Winnipeg | Exchange District | Developments & Discussions

[drew]

Height limit is (unofficially) raised to whatever the Bannatyne project was approved at. I think that is 110-feet but could be wrong. Basically 10-floors.

[bomberjet]

I see. So at the whim of whomever is the highest ranking official at the time.

[drew]

^ I suppose. But the variance was approved for one project - it's basically set a precedent, or would be argued very strongly that way.

[DancingDuck]

Searching the image with Google lens brings up this pdf
44671_240507 - App Set for COW (38 Albert).pdf
I'm not sure how to properly link to it from my phone, but it has more info and floorplans and other elevations

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by DancingDuck

Searching the image with Google lens brings up this pdf
44671_240507 - App Set for COW (38 Albert).pdf
I'm not sure how to properly link to it from my phone, but it has more info and floorplans and other elevations

https://wfpquantum.s3.amazonaws.com/pdf/...pp%20Set%20for%20COW%20(38%20Albert).pdf

[1ajs]

to bad it has to be set back from the property lines

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by drew

^ I suppose. But the variance was approved for one project - it's basically set a precedent, or would be argued very strongly that way.

This is definitely the problem with giving variances. Everyone was mad that Bannatyne didn’t get 140’ because it was a nice building. But when you give it to a nice building, every styrofoam POS will demand the same treatment. Hopefully that doesn’t fly in this instance. I think this project has had challenges with planning approvals. When that happens they generally use the requirement for variances as their hammer. The precedent argument doesn’t work.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

Originally Posted by trueviking

This is definitely the problem with giving variances. Everyone was mad that Bannatyne didn’t get 140’ because it was a nice building. But when you give it to a nice building, every styrofoam POS will demand the same treatment. Hopefully that doesn’t fly in this instance. I think this project has had challenges with planning approvals. When that happens they generally use the requirement for variances as their hammer. The precedent argument doesn’t work.

The way I read the notice - the City has approved the variance request internally so it must have been minor from ZBL requirements. The notice is so people are aware of this and can appeal the decision if they feel it adversely impacts them.

[Wpg_Guy]

Hopefully Zaifman doesn’t receive any HAF he is not deserving of any assistance after the way the St. Charles has been treated, there are many more deserving developers out there.

[drew]

Originally Posted by trueviking

This is definitely the problem with giving variances. Everyone was mad that Bannatyne didn’t get 140’ because it was a nice building. But when you give it to a nice building, every styrofoam POS will demand the same treatment. Hopefully that doesn’t fly in this instance. I think this project has had challenges with planning approvals. When that happens they generally use the requirement for variances as their hammer. The precedent argument doesn’t work.

I have been involved in a potential project in the exchange that is at the same height as Bannatyne. The word from the City off the record is that assuming the Bannatyne height is not a issue for future projects. Obviously everything else needs to get past heritage, but the height is the least of your worries dealing with that particular group.

[ColdRain&Snow]

On one hand, I would like to see the building get built. Better to have 12 stories of housing than a parking lot. Also, I don't think the design it that bad. I'd rather this building get built than another ugly black box from Barcode Architecture.

On the other hand, I agree with Wpg_Guy that Zaifman doesn't deserve any HAF money considering the way he's treated the St. Charles's Hotel.

Either way, this seems to be a fairly serious proposal. I had my doubts at first but it seems like Zaifman has hired an actual Project Management Consultant (Serhal Consulting who did 174 Provencher Blvd) and and actual architect (818 Architecture who seem to be based in Calgary). My guess is that if the project receives HAF funding, it will get built. If it doesn't receive HAF funding, it won't get built. I don't know how the scoring criteria for the HAF funding works, but it seems the City is prioritizing projects downtown. Maybe there's a chance this building actually gets built.

[drew]

^ I am pretty sure Zaifman has run out of local architects/consultants that he can use to create proposals and do free work for him on this one. It's not surprising (if accurate) that the latest architect is not local.

I would put the chance of this being a real proposal at basically zero. Love to be 100% wrong on this tho.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by drew

^ I am pretty sure Zaifman has run out of local architects/consultants that he can use to create proposals and do free work for him on this one. It's not surprising (if accurate) that the latest architect is not local.

I would put the chance of this being a real proposal at basically zero. Love to be 100% wrong on this tho.

Unless you are a professional just starting out and want a project to get your name known in the market, I don't understand why anybody would want to do free work for any developer.

[BAKGUY]

Many on here know I am no fan of Zaifman.
If this project has legs, I would like to see it built.
My concern is, what happens to the St Charles that he has been sitting on for 19 + years?
Is it incorporated or still neglected? The city should have the teeth to force him to sell it or a time limit to restore or lose it.

[bomberjet]

There's certain people who use the legal system to their advantage.

A typical set-up in consulting would be the do the work first, then get paid after through invoicing process. If you don't now the client, you can get them to pay up front for the work, or a portion that is agreed upon.

Then, they just don't pay. And it's more hastle, effort and money to go through the courts than it's worth. So you just never work for that client again and make sure everyone around you does the same.

It's happened on a couple occasions throughout my career and it's mostly small dollars. And it's those people who are credible enough but you find out are scum. This is how the big orange guy operates on an industrial scale.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by ColdRain&Snow

On one hand, I would like to see the building get built. Better to have 12 stories of housing than a parking lot. Also, I don't think the design it that bad. I'd rather this building get built than another ugly black box from Barcode Architecture.

On the other hand, I agree with Wpg_Guy that Zaifman doesn't deserve any HAF money considering the way he's treated the St. Charles's Hotel.

Either way, this seems to be a fairly serious proposal. I had my doubts at first but it seems like Zaifman has hired an actual Project Management Consultant (Serhal Consulting who did 174 Provencher Blvd) and and actual architect (818 Architecture who seem to be based in Calgary). My guess is that if the project receives HAF funding, it will get built. If it doesn't receive HAF funding, it won't get built. I don't know how the scoring criteria for the HAF funding works, but it seems the City is prioritizing projects downtown. Maybe there's a chance this building actually gets built.

818 is danny serhal of serhal consulting....they are the same....He used to be a partner at Affinity. I think he was also behind the parkade skyscraper that died.

There is no way they will give zaifman HAF money....the city hates him.


Picture this building made out of styrofoam....its an affront to a national historic site....I'd rather have nothing and wait until zaifman dies.


I never understand the hate for 546...their two projects on waterfront are amazing in my opinion....there is no comparison to a cartoon fake old styrofoam tower with some styrofoam cornices....that's an embarrassment to the profession and to the exchange district....so lazy.

[bon_vivant]

^ I really like The Bend, very cool building. I'd like to see more of that, and fewer ersatz "historic" designs.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by trueviking

818 is danny serhal of serhal consulting....they are the same....He used to be a partner at Affinity. I think he was also behind the parkade skyscraper that died.

There is no way they will give zaifman HAF money....the city hates him.


Picture this building made out of styrofoam....its an affront to a national historic site....I'd rather have nothing and wait until zaifman dies.


I never understand the hate for 546...their two projects on waterfront are amazing in my opinion....there is no comparison to a cartoon fake old styrofoam tower with some styrofoam cornices....that's an embarrassment to the profession and to the exchange district....so lazy.

Is it really that prohibitively expensive to use some brick/stone or cement for things like cornices? Could 3D printing be a viable option to keep costs down? I personally would love to see more traditional design in Winnipeg's architecture but I agree with you that if it's a cheap knock off you may as well not bother. We don't need Wish.com Chicago style architecture in a national historic site but conversely, I don't think post-modern design is a fit either.

[Biff]

Parking lots don't fit either.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by Biff

Parking lots don't fit either.

I agree....and in another part of downtown, I'm fine with bad architecture filling parking lots...but we are so lucky to have the exchange district national historic site in the centre of our city. Most cities would kill for that fortune.

I think we owe it to future generations to treat it with the same care and consideration that past generations did for us.