New Yorker with questions about Winnipeg

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by nycer

No gold-plated walking canes over here ;-)
I appreciate the map - you all are very helpful.
As I live in an apartment right now in NYC, I might be a little overwhelmed by a ranch-themed bungalow.

I guess one of the most important factors for me is bus service/walkability, as it might take a little while to get a Canadian drivers license and buy a car.

Probably Crescentwood/Osborne Village or Wolseley. I would guess that if you are from New York those would be the only places that you could relate to at all. They are nothing like New York (more like a nice older residential area of Chicago, maybe) but there is at least some density and character, as well as walkability, some non-mall retail and bus routes that lead (eventually) to the University. The academic community in Winnipeg tends to live in those areas, as do a lot of professionals who come from other places. The Exchange District is nice to stroll through but really it's just in its infancy. There are a few scattered condo developments; otherwise as a neighbourhood there's not much there yet.

I'm sure that you're not expecting a smaller city to be like Manhattan and in some ways you could do worse than Winnipeg. It has some personality and has grown so slowly for the last 40-50 years that non-sprawling prewar residential areas still comprise an unusually large proportion of the city's total area.

[Pootkao]

@OnlyTheLonely
Dude, I'm probably the poorest guy on this board. You try making a living in the music industry.

You come off like another cheap Winnipegger, thats all. A somewhat skewed perspective of downtown neighbourhoods. The Exchange is hardly expensive by global standards. Those condo's would be selling for 4 times the price in NYC or Vancouver or Toronto.

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by nycer

That is great to know. Sounds like we'll be checking out Osborne and Corydon. And that price sure sounds right - we are paying about $1800 a month right now.

It is true we're not necessarily prepared for the cold - but if this job is offered, and it's a good offer, we are prepared to adjust.

Don't worry summer is beautiful around here, and we're within an easy drive of some of the best lake country out there...

Plus, just think about how rugged and tough your friends will think you are for enduring an arctic winter??

[Only The Lonely..]

And beer with 5% alcohol per volume (9% if you drink that garbage from Quebec they sell in Liqour stores)..Need I say more?

That, and Crown Royal is made about an hour and a half north of the city.

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by Pootkao

@OnlyTheLonely
Dude, I'm probably the poorest guy on this board. You try making a living in the music industry.

You come off like another cheap Winnipegger, thats all. A somewhat skewed perspective of downtown neighbourhoods. The Exchange is hardly expensive by global standards. Those condo's would be selling for 4 times the price in NYC or Vancouver or Toronto.

Nothing in Winnipeg is expensive by any standard. That's one of the good things. If only I could somehow commute.

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by Andy6

Nothing in Winnipeg is expensive by any standard. That's one of the good things. If only I could somehow commute.

You two are right..Winnipeg is a cheap town to live in..

But a good beer off tap should never cost more than $4, and therein lies the heart of our differences.

[Pegger5]

Originally Posted by Pootkao

Don't let the squares ride you wrong. (Nobody pays $7 for beer, $6 for an import maybe... but sheesh man, you gotta go to the Hotel Fort Garry for those prices! I've never heard the Village described as ritzy. Hipsters and grandma's live side by side. Its a great place.)

For what its worth, I've also never owned a car while living in Winnipeg. Its not necessary.

Osborne & Corydon are indeed the places you want to be. Anywhere between Lilac/Stafford and Donald will provide about as urban a neighbourhood as this city can offer. The closer to Osborne or Corydon you are, the more life there is. There are lots of nightlife, grocery, transit and lifestyle options throughout those 'hoods. From pubs to wine bars and martinis, local clothing shops, walkable, great tree canopy, great restaurants.

The Exchange District would be ideal, but its not heavily populated yet and thus the ability to walk across the street for milk isn't possible. Its our Williamsburgh, but the critical mass isn't totally there yet. There aren't many rental options there right now either. If you can find a spot from afar, awesome. And given what you're used to paying in rent in NYC, The Exchange is probably easily within your budget.

Depending on what kind of pad you want, a liveable 1 bedroom apt in Corydon/Osborne will run you $550-$800 cdn/mo.

Other 'hoods mentioned:
Wolseley: more difficult from a transit perspective, unless you're close to Maryland Street where the 36 University Super Express will do a good job of getting you to the U of M quickly. Its a beautiful, alternative 'hood with good people, nice homes/apts, organic groceries, etc. But its also sleepy and a bit boring.

South Pembina If you live anywhere close to the University you will be surrounded by suburban banality, fast food joints, and shitty bars with shitty music (and the accompanying clientele). Pembina Highway is a bit of a wasteland that you'll have to travel en route to the U of M. I wouldn't live there if you paid me.

Agreed 100% especially about Pembina area. I grew up in Fort Garry. (went to VMC) Also lived in Osborne and Corydon areas and loved it these areas

[nycer]

I'm not gonna lie, will definitely miss NYC if I end up leaving. But it's getting harder and harder to make a decent living here every day. A less stressful life with a lower cost of living might be just what the doctor ordered.

Originally Posted by Andy6

I'm sure that you're not expecting a smaller city to be like Manhattan and in some ways you could do worse than Winnipeg. It has some personality and has grown so slowly for the last 40-50 years that non-sprawling prewar residential areas still comprise an unusually large proportion of the city's total area.

[Pegger5]

Originally Posted by nycer

I'm not gonna lie, will definitely miss NYC if I end up leaving. But it's getting harder and harder to make a decent living here every day. A less stressful life with a lower cost of living might be just what the doctor ordered.

You will love it! except the winter but you can dress for it... The culture is 3rd to Toronto and Montreal... Great cultural scene and a open minded liberal town....

The Exchange may not be all there YET, but it's coming, and within 10 years you won't even recognize it with all the new burgeoning urban life activity.

[drew]

Originally Posted by Pootkao

Wolseley: more difficult from a transit perspective, unless you're close to Maryland Street where the 36 University Super Express will do a good job of getting you to the U of M quickly. Its a beautiful, alternative 'hood with good people, nice homes/apts, organic groceries, etc. But its also sleepy and a bit boring.

Obviously you haven't been around Wolseley when I'm home...

I will simply agree with everyone here that if you are going to be travelling by transit, Osborne Village is the place you want to be. In fact the little area bordered by River and Corydon, Osborne and Wellington/Daly is IMO the greatest little section of real estate in the city. There are plenty of great apartments in there and you are equidistant to Osborne Village and the Corydon strip. Existing without a car is definitely possible in this area.

For $1800 a month you will have your choice of just about anything in the city with plenty of pocket change for expensive beer.

[nycer]

We'd definitely like to pay less than $1800/mo - NYC rent is killing us!

but if this job comes through, all of you helpful people get a virtual round of beer.

Originally Posted by drew

I will simply agree with everyone here that if you are going to be travelling by transit, Osborne Village is the place you want to be. In fact the little area bordered by River and Corydon, Osborne and Wellington/Daly is IMO the greatest little section of real estate in the city. There are plenty of great apartments in there and you are equidistant to Osborne Village and the Corydon strip. Existing without a car is definitely possible in this area.

For $1800 a month you will have your choice of just about anything in the city with plenty of pocket change for expensive beer.

[1ajs]

hey btw you could look for an apartment downtown theres new units comming onto the market on york for around 1200 with a view and your just a stones throw from the bus's and hell crazzy amounts of parking though but

theres loft style apartments in the north part of the exchange coming onto the market prity soon in a old wearhouse on princess (2blocks south of logan) also right on the edge of china town so ur just a stones throw from a market and great food and bus's and the artists and galleryies concert hall where we have a symphony and a royal ballet company preform and all sorts of other stuff and 5minut walk to old market square were theres lots of great festivals all summer long





when u say 1800$ i am asuming that us right 1800 us is just over 2000 cdn

Originally Posted by 1ajs

hey btw you could look for an apartment downtown theres new units comming onto the market on york for around 1200 with a view and your just a stones throw from the bus's and hell crazzy amounts of parking though but theres loft style apartments in the north part of the exchange coming onto the market prity soon in a old wearhouse on princess (2blocks south of logan) also right on the edge of china town so ur just a stones throw from a market and great food and bus's and the artists and galleryies concert hall where we have a symphony and a royal ballet company preform and all sorts of other stuff and 5minut walk to old market square were theres lots of great festivals all summer long

I think this is the longest sentence I've ever read in my life

[waffler]

im still waiting to get into the residences on york and experience the new york lifestyle that they are supposedly offering, one question what is your budget and what kind of apartment are you looking for? new and modern, lofty, old and charater rich??

[1ajs]

any errors i should know about spelling grammor wise?

[Winnipegger]

Originally Posted by nycer

Thanks. That's very helpful.

Could you briefly describe Corydon and Osborne Village?

My partner may be teaching at the U of Manitoba.

If I may ask, a little off topic, what class is your partner going to teach? I will be attending the U of M this fall and maybe I'll be getting taught by them?

[trueviking]

never heard of scotia heights, but i agree with poot...you would have to be from bangladesh to think osborne village is ritzy....

the osborne/corydon area is loaded with younger people, has good amenities and transit access, which will only improve as the rapid transit line is completed to the university....the exchange district is architecturally interesting but it isnt really a liveable neighbourhood yet.

if it were me i would look to rent a house or a part of one of the old houses on the many elm lined streets in the area....it isnt manhattan but it is a decent urban experience that cant be found everywhere....many of the big 3 storey, century old houses are broken into smaller flats.

failing that...live here....the most beautiful building in the area...and one of the nicest in the city....this gives you an idea of prices....3 bedroom for $1300?.....how can you beat that?

[trueviking]

Osborne Village



























The elm trees.














Corydon Avenue

[Riverman]

Viking, what great pictures!

nycer, when you get here look me up for a tour of the City by river!