 |
| A view of Regina’s downtown area from the 15th floor of City Hall on Dec. 21, 2011. Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Regina Leader-Post files |
Additional Comments
"(The Global Transportation Hub [GTH]) is clearly becoming an economic driver in Regina," says John Hopkins, the CEO of the Regina and District Chamber of Commerce. "It’s very, very positive in terms of continuing to grow the community, continuing to provide opportunities for people, to ensure that kids no longer have to make the decision to move elsewhere."
 |
| View of Hill Tower III construction from adjacent Hill Tower in Regina, Sask. on Saturday Aug. 27, 2011. Photograph by: Michael Bell, Leader-Post files |
Hopkins adds the GTH will give Regina a more diverse economic scene, apart from the traditional agriculture, government and oil and gas mining.
"This helps us to diversify so when the commodity markets are turned down, that we will continue to have this part of the economy continuing to move," says Hopkins. "It’s a very stable sort of part of the economy."
Hopkins says as with any type of economic growth and job creation, certain challenges will have to be overcome, including bypasses for trucks and labour supply.
"We would hope that we’ll see some more work done on the bypasses to ensure that the truck traffic that is destined for highways actually ends up on the highways as opposed coming through the city," says Hopkins.
"But Regina is sort of viewed as a land of opportunity now in the Canadian context," he says. "So people are coming here and looking for those opportunities."
But Hopkins and Fiacco said with more people creates the need for more housing. The increase in housing is good news for Stu Niebergall, the executive director of the Regina and Region Home Builders’ Association.
Hopkins adds the GTH will give Regina a more diverse economic scene, apart from the traditional agriculture, government and oil and gas mining.
"This helps us to diversify so when the commodity markets are turned down, that we will continue to have this part of the economy continuing to move," says Hopkins. "It’s a very stable sort of part of the economy."
Hopkins says as with any type of economic growth and job creation, certain challenges will have to be overcome, including bypasses for trucks and labour supply.
"We would hope that we’ll see some more work done on the bypasses to ensure that the truck traffic that is destined for highways actually ends up on the highways as opposed coming through the city," says Hopkins.
"But Regina is sort of viewed as a land of opportunity now in the Canadian context," he says. "So people are coming here and looking for those opportunities."
But Hopkins and Fiacco said with more people creates the need for more housing. The increase in housing is good news for Stu Niebergall, the executive director of the Regina and Region Home Builders’ Association.
 |
| A new $1.5 million apartment building under construction on the 1100 block of 15th Ave. on Dec. 13, 2011. Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files |
"It’s all inter-related," says Niebergall. "Housing is one of those items that affects every part of life."
Niebergall says 2011 has been a particularly good year for the association, which represents 95 per cent of all land development in the community.
As of mid-December, the association built 1,530 housing units this past year, which is 26.9 per cent higher than 2010.
The number of units built translated into 6,500 jobs, $30 million in wages and $60 million in federal and provincial income tax. It also created $50 million in GST revenue and $19 million in PST.
Out of those 1,530 homes, 879 were single-detached homes - an increase of 35 per cent - and 651 were multi-unit homes, an increase of 17 per cent. In total, 57 per cent of the homes were single-detached and 43 per cent were multi unit.
"When housing is being built in the community, it has some very large economic impacts to the community and in this situation, for the most part, positive," says Niebergall. "As our industry builds those homes and those neighbourhoods that house our newest residents, in turn our industry also becomes a very important driver in our community."
Niebergall says 2011 has been a particularly good year for the association, which represents 95 per cent of all land development in the community.
As of mid-December, the association built 1,530 housing units this past year, which is 26.9 per cent higher than 2010.
The number of units built translated into 6,500 jobs, $30 million in wages and $60 million in federal and provincial income tax. It also created $50 million in GST revenue and $19 million in PST.
Out of those 1,530 homes, 879 were single-detached homes - an increase of 35 per cent - and 651 were multi-unit homes, an increase of 17 per cent. In total, 57 per cent of the homes were single-detached and 43 per cent were multi unit.
"When housing is being built in the community, it has some very large economic impacts to the community and in this situation, for the most part, positive," says Niebergall. "As our industry builds those homes and those neighbourhoods that house our newest residents, in turn our industry also becomes a very important driver in our community."
 |
| Construction was bustling in the The Greens on Gardiner subdivision in southeast Regina. Photograph by: Don Healy, Leader-Post, Leader-Post files |
Neighbourhoods on the outer limits of the city have seen an increase for 2011. These include the Greens on Gardiner and the Creeks in east Regina, Harbour Landing in the south and Westhill in the west.
Other neighbourhoods include Evans Court and Canterbury Park.
"Many of our new communities that are being built today are already embracing many of the smart growth principles," says Niebergall. "As each generation of homes gets built, the quality of homes continue to improve and I think there’s a real, strong connection between that and the improvements that have been made."
Because of the more environmentally friendly methods used in building homes, over the past decade, the housing sector in the province uses 9.7 per cent less energy and releases 17.3 per cent less greenhouse gases compared to 1990, even though the number of homes have increased by 6.9 per cent.
Other neighbourhoods include Evans Court and Canterbury Park.
"Many of our new communities that are being built today are already embracing many of the smart growth principles," says Niebergall. "As each generation of homes gets built, the quality of homes continue to improve and I think there’s a real, strong connection between that and the improvements that have been made."
Because of the more environmentally friendly methods used in building homes, over the past decade, the housing sector in the province uses 9.7 per cent less energy and releases 17.3 per cent less greenhouse gases compared to 1990, even though the number of homes have increased by 6.9 per cent.
The association has also been taking part in the Design Regina process. Design Regina was launched by the City of Regina on May 19.
"We feel we’ve got a direct stake in that official community plan as it will determine what Regina looks like in the future, especially as it relates to housing and community development," says Niebergall.
Alaina Harrison, Carmichael Outreach’s housing co-ordinator, is very familiar with another side of the growth.
“When you’re bringing in people to and encouraging people to come and work and live in Regina and Saskatchewan, you have to have a plan for where they’re going to live and I don’t know if that planning has happened or that has happened in an effective way,” says Harrison. “There just doesn’t appear to be enough housing for the people for the in-migration that’s been occurring.” [Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement (SRHS)]
 |
Photos of City Square in downtown Regina November 3, 2011. Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files |
Despite the housing issue, City of Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco said there has been a real focus on downtown, particularly the City Square plaza set to have a grand opening in spring 2012.
But with all of the changes downtown, not everyone is happy with the changes.
Hopkins stressed the challenges in reduced traffic flow and parking issues.
 |
| Photos of City Square in downtown Regina November 3, 2011. Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser Leader-Post files |
"The entire traffic flow situation has been confusing for a lot of people," said Hopkins. "Our members were of the view that while it was a challenge, the light at the end of the tunnel was always that 12th Avenue would be open once the plaza construction was done."
But on Nov. 4, the city’s administration submitted a proposal to city council to consider keeping the plaza pedestrian-only. On Nov. 8, city council voted to keep the plaza closed to traffic until a final decision is made in June 2012 pending a city administration transportation study.
Hopkins said this change is negatively affecting business and a survey was done where 52 per cent of the members opposed keeping it closed, while 35 per cent were in favour and 11 per cent were unsure.
"How did we get to a situation like this where the original plan was to always keep it open for traffic flow and then all of a sudden we get a report from the administration at city hall that says, ‘Let’s close it permanently’?" said Hopkins.
No comments:
Post a Comment