What I would do is re-model it, get some think team in there and really THINK. Not a bunch of yahoos that are one track minded.
Also I love the idea of an indoor Corydon type idea, but obviously retail still needs to be there.
One thing people who never go there seem to miss is the place is actually on the rebound, go back to 2000 and it was a empty dump, it is not what it was in 1987, but it is coming back. The loss of Imax I saw long ago, I am amazed it has taken so long tbh. When the theaters bailed to the burbs, even though they were saved by landmark, I just did not see Imax doing well.
As for the idea of opening the streets again, NO. I like the indoor tropical feel, needs more water and trees though, this is winnipeg, opening it up just promotes cars traffic and not ped traffic.
Now if anyone saw what it looked like before it was built would never say blow it up. That stretch was a eyesore. Portage place could be empty and would still look better then what was there before.
But here is where I would really start, those two skywalks, minus the third going to IG tower, they need to be all redone, maybe a nice glass roof and new glass on the street sides, make it more transparent, this would allow the downtown to not be blocked by the 1980s design. And ADD some NEON, those old lights they have had for 20 plus years, which 80% are burnt out, need to go.
Now the exterior, I am not appalled by it, just add a canopy at street lvl would add to it and break up the long stretch, patios outside would be nice. ( at one time btw the stores were open to the street, but to many people would use those doors to shoplift, the doors are still there is you forgot. )
The two ends, as they were built to have towers, put something up all ready, or buy this building back and make it city owned, or at least some private investor from here not the USA. I think residential would be best, as it would bring traffic to the mall, which in turn would attract stores.
Now for the interior, lets start with the mall itself, I agree fix the way you get from floor to floor, and paint scheme needs to change, like I said NEON again, have the store signs not on the front, but stick out like you would see in the old pics of Winnipeg, make it feel like a totally different mall, something like West Edmonton Mall, that part I forget the name, but it is like a little town. And more tree's, and lighting at night.
As for the IMAX, like I said, this is a huge chunk, this can be used as a multi lvl grocery store, or better yet a water park. You have to look at this and look at other northern malls in city centers and compare what works and what doesn't..
And now that What was called Eatons Place is a office tower with SOME retail, they as in the mall has little competition and in 1987 they had a lot.
But you need to bring all ages downtown again. I was a kid when I first went there on opening day , we spent the entire day there, it was great. And I lived in SOUTH St Vital, a long haul, I could have just spent the day at St V center. That is why I think it needs a water park.
This or that is why I think losing IMAX can be a blessing to the mall if it is used properly, and NOT rushed into service for something stupid. And the third floor needs to be also made more user freindly, it never was from day one.
One thing that was a proposal 10 years ago and maybe some of you remember was to put a CN Tower type structure on the East side, this I wish came to life, the people it would have attracted to see the wonderful views would be amazing.
Only time will tell, but I know it is not going in the wrong direction anymore. I feel positive about our downtown.
take a look at what it looked like before and tell me it is not better now please.........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-UlRHmcjYI
another, speed up to 00:57 and it starts...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RlpWVMaBmY
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