Conexus building makes sense, but not Brandt
There does appear to be a groundswell of concern over the new Conexus headquarters in Wascana Park. However, there is a rational and logical rationale for this building. The HVAC system of the building will be shared with Darke Hall, thereby significantly reducing the cost of renovating this historic concert hall which will add to the beauty and functionality of the College Avenue Campus.
Interestingly, none of the writers (Letters to the Editor, Aug. 7) mentioned the land on Broad Street which the Government of Saskatchewan and the Provincial Capital Commission are leasing to Brandt Industries for 100 years to build Brandt’s fourstorey, 70,000-square-foot head office. The building will replace the dilapidated CNIB building currently on the site, however, the CNIB will be leasing only approximately 4,000 square feet of the proposed building. In contrast to the Conexus head office, there appears to be no rational or logical reason for the government and the PCC to permit Brandt Industries to build any commercial building in Wascana Park. The PCC and the government currently have no plan in place in respect to the increased traffic flow and parking issues which will inevitably accompany the establishment of a large commercial building, which may also tower over the tree line, in our park.
Ironically, the PCC and government have cancelled an annual water-skiing event for adaptive athletes and have been seeking to have the teepee camp currently located in the park removed because they have received “numerous complaints” from the public over both situations. They have also received numerous complaints in regard to their decision to permit any commercial buildings to be built in the park, but have chosen not to act or respond to those complaints.
There are solutions which might be much more palatable to the people who have and will be making numerous complaints to the PCC and the government in respect to their decision to permit this building. One might suggest that the now-defunct sound stage could be renovated for the purpose of housing CNIB. There is a large excavation at the corner of Albert and Victoria on which a building could be erected which, I respectfully suggest, could adequately serve the needs of Brandt Industries and the CNIB.
David P. Millar, Regina