Winnipeg | University of Manitoba | Southwood Circle - Page 13

WildCake · #**241** Posted **Oct 21, 2024, 6:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

https://myuniversitydistrict.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/udistricty...BwcW12NGlidHo1

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6881552

UCalgary university district definitely looks like what the U of M is trying to accomplish here and follows a lot of modern ideas of urban developments. 5-6 floor residential with at-grade CRUs, full service grocery store, and plenty of restaurants and bars. The main street through (from UCalgary) is pedestrian friendly with wide sidewalks, low vehicle speeds, and curb bump outs.

I was there on a truly miserable day in September (think 6 degrees, high winds, cloudy, and intermittent rain). The street was still busy with people milling about and felt like a place I'd go back to.

peg · #**242** Posted **Oct 21, 2024, 10:05 PM**

Little update on the servicing work:

https://southwoodcircle.com/wp-conte...ion-Update.pdf

FactaNV · #**243** Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 6:01 PM**

Anyone have any news or gossip on this?

Biff · #**244** Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 6:55 PM**

They are trying. Last I heard developers are struggling with the parameters set out by UM Properties of the highrise, 15-25 floor, all concrete buildings. I was told that one developer was close but costing suggested that it would be cheaper to build two 5-10 storey buildings than one 20ish storey building....construction costs in Winnipeg!

FactaNV · #**245** Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 7:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

They are trying. Last I heard developers are struggling with the parameters set out by UM Properties of the highrise, 15-25 floor, all concrete buildings. I was told that one developer was close but costing suggested that it would be cheaper to build two 5-10 storey buildings than one 20ish storey building....construction costs in Winnipeg!

You would think that this should be a slam dunk for developers. They can (and will) charge premium rent for the location.

trueviking · #**246** Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 8:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

They are trying. Last I heard developers are struggling with the parameters set out by UM Properties of the highrise, 15-25 floor, all concrete buildings. I was told that one developer was close but costing suggested that it would be cheaper to build two 5-10 storey buildings than one 20ish storey building....construction costs in Winnipeg!

who could have predicted that?

Where is that eman guy when you need him?

trueviking · #**247** Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 8:33 PM**

I have said all along that they will get a reality check when they go to market....all the added costs they were putting on developers, LEED certification, indoor parking, high-rise, non-combustible....it is all prohibitive to what the market generally can support.

drew · #**248** Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 8:35 PM**

^LEED..?

That is so 20 years ago

trueviking · #**249** Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 8:39 PM**

i know eh? I didn't think anyone still did that.

FactaNV · #**250** Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 9:05 PM**

So essentially this whole development is a pipedream that either needs to get a lot smaller or it'll remain vapourware?

drew · #**251** Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 9:18 PM**

^ kind of makes sense to me. University is a time to dream and learn the basics of your education without the crushing realities of the outside world getting in the way of an idealized scenario.

We are just watching it play out in real time.

trueviking · #**252** Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 10:43 PM**

ha ha...good one.

Biff · #**253** Posted **Feb 20, 2025, 1:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FactaNV

So essentially this whole development is a pipedream that either needs to get a lot smaller or it'll remain vapourware?

I don't think it is a pipe dream at all. I think it is still a sound and doable plan.

I think the realities of having Toronto type development, where 60 storey buildings are proposed every other day are a bit out of touch here in Winnipeg.

They may need to revise their building specifications down from the high teen/20 storey range into the ten storey range. I don't think the first phase of 10-12 storey buildings with 150-200 units each would be considered a failure and would likely be a really nicely scaled community.

drew · #**254** Posted **Feb 20, 2025, 3:38 PM**

^ I dunno. Requiring LEED of all things in this current environment (building and otherwise) means whomever is controlling what the requirements of this development are - has already lost the room.

Biff · #**255** Posted **Feb 20, 2025, 3:50 PM**

I agree, they should drop the LEED requirements as well.

trueviking · #**256** Posted **Feb 20, 2025, 5:09 PM**

I noticed the image they have on the sign on the fence along pembina highway is a nice street with 6 storey buildings....that looked much more realistic, and better urbanistically as well.

ColdRain&Snow · #**257** Posted **Feb 20, 2025, 5:15 PM**

If the U of M dropped the height minimum to 6 stories, lowered the land price, and got rid of the LEED requirement, I'm sure developers would be much more interested.

trueviking · #**258** Posted **Feb 20, 2025, 7:40 PM**

^ that's good news.

edit....oh, I missed the 'if'.

cllew · #**259** Posted **Feb 20, 2025, 9:21 PM**

What level of LEED is being being asked for by UM Properties for developers to meet as there are 3 levels.

Is there not govt energy money available to reduce the LEED costs?

trueviking · #**260** Posted **Feb 20, 2025, 9:30 PM**

It said Gold.

LEED is just a bureaucratic sunk cost...the paperwork alone makes it unreasonable....it had a moment in time, but most of it has been absorbed into the building code at this point.