Saskatchewan’s Tallest Tower Underway

The site of City Centre Tower - Photo by Greg Pender, The StarPhoenix

By Penny Munoz

This summer, North Prairie Developments will be setting a new record in Saskatoon by building the tallest tower in the province.

Part of the City Centre Plan, a four-year development proposed in 2009, the City Centre Tower will be an $80 to $100 million luxury hotel/condo high-rise located in the downtown core, at the corner of Third Avenue and 22nd Street.

Intended to accommodate Saskatoon’s growing population, the plan outlines opportunities for retail, residential and office developments that would enhance the city’s cultural, recreational, shopping and business activity.

An iconic part of this progressive development in Saskatoon, The City Centre Tower is expected to be a 27-storey building that will reach almost 300 feet. Williams says that the company is still in negotiations with hotel operators, but that the building will most likely include approximately 200 residential condominium units and a hotel, complete with an underground garage, fitness centre, meeting centre and an on-site restaurant.

With an abundance of amenities already available in the area, the president of North Prairie Developments, John Williams says that the City Centre Tower is an attractive investment for younger people and boomers.

"We want it to be an award-winning building. It should change Saskatoon's skyline. We expect this project to be on par or to exceed that of some of the downtown highrise projects located in larger cities like Calgary or Vancouver,” says Williams.

Walking distance from City Centre Tower’s site, the tallest standing building in the city, La Renaissance Apartments, was built in 1983 and is about 260 feet tall with 96 units. The second tallest is a 27-storey condominium, called the Hallmark Place that rises 256 feet.

One of Saskatchewan’s largest housing, commercial and land developers, North Prairie Developments is a family owned and operated company established over 20 years ago. With proven familiarity and understanding of the market in Saskatoon, this development should reflect the city’s sustainable growth and appeal to investors seeking valuable real estate in a thriving area.

The City Centre will be the tallest high-rise building in the city, but we can expect to see more in the near future. Victory Majors Investment Corporation and Cavalier Enterprises have already proposed plans to build a 27-storey residential tower that would ascend over 300 feet in River Landing Village.