Province overturns city decision to block 112-unit condo development in downtown Saskatoon
A provincial appeal board has overturned a city decision to block the development of a 112-unit apartment on former Knox United Church land.
Saskatoon’s Meridian Development is behind the project, which would see the construction of a condo tower on Spadina Crescent between Knox United Church and St. John’s Anglican Cathedral.
Meridian CEO Karl Miller told city council in 2021 the building was an opportunity to advance the city’s desire for more infill downtown. He said it would not diminish the heritage value of the adjacent church.
“This is simply about land and progress. A gravel parking lot does not belong on our riverbank,” said Miller.
Knox United stands to gain a new revenue stream in the development through ownership of parking spaces.
City council approved the subdivision of Knox United’s property in 2021, but the building permit itself was denied prior to that because the city said it didn’t meet zoning requirements, according to the Saskatchewan Municipal Board appeal committee report.
Meridian tried to appeal to Saskatoon’s development appeals board, but was rejected again, saying approving the project would “amount to a special privilege” and would be injurious to its neighbour St. John’s Cathedral, which opposed the project.
According to the report sent to Saskatoon’s municipal heritage committee, the province overturned that decision in December.
The 112-unit condo development can go ahead, as long as it meets certain conditions for the front-facing portions of the building.
Allowing some variances from the zoning requirements “would not give a special privilege to Meridian, would not defeat the intent of the bylaw; and would not negatively impact neighbouring properties,” the provincial committee said.
The municipal heritage advisory committee, which opposed the subdivision of the land, will receive the report at its meeting on Tuesday.
-With files from Matt Young
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
'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.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.