Winnipeg Construction VIII

[DavefromSt.Vital]

The view is the thing. Every person that I have introduced to Winnipeg has loved the view from the Inn at the Forks looking at the city.

The hotel pad in Winnipeg Square was built when the Forks/CMHR/etc. was a railyard. There is likely no view from there.

At the moment, earl's and the related parking lot appear to be staying one storey or thereabouts. Parcel 4 is in limbo. Railside will likely be not that tall. If someone were to plunk a semi-tall hotel where the Fortune Block is, one would have very sellable views of CMHR.

Best case - Historic buildings (at least Fortune and MacDonald) saved as is. Hotel moved to the earl's lot with earl's as the restaurant on the ground floor.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by cheswick

Main Street Buildings Deemed Historic By City Hall
Keith McCullough

Three old buildings on south Main Street have been designated as historic by city hall.

It’s a move that likely saves them from the wrecking ball and likely kills a proposal to build a new hotel on the site.

http://www.cjob.com/2016/01/12/new-hotel-coming-to-main-street/

I was waiting for this decision from CC yesterday. The owners were against it but the buildings Historic value was difficult to dispute, if anyone had a chance to go over the reasons for their designation. I'd have to agree with the decision.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

Best case - Historic buildings (at least Fortune and MacDonald) saved as is. Hotel moved to the earl's lot with earl's as the restaurant on the ground floor.

One of many possible solutions. There are plenty of spots with a prominent view of the CMHR.

That old used car salesman line "this is the only possible location for our project, too bad about those old buildings in the way" might have worked in the 70s, but I would like to think that we've grown a little wiser as a city since then.

[Portmanteau]

[QUOTE I presume that single storey building off to the side of I imagine Qualico is going to be losing their minds right about now.[/QUOTE]


Doubt it. There was only one District Condo resident parking in that lot (me) and I've already moved to another lot upon reading these plans. They tend to direct their buyers to the Lily/James lot, and anyway 132 James is already sold out. They've also started development of Brick's bldg, contrary to their previous statement that they would not start until a parkade had been built, so they must be not be too worried.

[Portmanteau]

[QUOTE
Harry Christakis of #16 Hospitality, said a "major international brand" is interested in the site for an extended stay, 150-room, eight- to 10-floor hotel with a ground floor restaurant, court yards and seating..[/QUOTE]

"Extended-stay" scares me. If it turns out anything like that squalid pit the Quest Inn on Ellice it would be a total disaster.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Portmanteau

[QUOTE
Harry Christakis of #16 Hospitality, said a "major international brand" is interested in the site for an extended stay, 150-room, eight- to 10-floor hotel with a ground floor restaurant, court yards and seating..

"Extended-stay" scares me. If it turns out anything like that squalid pit the Quest Inn on Ellice it would be a total disaster.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't be too afraid. Extended stay hotels are big business now, and Winnipeg has very few of them.

Here's a proposed extended stay hotel for Raleigh NC that I dug up through Google image search, it looks like roughly on the same scale as what is being "proposed" for the Fortune Bldg. site:



Not what I'd consider a squalid pit by any means. Frankly, I'm not sure that appellation is deserved by the Quest Inn. It's mostly filled with old people from the north in town for medical care, it's not some kind drug dealer flophouse.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Labroco

When's the last time you saw a for sale sign on a parking lot? Never!

Not true. The surface lot just north of Portage and Main long had a "For Sale" sign on it with an asking price of somewhere around $1,000,000. Pretty sure some of the Graham Ave lots have had for sale signs up too. Further still just because a lot does not have a "for sale" sign hanging out front doesn't mean it isn't available if you make an offer. Lots of time commercial real estate is on the market without a sign out front, a good example would be the sale of Kildonan Place last year that happened without a for sale sign ever being on the property.

--

Edit: Is there a business market for an extended stay hotel in Winnipeg? I would suspect the Holiday Towers is playing some in what demand there is with their short term furnished rentals.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Edit: Is there a business market for an extended stay hotel in Winnipeg? I would suspect the Holiday Towers is playing some in what demand there is with their short term furnished rentals.

Holiday Towers is probably more suited to people staying a month or more. By contrast, Residence Inn or Homewood Suites are regular hotels geared to people staying for longer than the usual 1-5 nights... they are appropriate for people staying longer than a few nights but less than a month.

Personally, when I'm on vacation I tend to gravitate to extended stay hotels because with the kids it's nice to have the extra space, a separate bedroom and a kitchenette.

The only extended stay hotel I can think of downtown is Place Louis Riel, which is essentially an apartment block converted to a hotel. So really, a new purpose-built extended stay hotel that's part of a chain would be the only one of its kind downtown and would automatically appeal to a segment of travellers. It's a bit of a niche but it's an underserved one in this city.

There are a couple of newer ones out by the airport too (Homewood Suites and MainStay Suites).

[Cyro]

The whole discussion on the Fortune block and a new Hotel is actually a moot point at this time. Unless the developer/owner wants to appeal the decision the buildings will be designated as Historic Properties, preventing them from being demolished. Will the current owner sell to Pollard?

The current owners say they have no plan B at this time.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Cyro

The whole discussion on the Fortune block and a new Hotel is actually a moot point at this time. Unless the developer/owner wants to appeal the decision the buildings will be designated as Historic Properties, preventing them from being demolished. Will the current owner sell to Pollard? The current owners say they have no plan B at this time.

Well, if the hotel developers are truly serious I'm sure they are scouting one of the countless other sites appropriate for a hotel development downtown. Personally I'd love to see a hotel like the one I posted above go up on one of the vacant/surface parking lots currently scarring the east side of Main Street, or perhaps on the Wawanesa parking lot at Broadway and Main. You could even put it on Fort Street behind one of the lowrise buildings on Main and most of the floors would have a great view of the CMHR for decades to come.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by esquire

Well, if the hotel developers are truly serious I'm sure they are scouting one of the countless other sites appropriate for a hotel development downtown. Personally I'd love to see a hotel like the one I posted above go up on one of the vacant/surface parking lots currently scarring the east side of Main Street, or perhaps on the Wawanesa parking lot at Broadway and Main. You could even put it on Fort Street behind one of the lowrise buildings on Main and most of the floors would have a great view of the CMHR for decades to come.

This is the part of the discussion I'm in total agreement with. The opportunities are plentiful as you've listed many viable alternatives.

The east side of Main is blight worthy and in need of some serious attention, more so ,(but not by much) the west side.

On another unrelated topic, we seem to be having a little bit of a coding/quoting issue the last several posts....lol..

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by coryb

not true. The surface lot just north of portage and main long had a "for sale" sign on it with an asking price of somewhere around $1,000,000. Pretty sure some of the graham ave lots have had for sale signs up too. Further still just because a lot does not have a "for sale" sign hanging out front doesn't mean it isn't available if you make an offer. Lots of time commercial real estate is on the market without a sign out front, a good example would be the sale of kildonan place last year that happened without a for sale sign ever being on the property.


There is not a single parking lot for sale downtown...

There are many buildings for sale...

Why?

I challenge you to produce a single active listing or even hint of a lot currently available.

There is a reason portage and main has been an unpaved lot for 40 years. It makes for a great parking lot!

I very much wish it wasn't so...

Let's hope cv's current downtown parking lot / building incentives can work.




Edit: Is there a business market for an extended stay hotel in winnipeg? I would suspect the holiday towers is playing some in what demand there is with their short term furnished rentals.

111

[Urban recluse]

There is so much potential to see south Main transformed into a vibrant stretch.

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

There is so much potential to see south Main transformed into a vibrant stretch.

Well a 10 storey hotel would have been a great start!

Apparently everyone thinks a couple of run down bars with pigeon lofts is a better way to start off the rebirth of South Main. Ya I know, urban fabric etc...

I hope to be buying the beer but I don't think so...🍺

[esquire]

^ Why is that the one single place that a hotel could go?

There is a lot on Albert Street that is not to my knowledge zoned for parking (but it happens anyway, oddly enough). How about there instead?

[wags_in_the_peg]

[QUOTE
"Extended-stay" scares me. If it turns out anything like that squalid pit the Quest Inn on Ellice it would be a total disaster.[/QUOTE]

I travel for work occasionaly and anytime i'm somewhere for 5+ days I stay at an extended stay. typically they are the same as "suites" sometimes they have laundry facilities. they are definitely not "The Quest". Also these type of hotels are huge with insurance claim customers.

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by Labroco

Well a 10 storey hotel would have been a great start!

Apparently everyone thinks a couple of run down bars with pigeon lofts is a better way to start off the rebirth of South Main. Ya I know, urban fabric etc...

They wouldn't be run down after the refurbishing of the buildings. They would be unique and beautiful and in proportion with their surroundings.

The rebirth of South Main isn't worth doing if it's re-born as the love-child of Pembina Highway and Kenaston (see "rebirth of North Main").

[Urban recluse]

Originally Posted by Labroco

Well a 10 storey hotel would have been a great start!

Apparently everyone thinks a couple of run down bars with pigeon lofts is a better way to start off the rebirth of South Main. Ya I know, urban fabric etc...

I hope to be buying the beer but I don't think so...������

I do appreciate where you are coming from. I think seeing these buildings restored will go a long way in kick starting the progress of South Main. I truly hope the empty lot can be filled, while Pollard can purchase the Winnipeg Hotel as well, and all of these buildings can perhaps be connected; an atrium over the empty lot could look really hip and edgy.

Seeing a stunning redevelopment of Earl's would be another step.

[bomberjet]

I noticed the Met has a new sign up out front. Didn't notice this until last week. A throwback to the old neon lighted signs. Actual construction looks like typical backlit plastic of today's age.

[Cyro]

^

Originally Posted by Cyro

Dec.22..Now here's a touch of Winnipeg's old school charm, I was wondering if/when they would add some signage like this to the Met..


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