Nutana Suburban Centre (sometimes abbreviated as Nutana SC) is a mixed-development neighbourhood located in south-central Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is a classified as a "suburban centre" subdivision, composed of medium to high-density multiple-unit dwellings, commercial areas and civic facilities. As of 2009, the area is home to 2,962 residents. Housing in the neighbourhood consists of high-density apartment-style dwellings and row houses. The neighbourhood is considered a lower-income area, with an average family income of $34,474, an average dwelling value of $266,311 and a home ownership rate of 29.3%. The low average income but comparatively high dwelling value is due to the number of senior citizens residing in the neighbourhood. The age distribution of Nutana SC's population is skewed very highly toward residents age 65 and older.[1]
History
Nutana SC residences
A 1913 map shows that the present-day Nutana Suburban Centre was a registered subdivision named Utopia.[2] The land however, was not annexed until the period between 1955 and 1959.[3] Development did not begin in earnest until the 1960s, when adjacent neighbourhoods like Brevoort Park and Eastview emerged. Home construction was most active between 1961 and 1980, but has continued at a steady pace to the present day due to a number of older buildings being replaced by new tower developments.
Nutana SC was unique in that it was the first post-World War II neighbourhood to combine high-density housing with schools, businesses and civic facilities. This "suburban centre" concept would be repeated in later years with the development of the Lawson Heights, Confederation, Lakewood, University Heights and Blairmore suburban centres, several of which were developed as part of other neighbourhoods and retroactively delineated as suburban centres when the City of Saskatoon revised its community boundaries in the 1990s.
In 1966 a hospital was planned for Taylor Street east of Arlington Avenue, but it was ultimately never built.[4] In addition, the 1965 official street map for Saskatoon indicates another location for an unidentified high school east of the intersection of Louise Street and Arlington Avenue that was never constructed (instead, Louise was extended to the east and part of the property became the headquarters of the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation).
Nutana Suburban Centre does not have its own community association, but is represented by the one from the adjacent Eastview neighbourhood.[11] The city's branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is also located in the Nutana SC, off Louise Street. Other recreation facilities in the community include a curling rink and a bowling alley.
Public services
Nutana SC is a part of the east division of the Saskatoon Police Service's patrol system.[12] Saskatoon Fire & Protective Services' east division covers the neighbourhood.[13] Transit services to Nutana SC are provided by Saskatoon Transit on routes No. 1 (Wildwood - Westview), 6 (University - Market Mall), 12 (River Heights - Market Mall), and 16 (University - Market Mall). Market Mall is a major transit hub on Saskatoon's east side.[14]
Commercial
Nutana SC's primary commercial hub is Market Mall, which opened in 1966 as Saskatoon's first enclosed shopping mall and has undergone numerous expansions over the years; as of 2014 it has only one anchor tenant, Canada Safeway, following the closure of its Zellers location. In 2018 the anchor bay formerly occupied by Zellers and vacant since 2012 was redeveloped into several smaller retailers, including new anchors Giant Tiger and Planet Fitness and a relocated Fabricland outlet. A new entrance to the mall was added with the Giant Tiger renovation.[15] In July 2019, Sobeys announced that the Safeway at Market Mall and three other locations in Saskatoon would be closed and converted to its discount brand FreshCo in 2020.[16]
Additional businesses, primarily of the service variety, but also including a bowling alley, are on the east end of Louise Street. In addition, there are 3 home-based businesses in the neighbourhood.
Location
Nutana Suburban Centre is located within the Nutana Suburban Development Area. It is bounded by Taylor Street to the north, Louise Street to the south, Preston Avenue to the west, and Circle Drive to the east. The few roads that exist inside these boundaries are a mix of local and collector roads.
^"Nutana Suburban Centre"(PDF). Neighbourhood Profiles. City of Saskatoon - City Planning Branch. 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
^O'Brien, Jeff; Ruth W. Millar; William P. Delainey (2006). Roberta Coulter (ed.). Saskatoon: A History in Photographs. Coteau Books. p. 31. ISBN1-55050-336-7.
^Community Services Department (Spring 2006). City Planning Branch (ed.). "Populace". 8 (1). City of Saskatoon: 5. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
