Winnipeg | Portage and Main

[cllew]

The Sept 12 meeting of the Property and Development committee has report on decommissioning the Portage and Main concourse

https://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/DMIS/Vie...onId=&InitUrl=

It is item #4

[OTA in Winnipeg]

Originally Posted by cllew

The Sept 12 meeting of the Property and Development committee has report on decommissioning the Portage and Main concourse

https://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/DMIS/Vie...onId=&InitUrl=

It is item #4

I must've heard the news wrong. I thought it was today.

[pspeid]

This was on the CBC news webite today:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manit...tain-1.7628471

It sounds like there is still some maneuvering going on between the city and businesses that use the concourse. City's position-from the article:

"City staff recommend keeping the concourse open for now, while the city does a cost-benefit analysis of options.

That will include property value impacts, operating costs, divestment options and alternate repair and maintenance strategies.

Mayor Scott Gillingham supports the city considering its options."

Also from the article-businesses position:

"The head of an organization representing the building owners connected to the concourse said it's a vital part of the downtown network, and repairing it is the only option the city should be considering.

"This is a publicly owned asset. It was built with taxpayer dollars. It should be taken care of with the same care that private owners take care of their buildings," said Tom Thiessen, executive director of the Building Owners and Managers Association"

In other words, they expect the city to foot the entire bill for their benefit.

...and the chess match continues.

[borkborkbork]

Very interesting detail.

The public service was instructed to consult with the Winnipeg Arts Council about the Bruce Head art in the concourse.

They reported back:

Consultation with the Winnipeg Arts Council (WAC) over the existing Bruce Head concrete relief artwork on the inner wall of the circular walkway in the Concourse led to a request for the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Architecture, to use 3D scanning technology to digitally preserve the artwork. WAC and the copywrite (sic) owner of the artwork supported the idea, and on February 3, 2025, the University digitally scanned the artwork for digital preservation.

Turns out this was untrue. From a letter from Judy Waytiuk:

As the copyright holder for the Bruce Head Wall, I initiated the recording in virtual reality of the Wall, upon receiving an indication of interest by University of Manitoba assistant professor Jason Shields, who was fortuitously seeking a subject for a VR project he was beginning. I wish to make it clear for the record that the subsequent documentation of the Wall in VR was not initiated by the Winnipeg Arts Council, though they were pleased i had come up with the project in conjunction with the architecture department's professorial interest. The sole involvement of the city was notification to the concourse night security staff that the University of Manitoba team would be in attendance for one night to record the Wall. The process is now almost complete, and will be available online to the public and to academia for future study."

[borkborkbork]

Originally Posted by pspeid

"The head of an organization representing the building owners connected to the concourse said it's a vital part of the downtown network, and repairing it is the only option the city should be considering.

"This is a publicly owned asset. It was built with taxpayer dollars." It should be taken care of with the same care that private owners take care of their buildings," said Tom Thiessen, executive director of the Building Owners and Managers Association"[/I]

In other words, they expect the city to foot the entire bill for their benefit.

Easy fix, since the building owners think it's entirely a public asset.

ANNOUNCING: The new location of the downtown supervised consumption site!

[Wpg_Guy]

A fresh set of shots of 201 Portage — Winnipeg’s leading business address. Showcasing the iconic tower, now more accessible than ever with Portage & Main reopened to pedestrians.

201 Portage

[wags_in_the_peg]

Thats my building!

[kenas10]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

Thats my building!

It looks amazing, the way it was meant to look! Has there been any discussions regarding the parking lot just north on Main? I haven't seen any discussions recently but I could easily have missed it.

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by kenas10

It looks amazing, the way it was meant to look! Has there been any discussions regarding the parking lot just north on Main? I haven't seen any discussions recently but I could easily have missed it.

I haven't seen anything, but the day a firm plan is announced will be the happiest day of my Winnipeg construction-watching life. IMO that empty lot is THE biggest hole to fill in the entire downtown, including everything on Graham Ave. I don't even care if there's another tall tower there...just fill in with a 10+ storey building, preferably a nice hotel, and I'll be a "heppy heppy ket in a heppy heppy lend".

[neutroniks]

Don't forget about that sore-eye of a stretch on Donald between St. Marys and York.

[bomberjet]

There's been a couple proposal but are dead. Harvard (I think still the owner) wanted to demo the heritage building at the north end for development, but were denied. They cried about it. They have since said opening P&M may help spur development on the site. So we'll see.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by neutroniks

Don't forget about that sore-eye of a stretch on Donald between St. Marys and York.

Some progress with DSM and the credit union building redevelopment.

I may have asked recently, but any movement on the MPI lot at St. Mary/Donald?

There's hope with the proposed hotel at Donald/York.

IMO MPI selling City Place, including the lots, would be awesome. Would allow for redevelopment of the south end of CP, maybe building something over the empty lot and food court annex area. And maybe getting rid of the former mall space altogether. But there are bigger fish to fry at this point (all the empty lots).

[dennis]

The intersection of my street and McGregor Street seems to get way more foot traffic than Portage and Main.

[neutroniks]

Originally Posted by dennis

The intersection of my street and McGregor Street seems to get way more foot traffic than Portage and Main.

Once the transit stops are built at Portage & Main, it will become one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the city. A lot of people are still using portage & main. I see tons of people crossing it during both rush-hours.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/br...s-proven-wrong

Breaking news that everyone here has been saying all along...the opening of Portage and Main has had no impact on traffic flow.

Browaty is such a meatball. His stubbornness and pandering to the anti-opening boomers by calling for the referendum delayed the opening by how many years and cost the city how much? Another useless 'lifer' city councillor.

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by Mr Tall Forehead

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/br...s-proven-wrong

Breaking news that everyone here has been saying all along...the opening of Portage and Main has had no impact on traffic flow.

Browaty is such a meatball. His stubbornness and pandering to the anti-opening boomers by calling for the referendum delayed the opening by how many years and cost the city how much? Another useless 'lifer' city councillor.

Browaty quote from the article:

“I think this does end the debate, and we will have to monitor things. I do believe there is still a segment of the population that is still anti-car… the vast majority of trips Winnipeggers take are by vehicle, and I think we do need to continue to recognize that fact.”

Right, he's a brave crusader for human rights. What a dipsh*t.

[bussche]

Originally Posted by Mr Tall Forehead

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/br...s-proven-wrong

Breaking news that everyone here has been saying all along...the opening of Portage and Main has had no impact on traffic flow.

Browaty is such a meatball. His stubbornness and pandering to the anti-opening boomers by calling for the referendum delayed the opening by how many years and cost the city how much? Another useless 'lifer' city councillor.

Don't forget Lukes, who seconded Browaty's motion for a referendum.

In the artcle, she says “I think back then, there was a lot of political drama about it."

Yeah, THAT YOU CAUSED

[wags_in_the_peg]

in other news, some of the scafolding is coming down on south west corner, brown id gone and looking way better in black. i'll post some pics when they all done

[Wpg_Guy]

linkedin

[wags_in_the_peg]

new signage added to re-clad, it's also on east side