TOP 30 DOWNTOWN HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2007
Jan. 04, 2008
TOP 30 DOWNTOWN HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2007
Downtown Winnipeg stakeholders have put together a list of the top 30 downtown accomplishments in 2007 to mark the end of the year.
Many individuals and groups have worked on initiatives, programs and projects to improve downtown Winnipeg. The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ has compiled the top 30 (in no particular order), with suggestions from CentreVenture Development Corporation, The Forks North Portage Partnership and the Exchange District BIZ.
1. Birks Jewellery moving into the National Bank Building signals a strong retail commitment to the downtown.
2. Winnipeg Police Service beat officers have returned to the downtown community.
3. 2007 was arguably the cleanest the downtown has ever been, ranking as the cleanest area in the city according to Take Pride Winnipeg’s seasonal survey. And Portage and Graham avenue sidewalks were free of snow throughout the winter months, thanks to the new BIZ Clean Team of over 25 workers. Both of the Downtown BIZ’s new sidewalk vacuums cost more than the new 7 series BMW—but they do more for downtown’s image than a swanky car ever could, cleaning the busiest sidewalks daily!
4. Commitment from the Federal Government to support the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg leaving only $22 million left to raise for the $311 million project.
5. The crew of the Mission: Off the Streets Team (MOST) showed Winnipeggers that those less fortunate can contribute towards the community and a revitalized downtown by walking over 600km in the city centre throughout the year and removing litter and chipping ice off sidewalks, making it safer for everyone.
6. The rehabilitation of the Avenue Building on Portage Avenue is underway. One more vacant building down!
7. Hostelling International is completing the renovation of the former Gordon Downtowner into a 40-room hostel with a potential of 25,000 room nights per year.
8. The successful Exchange District shopping promotion, "Sex in the District," showcased the burgeoning boutique district.
9. The Fringe Festival celebrated 20 years of Fringing. The annual event draws a significant amount of the estimated 600,000 annual attendees of downtown events (not including cultural and tourist destinations).
10. The creations of a new mixed-use development within the King/Ryan building, that includes saving the historic façade.
11. The expansion of the University of Winnipeg campus in every direction, with the Richardson College for the Environment & Science – the CanWest Centre for Theatre and Film, as well as a proposed new student housing building and child care facility, and the expansion of the U of W bookstore onto Portage Avenue. U of W students spend over $10 million per year on downtown goods and services.
12. Opening of the Costume Museum of Canada in downtown, adding to the already 5 million annual visits to downtown art, entertainment and attractions, and proving that downtown is the place to be for museums and galleries.
13. Over 85 percent of the downtown businesses said they are optimistic about the future of our city centre, according to the Downtown BIZ member survey.
14. Renewed revitalization interest in North Main.
15. MTS Centre continues to be a boon for downtown: the 23rd busiest arena in the world attracted over 1.5 million people downtown, with 134 events in this calendar year (one every three days on average), and continues to bring new life to downtown on a weekly basis.
16. Crime in District One (which includes the downtown area) has decreased again, 5 percent from 2006, and for the 7th year in a row. Violent crime was down 17 percent and car theft was down 25 percent from 2006.
17. Pay-by-cellphone for on-street parking arrived in downtown Winnipeg.
18. The Downtown Watch continue to provide a reassuring presence downtown, always ready to provide a lending hand to anyone in need. This year, a pilot program extended the patrol overnight.
19. Watching the Manitoba Hydro office tower being raised floor-by-floor, changing the downtown skyline. Downtown awaits the arrival of 1,800 Hydro employees.
20. Over 3,000 downtown visitors and condo buyers checked out the Downtown Living Open House on Sundays in June. Ninety-five per cent of those surveyed said their perceptions of the downtown changed for the better after the tour.
21. Ship Street Village, The Excelsior, The Strand and The Sky Waterfront, with a total of 235 units along Waterfront Drive, continue to bring an entirely new demographic to our downtown.
22. The BIZ’s Art on the Avenue: Sculpture Walk initiative boosted public art, with 10 new U of M student sculptures on Portage and Graham avenues. Art and the engagement of our youth are key ingredients in a vibrant downtown.
23. Over 10,000 people a day walked in front of Portage Place this summer, and over 40,000 cars a day travelled down Portage Avenue.
24. The number of people visiting the new Millennium Library has increased to 1.3 million, yet another reason for families to come downtown.
25. The arrival of new solar-powered on-street parking paystations have led to more spaces, fewer tickets, and increased funds for the City to continue repair and make downtown parking even better.
26. The Plaza skate park at The Forks received international recognition with its inclusion in the Tony Hawk Secret Skatepark Tour video and won a Canadian Society of Landscape Architect's National Honour.
27. 237 events, including fundraisers, concerts and celebrations, were held at the Forks in 2007 and an estimated 4 million visited the site.
28. Target 0:2010 was launched to reduce the carbon footprint of The Forks to zero.
29. Webbsite, the small seven unit pilot condominium project on Webb Place, is completely sold out proving the need for affordable housing in the downtown.
30. The IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship in Winnipeg April 3 to 10, 2007, had an estimated economic impact of $12 million.
“It’s a good time of year to look back and see what we have together accomplished,” says Stefano Grande, Downtown BIZ executive director. “When we collectively step back and reflect on what each individual group has done to make our downtown and our city a better place this year, much has and is being accomplished. And the energy and optimism derived form these projects and initiatives are the seeds for even more in 2008.”
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