‘Better late than never’: Regina takes next step towards redevelopment at former Taylor Field site

WATCH: After sitting empty for nearly a decade, plans may now be in motion to redevelop the former home of the Riders. Donovan Maess explains.

City councillors have taken the next step towards redevelopment at the former home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Executive Committee Wednesday passed a motion to apply for federal funding through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) and enter into a cost sharing agreement with the federal and provincial governments.

Tearing down one roadblock which has stood in the way of plans at the site.

“The lack of infrastructure is the current barrier to growth and redevelopment of this land,” Acting City Manager Jim Nicol told committee.

CHIF supports drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste projects. The federal government says the fund will enable increased housing supply and densification and sustainable community growth by increasing the capacity and efficiency of new and existing infrastructure systems to ensure reliable essential services to people living in Canada.

Administration estimated costs to install necessary infrastructure to support future housing at $20.9 million.

If approved, the city could be eligible for $10.5 million from Ottawa and the province, while the city would cover the rest.

“The project will facilitate redevelopment and provide a proxy at least seven acres of fully serviced residential land,” Nicol explained.

The step is a long time coming for Regina.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders played their final game at the former Taylor Field in 2016. It was then demolished a year later.

But what to do with the area after the stadium’s life has been a topic of conversation since 2009 - with the past four city councils, dating back to former mayor Pat Fiacco, discussing a myriad of possibilities – including housing.

“Better late than never,” Ward 2 City Coun. George Tsiklis said. “There is a reason [council] lost trust with the electorate. This is one of the big reasons.”

“Shame on us,” he added.

“We’re going to turn that patience, and maybe some frustration of waiting, into excitement now,” Mayor Chad Bachynski told reporters after the meeting.

“As somebody who grew up here and saw Taylor Field was there and then has seen the years of it being nothing. I think it’s great,” he added. “I think it’s an important thing for the city to see a very valuable, desirable area of our city actually get developed.”

Final design has not yet been determined, but administration believes other projects in the area, like the new indoor aquatics facility, will made the new neighborhood a desired destination.

“Knowing the city is making a large investment in the indoor aquatics facility, the hope is the aquatics facility is coming online when the park is coming online and when 10th Avenue is finished,” Director of Land, Real Estate and Economic Development for the city, Chad Jedlic explained.

“That it really provides a boost into the housing and the desirability of the housing in that neighborhood.”

If the grant is approved, Ottawa stipulates projects must be completed by 2033.

Given the funding is earmarked for below ground infrastructure, the city would need to find someone to develop the site, once it is ready.

The application requires final approval at the city council’s May 21 meeting.

After getting unanimously approved by executive, it is expected to go ahead with little debate.