Winnipeg | 300 Main St.- Phase II / 360 Main St. | ~142M | 465 Ft | 42F | U/C

[drew]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

Hahahaha. What about tin foil on the Windows? I would have to think there would be higher standards, and such trailer trash decorating would be prohibited.

I can only assume that the level of rent would price most if not all of the riff raff out.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by drew

I can only assume that the level of rent would price most if not all of the riff raff out.

New highrise rentals always start out that way.

[bryanscott]

Whoah whoah. All this excitement over an article by...Gordan Sinclair? Where is Sinclair even getting his information? If his call went unreturned, how does he know any specifics about the project? And really, can any piece of journalism that includes the phrase "the convenience of shopping in Winnipeg Square" be trusted?

I haven't trusted a word Sinclair has written in 20 years. I'll reserve excitement until the shovels are in the ground. And even then I'll still have my doubts. The site has been held hostage for almost 40 years, and I have very little confidence that anything good will ever be done with it.

And how would this possible announcement effect the future plans for Portage and Main? Why do I think that Artis Reit would only move forward with their plan if the city guarantees that no pedestrian will cross Portage and Main for another generation?

So I guess what I'm saying is that I'm a wee bit skeptical about this project.

[bomberjet]

You need rentals too, can't just have condos. The office space market in Winnipeg sucks. So I can live with having rentals.

For context. People move into their million dollar mansions in Waverley West, only to have the police raid the Hells Angels home next door. No matter where you go, there will be riff raff.

[bomberjet]

^^But Bryan, there will be no shovels in the ground. The foundation has been complete for 40 years!

All kidding aside, I would hope Sinclair has a reliable source. This is how most things seem to go. Someone has a source, which is the owner a lot of times who wants to create a buzz. Talk with the press and there you go. Same thing happened for TNS, SkyCity, people "leak" stuff.

How do any sports reporters get wind of trade rumours? Someone always talks.

Anyways, I anxiously await the announcement next month.

[drew]

Originally Posted by bryanscott

Why do I think that Artis Reit would only move forward with their plan if the city guarantees that no pedestrian will cross Portage and Main for another generation?

The 'ol Winnipeg bait and switch.

I certainly would not be surprised if this is something that comes up.

[drew]

Originally Posted by esquire

New highrise rentals always start out that way.

True. But this isn't a location hidden away on the north side of Portage, so I would have higher hopes for its long term upscale rent prospects.

[esquire]

I think bryan's doubts are reasonable, but I'm sure the Freep's editors are there to rein in GSJ, check his sources and all that. Surely they must have vetted today's column?

As for the P&M barriers, I'd be interested in knowing Artis' thoughts on whether the corner could be made a destination by allowing people to cross and encouraging more activity there in general. It could be a win-win... I don't think it necessarily has to be a zero-sum game where for every person crossing at street level there is one less shopper underground.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by drew

True. But this isn't a location hidden away on the north side of Portage, so I would have higher hopes for its long term upscale rent prospects.

Yeah, fair enough...some buildings have held up well over the years. A few near Broadway (Broadview Manor, Rideau Tower, Fort Garry Place) come to mind.

[TimeFadesAway]

Originally Posted by esquire

As for the P&M barriers, I'd be interested in knowing Artis' thoughts on whether the corner could be made a destination by allowing people to cross and encouraging more activity there in general. It could be a win-win... I don't think it necessarily has to be a zero-sum game where for every person crossing at street level there is one less shopper underground.

That's what I was thinking. Perhaps this is Artis trying to get ready for the opening of P&M by having an alternate source of traffic for Wpg Square. 40 stories with, say, 10 unit per floor works out to around 800 or so 'captive' customers.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by BigG

This is very exciting news indeed. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it will happen. BTW, is 134 metres the projected height? That would make it second to SkyCity.

Sorry about that BigG, Typo, It'll be very close to the height of 360 Main, edited the title..

[bomberjet]

What's the usual assumption for people per unit? 2, maybe 2.5? I was thinking SkyCity, with its 388 units, would house around 1000 people.

Some people will be lonely single occupants. I think most units would have 2 people. Then some of those 2 people may have a child. Some may a few children.

[jmt18325]

The end of the article seems to hit that AR is in favour of opening P&M, I'd the source is to be believed.

[Tacheguy]

My guess is that Armin would want it open. If I was renting there I would much prefer the intersection open.

[Flatland Metropolis]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

What's the usual assumption for people per unit? 2, maybe 2.5? I was thinking SkyCity, with its 388 units, would house around 1000 people.

Some people will be lonely single occupants. I think most units would have 2 people. Then some of those 2 people may have a child. Some may a few children.

Average occupancy is 2.6 in Canada I believe, but for apartment life I think it would be closer to 2.

[bomberjet]

So maybe closer to 750 each for SkyCity and the new Winnipeg Square tower.

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ As desirable as downtown residential is, the original office tower plan would have been much better for that site... even though the tower at 40 storeys will probably be around the same height as the ~30 storey office tower in the original plan, it'll probably have a much smaller footprint meaning much less density on the site. Office space is a bit of a sure thing while with rentals, who knows - look at Place Promenade, it was a pretty nice complex when it opened in the late 80s but it's a little down at the heels now. Few of the 70s and 80s vintage rental towers downtown maintained any kind of air of prestige that they had when they opened... not necessarily a huge deal in a standalone rental property but the stakes are a little higher at Portage and Main... I'd hate to ever see confederate flags or wolf blankets hanging in the windows there.

Anyway, this is not to rain on the parade... getting second prize is better than nothing at all. I guess the Winnipeg office market is such that Artis only wanted to develop office space there, it could have been another 40 years before it happened. Fingers crossed that the atrium hotel gets built some day... that will be the last remaining piece of the Winnipeg Square puzzle.

So I guess that leaves Portage Place as the only undeveloped pad sites left downtown? Or am I missing any?

Not pad a but....The 416 Main Street site is the most glaring of parking lots...The former McIntyre bldg. spot.. It must get done sooner than later. A major eyesore especially to visitors and investors to our city. I do believe a major hotel or mixed use tower that includes a major upscale hotel would serve the area well and keep The Fairmont on its toes.

[esquire]

^ I agree, 416 Main is the most glaring surface lot, but it's not a developed pad site the way that Winnipeg Square and Portage Place are

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by bryanscott

Whoah whoah. All this excitement over an article by...Gordan Sinclair? Where is Sinclair even getting his information? If his call went unreturned, how does he know any specifics about the project? And really, can any piece of journalism that includes the phrase "the convenience of shopping in Winnipeg Square" be trusted?

I haven't trusted a word Sinclair has written in 20 years. I'll reserve excitement until the shovels are in the ground. And even then I'll still have my doubts. The site has been held hostage for almost 40 years, and I have very little confidence that anything good will ever be done with it.

And how would this possible announcement effect the future plans for Portage and Main? Why do I think that Artis Reit would only move forward with their plan if the city guarantees that no pedestrian will cross Portage and Main for another generation?

So I guess what I'm saying is that I'm a wee bit skeptical about this project.

Ray Wan is the architect for both the re clad and the tower

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ I agree, 416 Main is the most glaring surface lot, but it's not a developed pad site the way that Winnipeg Square and Portage Place are

Speaking of Portage Place I was just there and some guy who appeared to be high fell down the escalators and knocked another down on his way down. Then there was a guy passed out on the floor with fire fighters around him at the exit from the food court. Such a lovely place that has turned into.