Downtown BID looks to extend boundaries into River Landing areas

Saskatoon’s downtown Business Improvement District (BID) is looking to expand back to the River Landing area.

Monday at city council’s governance and priorities committee, administration submitted an update on the River Landing area. The report outlined the history of the area and what the plan would be moving forward.

Historically, the area was a part of the BID area dating back to 1986. In 2004, a concept plan was passed to redevelop what the city reported as the “south downtown area,” later named “River Landing.”

The city of Saskatoon hoped that the $81.5 million redevelopment plan, which began in 2008, could be governed as a separate entity by a board like TCU Place, or the Remai Modern art gallery.

BID Executive Director Brent Penner presented to council Monday on extending their boundaries to cover the River Landing and Riversdale areas.

“As we’ve seen the years play out, some of the things they’ve hoped to achieve weren’t achieved as quickly for a variety of reasons … I think there’s just some practical reasons why the downtown BID is interested in having that land (back in our boundaries).”

Those reasons include cleaning services in the area, and marketing key attractions with areas such as the new Alt hotel, the Remai art gallery and the Persephone Theatre.

Penner also said from a safety standpoint, the BID extension would also be beneficial.

“The way things are currently set up with the Community Support Program … due to the ways the boundaries are, they don’t take calls or patrol south of 19th street.”

Council voted unanimously in favour of a future separate study of the implications of extending the BID to the Riversdale, River Landing, and west of Idylwyld areas.

Penner said he hopes to see the report come back around the second quarter, or at least prior to the 2020 civic elections.

“If there’s a will, there’s a way … if the city hints this is going to happen, we’ll get in there with our cleaning staff immediately and find ways to make the Community Support Program (offer their services) as soon as possible.”

On Friday, the city revealed a proposed location south of 19th street on the west side of Idylwyld as the potential site of a new downtown arena and convention centre.

This would fall under the area where the BID looks to extend their boundary into, as well.

Penner didn’t want to speculate, but said the growth in the area is creating a different feel around Saskatoon’s downtown areas.

“I think Saskatoon’s on the cusp of some announcements in respect to locations … I think River Landing in general has helped to make the bigger city feel if you look at what’s there now versus what was there 15 years ago.”