TeamFisher.com » construction

Multi-family development near Montgomery Place can proceed

Norm Fisher — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:07:22 +0000

Last week, Montgomery Place residents scored a bit of a win when the City of Saskatoon announced that a proposed wind turbine at the nearby landfill would not go ahead as planned. This week, they weren’t so lucky as city administrators prepared a report for council that states a proposed multi-family development on land just North of 11th Street can move forward in the approval process.

The report states that existing zoning is appropriate for the proposed development which will meet the city’s long-term plans to encourage a mix of housing types in all neighbourhoods. Currently, single-family homes are the only type of housing available in the Montgomery area. Further, the report explains that the development will contribute to a “more compact and efficient urban form and make effective use of existing community infrastructure,” an important consideration given the rapid population growth that Saskatoon is experiencing.

Once the approval process has been completed, five acres of the 18-acre parcel of the land owned by North Ridge Developmentswill become home to a 192 unit apartment complex. The remaining 13 acres will likely be developed as demand dictates. The current plan calls for up to 750 housing units when complete.

The project met resistance from the area’s community association who feel that the development is “out of step with the character of adjacent Montgomery Place,” according to a story in the Star Phoenix. Many residents of the historic area that was developed in honour of Second World War veterans feel that the neighbourhood has been “under siege” as the area around them changes to accommodate and expanded landfill, a new bus barn and city yards site, and the extension of Circle Drive South.

In one seemingly over-the-top expression of concern, Councilor Pat Lorje, speaking about Second World War veterans, declared the move as an end to “the recognition of their sacrifice.”

I’m going to go ahead and make two bold predictions. Saskatoon will continue to honour the sacrifice of our Second World Wars veterans, and Montgomery Place will maintain its unique charm for years to come in spite of this development. It’s a beautiful area now and so it will remain.

Learn more about beautiful Montgomery Place.
Read: Montgomery development can proceed; Lorje says decision ‘dishonours’ veterans.
Read also: Montgomery plan approved.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call of email me.

Get the most current market intelligence with our FREE Market Snapshot including prices of homes recently sold in your area. Get it here, now.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Saskatoon posts strongest numbers for housing starts in decades for 2011

Norm Fisher — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:11:06 +0000

In 2011, Saskatoon and Regina both saw housing starts increase to levels not seen since the early 1980′s, according to a senior market analyst for the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Builders in Saskatoon started construction on 1,608 single-family homes and 1,386 multi-family dwellings for a total of 2,994 homes, up from 2,381 last year to mark an annual gain of roughly 26 percent.

Meanwhile in Regina, construction got underway on 958 single-family homes and 736 multi-family dwellings to close the year with 1,694 starts and a year-over-year gain that also reached 26 percent.

“Saskatchewan’s expanding economy and labour market continued to attract elevated numbers of migrants into the province’s centres. This bolstered housing demand in 2011 and fuelled a pace of starts rarely seen across the province,” Michael Fabiyi explained in the CMHC media release.

Read the coverage in today’s Star Phoenix.
See CMHC’s Preliminary Housing Start Data report.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call of email me.Get the most current market intelligence with our FREE Market Snapshot including prices of homes recently sold in your area. Get it here, now.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Montgomery Place residents win one as proposed wind turbine gets scrapped

Norm Fisher — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:51:08 +0000

A story in this morning’s Star Phoenix says that the wind turbine that had been previously approved by Saskatoon city council for construction has been scrapped.Only one bid was received to build the controversial 120-metre turbine, and that bid was $1.35 million more than the budget allotted for the project.

Vocal residents of Montgomery Place argued that the turbine would be an eye-sore in the historic area and that noise generated by the turbine would be troublesome to those living in the area.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call of email me.

Get the most current market intelligence with our FREE Market Snapshot including prices of homes recently sold in your area. Get it here, now.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Montgomery residents say no to proposed apartment buildings in their area

Norm Fisher — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:33:50 +0000

Residents of Saskatoon’s Montgomery Place area are rattled at the thought of apartment buildings in their area, one of the few neighbourhoods in the city that is comprised entirely of single-family dwellings.North Ridge Developments, which owns an 18 acre parcel on 11th Street East is seeking approval to build three four-storey rental apartments with a total of 192 units on five acres of that land. The remaining 13 acres could be developed if an appropriate level of demand exists. The current bylaw allows for this type of construction, and has since 1979, but a designation added in the ‘90’s requires developers to show that the existing infrastructure is adequate to accommodate new development. Residents of the area feel that a potential doubling of the population in the historic area would lead to traffic congestion and over-populated schools.

Montgomery residents seem to be feeling a bit “under siege,” according to a recent story in the Star Phoenix. Other recent concerns include a proposed 120-metre wind turbine which would be erected at the landfill, the development of Circle Drive South, and the plan to relocate the city yards and the public transit headquarters, all of which will be adjacent to the area.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call of email me.

Get the most current market intelligence with our FREE Market Snapshot including prices of homes recently sold in your area. Get it here, now.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan wins prestigious design award

Norm Fisher — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:23:59 +0000

The design for the Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan has been selected as one of eight 2011 Award of Excellence recipients by Canadian Architect magazine and is featured on the cover of this month’s issue.

According to the story in the Star Phoenix, the $84 million gallery was selected from “163 submissions judged by a jury of Canada’s top architects.”

The gallery will be constructed at River Landing in Saskatoon’s Central Business District beginning in 2012 with an anticipated completion in late 2014.

Read: Remai gallery receives national award.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Our Saskatoon home search tool offers MLS® listings represented by all real estate brands, presented with more detail than you’ll find anywhere else. Check it out here.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Report commissioned by City of Saskatoon projects major future growth

Norm Fisher — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:35:14 +0000

Saskatoon’s future is bright, according to a report presented to city council on Monday night. The 215-page report, prepared by MXD Developments Strategists of Vancouver projects that Saskatoon’s population would hit 325,000 by 2028. By then, the city will require six new hotels, a thirty percent expansion in retail space from 10 million square feet to 13 million square feet, and an forty-five percent expansion of industrial space from the current 15.2 million square feet to 22.3 million square feet.

The primary recommendation in the report is a relaxing of the current direct control zoning regulations that limit the types and numbers of businesses that can operate in suburban areas.

City administration will study the report and bring their recommendations to council in the near future.

Read: Report forecasts major growth from the Star Phoenix here.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Our Saskatoon home search tool offers MLS® listings represented by all real estate brands, presented with more detail than you’ll find anywhere else. Check it out here.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

River Landing Village one step closer to reality as zoning changes pass

Norm Fisher — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:56:26 +0000

Zoning changes proposed by Victory Majors Investments that make River Landing Village “economical” were approved by Saskatoon city council at their November 22^nd meeting. The Meewasin Valley Authority (MVA) followed with their approval on Friday, paving the way for a potential spring of 2012 ground breaking.

Victory Major Investments took over the project from Lake Placid Developments last year when the developer failed to secure adequate financing. Initially, Victory promised quick action on getting the project started but later petitioned the city for changes to the previously approved project.

The approved changes have the potential building height increasing to 95 meters, from 68 meters, commercial space increasing from 30% to 40% and the allowable floor space increasing by as much as 50 percent.

The MVA is a conservation organization dedicated to conserving the natural and cultural heritage resources of the South Saskatchewan River Valley in Saskatoon. As such, all of the development at River Landing in Saskatoon’s Central Business District must meet their approval.

Read: Zoning changes approved for River Landing project.
Read: MVA greenlights art gallery, Nasar Magaproject in River Landing.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Our Saskatoon home search tool offers MLS® listings represented by all real estate brands, presented with more detail than you’ll find anywhere else. Check it out here.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Saskatoon will require 10,000 new homes in the next three years

Norm Fisher — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:20:20 +0000

Saskatoon will require 10,000 new homes in the next three years, and the vast majority will be built in new suburbs, stated a report going to city council Monday. Concerns about urban sprawl are raised.

Read more from the Saskatoon Star Phoenix here.

Saskatoon housing sales remains strong in face a shrinking labour market

Norm Fisher — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:24:44 +0000

Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) released their third quarter update on the Saskatoon housing market late last week. It takes a look at third quarter and year-to-date activity in new homes as well as resale activity.

Here are some highlights from the report.

Third quarter housing starts slipped lower to 735 units, down 4 percent from the same quarter in 2010.
Year-to-date starts (to September 30) sit at 2,231 units, up 27 percent from 1,755 starts in the same period of 2010.
Year-to-date gains are attributed to the production of multi-family dwellings.
In the multi-family category, 565 apartment units were started during the first three quarters of this year.
Low interest rates and a scarce supply of rental units helped support heightened demand in the resale market.
Resale transactions increased by 21.5 percent over the third quarter of last year.
Residential listings increased 2.9 percent over the previous year but the strong pace of sales negated increases to the supply.
Balanced market conditions prevailed through the quarter with average prices gaining just 2.7 percent compared to the same period last year.
The Saskatoon labour market softened during the third quarter with total employment declining 1.6 percent from the same time last year.
Saskatoon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate climbed to 5.7 percent, up from 5.5 percent at the same time last year.

Read the entire report here.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Our Saskatoon home search tool offers MLS® listings represented by all real estate brands, presented with more detail than you’ll find anywhere else. Check it out here.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Rivergreen Ecovillage fails to secure financing – developer cancels plans

Norm Fisher — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:13:25 +0000

David Hutton is reporting some disappointing news about the Rivergreen Ecovillage, a “green” condominium development that had been proposed for Phase 2 of River Landing. The 65-unit condo complex was to be built at the corner of 19th Street and Avenue C in Riversdale but the developer has announced the cancellation of the project after they failed to obtain adequate financing for it.

Check Dave’s blog here.

Learn more about the Riversdale area here.

Visit our Saskatoon Neighbourhood Profiles pages to learn more about what’s going on in our city’s neighbourhoods.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Saskatoon city council approves River Landing office building

Norm Fisher — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 15:52:03 +0000

City council has unanimously approved construction of a 71,000 square foot office building that will likely become the first private-sector development to get under way at Saskatoon’s River Landing. The five-storey office building, to be located at 475 2nd Avenue South across from the Remai Arts Centre, will include some retail space, a restaurant, a fitness centre, a “street-level patio” and a parkade that will accommodate forty-one vehicles. Construction will likely begin this summer.

Read the Star Phoenix story here.
Read the minutes on this topic from Monday’s council meeting here.

Learn more about Saskatoon’s Central Business District here.
Discover other great Saskatoon neighbourhoods here.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Major grocer plans to open shop in Stonebridge area of Saskatoon

Norm Fisher — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 12:19:19 +0000

City council approved a rezoning application from the Saskatoon Co-operative Association Monday that will allow for construction of a 30,000 square foot grocery store to be located to the south of the existing Co-op convenience store and gas station at Stonebridge Boulevard and Clarence Avenue. The major Saskatoon grocer will undoubtedly be welcome in the quickly growing Stonebridge area and should be able to attract customers from the Willows and number of other residential areas located just north of Highway 11.

Construction on the new grocery store could begin as early as the spring of 2011 and wrap up before the end of the year if all goes well. The store will ultimately employ 80-100 people according to Grant Wicks, general manager of Saskatoon Co-op.

Learn more about the Stonebridge area of Saskatoon here.
View homes for sale in Stonebridge from all real estate brands here.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Paid in full – three steps forward for Saskatoon’s River Landing Village

Norm Fisher — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 16:10:16 +0000

Following what seemed like an endless string of starts and stumbles for the troubled River Landing Village project, local developer Victory Majors Investments Corp. seems to be delivering with a third forward step after taking the reins in late October when they purchased Lake Placid Development’s equity in the project. At that time, they produced evidence that financing to build the first phase of the proposed $200 million hotel and condominium complex had been secured. In the days that followed, a due diligence audit conducted by Deloitte concluded that Victory Major Investments could successfully bring the project to grade and complete the shoring, footing and foundation with the required underground parking garage.

The City of Saskatoon announced Thursday that the developer had met the December 2 deadline to pay the balance of the $5.2 million purchase price of “Parcel Y” at River Landing on the south edge of Saskatoon’s Central Business District. A cheque in the amount of $4,990,494 was received at city hall and documents required to facilitate the transfer of the land to Victory Majors had been provided to the developer.

Victory Majors Investments must now complete the title transfer, advise the city of a construction start date and then complete the first phase within 18 months. The developer has previously indicated that a three-year target is realistic for completion of the entire project. During the November 1 announcement that River Landing Village would move forward, Victory’s Kay Nasser indicated that the project would be built to the specifications previously approved by city council.

A look at River Landing Village is available here.
Learn more about the Central Business District of Saskatoon here.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Our Saskatoon home search tool offers MLS® listings represented by all real estate brands, presented with more detail than you’ll find anywhere else. Check it out here.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Plan to beautify 25th Street entrance to downtown Saskatoon approved

Norm Fisher — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:40:43 +0000

Concept drawing of proposed 25th Street beautification - Click for larger image

A $3.7 million plan to beautify the 25^th Street entrance to Saskatoon’s Central Business District has been approved by the city’s planning and operations committee and received strong support from city councillors Tuesday.

The project, which is scheduled to take shape over two years following the extension of 25^th Street to Idylwyld Drive calls for lush landscaping including trees, hedges and flowerbeds, benches, lighting and public art exhibits.

City planner Jeanna Smith told the committee that the goal in planning was to create a distinct identity and a pedestrian friendly corridor for the 25^th Street entrance.

More from the Star Phoenix about this and other news on changes in north downtown is here.
Learn more about Saskatoon’s Central Business District here.
Interesting in living downtown? Homes for sale in the area can be found here.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Our Saskatoon home search tool offers MLS® listings represented by all real estate brands, presented with more detail than you’ll find anywhere else. Check it out here.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Saskatoon churches pledge fundraising support for inner city grocery store

Norm Fisher — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:34:37 +0000

A group of Saskatoon churches have pledged support to work together to assist in fundraising for the proposed “Good Food Junction,” a full service co-operative supermarket that would operate at Station 20 West, assuming that private funding goals are met and the “cluster of community services” becomes a reality. Pleasant Hill and Riversdale, two of Saskatoon’s poorest neighbourhoods have been without a grocery store for more than a decade. The low-income residents in these communities already face mobility challenges making it difficult to seek services in other areas.

$650,000 is needed to fund equipment for the store and church leaders from a number of Christian denominations have pledged to promote the cause leading up to the Christmas season.

More details from CBC here.
More from the Star Phoenix here.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Saskatoon housing starts & MLS sales to move in opposite directions: CMHC

Norm Fisher — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:17:12 +0000

According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Saskatoon housing starts and MLS® resale activity will move in opposite directions, this year and next.

In their fall Housing Market Outlook for the Saskatoon area, CMHC is forecasting that Saskatoon housing starts will finish 2010 at 2,125 units, up from 1,936 in 2009, before falling to just 1,700 in 2011. Conversely, resale MLS® activity is expected to fall to 3,500 units this year, down from 3,822 in 2009, and then increase to 3,600 units in 2011.

On the heels of a 7.9% decline in 2009, CMHC economists expect the New Housing Price Index to increase by 2.7% this year before it moves 2.9% higher in 2011. Resale prices, after moving to $291,000 this year from $278,895 in 2009 will moderate and advance less than two percent to $296,000 next year.

Nationally, CMHC forecasts housing starts to rise from 149,081 in 2009 to 186,200 by the close of 2010 when they will begin to drop and fall to 174,800 in 2011. MLS® resale activity is forecast to rise from 320,362 in 2009 to 336,800 this year before increasing further to 339,800 in 2011.

The CMHC Housing Market Outlook for Saskatoon is here.
The CMHC Housing Market Outlook for Canada is here.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Our Saskatoon home search tool offers MLS® listings represented by all real estate brands, presented with more detail than you’ll find anywhere else. Check it out here.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Kinsmen Park and Mendel Art Gallery site targeted for renewal

Norm Fisher — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:01:23 +0000

Saskatoon’s largest park, together with the sites of the Mendel Art Gallery, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan and the Shearwater boat tour docks are the target of a massive renewal project and the city of Saskatoon is ready to begin a two-year planning process to ensure that the public amenities best meet the future needs of the community. Attendance at Kinsmen Park has declined forty percent in recent years. A $5 million dollar sponsorship agreement with Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan provides funding for a needed renewal that will link the four City Park area amenities under one concept plan.

The $170,000 planning process was approved Monday by the city’s executive committee. Assuming that $100,000 in funding from next year’s budget is approved in December, the planning process for a transformation can begin immediately with the hiring of a consultant and a public call for ideas for the Mendel Art Gallery site that will become vacant when the Art Gallery of Saskatchewan opens in late 2014 at River Landing.

Checking in on the progress in revitalizing downtown Saskatoon

Norm Fisher — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:35:49 +0000

In its last major plan for downtown Saskatoon, the city set a goal to increase the population of residents in the city centre to 10,000 by 2,025. The past few years have seen the development of roughly 450 housing units across several condominium projects but growth is sluggish and falling short of meeting objectives. Could all of that change as River Landing Village finds a firm footing? What else needs to change in the short term to achieve that long-term goal?

Star Phoenix writer, David Hutton examines recent wins and the ongoing challenges in the revitalization of downtown Saskatoon in “Density in the downtown.”

Read it here.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Financing secured for first phase of River Landing Village in downtown Saskatoon

Norm Fisher — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:21:08 +0000

After a couple of years of starts, stops and stumbles, two forward steps looks like a lot of progress. Saskatoon city council, in a special meeting Wednesday, placed its final approval on the sale of Parcel Y after independent auditors confirmed that adequate financing had been secured to bring the proposed River Landing Village project “to grade.” The current plan calls for an underground parking structure to be built at a cost of roughly $60 million.

The next deadline to be faced by Dr. Karim Nasser’s Victory Majors Investment Corporation comes in fifteen days time when the complete $5.2 million dollar purchase price of the land must be paid. Once that’s done, the city will transfer title to the land to the developer.

“I feel very, very happy and elated because the city has been waiting for that project for over 30 years,” Dr. Nasser told the Star Phoenix. “It’s an exquisite, beautiful project, which fulfils all the demands that are required in the area.”

The most recent construction estimates suggest that we’ll see a ground breaking on the downtown site in the spring of 2011 with an estimated completion of roughly three years.

Star Phoenix coverage is here.
More from the CBC here.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Our Saskatoon home search tool offers MLS® listings represented by all real estate brands, presented with more detail than you’ll find anywhere else. Check it out here.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

New estate-style development planned for Saskatoon area

Norm Fisher — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:16:50 +0000

Saskatoon developer Gary Gaudet is planning an “estate-style” residential development that would see the Greenbryre Golf & Country Club reduced to a nine-hole course to make way for 143 half-acre lots that are practically at the city’s southeast edge.

While the plan still needs a stamp of approval from the RM of Corman Park, it’s expected to be forthcoming. The RM recently changed a bylaw that prohibited residential and commercial developments within 1.6 kilometers of Saskatoon city limits.

According to Gaudet, “close to 500 people have expressed an interest in buying a lot” so he’s feeling pretty confident that there’s a market for the parcels which have not yet been priced but are expected to be “around $250,000.”

More on this story from the Star Phoenix here.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Our Saskatoon home search tool offers MLS® listings represented by all real estate brands, presented with more detail than you’ll find anywhere else. Check it out here.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

River Landing Village will proceed without Lake Placid

Norm Fisher — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:33:51 +0000

River Landing Village appears to have taken one large, perhaps unexpected step forward today as project investors met the city’s deadline to provide proof that financing is in place to complete the first phase of development of the $200 million dollar hotel and condominium project proposed for Parcel Y in the south downtown area.

The larger surprise may have been the announcement that River Landing Village will proceed without Lake Placid Developments and its CEO Michael Lobsinger who originally brought the proposal forward and twice purchased the land from the city. After defaulting on deadlines in deal number one and losing his hold on the parcel Lobsinger struck a partnership with local businessman Kay Nasser who owns Victory Major Investments and managed to secure the land a second time, subject to financing approval. Instead of moving forward together, Nasser “bought out Michael Lobsinger and Lake Placid,” according to the story on the Star Phoenix website, and secured financing himself.

The financing package will now go to an independent audit to ensure that the funding that has been secured is sufficient to build an underground parkade and bring the project to grade level at an estimated cost of $50-60 million. If the auditor gives it the nod Victory Major Investments will have fifteen days to complete the land purchase by delivering a cheque for the balance of the $5 million price tag.

Star Phoenix coverage of today’s announcement is here.
A timeline of the development progress and challenges by David Hutton is here.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Our Saskatoon home search tool offers MLS® listings represented by all real estate brands, presented with more detail than you’ll find anywhere else. Check it out here.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Dundee Realty Corp. moves for rezoning of Arbor Creek school sites for residential

Norm Fisher — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:34:30 +0000

Dundee Realty Corp. has taken initial steps for a rezoning of the eight-acre parcel it owns within Arbor Creek that was originally set aside to accommodate an elementary school in each school system. The city will hold a public meeting on October 27 to discuss the developer’s plan to build more single-family homes on the land.

While two elementary schools were initially included in the neighbourhood concept plan, both the public and the Catholic schools boards shifted their focus from Arbor Creek to Willowgrove when considering new schools in 2007. Funding for a joint project housing a public and a Catholic school was approved for Willowgrove this year.

Most children living in the Arbor Creek area have settled into schools in neighbouring Erindale.

Work begins on site of new St. Mary Community School

Norm Fisher — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 15:55:26 +0000

A spell of warm dry weather has provided an opportunity for site work to begin at the new St. Mary School site in Pleasant Hill at 327 Avenue N South.

The $14.6 million dollar project was won by PCL Construction Management Inc. in late August and it is expected that it could be completed by early 2012. Construction was originally slated to begin in the fall of 2009 but the Ministry of Education forced a scaling back of the size of the new school causing delays.

When completed, the new catholic system school will provide instruction to children in kindergarten through grade 8. The school is expected to feature an indoor track for walking and running, exercise facilities, a pediatric wellness clinic and community gathering spots. It’s part of the Pleasant Hill revitalization project.

The Ministry of Education will fund the majority of the project. Corporate donations include $500,000 from the PotashCorp for the walking track and $500,000 from Cameco Corp. for the pediatric clinic.

Computer renderings provide interior views of future St. Mary’s School

Norm Fisher — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 01:45:45 +0000

Alan Wallace published a post on his Pleasant Hill Village blog that includes some computer renderings of the new St. Mary School, which is expected to begin construction within two weeks and could be opened in the fall of 2011.

Check it out here.

Station 20 West granted three-year construction extension

Norm Fisher — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 01:35:16 +0000

Officials for the proposed Station 20 West project appeared before Saskatoon city council last night seeking a one-year extension on the deadline to begin construction on the Pleasant Hill area project. Instead, they walked away with a three-year extension. The land located at 230 Avenue R South was sold by the City of Saskatoon for one dollar, and the city will have the right to purchase it back if the project fails to come to life.

Station 20 West is envisioned to house a number of food services including a community kitchen and a grocery store, a health services clinic and a community centre. These are all services that are desperately needed in an area that houses people who fall towards the lowest end of the income scale in Saskatoon and real challenges getting out of the area for such services.