Arbutus Properties, which already has a Pitchfork Market + Kitchen in The Meadows in southeast Saskatoon, is behind the proposal for another location in the Midtown Plaza in downtown Saskatoon. The plan is for a full service grocery store with a restaurant and take-out. The matter is up for consideration this afternoon at the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation because, in addition to a request for a tax abatement, there are suggestions from City Administration regarding the roadways in the area.

The City of Saskatoon’s Director of Planning and Development says there are amenities already in place in downtown like Meewasin Valley and the river bank, the art gallery and theatre and the public library. Lesley Anderson says they are important pieces of the downtown lifestyle and residential demand is where they need to focus so having a grocery story would be an amenity which would help increase the demand for people locating in the downtown core.

The matter is before the Transporation Committee because an administration report recommends $220,000 worth of infrastructure work including installing a full traffic signal at the intersection of Auditorium Avenue and Idylwyld Drive; removing the median on Idylwyld Drive between Auditorium Avenue and 22nd Street; and installing a traffic island at the intersection of 21st Street and Idylwyld Drive.