Winnipeg Construction

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by Winnipegger@Heart

The NDP has done nothing to attract investment,

That must be why the economy is growing and there are so many construction project - both in and out of downtown. Winnipeg, given its location, can't compete with Calgary (or Edmonton). That's why I hate when people even make the comparison. These are larger cities in a province full of oil and every form of energy. As a result, they have massive multinationals operating there in large numbers. We don't, and unless we find something like that, we won't. Our office market will never be as strong as some, but our economy, given what it is, is doing far better than it has been (now and the previous 5 years) then at any time in decades. Before the recession, Manitoba was booming. Now, we're chugging along, if not quite booming.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by Winnipegger@Heart

Increasing the height of the Hample Building to that of the Ave Building improves the appearance of the streetscape a lot.

As for downtown Calgary, considering it has high end shopping, it is doing just fine thank you. There are many areas of Manhattan that are dead after 5pm, just like a lot of other cities. Downtown Calgary is far from boring; that would be Winnipeg. You do not see an overabundance of organizations trying to save downtown Calgary, while in Winnipeg, there are organizations aplenty attempting this very feat, which is taking a very long time. Downtown Calgary has texture with a variety of architecture styles, as well as density, not a plethora of empty lots, and dreary landscapes like we have. The NDP has done nothing to attract investment, and the proof is in the lack of interest in our downtown office market. Also, you know what I never, ever hear when in downtown Calgary? "Eh, buddy, got some money dere"?

Never heard it in downtown Regina once when I lived there either. Hear it quite often in downtown Montreal and Vancouver. IMO panhandlers have very little to do with how nice a downtown is or peoples willingness to venture downtown.

Never understood people's use of panhandling as an excuse for downtown Winnipeg's state. I work and take the bus from downtown every day. I'd say I get out right asked for change (excluding people with signs that don''t say anything) maybe once a month and a polite "no sorry" yields no further "harrassement".

[hexrae]

I've been back working downtown for a couple months now and can count on one hand how many times I've been asked for change/cigarettes, so it's hardly the pandemic some people make it out to be.

I will say though that there appears to be a divide between Portage and Broadway, so this may have some influence in my experiences. During my walks, I find more cases of the "undesirable" element closer to Portage (and I work right off Broadway).

[jmt18325]

So I heard on CJOB that Shindico and Cadillac Fairview won the expression of interest to redevelop the CanadInns site. There is also a Best Western and another hotel going up by the West Perimeter/Trans Canada.

[1ajs]

so in otherwords more big box yuk

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

so in otherwords more big box yuk

Every city is going to get that. The point is that the city is currently doing pretty well economically. BTW, one of the hotels is going up for the MTS Iceplx.

[Mininari]

Just wait for the Hwy 59 / 101 interchange... I remember reading on here that there was talk of a new big box retail zone to be developed on lands around that interchange. The north could certainly use a Costco...

Interesting to hear about the two new hotels; by chance, are all those piles in the ground by the Dennys in Headingley one of these hotels?

Any word on when the Province is going to "divide" the highway through Headingley? Regardless of a new freeway bypass of Headingley one day, the existing TCH through Headingley is about to become a much busier hotel / restaurant / etc. strip... it needs improvements.

Another question... does anyone know if Bed Bath and Beyond are still going ahead with their Kenaston Commons store? The only news I ever saw on that one was that it was going to a city committee for a decision, and that was months ago.

Regardless of whether we're talking big box retail, infill housing, new hotels, office towers... new construction is a good sign of a healthy economy. There is definitely something to talk about construction-wise in every sector right now (institutional, stadium, office, industrial, roads, bridges, retail, housing).

[1ajs]

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Selinger commits $60M for Red River College
By: Staff Writer
Posted: 09/8/2011 10:52 AM

remier Greg Selinger committed an NDP government today to spending $60 million toward the first phase of a new skilled trades and technology centre at Red River College.
The premier promised also incentives for employers to hire more apprentices.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakin...0-M-for-Red-River-College-129459888.html

[1ajs]

anyone keeping an eye on this compition?
https://migratinglandscapes.ca/project/migrating-landscapes

[trebor204]

Originally Posted by Mininari

Another question... does anyone know if Bed Bath and Beyond are still going ahead with their Kenaston Commons store? The only news I ever saw on that one was that it was going to a city committee for a decision, and that was months ago.

This might help ?

From the August 31 Board of Adjustment Meeting

Item #233 - Variance - 1660 Kenaston Boulevard
Item #234 - Variance - 1665 Kenaston Boulevard

http://winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=11232&SectionId=&InitUrl=

A new stand alone building (6,400 Sq Ft) has been approved for 'Kenaston Commons'

Expansion of the Kenaston Walmart (28,000 Sq Ft) on the North Side of Building

[chrisallard5454]

Speaking of Walmart. I just found out Walmart is the third largest workforce in Canada. With 80 000 Employees. I am guessing Government is top two. What else would be?

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by Mininari

Any word on when the Province is going to "divide" the highway through Headingley?

The highways renewal plan released in June says it will happen between next year and 2015, but no specifics. Also, between now and then, the small area east of the West Hawk scales will be twinned to meet the Ontario twinned section.

[trebor204]

Originally Posted by chrisallard5454

Speaking of Walmart. I just found out Walmart is the third largest workforce in Canada. With 80 000 Employees. I am guessing Government is top two. What else would be?

According to Wikipedia
Canada Post employees 71,000. (so it's not in the top 2)

[jmt18325]

Government of Canada and Province of Ontario probably.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by trebor204

From the August 31 Board of Adjustment Meeting

Item #233 - Variance - 1660 Kenaston Boulevard
Item #234 - Variance - 1665 Kenaston Boulevard

http://winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=11232&SectionId=&InitUrl=

A new stand alone building (6,400 Sq Ft) has been approved for 'Kenaston Commons'

Expansion of the Kenaston Walmart (28,000 Sq Ft) on the North Side of Building

also theres an interesting one proposed for 894 st mary's road

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Bdog

You're correct - Winnipeg has one of the highest percentages of downtown workers on the continent. About 75,000 of the 410,000 workers in the city work downtown (or just under 20% of all workers, which is huge!).

Wow. I knew it was large but not that large!

Makes me think of 2 things off the top of my head:

1. Winnipeg NEEDS LRT. Period.

2. Remember "where will everyone park for Moose games??" Seems a bit silly to worry about 15,000 when 75,000 do it every single weekday already.

Oh, and the NDP seem to be doing damn good for Manitoba this time around. It's certainly a much nicer place than during the Filmon years, that's for sure.

[Mininari]

Originally Posted by trebor204

This might help ?

From the August 31 Board of Adjustment Meeting

Item #233 - Variance - 1660 Kenaston Boulevard
Item #234 - Variance - 1665 Kenaston Boulevard

http://winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=11232&SectionId=&InitUrl=

A new stand alone building (6,400 Sq Ft) has been approved for 'Kenaston Commons'

Expansion of the Kenaston Walmart (28,000 Sq Ft) on the North Side of Building

Clicking that link instantly crashes my firefox.
Thanks for the info though... however the original story about Bed Bath and Beyond states that they submitted plans for a 'routine 28,000sq/ft store'
Perhaps the 6,400 space is something else... maybe BBB decided to hold off?

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakin...s-plan-for-Winnipeg-store-115500464.html

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by Mininari

Clicking that link instantly crashes my firefox.
Thanks for the info though... however the original story about Bed Bath and Beyond states that they submitted plans for a 'routine 28,000sq/ft store'
Perhaps the 6,400 space is something else... maybe BBB decided to hold off?

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakin...s-plan-for-Winnipeg-store-115500464.html

prolly need to reinstall firefox

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by Bdog

Winnipeg has one of the highest percentages of downtown workers on the continent. About 75,000 of the 410,000 workers in the city work downtown (or just under 20% of all workers, which is huge!).

Do you have a source for that number?

The last figures that I heard from the City of Winnipeg commissioned 2009 Downtown Winnipeg Employment Study showed that there were around 57,000 people working downtown.

http://www.winnipeg.ca/PPD/planning/pdf_folder/DwntnEmploymentStudy.pdf

Might not seem like much of a discrepancy but when you put 100 people on a floor of a building it means a difference of 180 floors of office space. I suspect the number is pretty close considering that office vacancy is still about the same and I haven't seen any towers come up lately.

[Bdog]

Originally Posted by h0twired

Do you have a source for that number?

The last figures that I heard from the City of Winnipeg commissioned 2009 Downtown Winnipeg Employment Study showed that there were around 57,000 people working downtown.

http://www.winnipeg.ca/PPD/planning/pdf_folder/DwntnEmploymentStudy.pdf

Might not seem like much of a discrepancy but when you put 100 people on a floor of a building it means a difference of 180 floors of office space. I suspect the number is pretty close considering that office vacancy is still about the same and I haven't seen any towers come up lately.

The # from that report is actually from 10 years ago, if you look more closely (and I've never heard numbers that low before - my impression is that Winnipeg wouldn't have even had that low a number in the 70s or 80s). As for the source, it's a general number that I've heard personally in talks with planners/consultants in recent years.

Here is the most recent "Downtown Trends" report, which pegs the # at 72,000 daily workers: http://www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com/resource/file/DBIZ_Trends_2010.pdf

Since the mid-2000s, I've never heard people (Downtown Biz/CentreVenture/PPD) quoting numbers lower than 70,000...Take that for what it's worth.

***Also of note: The very report you cited (that says only 57,000 downtown workers) says 2 sentences later that "the downtown supports about 25 percent of the metropolitan area's workforce". First of all, that number is even higher than the approx. 20% I suggested. And secondly, there is no way that 57,000 workers can equal 25% of the metro's workforce. Unless somehow a metro of +700,000 people only has a workforce of 240,000 people...(the 410,000 # I used in my last post is straight from statscan...)