Winnipeg | Exchange District | Alexander Docks | Revitalization

[blueandgoldguy]

Are they adding boulders to the shoreline to prevent erosion by the docks? Because that is what it looks like in the render.

[bomberjet]

Probably do the standard slope stabilization of rock column and rip rap.

[Labroco]

Very please there is a plan forward on this location.

[neutroniks]

Maybe once the the docks are built up, those empty CRU's below The Bend will get filled. I just hope they don't sit vacant the way the CRU under 98 Market has been for a decade.

[drew]

^ dock revitalization will help - but filling the CRUs will require more foot traffic (not the unhoused kind) and therefore more and more residential development in the area.

Probably some downward rationalization of lease/rent costs would also help.

[neutroniks]

Right? I can't imagine letting a CRU sit empty for years be cheaper than just lowering the lease rates and having a constant shop/cafe/store?

[Biff]

Originally Posted by drew

^ dock revitalization will help - but filling the CRUs will require more foot traffic (not the unhoused kind) and therefore more and more residential development in the area.

But, this seems to be the conundrum with the Exchange that I honestly don't see a solution for. It is something that will seemingly always hold it back from reaching its true potential...the proliferation and permanence of all the social and homeless facilities located a stones throw away from the Eastern and Western Exchange.

[drew]

^ it definitely needs addressing. But I think a tipping point is coming soon. I get the sense that the pendulum of public sympathy for the petty theft, drug use and encampments is swinging towards the "unsympathetic" side of things.

[EndIt]

Originally Posted by neutroniks

Right? I can't imagine letting a CRU sit empty for years be cheaper than just lowering the lease rates and having a constant shop/cafe/store?

Not an expert, but I've heard that the asking price for commercial spaces impacts the market value of a building much more than residential rents do, so large corporate owners who are more interested in maintaining the value of their assets than consistent rental income are disincentivized against lowering their commercial rents.

Also, I'm sure that 99% of corporate landlords would rather wait for a safe and boring corporate tenant, like a Shoppers, liquor store, or bank branch, than take a chance on a retail store or restaurant that is less likely to survive long-term.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by drew

^ it definitely needs addressing. But I think a tipping point is coming soon. I get the sense that the pendulum of public sympathy for the petty theft, drug use and encampments is swinging towards the "unsympathetic" side of things.

I agree. I get that sense too.

[neutroniks]

Something's gotta give. But I truly believe some of the perception needs to go. a lot of us that eat live and work in the area, truly spend time and money in and around the area, and there's definitely way more people in the East Exchange than even two years ago. If more people from the suburbs were willing to spend time here outside of theatre events, run clubs and nuit blanche, we'd have a bustling area akin to Old Montreal and Gas Town. Ironically Gas Town has their own problem with drugs, theft and crime too, but is still busy as ever. But a lot of the public has the idea that they'll get stabbed or mugged the moment they park their car. Just look at any social media post from Anthony Urso that goes viral, displaying Winnipeg in a positive way, and you'll see the same negative comments about winnipeg's downtown and exchange.

[WinCitySparky]

I think society needs to make the distinction that there are bad-intentioned homeless and well-intentioned homeless, and the bad ones need to be targeted and removed from the streets by whatever levers of justice/social systems are necessary.

[Biff]

Tender for dock demolition is out.

[Labroco]

Waterfront is full of tents and garbage again as is the lot adjacent to MMF.

The drug epidemic is never ending…

No one is leasing The Bend at $18.00NNN. The space is worth more empty with an $18.00 ask than full at $12.00.

The 25,000ft2 of leased space next door is $8.00!

[neutroniks]

The fact that The Bend Phase 2 and the beautiful floor to ceiling window CRUs at the Bend haven't been taken yet says everything about how potential tenants feel about the area. They cleaned up the area for like, two weeks at the beginning of the year when they city and province announced that project to clean the area up and get those people help & housed... and then just before summer ended, they all came back and its now 10x worse... There was a TON of visitors in the Exchange staying in the Mere Hotel and surrounding Airbnbs.

Luckily the encampments are more further north of waterfront, and the areas around the Mere were still relatively clean and I overheard vistors saying how beautiful and nice the Stephen Juba park area was.

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by neutroniks

The fact that The Bend Phase 2 and the beautiful floor to ceiling window CRUs at the Bend haven't been taken yet says everything about how potential tenants feel about the area. They cleaned up the area for like, two weeks at the beginning of the year when they city and province announced that project to clean the area up and get those people help & housed... and then just before summer ended, they all came back and its now 10x worse... There was a TON of visitors in the Exchange staying in the Mere Hotel and surrounding Airbnbs.

Luckily the encampments are more further north of waterfront, and the areas around the Mere were still relatively clean and I overheard vistors saying how beautiful and nice the Stephen Juba park area was.

4 developments totalling over 500 units have been cancelled in the area due predominantly to the City’s inability to enforce a clean riverbank and the walking zombies. Not only much needed house is not happening but added tax dollars are not being created.

Main Street Project needs to help not enable the problem…

[Unbending]

What are the 4 developments that have been cancelled?

[EdwardTH]

Until there is large-scale investment in transitional housing the best you can ever do is shuffle the problem from once place to another, or temporarily clear it out for a few weeks or months. We're talking hundreds of millions, plus ongoing funding for support services. Unfortunately most people would rather spend that money on highways and overpasses and sprawl that will further bankrupt us.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by Unbending

What are the 4 developments that have been cancelled?

I know there was a complimentary building to The Bend planned for Waterfront and Galt that is cancelled (145 units). There is a 24 unit townhome planned for 401 Waterfront that I am not sure will go ahead.

[neutroniks]

Originally Posted by Biff

I know there was a complimentary building to The Bend planned for Waterfront and Galt that is cancelled (145 units). There is a 24 unit townhome planned for 401 Waterfront that I am not sure will go ahead.

Got really excited about those two, as the North side of waterfront feels so disconnected. The condos near higgins are really nice. Amazing rooftop space, and that bend at the river trail could be an amazing bike ride/running trail, but they're haunted by the encampments & zombies.