City reveals visuals, design concepts of Downtown Event and Entertainment District
The Governance and Priorities Committee of City Council will have the opportunity at its February 14th meeting to discuss the visionary opportunities of the Downtown Event and Entertainment District (District). Included in a group of reports is a first look at the artistic renderings of what the area around the event centre/arena and convention centre could look like and the first look at the strategic directions for the District Plan outlining the template for a rejuvenated Downtown.
“These renderings really help illustrate that the District is much more than just an event centre and convention centre – it is to be a community gathering place in any season,” says Dan Willems, Director of Technical Services, Transportation & Construction Division. “They show the potential of the public spaces, with places for events, amenities and open areas where visitors and people from all parts of the city can meet and share unique experiences.”
The visuals show what the proposed event centre/arena and convention centre could look like, with a focus along a transformed 22nd Street. Both winter and summer scenes are captured, showing the potential for winter festivals, outdoor markets and summer activities.
“This is an opportunity for people in Saskatoon to really see how the vision for the District could become reality,” Willems says. “Up until now we have been talking about the District in very abstract terms, but these images help put context and meaning to the idea of an active space that is open to all. These are by no means the final designs of the area, but they are a great to help visualize the conceptual design and potential in creating a vital and dynamic Downtown, with economic impacts that will have a positive effect on Saskatoon and Saskatchewan.”
The District Plan, which is being developed simultaneously along with the plans for the event centre/arena and convention centre, takes a wider view of Downtown Saskatoon and looks at how the land can be best used to achieve a vibrant mix of residential, business, social and outdoor activity, while making the Downtown more accessible for everyone to get to and get around in. The District Plan will also work to create a cohesive strategy for the Downtown as a whole, ensuring that the entire area develops in a sustainable and productive way.
Additionally in this group of reports to GPC is a Decision Report on acquiring the YMCA building and its associated land. This acquisition, while currently part of the larger District project, is part of the larger strategy to have a contiguous area of land with significant redevelopment potential to accommodate future expansion of the convention centre and a new parking structure in the area of Idylwyld and 22nd Street.
For more information on the Downtown Event and Entertainment District, including the renderings, please visit www.saskatoon.ca/eventdistrict.