It was very much at a high level conceptual stage, really almost an expression of interest."

Styles also confirms the First Nations proposal is contingent on letting them buy Casino Regina. But he insists the casino is not for sale. The CIC commissioned study unveiled this week on behalf of the province, Roughriders, City of Regina and Western Economic Diversification Canada, found a domed stadium is feasible, but would cost 432 million dollars. If they can bring in that kind of money Styles says every proposal is on the table.

"The partners and the government have put a lot of money into you know, the existing set of drawings and the initial concepts and ideas but it still doesn't preclude looking at other ideas and options that might be competitive with it."

It isn't clear yet which First Nations are involved but Beardy's Okemasis Chief Rick Gamble confirms the project and will speak for the first time about it Thursday morning. He'll join John Gormley just after the 8:30 news.

To see more of the project design, follow the link on this page.

NewsTalk980, March 3, 2010

Renowned Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal designs spectacular domed stadium for Regina

REGINA — Celebrated Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal has designed a domed stadium inspired by the rolling-prairie landscape that would include a 500-room hotel and casino located in downtown Regina.
Cardinal was approached by the Independent First Nations of Saskatchewan, which according to the architect's website, includes a partnership of 10 First Nations, to design not just a stadium to host the Saskatchewan Roughriders' home games — but an experience as well.
"We wanted it to resonate internationally," said Cardinal, from his Ottawa home Wednesday evening. "It is just a wonderful opportunity to have Regina be a place where people would want to come and see something spectacular."
The multi-purpose entertainment facility with a retractable roof would include a casino that could potentially draw Las Vegas shows, Cardinal said. The facility would be built on a 35-acre piece of land on the current site of CP Rail in Regina's core area. According to Cardinal's website (www.djcarchitect.com), another 727,000 square-feet would be developed for residential and commercial use.
"Like any stage, in any performance, it's setting and the stage that's important," he said. "Can you imagine playing Macbeth with everybody wearing blue jeans on a white stage? You need some drama. You need to have something really dramatic and entertaining itself so that people feel a sense of excitement."
One of those involved in recruiting Cardinal to work on the project is Chief Rick Gamble of the Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation.
"It's a work in progress and has been for a while, and we're moving forward as soon as we can," said Gamble, adding that he was to provide further details on John Gormley Live, just after 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning.
"Right now, our partners are raring to go and it's just a matter of us doing the release."
He said Cardinal was their choice to design the facility because of his previous work, his reputation and his aboriginal heritage. "He's one of ours."
Along with designing Regina's First Nations University of Canada, Cardinal is known internationally for creating the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Que., and the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
"My work is always very organic and sculptural and it relates to nature," Cardinal said. "I think that like anything we do we should find our spaces in our urban centres exciting and vibrant because we have to live inside so many months of the year. So why shouldn't we have something exciting and beautiful."
The First Nations entertainment facility concept announcement comes just three days after the $1-million stadium feasibility study — funded by the Government of Saskatchewan, the City of Regina, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) — was released to the public.
It's believed the First Nations proposal hinges on the government selling Casino Regina, an option the government has previously ruled out. Ron Styles, CEO of Crown Investments Corporation (CIC) of Saskatchewan, has known about the Cardinal concept since the fall of 2009.
Styles said provincial government has not indicated that it's interested in gaming expansion at this time.
"People are always free to bring forward ideas and concepts and that's exactly what they've done and there's been no process to come to a conclusion on it," he said. "The intent of the feasibility study was to take a look at the technical feasibility of putting a stadium on the site, to look at what the financial parameters might be for that and for the government to consider that with it's partners as to whether it wants to proceed with development."
Members of the Roughriders' management were in Edmonton for league meetings. They were not available for comment Wednesday when contacted by the Leader-Post.

Leader Post, March 3, 2010

What major planned road project is most important?

2010-03-02T13:12:00.003-06:00

The results are in and they are not surprising to this blog writer but may appear to be to the provincial government. Out of the 11 people who participated in the poll, eight voted a new south east Highway 1 bypass as the most important planned road project in Regina. For anyone who lives in the east end of Regina or travels there frequently already knows the need to reduce the traffic brought into the city on Canada's national highway. The city and province however, and two voters of the poll, have put their priorities to the west bypass to help support the Global Transportation Hub. Finally, the remaining single voter selected the future Ring Rd. and Pasqua St. interchange in north Regina as a top priority. No one voted for the 'other' option, the Prince of Wales Dr. extension to Wascana Parkway (which should help support University and SIAST traffic), the widening of Ring Rd. from Albert St. to McDonald St. (which would alleviate congestion going to and from the Ross Industrial Area) or the widening of Victoria Ave. from Fleet St. to the city limits (which will help the congestion caused by Highway 1 and commuters living east of the city before a bypass is built).

Thank you to all who participated in the poll and look forward to the next one later today.

The Official Stadium Feasibility Study

2010-03-01T10:57:00.012-06:00

The Government of Saskatchewan has released the feasibility study of a new sports and entertainment complex to replace Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

2010 Feasibility Study Summary

Appendix 6 - Concept Design

Appendix 7 - Operation Report and Facility Pro Forma

Appendix 10 - Economic Impact of Entertainment Facility

Appendix 11 - Capital Cost Report

Find the other documents here.

New Stadium Feasible Says Report

Calls it 'generational opportunity'

It's a slightly higher total price tag, but a panel of experts concludes a domed stadium in Regina can be a money-maker.

That's the finding after several months of study, from a report as thick as a Regina or Saskatoon phone book. The summary alone runs 52 pages. But the bottom line is that it calls a multi-purpose entertainment facility on the old CP Rail yards in Regina a 'generational opportunity.'

The study estimates the cost at $386.2 million. That includes buying the land, construction and other costs right down to fixtures and furniture. It finds it is technically feasible to build a stadium in downtown Regina that can generate a modest operating surplus. And it says it would help continue to 'revitalize and integrate downtown Regina and the Warehouse District,' a pub and restaurant strip north of Regina's downtown.

The cost would be higher if other extras such as a retractable roof were considered. The price-tag for that feature is $45 million. That would push the total price tag to about $431 million.

The design proposed last year called for a fully retractable roof, seating for 33,000, expandable to 45,000 for major events like a Grey Cup and 53,000 for major concerts.

The study envisions the facility could pay for itself once the initial building cost is covered. 31 major events would be needed every year, at least nine of which would be Roughrider games. That would mean more than 20 conventions, major concerts or other events.

But it says the success would also depend upon other factors, such as Dewdney Avenue continuing its transformation to a strip of bars, restaurants and shops, nearby retail and hotel space and walkways connecting the area to downtown.

The study was carried out by Crown Investments Corporation (CIC) on behalf of the Saskatchewan government, along with Western Economic Diversification Canada, the City of Regina and the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club Inc.

Breaking down the cost, the study found the actual construction would cost just under $320 million, which is less than the $350 million estimated in the original concept study last year. $60.8 million would be spent on land, consultants' fees and other items, and $10.8 million on furniture, fixtures and equipment.

The report notes the Roughriders have a strong preference for a retractable roof.

CIC engaged a number of consultants. The feedback on the financial aspect found three key considerations for any decision:

1. The stadium would not be able to recover construction costs. Capital grants or other funding would be required. Based on a 'very conservative' 25 year projection of the stadium and construction impact, the consultants foresee $960.5 million in total Gross Domestic Product as well as 28,437 person years of employment.

2. Based on assumptions in the study, the facility would have an operating surplus and would not require ongoing subsidies. That's based on the facility not having to paying municipal taxes, as is the case in most other stadiums in North America. Different projecitons agree the surplus should top one million dollars in a normal year.

3. The Roughriders would not only be financially sustainable in the new facility, but in most years better off than at Mosaic Stadium with a considerable potential for more revenue. And it says the facilities would feature individual seats with more legroom, more and better washroom and concession facilities, better access for people with disabilities and protection from the elements to allow year round events.

The report also finds that more than half a million people would be drawn to the venue each year.

Enterprise Minister Ken Chevaldayoff notes the report calls the stadium a generational opportunity. "The project is clearly technically feasible and will generate overwhelmingly positive, ongoing benefits throughout the province and have a major impact on the retail, tourism, sports and entertainment sectors here as well."

"Today is an important day for the City of Regina and the province," according to Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco. "We dared to dream big and now we know what that dream can look like. We know the benefits of a facility like this are boundless."

The Roughriders are also sounding optimistic. "We are very encouraged with the results of this study and will continue to work with the key stakeholders in trying to make a world class entertainment facility in Sasktachewan a reality," said roughrider Chairman of the Board Rob Pletch.

Now, it's up to the partners to review the study and see if the money can be found. "The Government of Saskatchewan and its partners will carefully review the report before making a decision about whether to build the facility or not," says Chevaldayoff. The government has ruled out using tax dollars, but other options such as money from gaming revenue may be possible.

CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon has sent a letter confirming a facility such as envisioned would be very attractive for hosting a Grey Cup.

The government says a decision is expected by late spring. The report contends that concerns other venues will lose business to a new domed stadium can be addressed in the programming and design of the proposed venue. And it says such a project speaks to Saskatchewan's future. It concludes the project is 'clearly economically feasible and will generate related and recurrent benefits throughout the province of Saskatchewan.' In the end it finds the benefits are 'overwhelmingly positive.'

NewsTalk980, March 1, 2010

Covered stadium in downtown Regina costing $386 to $430 million is feasible, study suggests

REGINA — Building a covered 33,000-seat stadium in downtown Regina — a new home for the Saskatchewan Roughriders — is "technically feasible" and would cost $386.2 million, including construction, land, consultants' fees and furniture, according to a report released this morning.
The option of a fully retractable roof would add $45 million, which would put the total cost above $430 million, the study found. The report adds that a retractable roof is the "strong preference" of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club.
The feasibility study got underway seven months ago with funding from the provincial, federal and municipal governments as well as the Saskatchewan Roughriders, as the parties consider replacing the aging Mosaic Stadium.
The document suggests that a new stadium could turn an operating profit of more than $1 million if 31 events a year were held in it.
For example, it could have a cash surplus on an annual basis with 11 CFL games; a university and high school football schedule; one major, three minor and four small concerts each year; and eight miscellaneous event such as motocross or conferences.
As for the major question of who would pay for construction of the stadium, the report says "more work would be necessary to finalize the cost sharing and risk sharing relationships" if the project were to be approved.
Capital grants from funding partners or alternative revenue streams would be needed for the initial construction costs.Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said in a news release that a decision on whether or not to build the facility will be made by late spring. Construction is pegged to take three years, during which time the impacts on the provincial GDP would be an estimated $195.5 million.
The site being eyed is the current location of the CP rail yards. The report notes that CP is planning to move its 20-acre intermodal operations to the global transportation hub west of the city, likely by fall of 2012 pending regulatory approval. CP is also looking at whether it could change its rail operations to free up another 10 acres downtown, the report said.
"CP has agreed in principle, subject to conditions and approvals, to sell the downtown site provided issues relating to its relocation of its operations can be resolved," the report said.
Dewdney Avenue would be on the north side of the facility. The report suggests two new public spaces — a plaza between the stadium and Dewdney, and a public square to the east.Not all of the site would be used for the stadium, and land could be available for private sector residential or commercial development, the report says.
Some additional details of what is proposed:
-The design would allow seating to expand to 45,000 for major events and up to 53,000 for major concerts;
- The proposed size is one million gross square feet with sunken playing field, 25 feet below ground level;
- Individual seats with cup holders;
- Sports bar at north end lower bowl;
- Permanent Roughrider Hall of Fame.

Leader Post, March 1, 2010

Indoor Mutlipurpose Stadium Feasibility Study to be released Today (Updated)

2010-02-24T12:13:00.009-06:00

The feasibility study is being released to the public today (March 1) and is expected to have a cost estimate of around $350 million for the facility. Stay tuned right hear for all the details as soon as they are revealed.

Stadium Talk Re-ignites

Feasibility study due out this morning

Details into a possible new home for the Saskatchewan Roughriders will be revealed this morning.

The feasibility study on what is being described as a multi-purpose entertainment complex is due out just before 10 a.m.

Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff says the one million dollar study looks at all aspects of such a project. "There will be a report on the operation of the facility itself. There will be a report on the capital cost of it. There will be a report on the office of urbanism, how it integrates with the downtown core and how it operates within the city of Regina."

The big question now is who will pay for the rumoured $350 Million price tag.

The government is looking to the private sector. The Regina Hotels Association has already promised $10 Million. The other partners involved are the city, federal government and the Riders.

NewsTalk980, March 1, 2010

Stadium Study To Be Released

The plan for the stadium in Regina will be revealed next week.

A feasibility study on a multi-purpose entertainment complex will be released Monday morning.

It looks into the possibility of a domed facility, where it will be located and most importantly, how much it would cost.

The rumoured price-tag is about $350 million, something government says will only go ahead with the right partners working together.

Other options include renovating the existing Mosaic Stadium or building a new open-air football stadium on the edge of the city.

The report has been delayed slightly and has taken over nine months to complete.

Two consulting firms were hired to work on the one million dollar study. It followed a Stadium Concept Review that was released last June. A copy of that can be accessed by clicking on a link on this page.
In November, at the midway point of the study, sketches of how a stadium might look were released and the province indicated it would start seeking expressions of interest from potential developers. Check the image gallery on this page

NewsTalk980, February 24, 2010

Stadium report expected Monday

The feasibility study into a new stadium in downtown Regina will be released Monday, providing the first in-depth look at the potential cost of such a project, Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff says.
A previous report pegged the ballpark figure for construction of a covered stadium at $350 million, plus land and some other expenses. But the $1-million study launched in July will be more specific on the capital costs of building a covered, multi-purpose entertainment facility in the capital city, Cheveldayoff said.
"Up until this time we've been speculating on numbers that are a bit of a rule of thumb (based) on number of seats and cost per seat," Cheveldayoff said. "Now we will have the actual real numbers going forward."
The report will also look at the feasibility of the proposed location, which is the current site of the CP rail yards, as well the range of activities the venue could host.
The release of the report means the next phase begins -- looking at how the project could be paid for and talking to the private sector about the role interested businesses could play, Cheveldayoff said.
The Saskatchewan Party government intends to make a decision about whether to proceed with a stadium project before the end of the year, he said.
The government's financial picture has tightened considerably since the release of the budget last spring, as the projected $1.9 billion in potash royalty revenues failed to materialize.
But Cheveldayoff said the government has not been deterred from considering a stadium.
"This is a project that looks out 50 to 75 years in our province so it's not about what the budget is this year or what the price of potash is next year or two or three years down the road," he said.
"But that being said, from a government perspective it remains that our top priorities are health care and education and infrastructure development. This is a priority, but our top priorities are those things that matter on a daily basis to Saskatchewan residents."
The feasibility study was funded by the federal and provincial governments, City of Regina and Saskatchewan Roughriders. The study is looking at the option of a retractable roof, with stadium seating for 33,000 expandable to 45,000 or more.
Premier Brad Wall has in the past raised the possibility of a partnership with Sask Gaming, the profitable government-owned corporation that owns the casinos in Regina and Moose Jaw.
Cheveldayoff said if the project were to proceed, the province would look to the federal government to see what it could contribute. But it's too early to speculate on those details, he said.
"What we can commit to is putting all the information in front of Saskatchewan residents and in front of private sector people who have expressed an interest in this. No decision has been made but the project will be defined and the options will be available on Monday," Cheveldayoff said.

Leader Post, February 25, 2010

Where should the Indoor Multipurpose Stadium be built?

2010-02-22T13:32:00.003-06:00

The results are in and clearly the CP railyard is the most popular location for a possible new Indoor Multipurpose Stadium as all voters chose that option over the others (although only 10 voted). The other options available that were mentioned in the concept review for the new stadium include the current location of Mosaic Stadium, the outskirts of Regina and Wascana Centre/University of Regina. Options I threw in for the heck of it include Evraz Place, 'other' and no where.

Thank you to all who participated in the poll and look forward to the next one later today

Comments

2010-02-20T14:00:00.001-06:00

I just figured out how to moderate comments added to my posts (after realizing I had to). Hopefully I will be able to get them approved daily so bring them on!

It's time to build Trans-Canada Highway Regina bypass: city councillor Michael Fougere

2010-02-20T08:30:00.001-06:00

REGINA — A southeast Regina bypass is the subject of a motion Regina city councillor Michael Fougere will submit during council's meeting Monday.

The motion asks that the city reaffirm to Saskatchewan's minister of highways and infrastructure the need for early completion of a road for Trans-Canada Highway traffic to bypass Regina to the southeast.

"We wouldn't be doing our job as a council if we're not asking the province to move forward on this one," Fougere, councillor for southeast Regina's Ward 4, said Friday.

"This is an emergent issue. They've got to address it. It's up to the province to determine when they do it.

"We're saying, 'Now, is the time'," he continued, noting council has expressed before the need for a bypass, and that need is only getting greater.

Victoria Avenue East is the busiest street in the city. Traffic jams have become more complex than ever, he said. Victoria Avenue was widened in 2004 as a "Band-Aid solution (to) stave off larger expense until the future," he continued, adding, "We think that future is now."

A bypass would get some of the heavy traffic that clogs Victoria Avenue out of the city, Fougere explained.

The situation will become even more pressing, as traffic from the new Global Transportation Hub will not have a choice but to use Victoria Avenue when going east.

People living in his ward want the bypass, said Fougere. It also would bring down noise on the Ring Road and the existing Trans-Canada bypass.

Highway travellers who want services in the city still could drive in to get them, so Fougere has not heard any concern from the business community about the bypass possibility.

According to information from the ministry in November, planning for a southeast bypass began about five years ago, but when it might be built depends on funding and the level of growth in the area.

The ministry recognized congestion on existing roads in east Regina and the effect the GTH is expected to have. But, right now, a bypass to the west of the city — also is in response to the GTH — is the priority.

The price tag for a bypass is between $150 and $200 million, a ministry official said in November. On Friday, the ministry indicated there had not been any change to the status of the situation since that update.

Fougere said he thinks bypasses on both the west and the southeast are necessary, and it shouldn't be a one-or-the-other scenario. But he said he does not expect to see movement on the southeast bypass in 2010.

"We have to be realistic here," he remarked. "We understand the fiscal condition of the province — they're being somewhat cautious."

He would like to see it become part of the province's five-year capital plan, of which it now is not, he noted. The motion also asks that the city request official confirmation of the ministry's plans.

Leader Post, Feb. 20, 2010

Former Superstore Nets New Tenants

2010-02-19T15:52:00.005-06:00

Renovated office building selling out of space

After lying dormant for the better part of a decade life is returning to the former Superstore building north of Regina's downtown.

The massive structure has been re-developed as an office building and now boasts seven tenants. They include engineering consulting firm AECOM, Tourism Saskatchewan, the Phoenix Advertising Group, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and others. In fact, all but 20,000 of the buildings 130,000 square feet of space is either leased or under negotiation.

The building was left empty for years after the Superstore chain abandoned the location until Century West Developments purchased the parcel of land and the building in 2008 with the intent of creating a mixed-use building with office and retail clients. Director of Sales and Development Francis Bast project shifted to office-only after retail clients proved hard to come by. But he insists the extensive renovations have made the building an easy sale to clients looking for modern office space.

"The brightness of the building and the design in the building is really grasping the new tenants now. Aecom was one of the first ones that did theirs with the open concept and the 22-foot ceilings and now everyone is walking in and they're in awe of the building."

The renovations are marked by those high ceilings; while engineering firm Walker Projects and Century West Developments' offices are divided into two floors, the hallways and other office spaces maintain the high ceilings from the original build. Several spaces that are still up for lease and under construction can be tailored to their clients' needs, Bast says. For example, the Roughriders used their space to establish a clubhouse for their players. It features a shower and change room, weights and exercise equipment, a kitchen area, and a lounge.

Bast says a hotel developer is hoping to build on the north-east corner of the lot as well.

"We're into final subdivision of the parcel. Two acres have been sold off on Dewdney to a hotel group. That transaction will close as soon as we're finished the subdivision with the city, which we think is just a few weeks away. They want to start construction this year." He also notes that there is an option to build a second hotel on the property as well, in addition to a restaurant that will be built along Albert Street where a gas bar was once located.

But first things first, Bast insists: there's still a lot of work to be done inside the building, including detailing hallways and completing work on several more spaces up for lease. Outdoor landscaping and the replacement of the remaining green outer walls is also on the agenda for the spring.

NewsTalk980, Feb. 19, 2010

Picture Gallery

What Regina development are you most looking forward to?

2010-02-16T09:33:00.002-06:00

The results of last week's not-so-scientific poll have been tallied and are summarized below.

21 users voted
Almost 50% of voters, 10 to be exact, voted for the Indoor Multipurpose Stadium, which could be one of the largest developments Regina has ever seen
4 voted for Capital Pointe, which could be Regina's first downtown tower in almost two decades
2 voted for either City Square, the Global Transportation Hub and the rumoured Harvard Tower; one of which is ready to begin construction this summer, one is under construction; and the other has been spoken about only, floating around social circles for the last couple years
1 voted for the Central Library Redevelopment, which is in the works for the near future, but with details of which are vague
no users voted for either Cantebury Park or Regina Centre Crossing, both of which are well underway, nor did anyone select the Other or None options

Thank you to all who participated in the poll! Look forward to the next one later today.

Regina Fishing For Affordable Housing Development

2010-02-14T09:15:00.003-06:00

Offering lots for low-rent homes
A practice usually reserved for high-priced lots in new developments is coming to the city's Heritage and North Central neighbourhoods.

The city is looking for developers to bid on 14 lots in the inner-city with the caveat that they must be used for affordable housing. The lots are being put up for bid in five separate packages; each package will be priced below market value but potential buyers must commit to constructing some kind of affordable property, be it for private sale, co-operative, or non-profit housing. Potential buyers will be pre-screened, according to a city news release and a lot draw will be held.

The city's Dominique Clincke insists the homes will not only be sold or rented at lower prices, but they will also be more affordable once residents move in.

"The city is putting parameters on the houses so they're within certain efficiency guidelines and that will lower the living costs for the residents."

Part of the reason for the lower lot price is the city's capital incentive contribution; the $10,000 affordable housing incentive the city usually offers to builders developing affordable housing units will instead be built into the purchase price. Clincke also notes that provincial incentives are also available to buyers.

The Request For Proposals is out now with a deadline of April 16th for submissions. The lot draw and announcement of winners will happen at the end of May.

NewsTalk980, February 12, 2010

Southland Mall should have no difficulty filling old Walmart space in Regina: expert

2010-02-12T13:35:00.001-06:00

The future of the Southland Mall in Regina looks bright, despite the recent departure of the Walmart store, a speaker told a Regina real estate meeting said Thursday.
Tom McClocklin, president of Colliers McClocklin Real Estate Corp., said the Southland Mall should have little or no difficulties in filling the space being vacated by Walmart.
The SportChek store, which operates out of a stand-alone building behind the mall, will be moving into the mall to fill a portion of the space used by Walmart, McClocklin said.
McClocklin said his sources also tell him that deals are in the works for about three additional stores to move into portions of the old Wal-mart space. And there are other possibilities if some of those deals fall through, McClocklin added.
"They'll have the whole space filled up,'' McClocklin predicted, adding that deals should happen soon.
A spokesperson for the Southland Mall could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.
The remarks by McClocklin came only one day after a new Walmart Supercentre was opened at 4500 Gordon Rd. in the Grasslands commercial area adjacent to the Harbour Landing residential development in southwest Regina.
The opening of the Walmart Supercentre, which is bigger and sells a greater variety of products than the old Southland Mall Wal-mart store, appeared to be a hit with shoppers. The parking lot and store was jammed Wednesday evening with shoppers taking advantage of grand opening sales.
The Walmart situation was only a small part of what McClocklin discussed during an hour-long lecture, during which he reviewed real estate trends in 2009 and looked ahead to what to expect this year.
Saskatchewan's economy has weathered the recession -- experienced elsewhere in Canada and in much of the world -- with relatively few problems, McClocklin said.
The strength of the economy and the growth of personal incomes is good news for retailers in Regina and elsewhere in the province, McClocklin told an audience of about 100 at a luncheon meeting at the Delta Regina hotel.
More stores should be joining Walmart in the Grasslands area, McClocklin said.
But the news should also be positive at the Southland Mall, along the commercial area on South Albert Street and in other retail areas in Regina, McClocklin said.
The news is also positive for other elements of the Regina real estate industry, McClocklin said.
Office space, particularly the top-quality Class A real estate, is in very short supply, he said.
And that creates the possibility of at least one, and maybe two, major office buildings to be constructed in downtown Regina, he said.
Potential exists for yet another office building to be constructed on Dewdney Avenue near Pasqua Hospital, he said.
McClocklin also weighed in on the likelihood of a new football stadium. It "might be a long shot but I wouldn't bet against it,'' he said.

Leader Post, February 12, 2010

Southland Mall Planning Major Renovation

2010-02-11T10:15:00.002-06:00

Should be no problem filling empty space
The closing of the Wal*Mart at Southland Shopping Centre isn't expected to have a negative effect on the mall. Sandra Kaiser is with Smartcentres, a company that is redeveloping Southland. She says there is a major multi million dollar renovation planned both inside and out to update the look of the popular shopping centre.

As for filling the space, Kaiser says there is a lot of interest in taking over the large space. She says it could go to one big store, or it could be divided up into smaller shops.

http://www.newstalk980.com/story/20100211/29222

2010 Regina State of the City Address

2010-02-10T14:10:00.006-06:00

On Monday, February 7, 2010, Mayor Pat Fiacco gave his annual State of the City address. We already know about the new brand he announced for the city and now we can see what direction the city is going in other areas in his entire address, with significant development content bolded:

Good afternoon everyone. It’s fantastic to see such a great crowd today. I extend my thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Wascana for hosting the Mayor’s State of the City Address today and for the last 43 years. Imagine when this tradition began I was only four years old, and my hair was a lot shorter.

Thank you to Jack Semple for sharing your wonderful talent with us.

Special thanks to Elmer, Chief Sheldon Taypotat, and Tribal Chairperson Edmund Bellegarde.

Thank you for bestowing the honour of the eagle feather on me. It means so much. I will display this eagle feather with pride … and I will respect the honour by continuing to work diligently to build partnerships and improve life for First Nations people living in Regina.

I always like to start my address by thanking some key people in my life.

I’ll begin with Angie who has been my partner for more than 26 years. I thank her for her support and her patience. Being Mayor takes an incredibly supportive wife and family … and I have the best.

I’d like to thank my Council colleagues. This is a wonderful group. I am very impressed at how the veteran councillors have mentored their new colleagues. They work together for the betterment of the entire community.

With me today are:

Councillor Louis Browne, Ward 1
Councillor Jocelyn Hutchinson, Ward 2
Councillor Michael Fougere, Ward 4
Councillor John Findura, Ward 5
Councillor Wade Murray, Ward 6
Councillor Sharron Bryce, Ward 7
Councillor Mike O’Donnell, Ward 8
Councillor Terry Hincks, Ward 9
Councillor Chris Szarka, Ward 10

We are fortunate in Regina to have such a dedicated group of people who have committed their careers to public service.

I’ll take this opportunity to publicly thank our crews who did a great job of cleaning up a tremendous amount of snow following the blizzard a few weeks ago.

I also thank our transit operators who navigated through snow drifts and around stuck vehicles to get riders safely to their destinations.

And I would be remiss if I did not thank our staff at Service Regina. These are our dedicated call centre employees. The professionalism in which they answered every call … and there where a lot of them … was truly amazing.

I’d also like to thank the citizens as well for the way they pulled together to help each other … and their patience as we tackled the aftermath of the storm. In true Regina spirit we got through it by working together.

A great job by all.

This is the only speaking engagement I do that my entire office staff is able to attend as a group. I’m pleased to have my support team of Patti Grant … Lorrie Snook … Faye Globa and Ann Anderson all here.

And finally, I’ll introduce some special guests with me today.

· Premier Brad Wall
· Deputy Premier Ken Krawetz
· Municipal Affairs Minister Jeremy Harrison
· Jim Hopson, Ken Miller, Brendan Taman from the Saskatchewan Roughriders
· And Matt Domingquez who is an amazing community ambassador

During last year’s State of the City … I took you back a decade to describe the Regina we used to be and illustrate how far we’ve come.

This year … let’s look ahead a decade to the Regina we will be.

Everything we do at City Hall begins with our vision. That is to Imagine Regina 2020 … as Canada’s most vibrant, inclusive, attractive, sustainable community … where people live in harmony and thrive in opportunity.

The vitality of a city hinges on many factors … one of which is a successful downtown. Last year … we approved the first Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan … which is fundamental to having a successful downtown.

Why is it fundamental?

It now provides a comprehensive framework for decision-making related to the growth and development of the area for the next 20 years.

While the plan lays out a framework for the next 20 years … I believe we’re already seeing the results of good planning with the announcement of the Hilton Garden Inn and high-rise condominium development at the Plains Hotel site.

This complex will feature retail and patio space on street level … green roofs … as well as double rows of trees on Vic and on Albert. The developer is even incorporating the landmark weather tower into the design.

If the downtown is the heart of Regina … then Victoria Park is the heart of downtown. Framed by landmark buildings … the Twin Towers … the Canada Life Building … the Hotel Sask … and the Knox Metropolitan Church …Victoria Park is the starting point where Regina’s vitality emulates from.

Imagine if you will … beginning this May … 12^th Avenue along the park will be transformed into a festival space with new seating and lighting … a fountain that can be reconfigured to become a stage … a pavilion for the Regina Downtown ambassadors … and a second pavilion for food vendors with outdoor seating.

The Farmers Market will be able to expand along 12^th Avenue to make room for more vendors. The Folk Festival will be able to place their vendors and beer gardens along 12^th making more room in the Park for seating on the grass to enjoy the music.

Two-way traffic will be introduced along 12^th with the festival space only being blocked during festivals and markets.

It will be a true gathering place to draw residents from every corner of our city.

When we first envisioned this transformation … we knew we needed to do something to relocate transit at the Park. Now we have an excellent plan that improves transit in the downtown.

Buses will now stop along 12^th Avenue at the Library and behind City Hall … in both directions making transfers easier. And making it simpler for occasional riders and tourists to know where to catch a bus.

The Library could very well become a destination of choice for both literary and artistic devotees.

The redevelopment of the Central Library is a tremendous opportunity to blend what we learned from the Downtown Plan with what we learned in the Recreation Facility Plan.

Imagine the possibilities of developing not only a library … but an art gallery and a performing arts theatre. Imagine Canada’s only permanent theatre in the round with a new venue that attracts performing arts students from across Canada to its theatre school … and becomes the premiere theatre venue in Canada.

The Recreation Facility Plan will come to Council for consideration early this year.

This Plan is not about closing facilities.

It’s about creating family opportunities … it’s about city wide facilities … it’s about community destinations … and it’s about neighbourhood hubs. The plan is about ALL of you.

Imagine an enhanced SportsPlex as a community destination for your family.

Your teenager and friends are enjoying an indoor aquatic centre with waterslides and wave pools … there’s a splash pad for your pre-schooler … and you can enjoy the tennis courts or a spin class. Later … take a short walk together to enjoy a Pats game at the Brandt Centre.

The Recreation Facilities Plan creates a solid foundation to build partnerships and to build interest from other organizations in response to our community’s needs.

The Leibel Field improvement project is a perfect case to illustrate what can happen when governments and the community work together.

Regina Minor Football and the Regina Soccer Association use Leibel Field.

At the beginning of the season … the natural turf is in great shape … that is until it rains or until it’s used for football or soccer. Then it’s a muddy mess.

Alone … the City of Regina could not move forward with improvements such as artificial turf. It just wasn’t plausible.

But … thanks to the RINC fund from the provincial government and a significant investment from Regina Minor Football and the Regina Soccer Association those improvements are going ahead this spring.

And there are many more opportunities for partnerships. How about a partnership with a non-profit such as the Y to build a pool in the south end? Or a partnership with the private sector for a courts facility. Imagine the possibilities.

Our vision for Regina is also about sustainability. It’s about the Regina we will leave to our children.

We undertook a review of our waste management system and ultimately arrived at Waste Plan Regina … which will come before council very soon.

It outlines three options to improve waste management in our city: a slight enhancement of the status quo; an enhanced service including curb-side recycling; and a comprehensive option. These improvements will catch us up to other cities on the residential side.

We have an obligation to ensure our actions of today will not be the burden of tomorrow.

Where we have an opportunity to move ahead of other cities is on the non-residential side.

Regina has an advantage over other cities in this area in that the City has the only landfill in Regina. We can control the kind of materials that are brought in and where they are put. Long gone are the days when everything was considered garbage and ended up in the local dump.

We need to work with the industrial, commercial, and institutional sector to help them help us manage their waste.

What we are striving to do is ensure the long-term sustainability of the world we live in for everyone to enjoy for generations to come.

The Transit Investment Plan will lay out a plan to address our aging fleet issues, but it’s more than just about buses … it’s about how we collect fares and how we deploy resources. It’s about partnering on innovative approaches to transit. It’s about changing the way people travel in Regina.

This fall … Transit will introduce a new fare collection system. Riders will have a ‘smart card’ which will be loaded with fare and will store reward points just like your Airmiles card. The card will also help us to monitor transit usage so we can best deploy our resources. We are leading with innovative ideas.

Regina Transit partnered with TR labs by providing a “living lab” for a project called TransitLive.com. Devises on the buses transmit information so that users can monitor exactly where and when their bus will arrive.

Imagine getting a message on your Blackberry to notify you when your bus will arrive at a specific stop – right up to the minute. This is the future of public transportation.

A decade from now … the now new neighbourhoods like Harbour Landing … the Creeks … the Greens on Gardiner and housing projects like Canterbury Estates are mature and teeming with activity.

An aerial view of the Global Transportation Hub resembles a busy ant hill with trucks … trains … and vehicles in constant motion moving raw materials … finished goods … and people to and from the area.

Loblaw and CP have been joined by manufactures and distributors who recognize the value of locating with like-minded businesses in an active economic centre.

Evraz Place is revitalized and attracting even more world class sporting and agriculture events. I encourage you to take a tour of The Co-operators Centre on your way out. It’s quite impressive.

The University of Regina continues as one of Canada’s best comprehensive universities attracting the best and brightest from around the world.

And Innovation Place is recognized as one of the best research parks in the world and its tenants are competing on the world stage.

Ladies and gentleman … Regina is bursting with possibilities and we are the architects of our future.

Opportunity abounds. Our potential is unlimited. Our future is as open as the infinite horizons that surround us.

I am very excited to announce a new, dynamic way we will be projecting our city’s unique identity. Since this is a new time for Regina … this is our brand.

Regina is optimism and endless possibilities. It’s about expanding the opportunities that surround us like our infinite horizons.

This is how we’ll tell the world what a great place Regina is to live, work, invest and visit.

Our brand is a community brand. It’s been created through the collaboration of the Regina Regional Opportunities Commission … Regina and District Chamber of Commerce … Regina Downtown … Regina Warehouse District and the City of Regina. It has been created as an expression of Regina’s unique personality and as a reflection of Regina’s vibrant energy and momentum.

Three little words got people talking about all the wonderful things we have in this great community.

I Love Regina will not go away. What it has done is allowed us to take it to the next level.

This new brand will roll out to the community in various stages. We’re launching a new community website infinitehorizons.ca.

And we’ve developed other tools using the key core messages to establish the foundation for the new brand.

Let me show you one of them ... Testimonial Video

I extend our thanks to Joely, Kay, Becky and Holly, and Victor for sharing their stories. I also thank the Branding Committee led by Larry Hiles for their dedication to sharing the Regina story.

On the way out, you’ll be given a lapel pin with the new brand … wear it with pride and continue to be ambassadors for Regina. You will also receive a copy of the 2009 Highlights booklet – this is a sampling of the many successes our community shared over the last year.

And here’s how we’re going to showcase Regina ... Brand Video

Ladies and Gentlemen … the Regina you see today did not happen by accident … it is the result of the vision and hard work of our forefathers and all who have followed. We are a city of dreamers and a city of believers. I ask that each and every one of you continue to dream … continue to believe and continue to achieve. And together the possibilities are infinite!

http://www.regina.ca/Page56.aspx

Indoor Multipurpose Stadium

2010-02-09T09:45:00.004-06:00

The Indoor Multipurpose Stadium is the conceptualized replacement for the home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and a new state of the art facility expected to provide a place to bring people together year round for concerts, conventions, trade shows, other sports and much more. Many years ago it seemed like a pipe dream that such a project would have any merit in Regina. In recent years however, the growing Saskatchewan and Regina economies and population, and the success of the province's Roughriders has helped push this dream closer to reality.

In early March, the province is expected to release the feasibility study looking at the replacement of Mosaic Stadium with a new indoor facility. Until then, you can find the majority of significant information available about the possible new stadium right here. If there is something you think is missing here that should be, or for any other discussion, please feel free to leave your comments!

Stadium Concept Review (June 15, 2009, Government of Saskatchewan)

POLL: Most Saskatchewan residents believe Mosaic Stadium should be replaced or improved (Leader Post, Nov. 9, 2009)

REGINA — About half of Saskatchewan residents say Mosaic Stadium should be replaced with a new facility, according to a Sigma Analytics poll conducted for the Leader-Post.
That includes 37.4 per cent who said it should have a dome and 11.9 per cent who said a dome should be omitted to save costs.
A further 18.1 per cent said the current stadium should be renovated, while 32.6 per cent said Mosaic Stadium is good enough as it is.
The survey shows that the appetite for something other than the status quo extends across the province — reflecting a Sigma Analytics poll conducted last February that only queried Regina residents.
“The numbers province-wide aren’t a whole lot different than they are from Regina and I had thought they might be,” said Cam Cooper of Sigma Analytics.
The survey results came on the same day the provincial government provided an update on a feasibility study into its preferred option — a covered multipurpose stadium.
The $1 million study, now at its midway point, is being funded by the three levels of government and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said the $350 million figure cited when the study was launched in July is still viewed as a reasonable estimation of what it might cost to build the stadium, even if it includes a retractable roof.
“Once the study is complete we will be in a much better position to make a decision on the possibility of a domed stadium for the province of Saskatchewan,” Cheveldayoff said, dismissing suggestions from the NDP that the estimated price has already ballooned.
Stadium Consultants International principal Chris O’Reilly explained the design being contemplated for Regina, showing draft floor plans of a 33,000 seat facility that could expand to more than 45,000 capacity.
O’Reilly said the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame could be incorporated into the stadium building, which could be located at the current CP site in downtown Regina.
The surrounding area could include a green space for kids’ sports and community activities and pedestrian walkways to allow access to the site. There is also room for developments such as a hotel, he said.
“Our mandate obviously is to produce a stadium design option with a budget but you do have quite a bit of room here that needs to get developed in conjunction with that building and it will have a big impact on your downtown,” O’Reilly said.
The government is asking for expressions of interest from private sector players interested in business opportunities on adjacent land or integrated directly with the facility.
O’Reilly said various retractable roof options are on the table, but a front-runner is one that involves six large panels.
“Two panels move to each end of the stadium and pretty well open up 100 per cent of the seating ... so you have a very open feeling,” he said.
“We’re also looking at a price option for a fixed roof so we can compare the premiums for those different design options.”
O’Reilly billed the project as a more than a stadium “but a statement on how your whole city can evolve over the next 20 years.”
NDP MLA Warren McCall reiterated the Opposition isn’t against the stadium, but said all the facts have to be on the table. The government still can’t answer questions about the financing model or what the bottom line will be for Saskatchewan taxpayers, McCall said.
McCall said he hopes the $350 million estimate for construction turns out to be a “solid number.”
But he noted other costs, such as those related to land, also have to be taken into account.
The Sigma Analytics survey also found that when people were presented with two options — leaving Mosaic Stadium the way it is or improving or replacing it — 71.9 per cent choose change.
Of those favouring change, two-thirds want a new facility versus renovations.
Eighty per cent say various levels of government should foot at least part of the bill, similar to what Regina respondents said in the February survey.
When told that the cost of renovation could be about $100 million and the cost of a new facility could be $350 million, 88.6 per cent said those figures didn’t change their preference to see the stadium renovated or replaced.
— Sigma Analytics is a Saskatchewan firm providing data mining and modeling, attitudinal polling and market research. The sample was drawn province-wide and stratified by ten regions so that responses in each region met a quota determined by that region’s share of the province’s population. 650 interviews were conducted between Oct. 28 and Nov. 3 with people aged 18 and older, for a general margin of error of 3.84 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Concept Renderings (Nov. 2009, Government of Saskatchewan)

EXCLUSIVE POLL: Reginas still support renewing or replacing Mosaic Stadium, home of the Riders (Leader Post, Feb. 8, 2010)

REGINA — Support for renewing or replacing Mosaic Stadium has receded, but remains strong, according to results of a new survey of Regina residents conducted for the Leader-Post by Sigma Analytics.
Sigma Analytics conducted telephone interviews with 535 Regina residents, 18 years of age or older, between Jan. 27 and Feb. 3. The sample size yields a margin of error of plus or minus 4.23 per cent, 19 times out of 20. Results for sub-sets of the sample have larger margins of error.
The survey found 68.2 per cent think improvement or replacement of the stadium is needed. That is down from 76.1 per cent support indicated in a similar survey one year ago. The number who indicated the stadium is good enough as it is rose from 23.9 per cent in the year-old survey to 31.8 per cent in the new one.
Among those who think improvement or replacement is needed, 76.2 per cent favour building new. That is up from 57.9 per cent in the previous year's poll.
Based on those numbers, construction of a new stadium is supported by about 52 per cent of population as a whole, according to the Sigma Analytics analysis.
Generally, preference for a replacement stadium increased with increasing income levels of respondents. More than half of respondents from the central area of the city said the stadium is OK as it is. In all other areas of the city, fewer than one third gave that response.
Support for making a change was strongest among those aged 40 to 59, and weakest among those over 70. Also, it was stronger among males than females.
About three-quarters of those polled indicated they thought the provincial government should — in principle — consider paying for part of a new or improved facility, if something was to be done. That included 89.2 per cent of those who think something should be done and 42.2 per cent of those who think the existing facility is good as it is.
Among those who favour government assistance, 70.8 per cent would prefer a contribution from a Crown corporation, while 29.2 per cent would prefer a contribution from general provincial taxes.
When those who in principle support provincial assistance were asked what the government should do as resources revenues are lower than estimated by $1.6 billion, 38.2 per cent indicated the government should not make a contribution this year, while 45.5 continued to support Crown corporation contribution and 16.3 per cent continued to favour contribution from general tax revenues.
"I think the stadium result is quite positive," said Cam Cooper of Sigma Analytics. "It's probably not a huge surprise that initial enthusiasm has fallen back a bit because of the government's financial situation.
"On the other hand, even when people were prompted with a message that resource revenues are (down) in a large way, a majority still thinks it's worth looking at, though there's a substantial minority that thinks, 'Perhaps not this year' — More of a prudent message than a negative one, I would say.
"It's quite interesting the shift within the roughly 70 per cent that say we need to do something . . . within that group, a year ago, there was a lot more division between 'Let's renovate' and 'Let's build new'. That's pretty much gone over massively to, 'If we're going to spend some money, let's do something from the ground up and get it right."
Ken Cheveldayoff, provincial enterprise minister, said on Friday that he is "very, very, pleased" by the poll results.
"In politics, when you can get over two-thirds of people to agree on something, that's very positive," he said. "That's pretty much what I've been hearing when I talk to individuals across the province. They feel it's time to do something now.
"The clear message to decision-makers is, 'There's a public interest here.' They want us to do it in a judicious manner and make sure taxpayer dollars are spent in a fiscally prudent way. They certainly have that assurance, from my perspective."
The minister said "there's no real surprises" in the reports that will inform the feasibility study on the project, which is expected within a month, noting the results of that study will be analyzed by politicians and the public before any decisions are made on how to go ahead.
"We'll have to weigh all the options together," he said, stressing other partners — the federal and municipal governments, the Roughriders organization and the private sector — are at the table, too, when it comes to funding.
He reiterated that any provincial funding would not come from general revenues, but money could come from the Crown side, like the gaming corporation, for example. He noted there are financial challenges with the current economic climate, but there are also some pluses.
"I think people are seeing this as a provincial facility. It'll be located in Regina, but it's something that will help our province move to the next level," he said, noting a decision on the stadium is one the government will "have to make for the long-term future of the province," adding its priorities are still education, health care and all infrastructure.
Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco said he thinks the feasibility study results will answer a lot of questions in the minds of the public. He noted those against a facility are basing that opinion on what they think they can afford, but said financial indicators for the province are positive, despite the provincial budget, which he said doesn't reflect what's going on with other parts of the economy.
"It's nice to see there's still strong support for it," he said. "There's no question, on the economic side, building new makes more sense in regard to getting a better return on your investment. If you renew, you're just going to have more of what you have. If you build new, you're going to be building something totally different that has far more uses than our current facility."

Regina: Infinite Horizons

2010-02-08T12:14:00.004-06:00

The new slogan and logo for the city of Regina has been revealed. What do you think of them? Will they help improve the city's image and make it more attractive to prospective residents and businesses?

Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco unveils new brand for city

Regina: Infinite Horizons

Regina's New Image

2010-02-08T09:25:00.004-06:00

At noon today, Mayor Pat Fiacco will reveal Regina's new image in his annual State of the City address. News Talk Radio's Paul Martin says: "The economy is strong, people across the country have recognized Saskatchewan. What Regina wants to do is become a little more prominent and ride the coattails of Saskatchewan's increase in popularity and notoriety across the country." Stay tuned to this blog to catch a review of the mayor's address including Regina's new image early this afternoon.

Capital Pointe

2010-02-07T16:17:00.007-06:00

Capital Pointe is a project proposed for the current site of the former Plains Hotel on the northeast corner of Albert St. and Victoria Ave. at the western gateway into Regina's city centre. Formerly slated as Westgate Plaza, Capital Pointe is to feature a Hilton Garden Inn along with condominiums inside a 25-story tower looking over one of Regina's busiest intersections. One, two and three bedroom condos will be available from $199k to over $1 million (as of January 23 2010). The sales centre is expected to be open early spring of this year.

Current Rendering:

Previous Rending:

Previous Floor Plans

Previous Proposal

Change Coming to Regina's Skyline, NewsTalk980, August 11, 2009

Designer of Regina Landmark Recalls Its Creation, NewsTalk980, August 15, 2009

Regina's Plains Hotel Development Going Ahead, NewsTalk980, September 22, 2009

Condo Developer Takes Feedback from Reginans, NewsTalk980, December 3, 2009

Capital Pointe News, Spring 2010

Comments

2010-02-06T20:55:00.000-06:00

Comments have now been enabled on the development pages. Feel free to leave your questions, concerns, suggestions and any information that would help improve the blog.

Development Posts Have Moved

2010-02-06T14:56:00.000-06:00

I have moved the development posts for Regina Area and Regina Downtown to their own separate pages for easier access. You will always be able to find the links to them in the menu to the right of the blog.

Introduction

2010-02-04T21:11:00.000-06:00

The purpose of the Regina Development Overview blog is to provide an unofficial repository for all the rumoured, proposed and current developments occurring in the city of Regina, Saskatchewan. My goal is to summarize the information of all significant developments in the city as that information becomes available and share it to the world. Despite the recession of 2008/9, Regina is continuing with strong unprecedented growth and this blog will strive to offer interested persons a one-stop shop to follow along as the city grows.

Look forward to the first submission of the current developments around Regina, outside of downtown. Later, I will provide information about the developments happening in downtown Regina.

As a note, I am by no means a word smith and will be focusing my effort in the organization and presentation of development data so please bare with me! As I mentioned above, the primary purpose of the blog is to present a summarized account of all the current developments in Regina. The secondary goal will be to gather information from blog readers to be used to satisfy the primary goal. The tertiary goal, will be to provide a forum to allow blog readers to comment and discuss specific developments. To discuss developments not covered and for general discussion, please take a look at the Regina Construction thread at SkyscraperPage.