Winnipeg | Downtown | 151 William Stephenson Way | The Bond Redux | In Development

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by EdwardTH

How often do trains actually go through there though? Sure it's loud but so is any major thoroughfare in the city, I feel like people who live in houses on residential streets really underestimate this. Sirens and heavy trucks going by all day. In the summertime the motorcycles come out and I would bet money those are louder and more frequent than the trains. I lived on a busy fire route for years and I swear the bikes were louder than the sirens and horns. If you're already living next to that then how much difference does a train squealing a few times per day make? Although this is also why we need to take traffic calming a lot more seriously if we ever want a more functional city.

multiple times an hour actualy its a main rail line going east west not some spur line.

used to work in nuttly club its loud.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

Originally Posted by Labroco

I would love to see a project in this area but question its financial viability in Winnipeg. The renderings look exciting but it’s unclear how two sets of interior staircases, elevator and service core fit on this 32 foot site and still provide enough units. The architects are creative. Exterior stairs and encroachment over city sidewalks may be a challenge. The parking to the corner is owned by an out of provide family whom has held it for 40 years. It’s not going anywhere soon.
(Don’t shoot the messenger).

I would also suggest there may be other locations for a jewelled micro project like this which would have a greater likelihood of success…

Galt & Duncan, George Street or the lots on Heaton. They all provide opportunities for glazing or balconies on the depth of the building.

The province/city need to work together to amend whatever property assessment legislation, regulations or bylaws need to be amended to make it less lucrative for parasitic out of province property owners to sit on their multi generational 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 surface parking lots.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by Mr Tall Forehead

The province/city need to work together to amend whatever property assessment legislation, regulations or bylaws need to be amended to make it less lucrative for parasitic out of province property owners to sit on their multi generational 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 surface parking lots.

Which legal avenues would even exist though? As long as they pay their property tax, I'm not sure what can be done.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by Mr Tall Forehead

The province/city need to work together to amend whatever property assessment legislation, regulations or bylaws need to be amended to make it less lucrative for parasitic out of province property owners to sit on their multi generational 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 surface parking lots.

how about building the exconomy of manitoba so theirs a reason for them too develop it or sell

[Mr Tall Forehead]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

how about building the exconomy of manitoba so theirs a reason for them too develop it or sell

Or would they just raise the monthly parking rates?…

[1ajs]

we should be doing planning that creates new parking structures to desnify it incuraging developers to team up in some of these to make up for space they wont have for offices and residential. again planning needs to be done if u rip out it all then how do plp do buisnes not everyone has option to take transit. we need planning for comercial delivery as well for unloading and loading curiores handy cap ect ect

without proper planning lots like that will contuineue to exist

[Mr Tall Forehead]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

we should be doing planning that creates new parking structures to desnify it incuraging developers to team up in some of these to make up for space they wont have for offices and residential. again planning needs to be done if u rip out it all then how do plp do buisnes not everyone has option to take transit. we need planning for comercial delivery as well for unloading and loading curiores handy cap ect ect

without proper planning lots like that will contuineue to exist

I agree that planning would help incent some landowners to develop or sell, but there are a number of major eyesore lots in downtown that are owned by extended families (a bunch of cousins that may or may not get along) that basically treat these lots as grandpa's trust fund. No amount of planning or incenting will entice these people...who likely never even visit Winnipeg...to do anything to upset the gravy train.

Sometimes the carrots don't work and you need a big stick.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by Mr Tall Forehead

I agree that planning would help incent some landowners to develop or sell, but there are a number of major eyesore lots in downtown that are owned by extended families (a bunch of cousins that may or may not get along) that basically treat these lots as grandpa's trust fund. No amount of planning or incenting will entice these people...who likely never even visit Winnipeg...to do anything to upset the gravy train.

Sometimes the carrots don't work and you need a big stick.

But what sticks exist?

[drew]

^ maybe it's time for public shaming.

Or at least some very public pressure on certain families if it can be determined that several high profile empty lots are held by a relatively small group of people.

Obviously there is some interest in developing this particular lot given the hoops this new development needs to jump thru - physically - to make it work.

[EndIt]

Maybe we could implement the land-value-tax in the downtown? lol

How common of a problem is this really though? Is it worth the effort and political will to try to force these families to sell? I worry that even if you got them to sell the property, the next owner would just keep sitting on it.

I don't think naming and shaming would do much, I doubt the owners care about what the proles think.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by EdwardTH

How often do trains actually go through there though? Sure it's loud but so is any major thoroughfare in the city, I feel like people who live in houses on residential streets really underestimate this. Sirens and heavy trucks going by all day. In the summertime the motorcycles come out and I would bet money those are louder and more frequent than the trains. I lived on a busy fire route for years and I swear the bikes were louder than the sirens and horns. If you're already living next to that then how much difference does a train squealing a few times per day make? Although this is also why we need to take traffic calming a lot more seriously if we ever want a more functional city.

40 times a day, at least. It's the CN mainline accross the country.

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by Mr Tall Forehead

The province/city need to work together to amend whatever property assessment legislation, regulations or bylaws need to be amended to make it less lucrative for parasitic out of province property owners to sit on their multi generational 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 surface parking lots.

Which parasitic parking lot owners are you referring to? The largest owners are the Richardson family, Great West Life, Province of Manitoba, Calvary Temple and True North…

They seem to be very good corporate citizens to me.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

Originally Posted by Labroco

Which parasitic parking lot owners are you referring to? The largest owners are the Richardson family, Great West Life, Province of Manitoba, Calvary Temple and True North…

They seem to be very good corporate citizens to me.

Yeah we all know about the giant WCB, Calvary and Canada Life lots. To me the dozens of small gaps in the blocks in the Exchange and downtown are as bad or worse - particularly when there is development interest and absolutely no intention of ever selling.

At least the Richardson lots are slowly getting developed. What lots do True North own?

[FactaNV]

Is there a map that shows who owns what for lots downtown!

[Mr Tall Forehead]

Originally Posted by FactaNV

Is there a map that shows who owns what for lots downtown!

That would be great to see. I bet with the exception of the obvious ones, most would be owned by numbered companies so some extra sleuthing would be required.

[1ajs]

some of the lots in the exchange realy shouldnt disapear inless we replce that as it makes it hard to visit and do buisnes in the area

[optimusREIM]

Originally Posted by FactaNV

Is there a map that shows who owns what for lots downtown!

Not that I’m aware, I think you’d have to do the title searches at land titles.

[cllew]

The Winnipeg Free Press had produced an online map showing the the details of the 11 biggest lots including ownership in 2012 for an article on downtown parking but the link is no longer working.

I'm thinking most of those lots would still be in existence other than the former City Place lot where True North Square is and the lot on the south east side of Donald and St. Mary.

[Malcsta]

Any updates on this project?

[Wpg_Guy]

2025 RAIC Awards: 5468796 Architecture
Over the past 17 years, Winnipeg-based 5468796 Architecture has strategically leveraged limited resources to contribute to the city—and to its design culture.
By Canadian Architect On May 1, 2025

As a collaborator on the Bond Tower, a mixed-use building in downtown Winnipeg, 5468796 strives to advance the adoption of heavy timber construction techniques in Canada by pioneering Building Code Classifications for seven- and eight-storey buildings and assembly ratings of 1.25 to 1.5 hours to align Building Code expectations with the constraints of mid-rise construction. Hybrid office space on its first two floors will house 5468796’s office and support spaces for two affordable housing agencies.