Parking, hotels and space: How Saskatoon city council will pick a downtown arena site
Saskatoon City Council has approved the criteria to be used in selecting a site for a downtown arena and convention centre.
"This is going to be a big discussion," Mayor Charlie Clark said at Tuesday's council meeting.
"I think having a transparent process to lay that out and to find the best ways to work with the community, given the timelines we have and the summer, it's going to be really critical that we're as clear as we can with the public and creative in how we engage with them and ensure people understand the direction we're heading and can weigh in on what they believe is going to be necessary to make this as successful as possible."
The city hired two external advisory firms to gain insight into design and technical considerations, according to an administration report to council.
Administration then landed on a list of criteria to rank site options:
- Available land area to support a new arena and supporting infrastructure
- Strength of the transportation network to support an arena facility
- Opportunity for influencing adjacent development/infill and alignment with city plans and long-term vision for the downtown
- Distance from an updated convention centre or potential new convention centre, which would be adjacent to TCU Place
- Proximity to existing hotels, entertainment establishments and businesses
- Potential effect on residential areas and properties
- Proximity to future Bus Rapid Transit stations
- Proximity to existing parking facilities
- Projected site servicing and development costs
Each arena site option will be assessed on whether it would be big enough for a modern 15,000-seat bowl capacity arena, the report says. Those determined to be too small would be eliminated from further consideration. The remaining sites would be ranked in accordance with the evaluation criteria.
The results of this evaluation process will be included in the information presented to the public as part of the engagement process set to start in July.
"The development of an animated event and entertainment district, anchored by a new arena and convention centre, and linked to the rest of the city by the future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, will stimulate the economy and bring renewed energy and life to Saskatoon’s downtown," the report says.
"Therefore, the selection of the site of the future downtown arena should consider an array of factors that will have a real influence, not only on the physical location of a new arena, but also support animation of an event and entertainment district, and be a shared public space where residents feel welcome and have a sense of belonging."
When council makes the final decision on location, the information presented will include both the technical evaluation as well as the feedback obtained through public engagement, the report says.
New parking facilities must be built regardless of which site option council chooses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.