Project Inception

Pleasant Hill is a mature core neighbourhood in Saskatoon. It is located west of Riversdale, south of 22nd Street. The St. Pauls Hospital is a major anchor within the neighbourhood. The Pleasant Hill Revitalization Project has its roots and purpose in the 2002 Pleasant Hill Local Area Plan. Local Area Plans (LAPs) are a comprehensive public consultation process designed to develop long range improvement plans for Saskatoon's core neighbourhoods. The Pleasant Hill LAP called for better housing, more seniors' housing, elimination of vacant lots and measures to reverse the erosion of public confidence in this historic neighbourhood.

In 2004, a rare opportunity arose to purchase 29 dwellings concentrated in a two block area within Pleasant Hill from one property owner. The housing was in poor condition located immediately adjacent to St. Mary School.

By 2006, a new Federal, Provincial, Municipal funding program called the 'Urban Development Framework Agreement' (UDA) was developed and allowed the City to obtain $3.3 Million dollars in funding assistance to acquire the 29 dwellings, assemble and clean-up the land, develop new infrastructure, new housing and new park space. Also in 2006, the Catholic School Board announced plans to replace St. Mary School with a new, larger facility which would include community space, health and wellness services.

The pieces fell into place for a major redevelopment which would reshape the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood. However, the Revitalization Project needed a plan. The next post highlights the process to develop a redevelopment concept plan, which has guided the revitalization project.