Saskatoon could buy downtown YMCA for proposed arena district build [Video]

The City of Saskatoon has agreed to purchase the downtown YMCA building with plans to demolish it if council proceeds with a downtown event and entertainment district.

More than 100 city staff, advisors and delegates filled a convention room at TCU Place Thursday morning for an unveiling of the design concepts of the district.

“To me, this isn’t a nice to have,” Coun. Cynthia Block said. “I worry what will happen if we don’t do this project.”

The roughly 40-minute program resembled a pep rally as multiple speakers spoke about the positive impacts the proposed legacy project could have for the city and province as images of the concepts were displayed on walls on the building.

As that event was happening, and agenda for next week’s governance and priorities committee posted to the city’s website show two preferred options for the proposed convention centre at the heart of the district. …