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Posted Aug 1, 2019, 8:36 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Posts: 5,482
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Gregg Building 52 Albert Street
https://twitter.com/HeritageWPG/stat...498560002?s=20
Revitalization is a big yes in our book! Learn all about the history of the Gregg Building (52 Albert Street) and the plans for it to be a mixed-use space in our NEW BLOG: http://heritagewinnipeg.blogspot.com...son-gregg.html
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The building unfortunately sat empty for over a decade until Knysh Construction recently purchased the building with the intention of redeveloping it into commercial and residential space.
Back in June, Jay Knysh, the Gregg Building's new owner, kindly took time from his day to show Heritage Winnipeg Students how renovations were coming along. At that time Knysh and his crew were primarily focused on cleaning the accumulated debris in the building to prepare for more substantial work.
Knysh is a practical man, which is what you would expect from an engineer. From the tour's beginning to its end, he pointed out what needed fixing, what needed replacing, and what was not up to code. He knows new does not always equal good. What works, and is safe to re-use should be kept, helping to minimize waste. Weathered floor boards are being sanded, refurbished, and put back in place. Anything from the old spa on the second floor that can be kept, will be. The elevator will have to be replaced, however, as it is not up to current building code.
Kynsh likes being an engineer, but sometimes envies architects. Architects are free to think creatively, to dream up buildings that will capture the eyes of every passer-by. This creative freedom is not shared with engineers. Their creativity is limited to solving practical problems, and in Knysh's case, structural problems. A desire to enjoy the creative freedom architects enjoy is partly why Kynsh bought the Gregg Building. Renovating it gives Knysh and his crew the chance to be creative. They will decide what the Gregg will look like when it is reopened.
Kynsh's creative control has not dampened his ability to listen. In fact the opposite is the case. Through renovating the Gregg Building, Kynsh has been listening to anyone willing to give advise or ideas, including Heritage Winnipeg. During the tour, he asked what we thought should be done with each floor, starting with the first.
The tour began on the main floor, which will remain as commercial space when the Gregg Building reopens, though it is still undecided what should go there. The stairwells on the east and west ends of the building, and a room in the building's rear (i.e. the west side) are the only other rooms on the main floor; otherwise it is open space. It is easy to imagine the space as a dance studio. Kynsh says a few people have suggested the idea.Unfortunately, he pointed out that the pillars holding up the floors above are obstacles to that idea (you can't exactly dance when you constantly worried that you'll smack into a pole). Furthermore, most dance studios are not furnished with a vault. Protruding slightly inward along the centre on the southern side of the Gregg is a vault that has been built into the building. The vault's how Vault Hair: Salon and Aesthetics got its name, and the space was previously an open coffee bar.
From there, Knysh led us to the second floor, which, like the main floor, will be commercial space when the Gregg is re-opened. A wall running east to west, separates the floor into a north and south side. The north side is empty, awaiting renovation; however, on the south side the Vault Hair Spa remains almost entirely intact, as if the previous tenants left only a few weeks ago. There are stained glass windows, tile floors, carpets, washrooms, change rooms, showers, and even a sauna. Knysh wants to keep whatever he can, but that may be difficult. The rooms are stunning to see, but much of the equipment needs repairing, and if he wants to re-open the spa, he'll have to find someone willing to buy and run it.
Then there's floors three, four, and five. Except for the stairwells on the east and west sides, these floors are wide open, but that will change. Knysh hopes to convert them into residential space. Floors three and four will be divided into 6 units each (approximately 1100 square feet). The fifth floor, however, will be reserved for the big spenders. It will be converted in 4 units (approximately 1500 square feet) and serve as the Gregg's penthouse apartments.
Finally Heritage Winnipeg was lucky enough to stand on the rooftop of the Gregg Building. From it, you can see all the heritage buildings lining Albert Street, and even a few buildings down on Arthur Street.
Knysh hopes to use the rooftop as a rooftop terrace to hold social events. With his permission, Heritage Winnipeg is hosting a roof-top tour for the lucky tenants of 201 Portage in August. Hopefully, other events will follow in the years to come.
Creative freedom and business partly drove Knysh to purchase the Gregg, but giving back to the community influenced his decision as well. Like many Winnipeggers, Knysh is pleased that the Exchange District is still around to enjoy, and he is thankful to Heritage Winnipeg for all our work advocating for its preservation. He hopes fixing up the Gregg can be his contribution to the continued vitality of the Exchange District. Heritage Winnipeg is grateful to Jay Knysh and his crew from Knysh Construction for all the hard work they are doing. Their commitment and handiwork shows what the right owners can do with our built heritage.
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Winnipeg Act II - April 2024
In The Future Every Building Will Be World-Famous For Fifteen Minutes.
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