Next steps as Council selects Midtown parking lot for event centre location

City Council has confirmed the site of a future event centre/arena will be at the Midtown Shopping Centre North Parking Lot. The location was selected at a Special Meeting of City Council this afternoon.

The Downtown Event and Entertainment District is a large, transformational project that will develop over many years. Proceeding with the development of the Downtown Event and Entertainment District project, and the vision to create a shared public space where everyone feels welcome, required a decision of City Council on the future location of the event centre/arena.

“Saskatoon is one of the few cities to have its own land bank, and without our property realized reserve we would not have been able to purchase these important pieces of land today,” says Downtown Event and Entertainment District Advisory Group Co-Chair Councillor Troy Davies. “We have met with cities across North America who have built downtown districts and the site chosen today will not only increase jobs but also opens the door for further development opportunities down the road.”

Following work with industry experts to assess several potential sites against various technical criteria, the City collected feedback on the opportunities and challenges for two feasible downtown site options. Council considered the results of the technical evaluation and the feedback from the public, ultimately endorsing the Midtown Shopping Centre North Parking Lot, north of 22nd Street between 1st Avenue and Pacific Avenue.

Some of the key opportunities highlighted with this location include:

· closeness to amenities such as restaurants and shopping

· ease of access because of its more central location

· increased Downtown activity

“As Council’s strategic lead for downtown development, this location allows for efficient use of existing land and infrastructure, and maximizes opportunities to attract new residential and commercial investments in the heart of our city,” says Advisory Group co-chair Councillor Cynthia Block.

Mayor Charlie Clark says choosing a site is the first “pivotal” step in shaping the future of Downtown for many decades to come.

“As we continue to grow and become a more global city, we want the residents in our city and our province to be able to experience world-class events in the heart of a thriving downtown. It will be a gathering place that can bring our diverse community together and drive economic investment, all part of creating a strong future for the children growing up today.”

The decision now allows City staff to begin working on conceptual designs and district master planning to help establish preliminary capital cost estimates. City Council has already directed that the project includes Indigenous placemaking. The City will be seeking community input on other district amenities in the coming months, but early feedback has already highlighted a desire for cultural gathering spaces, both indoors and outdoors.

Dan Willems, Director of Technical Services says financial strategies are already under consideration. The project is expected to be largely funded through investment other than from property taxes. While the exact funding plan is yet to be determined, a key overarching goal is that this project requires little or no increase to property taxes.

“At this point next year, our goal is to have a proposed funding strategy in front of City Council and be in a position to approach other orders of government to get their commitment to support the project.”

Willems says this decision is the first of many that must happen over the next year. “The project is truly a journey with many milestones. Within the next few months, we plan to be in a position for City Council to consider the partnership and governance model for the new facilities and whether to secure a private partner to support project development.”

Decisions about a new or expanded convention centre, and the future of the existing SaskTel Centre will be among several decisions to be considered by Council as part of the conceptual design phase later in 2023.

Along with clear opportunities with the Midtown lot, the engagement survey results also identify parking availability and traffic congestion as key challenges.

“We believe this challenge can be overcome through information sharing on the current inventory of existing on- and off-street paid parking, private stalls that could be converted, and new parking facilities planned to be constructed within walking distance,” Willems says. He adds that a parking needs assessment will be completed as part of the conceptual design, and that parking and congestion concerns may diminish as the site and the supporting transportation network is developed.

“The future bus rapid transit routes will connect the district to the entire city and will be able to move many people in and out of the area avoiding the worry over parking Downtown.”

The City will continue to work with the public and stakeholders to determine how to maximize the benefit of the district for all residents of Saskatoon. The district itself, the significant transit improvements that will accompany the district, and all elements ultimately included in the scope of work will shape Saskatoon for generations. Given this, public engagement will be integral to several work components planned throughout 2023.