Regina | Capital Pointe | 29F | 11F | 91M | ?M | Cancelled

[Roger Strong]

^ Well, sure. The taxpayers will eventually be on the hook. But in the mean time the city will fight to stop that from happening.

Fortress will draw out the legal process for as long as possible to avoid paying for it. And to avoid giving up the claim that the project is on track to begin construction any second now, in turn to avoid spooking potential investors in other projects.

It's a hot potato, and everyone playing will keep hitting it back at the others for as long as possible.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Roger Strong

^ Well, sure. The taxpayers will eventually be on the hook. But in the mean time the city will fight to stop that from happening.

Fortress will draw out the legal process for as long as possible to avoid paying for it. And to avoid giving up the claim that the project is on track to begin construction any second now, in turn to avoid spooking potential investors in other projects.

It's a hot potato, and everyone playing will keep hitting it back at the others for as long as possible.

Fantastically accurate summary.

Agree completely that as taxpayers, we'll eventually pay to have this hole filled. I have little optimism that it'll be filled in the next couple of years, though.

[roryn1]

Whenever I check out the Regina threads every few months, I can’t wait to see what drama has been started - on a construction thread

[HomeInMyShoes]

For reference, here is a six-story hole in Ottawa. There is no way the hole in Regina was anywhere close to five stories.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

For reference, here is a six-story hole in Ottawa. There is no way the hole in Regina was anywhere close to five stories.

Ours may not be a five-storey hole, but it's certainly at least a five-story hole.

[StealthGirl]

Another step in the process...

Originally Posted by LeaderPost

The Capital Pointe project is coming before a provincial board this Wednesday, as developers seek a stay of the city’s order to fill the hole at the corner of Albert Street and Victoria Avenue.

...The matter will now go to the Saskatchewan Building and Accessibility Standards Appeal Board, which will convene by teleconference at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

http://leaderpost.com/news/saskatche...ect-wednesday?

[James Gablan]

the status of this project needs to be updated from "site Prep" to "Boonedoggle"

[StealthGirl]

Of course, Westgate took the deny, deny, deny defense to the city lawyer's allegations and that they've spent $14M on the project.

Originally Posted by LeaderPost

Christine Clifford, a lawyer with the City of Regina, revealed that the engineer formerly responsible for the project ordered last week that the site “should be immediately decommissioned” due to unsafe conditions. During arguments before a provincial board Wednesday, Clifford said the site has been neglected too long, is not properly monitored and could present a danger of gas line breaks due to shifting ground.

“The unsafe condition arises from the abandonment of the work,” Clifford said, adding that the excavation pit has also exposed the foundations of nearby properties and could expose them to potential damage if it isn’t filled in by winter.

http://leaderpost.com/news/local-new...diate-backfill

The city figures 17 weeks to fill the hole bc the job would be tendered out.

[StealthGirl]

Originally Posted by CTVnews

Clifford also stated that a building permit issued in September 2017 does not cover excavation at the site. Clifford maintains that more excavation needs to be done before construction can proceed. She says the developer has not made any application for a new excavation permit since the old permit expired last September.

...It was also revealed during the hearing that the general contractor, the shoring contractor, and the engineer for Capitol Pointe have all terminated their relationships with the project.

...The appeal board will now decide in a closed door meeting if a stay should be granted. The decision could be made as early as Wednesday afternoon, but may not immediately be made public.

If a stay is granted, the appeal will not move forward.

https://regina.ctvnews.ca/city-lawye...ring-1.3932409

[HomerSPC]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

Of course, Westgate took the deny, deny, deny defense to the city lawyer's allegations and that they've spent $14M on the project.



http://leaderpost.com/news/local-new...diate-backfill

The city figures 17 weeks to fill the hole bc the job would be tendered out.

More work will be put into putting dirt into the hole than was taking out of the hole. Sounds about right for Regina.

[StealthGirl]

Stay refused.

A stay would have suspended the city’s backfill order while the two sides go through the appeal process. Because a stay was not granted, according to the decision, the city may enforce the order by doing the required work.

...In its decision, the board said it is prepared to move quickly to hear an appeal. “While not suggesting the City should delay enforcement, which is entirely within its discretion, the Appeal Board believes the hearing of the appeal can be scheduled before the final stage of the contemplated work.”

http://leaderpost.com/news/local-new...l-pointe-hole?

[prairieguy]

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by prairieguy

don't get too excited yet.
Symbolic victory, sure... but not the end.

[StealthGirl]

Appeal hearing is June 18th.

[StealthGirl]

The city claims the appeal is dead because it wasn't heard within 30 days as per legislated rules. Westgates argues it's not enough time. As expected this is just dragging along.

Originally Posted by Global

proceedings have been tentatively bumped to July 24, when both sides will reconvene in Regina to finally proceed with the appeal hearing.

According to counsel for Westgate Properties, it’s expected to take between two and three days.

https://globalnews.ca/news/4281614/c...es-and-delays/

Side note: The parking structured was supposed be completed by July 2018. LOL!

[HomeInMyShoes]

Given the general timeline for news and developments on this project, I would expect the appeal hearing in October.

[StealthGirl]

The city filed an RFP today to find a contractor to fill the hole. Pre-sub meeting on July 18 for prospective bidders to ask questions.

http://www.cjme.com/2018/07/10/380860/?

[roryn1]

It’s pretty nuts a developer isn’t coming in to just take this over and build a 5 story building with a slightly larger underground parkade or something. May as well settle for something instead of just fill it in to dig it out again in 5-7 years. Is business sentiment that bad I. Regina right now? What did the Sask Party do to this province if a developer doesn’t have to pay those initial costs lol and still won’t come in

[Festivus]

Originally Posted by roryn1

It’s pretty nuts a developer isn’t coming in to just take this over and build a 5 story building with a slightly larger underground parkade or something. May as well settle for something instead of just fill it in to dig it out again in 5-7 years. Is business sentiment that bad I. Regina right now? What did the Sask Party do to this province if a developer doesn’t have to pay those initial costs lol and still won’t come in

I'm not fan of the Sask Party, but our downturn has 95% nothing to do with them. Our province relies almost entirely on outside buyers for our resources, and one of the biggest is still in a slump (oil). It's getting better, but there is less money flowing in SK than there was 10 years ago. There's already a lot of empty office space around, so even if the new build was cheaper than normal, there is little incentive to start it.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Festivus

I'm not fan of the Sask Party, but our downturn has 95% nothing to do with them. Our province relies almost entirely on outside buyers for our resources, and one of the biggest is still in a slump (oil). It's getting better, but there is less money flowing in SK than there was 10 years ago. There's already a lot of empty office space around, so even if the new build was cheaper than normal, there is little incentive to start it.

Is that space big enough to accommodate a 12,000 seat arena? The arena Regina has for indoor events and the WHL Pats seems fairly old and outdated. It would be interesting if the Government made plans to build a 10-12,000 seat arena there.