A previous audio/video store on 15th Street W. is being renovated  as the new home for the crown prosecution's offices. (Glenn Hicks/paNOW Staff)

By Glenn Hicks

downtown revitalizaton

Downtown P.A. revitalization gathers steam ahead of U of S move in

May 14, 2019 | 5:00 PM

A local non-profit organization charged with boosting Prince Albert’s inner core says it’s getting tougher for investors to find their ideal location for downtown renovations because of the surge of interest.

There are signs of redevelopment springing up across the downtown. These include changes on 15th Street W.for example. The former Marquis Audio Visual store is getting a new lease on life in July, as it becomes the home of crown prosecutors working in the court system. And the old Dairy Queen directly opposite has become a Gem Denture clinic. In recent months, there has also been revitalization to the former bus terminal building, while there are many plans afoot for other parts of the downtown.

The old Dairy Queen, also on 15th Street W, has been transformed into a Gem Denture clinic. (Glenn Hicks/paNOW Staff)

Carolyn Carleton with the P.A. Downtown Business Improvement District said there was increasing demand from people wanting to set up office space, accommodation, restaurants and stores. She said the catalyst was the forthcoming opening of the University of Saskatchewan single campus on Central Avenue which will be housed in the yet-to-be-renovated former forestry building.

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..they couldn’t believe the history we have here [in the downtown] – _{Carolyn Carleton,PADBID}

“The fact that the U of S is willing to invest in our downtown core [is a key factor],” Carleton told paNOW. “Also some of the existing tenants at the forestry building [who will be moving out] are already looking to set up elsewhere even though they may be on long-term leases.”

Carleton also noted the city should be marketing more of its historical architecture because that’s what was prompting some investment enquiries.

“One of the developers I showed around from Vancouver loves the history and feel of the downtown and he really likes to buy and renovate historic buildings,” she said. “I also took a group of U of S students on a one-day tour of the downtown and they couldn’t believe the history here compared to Saskatoon.”

Carleton said there seemed to be a push for investors to get set up with their locations ahead of the university campus opening in late 2020 because prices would likely go up and choice for the ideal on-street frontage was getting scarce.

Restaurant requests are also increasing according to Carleton, and not only because of the increase in day-time customers that will come from the hundreds of students who’ll be centred in one location.

“We’re getting enquiries about cafes and study spots for students, but there are also people who want to do soup and sandwich-type ideas for all the seniors who live in the downtown.”

She added investors were energized by the city’s streetscape plans that would make the downtown more pedestrian friendly.

Increased foot traffic could be recipe for success

It’s not only new businesses that are looking for their spot in an increasingly vibrant downtown.

Christel Hill has run a custom bakery, Sweet Stell’s Cakes & More, on Central Avenue since December after she outgrew her home kitchen. But she can see the potential of having many hundreds of students and instructional staff around come late 2020, so she’s expanding.

“It’s affordable here in the downtown and there’s lots of foot traffic,” she said. “Downtown has worked really well for me.”

Baker Christel Hill sees the potental for a big boost in foot traffic in the P.A. downtown and plans to move to a bigger location on Central Avenue. (Glenn Hicks/paNOW Staff)

Hill is aiming to move to a larger space on Central Avenue in the coming months.

“I’m hoping to have a sit down, eat-in bakery with all the goodies to go with it – cupcakes, tarts and cakes – the whole bit,” she said. “Nothing like sitting down and having a cup of coffee and a piece of cake and doing your school work right?”

Editor’s note: this story was amended to correct an error with the address, which is 15th Street W not E.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow