Neighbourhood opposition fails to derail condo tower

Saskatoon city council gave unanimous support to a sevenstorey condominium building in a historic neighbourhood, despite what appeared to be widespread opposition.

The vote Monday night in favour of a condo tower in the Nutana neighbourhood marked a big test of city hall’s commitment to infill development, but it did not come easily.

Council was confronted with numerous letters against the development and a petition with 183 names urging it to reject the proposal. During public presentations, 11 speakers urged council to halt the project, while only three spoke in support.

“Many of you are my neighbours, so I realize this is very difficult,” said Coun. Cynthia Block, whose ward includes Nutana.

Block said she had changed her mind on the project several times, but ultimately noted she was a strong advocate for infill during last year’s election campaign.

Mayor Charlie Clark said he lives a block and a half away and considered the project very carefully before deciding to endorse it along with the rest of council.

The condo building is planned by Meridian Development Corp. for the corner of University Drive and 13th Street, where the Faith Alive Family Church now stands. Several speakers expressed concern that approval of the building would set a precedent allowing for more such structures.

“After we destroy this neighbourhood, are we going to go down Saskatchewan Crescent and destroy that neighbourhood, too?” asked Mervin Bilinski, who lives on University Drive. “Where does this end? Where do we draw the line?”

Bilinski, who said he has lived in the neighbourhood for 20 years, said his house is 100 years old, like many others in the neighbourhood. He said he could not believe he was appearing in front of council to ask that the project be rejected. “This is University Drive we’re talking about here,” Bilinski said. “It’s one of the original streets of Saskatoon.”

Amy Masich said her family would not have bought their house across from the church on University Drive if they had thought a seven-storey building would be constructed across from them.

Lisa Kalesnikoff, who lives on Saskatchewan Crescent next to where the condo building will be built, asked for an independent geotechnical study on whether the project might affect riverbank slope stability.

Graham Baxter of P. Machibroda Engineering Ltd., the engineer contracted by Meridian to study slope stability, told council the project did not raise any concerns.

Bob Stevens, who noted that he does not live in the area, chastised councillors before they voted on the project for disregarding the opposition evidenced by the petition against it. Meridian partner Karl Miller pointed out later that two of the names on the petition represent people who do not live in Saskatoon.

Miller said Meridian consulted extensively with residents and reduced the size of the building from 10 storeys to seven in response to their feedback.