Winnipeg Construction X

[WinCitySparky]

lmao

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by cheswick

IIRC just before the NDP were kicked out last time, they threw out a bunch of downtown lots they were going to pursue development on. Details are foggy in my mind. Anyone rememebr this?

Yes…

I bought one at York & Garry.

Market conditions and potential incentives have not created a developable opportunity…

While our site was provided with no required development agreement, CV’s St Regis and Duncan / Waterfront were…

Five and ten years latter we are still waiting.

Perhaps if our aspirations on these sites were wood frame and 4 or 5 floors, something would happen. Would that really be so bad?

[ColdRain&Snow]

Originally Posted by Labroco

Yes…

I bought one at York & Garry.

Market conditions and potential incentives have not created a developable opportunity…

While our site was provided with no required development agreement, CV’s St Regis and Duncan / Waterfront were…

Five and ten years latter we are still waiting.

Perhaps if our aspirations on these sites were wood frame and 4 or 5 floors, something would happen. Would that really be so bad?

Some new 4-5 story buildings downtown would be great. Already lots of 1-2 story buildings downtown. Not every building needs to be a high-rise.

[Kinguni]

Originally Posted by Labroco

Perhaps if our aspirations on these sites were wood frame and 4 or 5 floors, something would happen. Would that really be so bad?

In my mind that would be great!

[Spocket]

Originally Posted by Justanothermember

But there are homeless encampments in Edmonton. I was there last summer and I saw a few of them close to the city centre. Just because they aren't in 'plain view' doesn't mean they don't exist, or does not having them in 'plain view' make it better somehow?

Seriously, Edmonton is just as bad with regards to crime and homelessness. The whole country knows it. For those who don't, take a walk through their downtown and surroundings and ride the LRT and buses, and it will be glaringly obvious. There is no need for Edmontonians to come here and try to defend/deflect on the shittiness of their city to us.

With that said, we still need to deal with our own issues as a city.

Firstly, I was born in and spent over three and a half decades in Winnipeg.

Secondly, I very clearly said that, of course, there are encampments in Edmonton.

Thirdly, no, Edmonton is definitely not as crime-ridden as Winnipeg is. Sorry to burst your bubble but Edmonton is far wealthier and despite what you want to think to assuage your ego, there's less crime and, unlike Winnipeg, the "bad areas" aren't virtually the entirety of an entire quadrant of the city. To me, there aren't any bad areas in Edmonton but I spent most of my life in Winnipeg so, of course I don't look at any of Edmonton as being slum-like.

I like Edmonton but it has its drawbacks compared to Winnipeg. You never really get an urban vibe here and you can't feel anything cultural or cosmopolitan. That being said, you earn a lot more money, pay far less in taxes and costs are roughly equal. But, once more for the cheap seats, I'm very much a Winnipegger at heart and will always consider it home. I'm not some stranger butting in on what you think is your forum. I've been posting here since you were likely in diapers.

[Justanothermember]

Originally Posted by Spocket

Firstly, I was born in and spent over three and a half decades in Winnipeg.

Secondly, I very clearly said that, of course, there are encampments in Edmonton.

Thirdly, no, Edmonton is definitely not as crime-ridden as Winnipeg is. Sorry to burst your bubble but Edmonton is far wealthier and despite what you want to think to assuage your ego, there's less crime and, unlike Winnipeg, the "bad areas" aren't virtually the entirety of an entire quadrant of the city. To me, there aren't any bad areas in Edmonton but I spent most of my life in Winnipeg so, of course I don't look at any of Edmonton as being slum-like.

I like Edmonton but it has its drawbacks compared to Winnipeg. You never really get an urban vibe here and you can't feel anything cultural or cosmopolitan. That being said, you earn a lot more money, pay far less in taxes and costs are roughly equal. But, once more for the cheap seats, I'm very much a Winnipegger at heart and will always consider it home. I'm not some stranger butting in on what you think is your forum. I've been posting here since you were likely in diapers.

Thank you so kindly for replying, I'm sincerely touched. Sounds like you've already drank the Edmonton kool-aid with your rose-coloured glasses on. I too lived in Edmonton for a couple of year (as well as BC, SK, northern Manitoba and Quebec). And the fact that you think Edmonton is leagues above Winnipeg in terms of crime and homelessness just goes to show how brainwashed you've become by your fellow mullet-styling, Pilsner-drinking brethren, which is a common site in Edmonton. I only made my comment because I'm tired of people shitting on the city, especially those who moved away and now think they are somehow better people. I left Alberta and BC specifically because of how snobby and self-righteous people are out there. Edmonton may not be as bad in that regard as compared to say Vancouver or Calgary, but there were more than I could handle. Winnipeggers can own their issues, but Edmontonians can't, as you've demonstrated. Thank you for that btw. At the end of the day, Edmonton is a decent city, but far from what you make it out to be. And I can say that in confidence having lived there and seen for myself what the city is, among the good qualities that is has as well obviously.

And like I said before, this city has issues that need addressing, and it doesn't help that govts in charge don't seem to really want to get to the root causes of the problems. Sure, lately there has been a few movements, but I fear it may not be enough.

Anyway, I call a truce since this conversation is way off topic and not needed in a construction thread.

Oh, and by the way, I'm a late 70s baby, so we are clearly of the same stubborn GenX era where we will bicker about who is right and who is wrong until the cows come home

[borkborkbork]

Originally Posted by Labroco

Yes…

I bought one at York & Garry.

Market conditions and potential incentives have not created a developable opportunity…

Is that the one that got used for outdoor office and meeting space during the pandemic? That was a really nice initiative.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by Labroco

Yes…

I bought one at York & Garry.

Market conditions and potential incentives have not created a developable opportunity…

While our site was provided with no required development agreement, CV’s St Regis and Duncan / Waterfront were…

Five and ten years latter we are still waiting.

Perhaps if our aspirations on these sites were wood frame and 4 or 5 floors, something would happen. Would that really be so bad?

If someone presented a 4 or 5 storey proposal to CV for those properties, I'm very certain they would have sold to that proponent.

Developemnt agreements are a good thing...they prevent landowners from buying existing parking lots and holding on to them hoping government handouts eventually make them more valuable than parking revenues.

I would personally rather have the government own a parking lot than sell it to a private landowner with no intent or requirement to do anything more than continue to operate it as a parking lot....at least with a government owned property the condition might eventually change.

[bomberjet]

bazing haha

[FactaNV]

This may be a bit of a blast from the past but whatever happened with the proposal by St Mary's Cathedral? I imagine it's probably dead and gone eh?

[WinCitySparky]

Yeah that’s not happening anytime soon if ever. Spoke to one of the top dogs at the Archdiocese main office on Pembina when I was doing a lighting job there and asked about it. He laughed and said it’s more of a dream than a likely near or mid term reality.

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by trueviking

If someone presented a 4 or 5 storey proposal to CV for those properties, I'm very certain they would have sold to that proponent.

Developemnt agreements are a good thing...they prevent landowners from buying existing parking lots and holding on to them hoping government handouts eventually make them more valuable than parking revenues.

I would personally rather have the government own a parking lot than sell it to a private landowner with no intent or requirement to do anything more than continue to operate it as a parking lot....at least with a government owned property the condition might eventually change.

Government owned parking lots often offer lower (subsidized) rates to government employees discouraging them from taking other forms of transportation downtown. This works against plans to encourage people to take the bus and other rapid transit options. Also, privately owned lots pay realty taxes to the City which are acutely needed to fund a Cornucopia of downtown projects.

The St Regis site has languished for years with no property taxes flowing back to the City. CV’s best and brightest idea was to say yes and encourage a proposed parkade!

One is sucking and blowing with that last remark…

P.S. Anyone know how the CV development agreement is working out on the Duncan and Waterfront parking lot? It’s been over 5 years now and last time I looked it was still a parking lot…

How does one spell contract enforcement? Anyone?

[DonaldSmith]

In the WFP today: JRSL buys Fairmont property. Plans to renovate and has bigger plans for the overall campus.

[EdwardTH]

Originally Posted by Labroco

Government owned parking lots often offer lower (subsidized) rates to government employees discouraging them from taking other forms of transportation downtown. This works against plans to encourage people to take the bus and other rapid transit options. Also, privately owned lots pay realty taxes to the City which are acutely needed to fund a Cornucopia of downtown projects.

The St Regis site has languished for years with no property taxes flowing back to the City. CV’s best and brightest idea was to say yes and encourage a proposed parkade!

One is sucking and blowing with that last remark…

P.S. Anyone know how the CV development agreement is working out on the Duncan and Waterfront parking lot? It’s been over 5 years now and last time I looked it was still a parking lot…

How does one spell contract enforcement? Anyone?

Such a big reach on this one lol. Gov't-owned lots don't bring in property taxes but they do bring in parking revenues which almost certainly exceed the taxes on the lot itself. And people either park there or they don't. Suggesting that who OWNS the lot is going to noticeably affect transit ridership is one hell of a stretch. Doing some impressive gymnastics trying to get a handout.

[Jeff]

former blinds are beautiful a-frame chalet is boarded up with a construction fence around it across from Polo. weirdly situated in that cloverleaf but super high visibility spot. wonder what's going on.

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by EdwardTH

Such a big reach on this one lol. Gov't-owned lots don't bring in property taxes but they do bring in parking revenues which almost certainly exceed the taxes on the lot itself. And people either park there or they don't. Suggesting that who OWNS the lot is going to noticeably affect transit ridership is one hell of a stretch. Doing some impressive gymnastics trying to get a handout.

Subsidized parking rates on government owned lots are substantially cheaper than for profit lots. I stand by my comment this subsidy does impact employee decision to drive or transit to work.

Not looking for money from anyone …

Just some guy who pays taxes…

The “hand out” is going to the government employee with subsidized parking …

[Atrial78]

https://www.zumper.com/blog/rental-price-data-canada/

I was reading the latest Zumper rent report that stated Winnipeg rents increased by 19.30% for a 1 bedroom and 18.60% for a 2 bedroom year-over-year respectively. I understand there are higher interest rates and labor shortages. However, given these increases shouldn't construction be going gangbusters? The situation just appears so unsustainable for renters.

[optimusREIM]

Originally Posted by Atrial78

https://www.zumper.com/blog/rental-price-data-canada/

I was reading the latest Zumper rent report that stated Winnipeg rents increased by 19.30% for a 1 bedroom and 18.60% for a 2 bedroom year-over-year respectively. I understand there are higher interest rates and labor shortages. However, given these increases shouldn't construction be going gangbusters? The situation just appears so unsustainable for renters.

That increase would be attributable to new units coming to market. That’s what they have to charge in order to make a rental make sense. The older stock units that are still out there won’t be as expensive, also we just got out of a period where RTB told landlords that they couldn’t increase rent for like 3 years. Somethings gotta give eventually

[ColdRain&Snow]

Originally Posted by Atrial78

https://www.zumper.com/blog/rental-price-data-canada/

I was reading the latest Zumper rent report that stated Winnipeg rents increased by 19.30% for a 1 bedroom and 18.60% for a 2 bedroom year-over-year respectively. I understand there are higher interest rates and labor shortages. However, given these increases shouldn't construction be going gangbusters? The situation just appears so unsustainable for renters.

A couple things about these numbers:

1. The numbers from Zumper do a poor job representing the overall rental market in Winnipeg. Very few rental companies list their apartments on Zumper in Winnipeg. The total number of apartment and condo listings in Winnipeg right now is 262, which is far fewer than the total number actually available. Rentals.ca has 435 listings right now for comparison, and even that number is low.

2. The rental data from Zumper includes only apartments that are currently vacant and listed for rent (same as Rentals.ca). It does not include currently rented apartments. Older apartments have rent control on them, so most tenants are not seeing the massive rent increases. However, this does essentially prevent people from moving apartments (including myself right now).

3. The data that Zumper does have is heavily skewed towards new suburban apartments and higher-end condo rentals in Osborne Village and Downtown. Here is a screenshot from today showing the currently available listings. You can see the over-representation from suburban areas. There's currently only 1 apartment listed in the West End and only 1 apartment listed in the North End. Typically, I have found Kijiji is the best website for apartments in these areas.



4. Here is the most current data from Rentals.ca. As I said earlier, this data uses more listings and covers more of the city. However, it still does not cover apartments that are currently rented and apartments listed on other websites, such as Kijiji, which tend to be cheaper.

https://rentals.ca/national-rent-report

5. The Rental.ca data shows an average year-over-year increase of 9.7% for 1-bedroom apartments and 6.8% for 2-bedroom apartments. Still very high increases, but only about half what the Zumper data shows. This highlights how inconsistent some of this apartment rental data is. The map for the Rentals.ca current listings is shown below.



6. I would argue that there actually is a lot of apartment construction right now in Winnipeg, it's just taking place out in the new suburbs. Bridgewater, Sage Creek, Aurora (at the end of McPhillips), and Peguis (behind KP Mall) all have lots of new buildings being constructed. There's a lack of new apartment buildings in central Winnipeg due to strict zoning regulations as well as high crime and high poverty.

7. In summary, the data from Zumper is kind of garbage and there are lots of new apartment buildings being built out in the new suburbs.

[OTA in Winnipeg]

Originally Posted by optimusREIM

That increase would be attributable to new units coming to market. That’s what they have to charge in order to make a rental make sense. The older stock units that are still out there won’t be as expensive, also we just got out of a period where RTB told landlords that they couldn’t increase rent for like 3 years. Somethings gotta give eventually

A lot are getting their increases anyway. RTB seems to have just ignored the legislation and allowed them above 0%. My building just got their 7%+ that they requested. Makes one wonder what the point was of the legislation.