Winnipeg | Richardson Innovation Centre | 4 floors | U/C

[optimusREIM]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

Then he should’ve admitted he liked the money that surface lot made him over 30 years, and not he was waiting for the right project. I do like the lab, but it took 30 years, only to build something underwhelming?

It's literally none of our business if someone likes to make money. You know just as well as anyone that that's a PR nightmare waiting to happen. And if you're so confident in downtown why don't you have a large company that develops all the surface lots? I mean, no one is gonna stop you from getting rich and sanctimoniously developing every lot just to satisfy your utopia vision.

I want to see these lots filled as much as anyone but there's got to be a solid financial case to do so. These people take all the risk and we reap all the aesthetic reward, maybe we could be a little more thankful that there's anyone interested in making downtown a better place!

[buzzg]

The Earls and RIC proposals are nothing alike.
Earls did not have a "slight" setback – it was over 20 feet.
It proposed having a parking lot at the corner of York & Main, on top of the another one to the north.
It would be no net gain or loss in jobs, and actually a loss of "animation" compared to the old one.
That part of Main has a lot of potential for big development in the next decade. If you're comparing it to other buildings in the area, north of York they're all 3+ storeys, with most 6+, and 300 Main going up 2 blocks north at 40+.

But sure, comparing RIC which is going in the "back alley of downtown" alongside the rail line, to Earls that's at the main entrance to The Forks and Railside developments, is similar.

[The Jabroni]

Whoever the hell is bashing the Richardsons... why? They've done so much good for the city for generations. Winnipeg wouldn't be where they are today if it weren't for them.

With that out of the way, looking at the design of the building really matches the motif with the surrounding neighbourhood, if you will. Not too much glass, but modern enough to blend in.

I'd say roughly similar to City Hall, how its brutalist and modernist design actually matches well with the surrounding area. This new Innovation Centre will do that just fine.

[Urban recluse]

Oh, but he will tell people like it is...

And if you're so confident in downtown why don't you have a large company that develops all the surface lots

Wow, that is so original.

[esquire]

^ I'm willing to bet that unlike with nearly all surface lot owners in this city, there is probably a drawer somewhere in this city with dusty, years-old plans in it for a spectacular new tower or two that the Richardsons theoretically one day plan to build on that site when the conditions for it emerge. That's the difference with the Richardsons.

[wardlow]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ I'm willing to bet that unlike with nearly all surface lot owners in this city, there is probably a drawer somewhere in this city with dusty, years-old plans in it for a spectacular new tower or two that the Richardsons theoretically one day plan to build on that site when the conditions for it emerge. That's the difference with the Richardsons.

Haha, I'm sure. And I'm sure there's other owners of long-standing parking lots downtown that just have the following written on a greasy cocktail napkin in their office drawer:

Step 1: knock down whatever building is on the property
Step 2: wait 50 years
Step 3: ???
Step 4: profit

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ I'm willing to bet that unlike with nearly all surface lot owners in this city, there is probably a drawer somewhere in this city with dusty, years-old plans in it for a spectacular new tower or two that the Richardsons theoretically one day plan to build on that site when the conditions for it emerge. That's the difference with the Richardsons.

Yup. I’ve seen them.

Opening portage and main will be an important catalyst for the parking lots in this area. I know people who oppose don’t buy that but working with the land owners there, it is changing the attitude in the area.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ I'm willing to bet that unlike with nearly all surface lot owners in this city, there is probably a drawer somewhere in this city with dusty, years-old plans in it for a spectacular new tower or two that the Richardsons theoretically one day plan to build on that site when the conditions for it emerge. That's the difference with the Richardsons.

Originally Posted by trueviking

Yup. I’ve seen them.

In my mind I believe I have seen a Richardson proposal years (I mean years) ago of a black glass clad, 40 something storey tower for one of their existing surface lots east of the Lombard....again, I believe this was reality and not some wishful thinking on my part.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Biff

In my mind I believe I have seen a Richardson proposal years (I mean years) ago of a black glass clad, 40 something storey tower for one of their existing surface lots east of the Lombard....again, I believe this was reality and not some wishful thinking on my part.

Very interesting. As a design issue, it would be interesting to see how any further tower construction on that block would tie in with the rest of the Lombard Place development. The Bank of Canada Building and the parkade would interrupt the visual plane from the Richardson Building/Fairmont, and there wouldn't be much more than a narrow path connecting the two areas.

Underground would be a lot easier as they'd just push the concourse east into the new complex, if and when that occurs.

I wonder if the new building going up contemplates an eventual underground connection, or is that a no-no for a building that has a role as sensitive as this one will?

In any event, it would be awesome to see something tall go up at that end of Portage Avenue. I always thought it was a little anticlimactic how Portage just kind of quickly peters out into a handful of parking lots and underused warehouses the moment you get east of Main.

[Urban recluse]

Some of you need to wake up, and look at other threads about projects in other cities: criticizing projects, designs, companies, etc is normal. There are too many snowflakes here who get bent out of shape when this very normal phenomenon occurs in the MB threads. Like lay off the kale guys and get some testosterone in your system.

[1ajs]

please keep on topic of this proejct this has gotten way to derailed thanks

[YWG-RO]

I like it. Well done.

[trueviking]

Just to add some context. These are the open lots owned by the Richardson’s. The one on the right is now gone. So much potential in that area. The Railside development will also hopefully help create development pressure. The nutty club guy owns the two adjacent corner lots and the city owns the Impark lot.



This is the remaining area left to parking. Railway owns the land along the tracks. It’s something like 15 cars now.

[trueviking]

Just for interest. This is the list of parking lots that have been built on without government subsidy in the last 30 years.








.

[Urban recluse]

I am really hoping Railside spurs additional developments. It goes without saying that critical mass is a necessity.

[1ajs]

the nutty club buildings on portage ave east are used
the one on the corner is a phone company and internet provider the one beside it is used for making popcorn

[plrh]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

the nutty club buildings on portage ave east are used
the one on the corner is a phone company and internet provider the one beside it is used for making popcorn

The highest and best use of that prime land is making popcorn! That seems funny to me.

[Roger Strong]

Originally Posted by plrh

The highest and best use of that prime land is making popcorn! That seems funny to me.

Understandable if it's caramel popcorn.

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by Roger Strong

Understandable if it's caramel popcorn.

Nope. Its the pink popcorn.

[Roger Strong]

Originally Posted by h0twired

Nope. Its the pink popcorn.

Damn.

I loved that stuff as a kid in the early '70s. I noticed it recently at Food Fare ad bought a bag for old time's sake. As it turned out, as near as I can tell, it was on the shelf since the '70s.