Winnipeg Construction

[bryanscott]

Originally Posted by lilwayne

i have no real issue with his work.. i just hope something is built... beggers cant be choosers..

Why do Winnipeggers let themselves get pissed on over and over again? If I ever leave Winnipeg, it's this defeatist mentality that will push me out of here.

[Shinook]

Originally Posted by bryanscott

Why do Winnipeggers let themselves get pissed on over and over again? If I ever leave Winnipeg, it's this defeatist mentality that will push me out of here.

If you go to the "New Arena For Downtown Edmonton" thread, you will find many people complaining about the backwater mentality in Edmonton, and threatening to leave the city if the arena deal doesn't go through. Many Halifax threads also contain this similar topic. Looks like a few cities in Canada suffer from low self-esteem. However, I do feel Winnipeg is improving for the better.

For example, here is a statement from the Edmonton Arena thread. I just replaced "Edmonton" with "Winnipeg" and voila:

For some people maybe, but for many that isn't the case at all. In my personal opinion part of the problem with perceptions of Winnipeg and willingness to stay are just as much rooted in the way we perceive portray ourselves as a city. The general collective culture seems to operate under the assumption that nobody wants to stay here, that we aren't good enough for that 'yet'. If that is what Winnipeggers portray, how do we expect outsiders to give the place a chance? I think many of the positive changes over the last ten years are not just rooted in policy and incentive programs, but in a general shift in the culture where some people are willing to celebrate the city without apologizing about how X or Y is better. . Not to say we can't learn from other places, and self-critique isn't important...but let's have some balance. Not many people are going to plan to stay long term in a place that says "Winnipeg, we are trying and hoping someday we will be good enough for you" but I think the growing number of people that act more like "Winnipeg, if you don't like it, go F*&$ yourself" has done lots for the city, and will do much more.

[Authentic_City]

Personally, I don't think we need to be beggars for any and all development, and I believe we can be more choosy, particularly for important downtown districts like the Forks, Portage and Main and The Exchange. A good example is last year's CanAlta waterpark fiasco. Winnipeggers booted a terrible proposal instead of just shrugging it off and saying oh well, beggars can't be choosers.

I think this attitude still exists, but is changing slowly.

I'm not sure I would agree that anything would be better than an empty lot at Portage and Main, but a serious highrise development that's appropriate to the context is definitely preferable to the current gravel lot.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Personally, I don't think we need to be beggars for any and all development, and I believe we can be more choosy, particularly for important downtown districts like the Forks, Portage and Main and The Exchange. A good example is last year's CanAlta waterpark fiasco. Winnipeggers booted a terrible proposal instead of just shrugging it off and saying oh well, beggars can't be choosers.

I think this attitude still exists, but is changing slowly.

I'm not sure I would agree that anything would be better than an empty lot at Portage and Main, but a serious highrise development that's appropriate to the context is definitely preferable to the current gravel lot.

Difference betwen CanAlta and Portage and main is the CanAlta lot is publicly owned while P&M is privately owned. The people have far less influence on what goes up on a private lot.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by cheswick

Difference betwen CanAlta and Portage and main is the CanAlta lot is publicly owned while P&M is privately owned. The people have far less influence on what goes up on a private lot.

True, but the City still needs to approve the development. If they don't like what's going in there, they can reject it.

It all comes down to political willpower, which everyone knows is severely lacking in Winnipeg. If we had politicians with vision, it would be a different ball game. At the end of the day, everyone is out to protect there jobs. Not the best interests of the public.

[GD4C]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

... political willpower, which everyone knows is severely lacking in Winnipeg. If we had politicians with vision, it would be a different ball game...

Yes, and maybe most of the old WATS freeway proposal would've been built. Indulge me for being briefly off-topc but as one poster stated, the city's inadequate traffic system has stunted its growth compared to, say, Calgary which used to have a considerably smaller metropolitan population than here. Timid "parkways" and "trails," riddled with traffic lights and short merge lanes would be considered boulevards in places like Toronto or even Saskatoon.

I guess a true freeway, at least one running east-west and near downtown, will remain beyond Winnipeg's grasp as will office towers of significant height (500+ feet).

[Biff]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

True, but the City still needs to approve the development. If they don't like what's going in there, they can reject it.

Short of this project becoming a 27 storey, stucco covered glassless monolith there is absolutely no way the City would reject this big budget, prime location, private project. It is wishful thinking that the downtown design review actually has any teeth.

[Authentic_City]

Originally Posted by Biff

... It is wishful thinking that the downtown design review actually has any teeth.

Unfortunately true.

[morty]

Originally Posted by Biff

Short of this project becoming a 27 storey, stucco covered glassless monolith there is absolutely no way the City would reject this big budget, prime location, private project. It is wishful thinking that the downtown design review actually has any teeth.

So at least we won't see a half-height wood frame version of the AT&T Long Lines Building in New York.

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by GD4C

I guess a true freeway, at least one running east-west and near downtown, will remain beyond Winnipeg's grasp as will office towers of significant height (500+ feet).

I'm in Saskatoon right now.

It's amazing that a city that isn't even half the size of Winnipeg has such an extensive freeway network.

I'm talking real free flowing roads that have overpasses and on ramps and such.


There's nothing in Saskatoon that even begins to resemble the cluster — that is Regent or Route 90 with block after block of unsynchronized lights.

Seriously, Winnipeg has been built in such a cheap and half assed manner it isn't even funny.

[inlp89]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

I'm in Saskatoon right now.

It's amazing that a city that isn't even half the size of Winnipeg has such an extensive freeway network.

I'm talking real free flowing roads that have overpasses and on ramps and such.


There's nothing in Saskatoon that even begins to resemble the cluster — that is Regent or Route 90 with block after block of unsynchronized lights.

Seriously, Winnipeg has been built in such a cheap and half assed manner it isn't even funny.

Way way back in the day freeways were considered for Winnipeg but City council thought it would split up the community and that was that... Yes for the amount of cars vs traffic jams in wpg it is pretty bad.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

I'm in Saskatoon right now.

It's amazing that a city that isn't even half the size of Winnipeg has such an extensive freeway network.

I'm talking real free flowing roads that have overpasses and on ramps and such.


There's nothing in Saskatoon that even begins to resemble the cluster — that is Regent or Route 90 with block after block of unsynchronized lights.

Seriously, Winnipeg has been built in such a cheap and half assed manner it isn't even funny.

Thx for this in the constuction, thread.I should have started a thread called I hate winnipeg, (although to be fair) we do have infrastructure problems/funding/political/ thier's other threads for dislikeing wpg...or it's free way /road problem, or discussing them.

[Shinook]

Originally Posted by Cyrodill

Thx for this in the constuction, thread.I should have started a thread called I hate winnipeg, (although to be fair) we do have infrastructure problems/funding/political/ thier's other threads for dislikeing wpg...or it's free way /road problem, or discussing them.

Don't feed that debbie downer troll. All he does is come here and complain about everything.

Just some words of advice.

[drew]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

I'm in Saskatoon right now.

It's amazing that a city that isn't even half the size of Winnipeg has such an extensive freeway network.

I'm talking real free flowing roads that have overpasses and on ramps and such.


There's nothing in Saskatoon that even begins to resemble the cluster — that is Regent or Route 90 with block after block of unsynchronized lights.

Seriously, Winnipeg has been built in such a cheap and half assed manner it isn't even funny.

Meh. Freeways are great and all, but I am actually all for Winnipeg's method.

I remember driving around in Minneapolis last fall, amongst all the freeways, bridges, ramps, concrete, concrete, concrete... and I thought to myself, these freeways are great and all, but what happens when all of these handy bridges, ramps, concrete, concrete, concrete, need to be replaced? How in the world is any city going to be able to afford to properly maintain this kind of road network, especially long term?

Certainly not a city like Winnipeg. I mean, infrastructure in Minneapolis is like a polished jewel in comparison to Winnipeg, and even they had a bridge simply up and collapse one day. Look at Montreal, under maintained concrete in a northern climate is a disaster waiting to happen, especially when you cannot afford to keep it up.

Winnipeg's approach may be a little club footed in terms of road networks, but you can't deny the long term economics, and frankly, public safety advantages of our current system.

I really don't get this fascination with freeways. Give me a grid system of streets, give me lights. Let me decide how I want to get around a city. Don't hem me into a gridlock freeway nightmare that slices up a city. If that's what you want, I understand there are plenty of opportunities out in Calgary.

[rypinion]

Many people in both Halifax (G&M article earlier this week - they are tearing theirs down) and Toronto (Gardiner issues are well documented) are regretting their freeways that cut through downtown.

I can only assume that we'd be doing the same, especially if it cut through the Exchange like the old maps people have posted suggest it would have done.

[headhorse]

Yeah, one of the best things about winnipeg is the lack of freeways. If youre sick of the traffic, maybe dont drive your vehicle so much?

[chrisallard5454]

Originally Posted by rypinion

Many people in both Halifax (G&M article earlier this week - they are tearing theirs down) and Toronto (Gardiner issues are well documented) are regretting their freeways that cut through downtown.

I can only assume that we'd be doing the same, especially if it cut through the Exchange like the old maps people have posted suggest it would have done.

Living in Toronto and experiencing the gridlocks (some of which have allowed me to tan on the hood of my car at 5pm on the 401) I would take Winnipeg's worst any day.

[esquire]

When I think of the things that are wrong with Winnipeg, lack of freeways are not one of them. Besides, even if we don't have freeways in the official, technical sense, we have several roads that effectively function in that capacity anyway.

Perhaps the odd improvement here or there can be justified, such as adding lanes or building an interchange at a busy high-speed intersection. But full-fledged freeways? No thanks.

[Biff]

Possibly 2 more high rise residential properties coming to the downtown area. Very exciting.

........not yet reported on here.

[Mininari]

Originally Posted by Biff

Possibly 2 more high rise residential properties coming to the downtown area. Very exciting.

........not yet reported on here.

Well thats a tease... Is there anything more substantial you could say about this?