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Saskatoon’s Sutherland neighbourhood is already preparing to welcome a potential 2,400 new residents over the next five years.
The new homes will be built on a vacant 45-acre parcel of land owned by the University of Saskatchewan in the southwest corner of the neighbourhood, just north of College Drive and just east of Circle Drive.
Darryl Dawson, the city’s development review manager, revealed at Tuesday’s municipal planning commission meeting that the corporation overseeing the development of the university’s endowment lands has submitted a concept plan for the parcel.
The commission, an advisory body of mostly ordinary residents, will likely see the concept plan in the summer or fall, once the city administration has reviewed it, Dawson said.
“I know USask [Properties Investment Inc.] would like to see it developed sooner than that, but we’ll say [the neighbourhood will be built in] one to five [years],” he said.
Messages from CBC to USask Properties were not returned.
The corporation held information/consultation sessions last year with residents who live near the Sutherland parcel, as well as for U of S land south of the field house and Merlis Belsher Place and adjacent land on the east side of Preston Avenue.
The latter development is called Stadium Square.
The U of S and Saskatoon city council endorsed the University Sector Plan in 2021.
The plan outlines the strategy to develop 448 hectares of university-owned land, some of which was once used for agricultural research, with 33,980 new housing units to accommodate 57,146 residents.
At 45 acres, the parcel in Sutherland is the smallest of five awaiting development. Sutherland and the Stadium Square property already have sufficient water and sewer infrastructure in place, the plan says.
It suggests 1,249 new residential housing units with 2,411 new residents in Sutherland. The parcel south of Merlis Belsher is projected to potentially add 1,901 new units and 3,319 new residents.
The information shared with Sutherland residents last year shows a mix of apartment buildings, townhouses and single-family homes on the land.
This conceptual image shows the possible development of land owned by the University of Saskatchewan in the Sutherland neighbourhood. (USask Properties Investment Inc.)
The community is already planning for the new neighbours.
The planning commission unanimously endorsed a request to rezone three properties on Central Avenue with three houses, one of which was built in 1912, so an apartment-style building can be built.
The Sutherland Business Improvement District opposed the rezoning because it would prevent the business area from expanding south.
Brenda Southam, the district chair, wrote to the commission and appeared at the meeting to say the business group believes development of the U of S land and the new residents will increase the need for commercial businesses.
Alan Wallace of Wallace Insights, appearing on behalf of the Action Group of Companies, which owns the property, said the land is too small for an apartment building and a commercial component.
He said most apartment buildings are built on at least one acre, while the property on the corner of Central and 107th Street West is less than half an acre. Wallace said a building with 18 to 24 units would be the largest that could be built, including on-site parking for residents.
“We think having more people living on Central Avenue is going to benefit the Sutherland [business district],” Wallace added.
City council must approve the changes to accommodate the plans for the property.
This conceptual image shows University of Saskatchewan-owned land south of Merlis Belsher Place and where residential development could take place. (USask Properties Investment Inc.)
