Winnipeg Construction X

[bon_vivant]

Wow! A blast from the past. Thanks for sharing these.

[1ajs]

there was supost to be another building behind one canada place?

[Sheepish]

Yes...it was originally conceived as two towers.

[Biff]

Man I hate when a picture post is the last on a page.

Originally Posted by Biff

PP Ideas

[Biff]

Repost

Originally Posted by Biff

And the completed vision for the final build out of what Portage Place should have looked like.

[drew]

Originally Posted by Sheepish

The concept of the park in itself is NOT the problem. For many years that was a wonderful place to sit. The Jazz Festival hosted concerts there, and it was all great.
The issue is that open drug and alcohol consumption has been allowed to proliferate along with homeless encampments and bus sheltering, and what used to be a 'Main Street/Higgins' problem is now a Portage Ave and downtown problem. Why this is happening is another question. Though it has been years in the making, Covid and the vacuum that occurred downtown certainly exacerbated the problem. But agree that a redesign will not fix this.

I don't really agree with this argument. It is certainly possible that something that worked originally will eventually cease to be a net positive for the area.

Just because the park was once successful, does not mean we should hang on to the hope that we can make it good again. Things change. Neighbourhoods change, for better or worse.

This particular park in today's Winnipeg will remain to be a net negative to the area. Regardless on how it is changed and modernized.

This particular property should be a building. That is the best use of this land now and moving forward - it was a building before, and eventually should be a building again.

[trueviking]

bring back long john silvers

[Sheepish]

Actually...we are not really in disagreement. I was suggesting that originally the park was not only NOT a problem, it was a great asset. But current conditions have impacted the space very negatively. But not unlike bus shelters, the park is not the problem. Public spaces can not be allowed to be used for drug deals and consumption etc (and bus shelter should not be allowed to be used for housing and sleeping). But two points...1) there is no way a building would ever be put up in front of AC and 2) take away the park and 'fill in the blank' park/square becomes the next gathering spot. Nothing is gained. Spending money to improve a park won't fix the problem. Spending money to deal with the root causes of the problem might fix the problem.

[drew]

Originally Posted by Sheepish

Actually...we are not really in disagreement. I was suggesting that originally the park was not only NOT a problem, it was a great asset. But current conditions have impacted the space very negatively. But not unlike bus shelters, the park is not the problem. Public spaces can not be allowed to be used for drug deals and consumption etc (and bus shelter should not be allowed to be used for housing and sleeping). But two points...1) there is no way a building would ever be put up in front of AC and 2) take away the park and 'fill in the blank' park/square becomes the next gathering spot. Nothing is gained. Spending money to improve a park won't fix the problem. Spending money to deal with the root causes of the problem might fix the problem.

Agree - but in the meantime (decades or more) - we need to address the fact that areas or spaces that encourage congregation are no longer feasible in downtown Winnipeg. Whether that's parks or empty lots where buildings should be or bus shelters that can no longer be fully enclosed.

[Sheepish]

So in other words...let's make downtown completely inhospitable, and bus shelters virtually useless to transit users because our leaders have failed to identify and work to address the causes? I cannot abide by that. I walked through Stephen Juba park recentlym and honestly, I could have been in NYC...it felt great. If spaces like that became unusable because of encampments and 'gathering', it would be untenable. Just look at the folks in OV area that can't use Fort Rouge park now. I applaud our Mayor for not supporting 'santioned encampments' but in the mean time I see no evidence two years in that any steps have been taken to actually address the problems. Finally...while again recognizing that this is not construction specific, a) coming back to AC park, while the project will make it nicer, it will not solve anything, and b) without steps to actually solve the struggles, we will never see downtown become a robust gathering space. Believe me...that is what I want to see more than anything!

[drew]

^ one park in the wrong place and open bus shelters do not make downtown inhospitable.

What does is the crowds that gather in said park and the people that end up living in the bus shelters.

The bus shelter at Sherbrook and the south side Portage was a horrible continuum of garbage, drug use and danger until the occupants of the shelter broke most of the panes of glass, and they haven't been replaced. Now, its an open shelter and no issues. I hope it stays that way.

It sucks for the people who actually want to use it as intended, but net positive for the area.

[WinCitySparky]

^ I’m with Drew as far as getting the skid congregations out of public spaces. Addressing the root causes of homelessness are all fine and well but they need to be coupled with aggressive deterrence and a reasonable amount of regular enforcement. Otherwise it’s going to remain the status quo, which means a sense of unsafety (for all parties) and unending blight in downtown.

[Justanothermember]

Originally Posted by WinCitySparky

^ I’m with Drew as far as getting the skid congregations out of public spaces. Addressing the root causes of homelessness are all fine and well but they need to be coupled with aggressive deterrence and a reasonable amount of regular enforcement. Otherwise it’s going to remain the status quo, which means a sense of unsafety (for all parties) and unending blight in downtown.

Agreed. Provincial leadership needs to get serious about this matter. But because demographics play an issue, especially considering our current premier and his ethnic background (a very proud Aboriginal man), I don't hold too much hope of things changing anytime soon. Having said that, I would love to be proven wrong.

[Biff]

....

[anthonyk]

Originally Posted by Biff

....

.... indeed

[Aimhigh]

Well, if being tough on crime were the solution, it would have worked by now, one would think. Further, maybe the park isn't the problem. It's being used, right? I mean, that's supposed to be the idea so it seems to be working as planned. Take it away and the bad element just finds somewhere else to congregate.

In any case, the vision photo posted by Biff was on the '86 phone book cover. I think it was '86, anyway. I spent a lot of time staring at that phone book cover. lol

[bon_vivant]

^ A park is supposed to be enjoyed by everybody. If it can't be, it's definitely not "working as planned".

[Unbending]

City of Winnipeg awards $25 million in grants to 11 housing projects under Housing Accelerator Fund Capital Grant Program


Round One of grant program awarded to local housing projects focused on affordable and downtown housing

Winnipeg, MB – Today, the Government of Canada and City of Winnipeg announced the recipients of the first round of grants under the Housing Accelerator Fund Capital Grant Program. The City has awarded $25 million in grants to 11 local housing projects focused on affordable housing and projects located in Downtown Winnipeg.

The awarded projects are expected to create a total of 1135 new housing units in Winnipeg. Of those new units, 597 will be affordable units and 613 located in Downtown Winnipeg.

“Through the Housing Accelerator Fund, we’re working with cities like Winnipeg to tackle housing shortages and get more shovels in the ground,” said The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister responsible for PrairiesCan. “These 11 projects will provide more Winnipeggers with safe, affordable homes and contribute to the economic vitality of downtown Winnipeg.”

“Our government is pleased to work with the City of Winnipeg as we share the common goal of building more housing. I’d like to congratulate the City for successfully awarding $25 million in Housing Accelerator Funds to so many incredible projects. With these developments, Winnipeggers will soon be able to access more safe, affordable, and rent-geared-to-income housing. We look forward to more collaboration as these projects come to life,” said Bernadette Smith, Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness.

“These grants are a critical investment in our city’s housing market,” added Mayor Scott Gillingham. “By focusing on affordable and downtown housing, we’re addressing urgent needs and helping create a more inclusive, vibrant Winnipeg. I’m proud of the role this program will play in ensuring more residents have access to safe, affordable homes.”

The 11 awarded project sites, proponents, and descriptions include:


- 440 Edmonton St. (UWCRC 2.0 Inc. & 10162513 Manitoba Ltd.): This project will convert a vacant 13-story commercial building into a residential complex with 180 new transitional, social, and affordable housing units.

-145 Transcona Blvd. (Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corporation): This new development will provide 154 units designed to house families and people with disabilities currently experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Forty-six percent of units will be deeply affordable, and an additional 31 units will be rent geared to income designated for vulnerable populations.

-Endaaying (Our Home) (Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad): This new 23-unit transitional housing development in Winnipeg’s North End will provide housing with wrap-around supports for Indigenous youth.

-Our Safe Space (Manitoba Inuit Association): This project will have 15 transitional housing units for Inuit women and women with children who are escaping gender-based violence. The facility will be the first housing initiative lead and operated by Inuit to serve Inuit within Manitoba.

-Market Lands North Mixed-Use (Market Lands Inc.): This new mixed-use development will provide 128 mixed-income housing units, including 48 deeply affordable units, a large commercial space, and a daycare with a dedicated play area.

-Second-Stage GBV Transitional Housing Project (University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation): A new, 15-unit, transitional housing development for Indigenous and Newcomer women, Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary people, and their dependents who have experienced gender-based violence (GBV). Wrap-around support services to be provided by Family Dynamics, Ikwe Widdjiitiwin, and New Journey Housing.

-228 King St. & 261 Princess St. (Winnipeg Chinatown Development Corporation): This new, 54-unit apartment in the heart of Chinatown will include a daycare space, 14 affordable units, and 15 units that are rent geared to income.

-346 Pacific Ave. (MRH Properties): This new, privately-owned development will convert a downtown surface parking lot into 128 units of housing, including 38 affordable units.

-2675 Portage Ave. (Shoal Lake 40 First Nation): This new development will provide 150 units of housing, over 40% of which will be a mix of affordable one, two, and three-bedroom units. This building will be open to the public offering safe, affordable housing for all residents, including Shoal Lake 40 First Nation community members wishing to live, study, and work in Winnipeg.

-530 St. Mary Ave. & 252 Good St. (Longboat): The new 165-unit, privately owned development will provide 50 units of affordable housing, 1,780 square feet of commercial space, and aims to be accessible for every ability.

-125 Garry St. (Westgate Developments Ltd and LVDC Holdings Ltd): This privately-owned development will convert a largely vacant commercial building into a mixed-use apartment with a commercial ground floor and 126 units of housing, including 32 affordable units.

There was considerable interest in the Housing Accelerator Fund Capital Grant program, with 66 total grant applications and requests for approximately $160 million in funding. The City plans to announce further capital grant opportunities in the coming months, pending direction from Council. In addition, the City and Province of Manitoba have introduced a “single window” approach, allowing non-profit organizations to submit housing proposals for streamlined consideration for funding.

[bomberjet]

Lots of good stuff in there!

[trueviking]

wow....that is not what i expected.