AVENUE A: THE ‘ENCHANTED GARDEN’ BESIDE THE BRIDGE
Neil Robinson holds up a glossy 4x6 photo of the property he bought 12 years ago on Avenue A south.
The plain, grey concrete building sits adjacent to an empty, snowcovered parking lot in the picture. Now, the parking lot is filled with stone statues, bubbling fountains, and greenery.
Described as an oasis and an “enchanted garden” by Robinson, it’s Garden Architecture’s signature. He says the lot draws visitors who come just to see the outdoor display.
“I’d drive across the freeway and I’d look over and saw this dilapidated old property, but I obviously thought, ‘Wow, that could be such a great space because of the visibility to the freeway,’ ” he said. It was also one of the city’s busiest intersections at the time, he added.
He had a vision of a courtyard next to the business. The outdoor display adds curb appeal, and it creates a “wow” factor for people walking or driving by.
“They want to see now behind the gates, and they want to see behind the beautiful vines on the fences and they want to see now what’s behind the courtyards.”
Twenty people are on staff in the summer to help with garden upkeep; in the off-season, the courtyard is maintained with a staff of about 15. Robinson says people still visit the courtyard to see the display covered with fresh snowfall.
Garden Architecture sits near one end of what remains of Avenue A. About five decades ago, there was more to the avenue.
The bulk of the original Avenue A became Idylwyld Drive in the 1960s, as part of the rail line relocation project, which moved the rail yards out of the city centre and into Montgomery. The Idylwyld Freeway follows the old railway route from Saskatoon to Regina.
Jeff O’Brien, the City of Saskatoon’s archivist, says the original Avenue A was widened and rechristened Idylwyld Drive.
“That little section, because of the way it comes in … it doesn’t come across the river. The railway bridge didn’t cross the river at Avenue A, it crossed the river between Avenue A and First (Street). So that’s where the Idylwyld Freeway bridge crosses the river,” he said.
Two orphaned blocks of Avenue A remain between 20th Street West and River Landing. They are now all commercial.
When Garden Architecture opened its doors, it was one of the only businesses on the block, along with Michelangelo Marble and Granite. There also was a gas station, but not much in terms of retail space. There was no Farmers’ Market on the adjacent Avenue B, either.
“We took a great risk moving here 12 years ago, but we saw an opportunity. I’ve obviously thought ‘build and they will come,’ and we built a great business, and we continue to build a great business with the expansion of our furniture store here as well,” he said.
We took a great risk moving here 12 years ago, but we saw an opportunity.