I'll pick a city (that I'm currently living in) that has the same issues as Winnipeg, but on a larger scale: St. Louis. Here's an example of stuff that is being saved.
Seems similar in condition to the Ryan Block. There's even been a couple of buildings collapse while being renovated in St. Louis, but they are trying and they realize that character isn't individual buildings, it's the whole streeetscape. You know what Tom, there's plenty of parking lots to develop in Winnipeg. Go buy one of those.
If all Bedford ever wanted to do was bulldoze and redevelop then why wait until the city redesignates the property to do it? Rezoning and redesignation happens in all cities, not just Winnipeg.
And a couple more to show stuff that was obviously falling on people and what could be:
Western Canada has so little heritage. I hope Winnipeg stands firm. Winnipeg has the opportunity to be something no other city West of Toronto can be and pandering to the whim of every developer is not the way to go.
I love development, cranes, new buildings and shiny architecture, but I think Winnipeg would be making a mistake. Just an original Prairie boys opinion.