Winnipeg Construction

[Riverman]

Wow! Lots of finishing work going on already.

[Donovanf]

Originally Posted by Biff

^^^ Neat, but why does everything have to be "Friends of" something nowadays?

It is friendly Manitoba.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by Biff

^^^ Neat, but why does everything have to be "Friends of" something nowadays?

I believe it has to do with the separation of something and its fundraising arm. Take, as an extreme example, the US NRA and Friends of the NRA. The first is political, and the second, as a fundraising organization, must not be.

[Authentic_City]

Not sure if this is appropriate for this thread, but just received word that there will be three new restaurants -- open to the public -- opening in the next few months in the new buildings at UW.


"UWinnipeg’s award-winning Diversity Food Services will open Elements - The Restaurant, a licensed dining area devoted to local, nutritious foods prepared from scratch inside the new state-of-the-art Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex. The restaurant team will be led by Chef Aron Epp and Chef Ben Kramer with a menu that will cover breakfast to evening dining.

[...]

Canad Inns will open a new concept, Garbonzo’s Pizza Pub in UWinnipeg’s renovated AnX at 491 Portage Avenue. Garbonzo’s Pizza Pub – where Italian meets English pub for a pizza and a pint.

At the new Buhler Centre, Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, in partnership with UWinnipeg, welcomes Stella’s Café and Bakery which will offer street-level dining and take away service from 6:30 am to 11:00 pm Monday through Sunday. Patrons can enjoy sandwiches made with artisan breads, croissants and danishes, muffins, cinnamon buns, cookies and cakes from Stella's Bakery, available at the kiosk counter for dine-in or to take back to the office or classroom. Stella's will also provide a great option for lunch and evening diners looking for a glass of wine and a great meal before a show or trip to a local gallery.

Stella’s is expected to open by June and Elements and Garbonzo’s will be operational for September 2011."

[Joshy]

^ Sounds delish

[good_dude]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

At the new Buhler Centre, Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, in partnership with UWinnipeg, welcomes Stella’s Café and Bakery which will offer street-level dining and take away service from 6:30 am to 11:00 pm Monday through Sunday.

Those are some of the best restaurant opening hours anywhere downtown. Even if it doesn't last, it's a good sign that new businesses think it is worth trying. Most new restaurants won't touch hours like that (i.e. Gabernick's, Green Leaf, Marcello's, etc.)

We'll see what happens!

[Jets4Life]

I am very impressed with all the development U of W has done in the last few years surrounding their main buildings. Is there any plans to build some kind of underground pedestrian system?

It may be costly, but considering how much the University has expanded in the last couple of years, it may be worth it in the long run.

[Authentic_City]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Is there any plans to build some kind of underground pedestrian system?

No. The only talk at the University has been about a link between One Canada Centre (Investors Group) and the ANX (old Bus Depot). I would guess that would be a skywalk link, not an underground tunnel.

[jthor]

Re: Jets4Life's comment, my hope is that they don't add that kind of underground system. Obviously it would be very costly, but more importantly, considering everything is pretty close together, it seems nice to continue the increase in street-level action, vs. hiding it underground not long after it finally gets going. To stay warm a better thing would be continue the increase in street level activity so that there are more places to deke into when you're freezing and continue on your way, but that should only even be an issue a few days a year, really. At the U of M I always tried to stay out of the tunnels, if I could.

[roccerfeller]

Yeah, plus skywalks look cooler

[Riverman]

Originally Posted by roccerfeller

Yeah, plus skywalks look cooler

I think skywalks have a safer feel to them as well.

[BubberMiley]

Coats and mitts are warm too, and they're cheap and encourage pedestrian activity on the sidewalk.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by BubberMiley

Coats and mitts are warm too, and they're cheap and encourage pedestrian activity on the sidewalk.

While I do not dispute that, I also do not believe on any level that the comfort of people should be ignored in the name of urbanity. Winter is Winnipeg is cold. Many people who leave here hate the cold, but tolerate it just because. Having tunnels and skywalks are pretty important, even if it is a street level retail killer.

With that said, we need better looking skywalks. The green roofs of the skywalks adorning Portage Avenue are as obstructive as they are hideous.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by jthor

Re: Jets4Life's comment, my hope is that they don't add that kind of underground system. Obviously it would be very costly, but more importantly, considering everything is pretty close together, it seems nice to continue the increase in street-level action, vs. hiding it underground not long after it finally gets going. To stay warm a better thing would be continue the increase in street level activity so that there are more places to deke into when you're freezing and continue on your way, but that should only even be an issue a few days a year, really. At the U of M I always tried to stay out of the tunnels, if I could.

I was thinking about the hazards of having hundreds of University students cross Portage Ave everyday to attend classes. Maybe they can connect a skywalk from the old Greyhound terminal to the Buhler centre?

[good_dude]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

I was thinking about the hazards of having hundreds of University students cross Portage Ave everyday to attend classes. Maybe they can connect a skywalk from the old Greyhound terminal to the Buhler centre?

There won't be much change in numbers there. The Buhler Centre has been up and running for a while now and I can't see any real difference in student traffic going across Portage. There is an expansion planned for Buhler and I still don't expect there to be a huge difference.

I think overhead walkways are OK if they are as transparent as possible so you can see evidence of life around. Out of sight options like underground are pretty much as bad as it gets - the streets are like a graveyard. We have to remember this is not UofM, this university is a part of downtown and the culture there.

[roccerfeller]

Originally Posted by Boreal

While I do not dispute that, I also do not believe on any level that the comfort of people should be ignored in the name of urbanity. Winter is Winnipeg is cold. Many people who leave here hate the cold, but tolerate it just because. Having tunnels and skywalks are pretty important, even if it is a street level retail killer.

With that said, we need better looking skywalks. The green roofs of the skywalks adorning Portage Avenue are as obstructive as they are hideous.

I don't mind them, but I don't disagree with you on the notion they could look better - What would you suggest? I like the newer portions of the skywalk system, I think they look pretty nice

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

I was thinking about the hazards of having hundreds of University students cross Portage Ave everyday to attend classes. Maybe they can connect a skywalk from the old Greyhound terminal to the Buhler centre?

There was talk in a recent report from CenterVenture that suggested looking into a skywalk system that would connect the University of Winnipeg to Portage Place

The U of W has a ton of future growth potential, and I don't doubt they have something similar in mind there re: Buhler - but I also recall chatter about the new Science building being connected to the U of W via tunnel, so maybe U of W would just opt in this direction.

And this would then turn the entire conversation circular

Back to the beginning!

[Boreal]

Yah, I agree...slimmer, more glass, less retail. In a perfect world, no retail, save for a coffee shop/deli or two. I see a skywalk as less of an economic entity and more of infrastructure, in many respects no different than a sidewalk save for the climate controlled aspect.

[North of 49]

I agree as well the skywalks on portage ave that connect PP to MTS center and The Bay need updating.....It's so early nineties. It would be nice to have storefronts open along portage avenue as well.

[WJG]

I'd love for the U of W to purchase the Casa Loma building on the corner of Sherbrook and Portage and convert it into a student residence.

I pass it everyday on the bus and it's painful to see such a historic building such rough shape.

The building even has a few vacant retail units on the main floor (I think one is currently being used headquarters for the NDP candidate). Plus there's a McDonalds, Tim Hortons, Palatal and Rexall across the street (all good to have in proximity if you're a student).

[BubberMiley]

Originally Posted by North of 49

I agree as well the skywalks on portage ave that connect PP to MTS center and The Bay need updating.....It's so early nineties.

No, that was already looking out-of-date by the early 90s.