Winnipeg Construction VIII

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by armorand93

and throw in a 7-11 somewhere in the building?

Keeping the Rexall open longer would probably suffice and be a bit more useful.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by armorand93

Working at my new job, I've noticed that its bringing in quite a few people to CityPlace nowadays... what would happen if we left lets say... McDonalds is left open til later, and throw in a 7-11 somewhere in the building? Along with BP and the MTS Centre... I seriously think that CityPlace would be able to bounce back big-time and even be useful as a night-time centre to shop with high security and bright lighting.

CityPlace will be undergoing a fairly extensive interior Reno VERY soon.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by armorand93

Working at my new job, I've noticed that its bringing in quite a few people to CityPlace nowadays... what would happen if we left lets say... McDonalds is left open til later, and throw in a 7-11 somewhere in the building? Along with BP and the MTS Centre... I seriously think that CityPlace would be able to bounce back big-time and even be useful as a night-time centre to shop with high security and bright lighting.

When the post office plant moved out of downtown the evening traffic to the Mc Donald's dropped to next to nothing.

Maybe once the Police building opens at 266 Graham there may be a return of evening traffic to Mc Donald's. I don't think that people going the Shark Club are going to be the saviors of the food court.

Regarding security City Place made an improvement in the later evening with the addition of two more guard positions

[cllew]

Originally Posted by Biff

CityPlace will be undergoing a fairly extensive interior Reno VERY soon.

Not sure if it's the end of parking lot rehab or the start of the interior changes but the two parking levels (3rd and 4th floors) were to be pressure washed and repainted overnights starting last week according to warning notice to MPI staff who work at night about two weeks ago.

[armorand93]

Originally Posted by cllew

When the post office plant moved out of downtown the evening traffic to the Mc Donald's dropped to next to nothing.

Maybe once the Police building opens at 266 Graham there may be a return of evening traffic to Mc Donald's. I don't think that people going the Shark Club are going to be the saviors of the food court.

Regarding security City Place made an improvement in the later evening with the addition of two more guard positions

As a bar-going 19 year old (thats a transit/construction/history nerd) with various friends that like to eat fast food after/before partying, honestly if there was a McDonalds open late and possibly a 7-11, that would gather some traffic if it was advertised to the under-25s, along with traditional Slurpee fans and help out the Downtown population with late-night food and drink options. I'd even go myself! Security guards PLUS cops, would keep out the riff-raff too. Outside could use an improvement (the guy riding past me with deep methanphetamine marks on his face freaked me out when I was going to work tonight), but the interior for security is quite peaceful. But anyways, lets say theres 3-4 young people and they dont like the Shark Club, or cant get in cause its upper-class or cannot afford it. Well, theres also BP on the main floor, and if there was an open Rexalls or McDonalds, even an open 7-11, that would help to draw in some other kinds of traffic, and the security of that place will skyrocket with the cops there eating, therefore I believe CityPlace could try and make it work if they really pushed on it.

As for the guards, I've definitely noticed the extra presence! It's nice to see at 12am when I'm kinda shit-scared about to walk outside of the mall.

Originally Posted by Biff

CityPlace will be undergoing a fairly extensive interior Reno VERY soon.

The Fountains better stay. Or else.

Originally Posted by h0twired

Keeping the Rexall open longer would probably suffice and be a bit more useful.

Agreed, you gotta admit though, the 7-11/Slurpee brand in Winnipeg is a huge magnet for people. Having one in CityPlace would help reduce the amount of "for lease" signs I have to see...

[cllew]

Just wondering if this sounds excessive? Winnipeg Transit is tendering for a new one stall transit driver comfort station to replace an existing one on McPhillips and Selkirk.

Looking at the tender they have used the following external resources: An Architect, and 3 different engineering companies (foundation , electrical and mechanical).

I wonder why they could not use the staff resources of the City Property and Development department to plan this, or buy a prefab one and drop it in.

Its not going to be fancy, toilet, sink, water bottle filler and water heater for the mech, and a breaker panel and a few lights/ switches and I think a fart fan for the electrical. Are stamped drawing really required for that small of a job.

[armorand93]

Originally Posted by cllew

Just wondering if this sounds excessive? Winnipeg Transit is tendering for a new one stall transit driver comfort station to replace an existing one on McPhillips and Selkirk.

Looking at the tender they have used the following external resources: An Architect, and 3 different engineering companies (foundation , electrical and mechanical).

I wonder why they could not use the staff resources of the City Property and Development department to plan this, or buy a prefab one and drop it in.

Its not going to be fancy, toilet, sink, water bottle filler and water heater for the mech, and a breaker panel and a few lights/ switches and I think a fart fan for the electrical. Are stamped drawing really required for that small of a job.

Is it possible that they might be souping up the drivers stall, to possibly make more routes go near it, end near it, or turn it into a layover point?

[cllew]

[QUOTE=armorand93;6222591]Is it possible that they might be souping up the drivers stall, to possibly make more routes go near it, end near it, or turn it into a layover point?[/QUOTE

Its already set up as loop layover, they are just putting a new outhouse up to replace the existing one. Only enhancement may be a water bottle spout as I don't think that the existing outhouses have them installed.

[northern_hoser]

Originally Posted by armorand93

As a bar-going 19 year old (thats a transit/construction/history nerd) with various friends that like to eat fast food after/before partying, honestly if there was a McDonalds open late and possibly a 7-11, that would gather some traffic if it was advertised to the under-25s, along with traditional Slurpee fans and help out the Downtown population with late-night food and drink options. I'd even go myself! Security guards PLUS cops, would keep out the riff-raff too. Outside could use an improvement (the guy riding past me with deep methanphetamine marks on his face freaked me out when I was going to work tonight), but the interior for security is quite peaceful. But anyways, lets say theres 3-4 young people and they dont like the Shark Club, or cant get in cause its upper-class or cannot afford it. Well, theres also BP on the main floor, and if there was an open Rexalls or McDonalds, even an open 7-11, that would help to draw in some other kinds of traffic, and the security of that place will skyrocket with the cops there eating, therefore I believe CityPlace could try and make it work if they really pushed on it.

Why not take it one step further and include a couple of other sit down restaurants/lounges and maybe another bar or three and turn CityPlace into a entertainment destination centre. Could be something similar to the selection in the Mall of America or West Edmonton Mall. You could get the crowds for hockey games and concerts, those in town for conventions or those looking for a complete night out. Imagine the indoor pub crawl that could be accomplished - and I speak from experience with the crawl a buddy and I did last winter at the MOA - 12 establishments in 7 hours including 8 happy hours!

[Cyro]

Haven't been back to City Place for quite some time. Is it really declining in vacancies like some here are saying? 50% vacant? 40%? Is the "clientle", less desirable/hanging about? It seemed to be doing well when eaton's was still around and was connected by the sky walk(now MTS)?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Cyrodill

Haven't been back to City Place for quite some time. Is it really declining in vacancies like some here are saying? 50% vacant? 40%? Is the "clientle", less desirable/hanging about? It seemed to be doing well when eaton's was still around and was connected by the sky walk(now MTS)?

CityPlace's vacancy is declining because so much of the retail space has been converted to other uses. MPI, which owns the complex, has been converting space over the years from retail to office which only makes sense considering that there doesn't appear to be much demand for retail space in there. (People tend to think of CityPlace as a mall, but it is really an office building with a few retail spaces at the base.)

CityPlace's days as a retail destination are over... they ended when Eaton's closed down for good. The way it looks now is the way it will be for the foreseeable future... shops and services aimed mainly at downtown residents and workers (drug store, hair salons, travel agency, etc.), a big food court, and restaurants that cater to MTS Centre event attendees as well (Shark Club, BP).

It is certainly encouraging to read Biff's comments that they're proceeding with renovations to the retail area, though. The current look is about 20 years old and it seemed ridiculous even when it was first unveiled... sort of a weird faux-historic Forks wannabe kind of thing. Virtually anything would be an improvement. Ray Wan's website actually has a rendering of a renovated CityPlace food court which would be a dramatic improvement over what's there now. The rendering has been there for some time though, so it may stale by now.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by esquire

CityPlace's vacancy is declining because so much of the retail space has been converted to other uses. MPI, which owns the complex, has been converting space over the years from retail to office which only makes sense considering that there doesn't appear to be much demand for retail space in there. (People tend to think of CityPlace as a mall, but it is really an office building with a few retail spaces at the base.)

CityPlace's days as a retail destination are over... they ended when Eaton's closed down for good. The way it looks now is the way it will be for the foreseeable future... shops and services aimed mainly at downtown residents and workers (drug store, hair salons, travel agency, etc.), a big food court, and restaurants that cater to MTS Centre event attendees as well (Shark Club, BP).

It is certainly encouraging to read Biff's comments that they're proceeding with renovations to the retail area, though. The current look is about 20 years old and it seemed ridiculous even when it was first unveiled... sort of a weird faux-historic Forks wannabe kind of thing. Virtually anything would be an improvement. Ray Wan's website actually has a rendering of a renovated CityPlace food court which would be a dramatic improvement over what's there now. The rendering has been there for some time though, so it may stale by now.

hmmm yes, I did some special work, for the owner of the building's top floors some time back for months and visited with close aquaintances in City Place and Eatons(way back). At that time thier were many unique retail outlets on the 1st/2 floors and I specifically would go thier as I could not find them any where else.

Like I said it has been years so I can't comment on what is thier now to make any legitimate suggestions but from what I've heard here the Sharks Club, renovations, Proposed SoPo Dev. could possibly open up more retail dev. and change what your describing into a more active 2 floors. Maybe even opening retail entrances to the West to street level.?

But what you've described sounds like another dev. called Portage Place. Which is turning more and more into and office, bare minimum kind of structure. Hopefully some positives and change can be expected in the near future.

[cllew]

One problem with the City Place food court is that some of the tenants have in their lease approval of other similar concepts. That's the reason that A&W is on the main floor (McDonalds's blocked it) and the Robins is on the corner of the skywalk (the former MMM Muffins blocked it before they closed).

People may remember that there is a large former Arby's location at the very entrance to the food court but there is nobody to move into it that McDonald's will approve .

[armorand93]

Do you think ANY of those stores would block a Sheffields Express by any chance? Could fit in that Arbys space from what I've seen at Grant Park SC and in Calgary...

[cllew]

Originally Posted by armorand93

Do you think ANY of those stores would block a Sheffields Express by any chance? Could fit in that Arbys space from what I've seen at Grant Park SC and in Calgary...

All ready in City Place on the Main Floor as the Sheffield and Sons format!! Probably don't want to move up and pay more rent for a larger unit.

[trueviking]

just stumbled across this on twitter!!!

[Wigglez]

Is that a thing? Or is that someones fantasy?

[trueviking]

apparently its a thing.

[Wigglez]

Well in that case...

Wow..... yes plz.......

I thought there was a height limit in the exchange? That thing looks like it could be around 20 floors.

[roccerfeller]

oh nice! looks great...what is that? proposal for exchange?