REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RELEASED FOR LAST THREE PARCELS

On January 15, the City released the Request for Proposals on SaskTenders to select a developer to build on the three remaining vacant parcels at Pleasant Hill Village.

This is an exciting stage for the project as we near the end of the revitalization process begun in 2006. Three significant proposals were received in September through the Expression of Interest process, which is a sign of growing confidence in the neighbourhood as a place to invest and put down roots.

 

Based on the community vision for the site, all parcels will be built with ownership housing (no rental units), with each home having individual ground-oriented entrances. After the March 12 closing date, the Community Review Committee will evaluate the proposals and recommend a developer to City Council in May or June. The Committee includes several members from the Community Association as well as residents living on-site in the townhomes completed in 2010.

FINAL PARK PHASE COMPLETED, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IS IN-PROCESS

Ahead of schedule and just in time for back to school in September, the last phase of construction at Grace Adam Metawewinihk Park was finished.

 

The most anticipated part of this was the basketball court, which was put into use immediately! Basketball is the #1 sport at Pleasant Hill Village, and it takes different forms-- in the St. Mary’s school gym both during the schoolday and with older youths and adults in the evening-- and now, outdoors in the park.

 

Another much loved park feature is the new community garden, with individual plots administered by partner CHEP Good Food. It opened just-in-time in June to produce its first crop by September.

 

 

 

Next to the new turf in the park field, there’s new furniture for both active and passive recreation. Benches to sit on and soak up the sun, and a skateboard rail and funbox to do the latest jumps and flips on.

 

Stay tuned for an update on planning the new housing developments that will face onto the park...     

NEW TURF AND SPRING BLOSSOMS ALL AROUND THE PARK

Grace Adam Metawewinihk Park is in full bloom on several fronts-- cherry trees, lilac bushes and the new turf on the playing field has transformed a dirt lot into a sea of green!

 

 

NEW PARK LANDSCAPE PLAN SHOWS FEATURES COMING THIS SUMMER

The new illustrated park plan shows where park furniture will be located, such as benches and the skateboard rail (coming in June). It also shows the half-basketball court (coming in August), which has been added since the last plan version. We're excited to be partnering with CHEP Good Food on the new community garden, located just behind Columbian Place. We're hopeful that everything will come together for it to be launched this summer! View the full size image here.

FIRST TWO DEVELOPMENTS IN PLEASANT HILL VILLAGE ARE SOLD OUT!

Exciting News!

The Pleasant Hill Village Redevelopment Plan has met another milestone by selling out our last City-owned condominium unit in the Pleasant Hill Village.

The City outlined some of the history of this process in a recent Public Service Announcement.
I have added some excerpts from that announcement below:

"The Pleasant Hill Village Project includes two separate developments with a total of 36 units.  As part of an agreement to attract developers to participate, the City agreed to purchase any unsold units."

"During its May 28, 2012 meeting, City Council adopted a new 9.99 Percent Sales Incentive  Grant funded from the Affordable Housing Reserve and a five-year property tax abatement for the project.  The adopted sales incentive grant and the property tax abatement have been instrumental in closing sales of 14 units since June 2012.

Since the Pleasant Hill Village project started in 2006, a main objective was to offer home ownership opportunities in a neighbourhood where rental occupancy rates were high.  Pleasant Hill Village is intended to attract families who want to live in a new home, in a community with a new school and wellness centre, daycare, and surrounded by a new park space, playgrounds, soccer fields, and a new seniors’ residence.

The Pleasant Hill Village Redevelopment Project will continue in 2014, with the release of three more sites for development.  The entire project is expected to be completed in 2015."

The 3 new sites for development will be Parcels A, C and F as shown above. Some small changes are proposed to these sites and the sites are currently being updated to continue the implementation of the Pleasant Hill Village Enhanced Concept Plan as intended.

The 2 sites labeled Parcels A & C are intended to be developed as condos aimed at ownership, while Parcel F is intended for a mixed use development that may include a residential component.

I look forward to continuing to work with the Community on this project. We have had a lot of input from the public through the Community Association and different groups associated with both Pleasant Hill School and St. Mary's School. If you feel you have any ideas or concerns feel free to share them with me, Keith Folkersen, by email through keith.folkersen@saskatoon.ca or by calling (306) 657-8779.

Decks on Cenith Solar Village and getting ready for the New Year!

Greetings from the City of Saskatoon!

My name is Keith Folkersen and I have started to take over some of the responsibilities for the Pleasant Hill Village Redevelopment! Nikki Newenham-Kahindi has left on Maternity leave and we would like to thank her for her hard work for the Pleasant Hill Community!

Construction has begun on the decks at the Cenith Solar Village and the Park Redevelopment.

The implementation of the Pleasant Hill Village Enhanced Concept Plan is ongoing and soon we will look to bring a draft Request for Proposal (RFP) to the Community to ensure we are still working towards the same goals.

Technical issues to implement the plan such as a new plan of proposed subdivision and a rezoning and concept plan amendment are all under way. These plans are all working to implement the original plan for the community. Most of these steps are to correct for the new location of St. Mary's School, the Park and other features that have been part of the areas redevelopment.

I look forward to being able to reveal more great community news to you soon!

Keith Folkersen

City of Saskatoon

Planning and Development

Moving along...

If you have not been in Pleasant Hill for a few weeks, it is certainly worth a visit! The progress on the cul-de-sac construction is immense. I took some photos while I was out on site this morning.

 

The 19th St. W cul-de-sac (pictured above) is nearing completion, with the sidewalks and curbing poured and the ground prepared for base gravel and asphalt.

 

I took this photo while standing the 19th St W cul-de-sac, looking north. You can just make out Columbian Place, the new seniors' residence, in the background of the picture. It is not hard to imagine the fantastic park space that will soon be created in this very space. Those trees that are healthy enough to preserve are protected, as you can see in the above pictures, with wooden stakes forming tree guards.

The above picture is taken looking south, from the new cul-de-sac at Columbian Place, just off 20th St. with the new St. Mary's Wellness and Education Centre in the background. The view in this picture illustrates the sharp grade differences within this site. Careful grading and landscaping of the enhanced park space will properly drain water to the catchbasin southeast of the area pictured in the above photograph. The final details in the design of Phase II Grace Adam Park are coming together. The tender will close in late June, and construction is due to commence, on schedule, in July!

SaskEnergy needs to bury the gas line a little deeper than it is currently located, so construction on this cul-de-sac at Columbian Place will halt for the next few weeks until their work has been completed and it is safe to resume construction. The construction crew will focus their efforts on completing the 19th St. W cul-de-sac and come back to Columbian Place in due course.

Some of the ASL crew were hard at work this morning. They were clearly enjoying their work and taking pride in their progress. Thanks ASL, the work is coming along very nicely indeed!

Other things to watch for this summer include decks at the townhouses in the Pleasant Hill Solar Village and the neighbourhood entrance sign in the southwest corner of the project area, just north of the railway tracks. To be continued...