It’s another step in the journey to a possible Downtown Event and Entertainment District in Saskatoon. City Administration is presenting a vision statement and guiding principles at tomorrow’s (Wed) Council meeting for the proposed project. Director of Technical Services, Dan Willems says the end goal is revitalizing downtown, and a new event centre is just one aspect of the larger vision to create a thriving public area of business and entertainment which is accessible to everyone.
He expects the Bus Rapid Transit system to be operational in 2027, which if the arena ends up being part of the plans, would be before the facility is completed, which Willems expects will give people the chance to try the BRT out prior to any big events once it is open. Willems notes that pre-COVID, there were 18 to 20,000 people working downtown, so any traffic situations would be similar to rush hour.
Councillor Cynthia Block represents the downtown and is Council’s strategic lead for downtown development. She explains that an event centre and convention facility are tools or catalysts to entice businesses to build around them. Block adds that SaskTel Centre and TCU Place both make money now, but because of aging infrastructure they are already missing out on some opportunities, and that is only going to continue. As well, she says, Council has asked Administration to come up with a funding plan which will have zero to minimal impact on property taxes.
Vision Statement
A safe and vibrant Downtown is a welcoming and inclusive place for all people to come together in cooperative spirit. The District supports a strong economy, strengthens our diverse community, and attracts people to live, work and play in the Downtown.
Guiding Principles
- Reconciliation by honouring Indigenous Peoples, histories, languages and culture
- A distinctive identity through placemaking/placekeeping
- Architectural and public realm design excellence
- Reliable and efficient transportation options
- Downtown density with a focus on housing
- Leadership in sustainability and resiliency
- A robust and diverse economy
- A healthy and safe community
