Saskatoon city council set to vote on downtown grocery store proposal
Saskatoon city council will vote on how to proceed with a proposed downtown grocery store at its regular business meeting Tuesday.
Council is being presented with a variety of options to help accommodate the proposed Pitchfork Market + Kitchen full-service grocery store from Vancouver-based developer Arbutus, which would occupy a space at Midtown Mall previously built for Mountain Equipment Co-op.
“This is a unique situation, and the City needs to resolve how to respond to Arbutus’ request. All options presented are viable,” the recommendation from city administration reads.
Council will vote on six different options centred on a tax abatement request and reconstructing the Auditorium Drive and Idylwyld Drive intersection access to the mall.
The first two options recommend a status quo approach for the tax abatement since one is already in place for Midtown Plaza.
“As the property tax abatement has already been approved for the property owner, no further abatement can be provided to the tenant under current policies,” the report from administration says.
However, to help support the city’s long-standing goal to bring a grocery store to the downtown core, administration is willing to “explore a one-time grant for this project as an alternative” if directed to do so.
Options to introduce a series of upgrades to the Auditorium Avenue and Idylwyld Drive intersection range from deferring traffic signal installation until the Imagine Idywyld project is completed, installing traffic lights this year from city funding, installing traffic lights using a cost-sharing approach between the city and adjacent businesses and forgoing repairs until 2024.
Administration is recommending working with Arbutus to identify a “build-out” per cent threshold to provide a level of certainty a downtown grocery store would be opening.
Once that threshold is met, the city will make the necessary changes at the intersection at a cost of $220,000.
“The administration’s recommendation is largely based on the premise that a downtown grocery store is consistent with the city’s vision of downtown and will support many of the city’s strategic priorities,” the report read.
“Although a traffic signal is an atypical way to incentivize such a venture, the proponent has made it clear that they believe the viability of the grocery store is contingent on the traffic signal. If a grant were instead to be considered, the estimated $220,000 investment by the City would be equivalent to a grant structure worth $44,000 per year for five years.”
Tuesday’s council meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Vancouver firefighter in rehab at home after losing leg to flesh-eating infection overseas
A family trip took a frightening turn for Christopher Won when he was diagnosed with flesh-eating disease while in Hong Kong and now, after weeks of treatment overseas, the Vancouver firefighter is back home recovering.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.