Winnipeg Construction VIII

[bomberjet]

Welcome Big Ben! Good to have a voice from the other side of the table in here.

[bmyers]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Welcome Big Ben! Good to have a voice from the other side of the table in here.

Thank you sir, I'm happy to contribute.

Winnipeg is a fantastic city, I have visited several times. My sister used to live in Oak Bank.

Downtown has some really stunning historic buildings, just needs some new projects to fill the gaps, breath new life into the area and create the critical mass required to truly make it a residential hot spot.

[1ajs]

the last decade has seen allot of change downtown feels more and more like it is as a whole rather then peacs all over the place

[trueviking]

we will see....I hope your optimism is well placed....the Aspers also believe that a 'signature' project will make people pay more, so their 40 units will be a good bellwether for fortress....

every developer has lots of experience in other markets but Winnipeg is a different animal....we have unusually high construction costs and our low rental rates/property values still do not bridge the gap....even if you manage to secure some of centre ventures residential grant money....that money is the only way to come close to bridging the gap.

I have had so many developers think that the tiny unit thing that works in other cities will work here only to be hit with a cold reality....I'm not sure a big roof canopy will change enough minds....

colour me skeptical (having been down this exact path more than once) until proven otherwise.....I very much hope I'm wrong....it could provide a real momentum shift in that area of downtown.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by bmyers

We are still working on the mix of units here, that is why there is a discrepancy. We are going back and forth on the number of larger units we want to market here. We are also trying to determine how small is too small for Winnipeg. 400 sf works in Toronto, but we don't think Winnipeg is ready for that yet.

The land closed late Thursday night.

IF we didn't think it was feasible, we would not have released it. Again, it is a lot of units to absorb, but we honestly believe that people will buy into the fact that this is a "signature project" which will not be priced outside of the competitive projects.

Thx for the information, Just for clarification if Fortress's sales/commercial expectations are met in a best case scenario, (as is) what would be the height of the proposal, M/feet be?

And do you have any more insight on the crown? The media release talked about 9 stories, with a glass enclosed lounge and (amenities,which are)? How many floors would this portion (lounge etc..) of the bldg. encompass after the Condo portion of the tower? And how much would actually be open space in the rest of the pentice portion?

Thx again if you have these details.

[JamieDavid Exchange]

Originally Posted by bmyers

We are still working on the mix of units here, that is why there is a discrepancy. We are going back and forth on the number of larger units we want to market here. We are also trying to determine how small is too small for Winnipeg. 400 sf works in Toronto, but we don't think Winnipeg is ready for that yet.

The land closed late Thursday night.

IF we didn't think it was feasible, we would not have released it. Again, it is a lot of units to absorb, but we honestly believe that people will buy into the fact that this is a "signature project" which will not be priced outside of the competitive projects.

I have to agree with you. You WILL get a lot of purchasers who WILL want to live in a building where you DO NOT need a vehicle to go to the dentist, grocery shop, buy clothes, eye doctor, Lawyer, work, gym, hockey game/concert, banking, library, University, ect. You can just walk out your door without a jacket in -35 weather and access all these amenities either in the building or via the skywalk system. You will get everyone from retired people to the young working class/student. DON'T BE AFRAID! This will be a new concept to Winnipegers and this needs to be drilled into their heads! Keep up the good marketing!

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by JamieDavid Exchange

I have to agree with you. You WILL get a lot of purchasers who WILL want to live in a building where you DO NOT need a vehicle to go to the dentist, grocery shop, buy clothes, eye doctor, Lawyer, work, gym, hockey game/concert, banking, library, University, ect. You can just walk out your door without a jacket in -35 weather and access all these amenities either in the building or via the skywalk system. You will get everyone from retired people to the young working class/student. DON'T BE AFRAID! This will be a new concept to Winnipegers and this needs to be drilled into their heads! Keep up the good marketing!

Really? You'll get a lot of purchasers who buy based on walkability to their lawyer?

[lilwayne]

wow tru your pretty bipolar lately

i for one am happy that someone is even attempting to build something of this size and magnitude in our dt core.. Im sure over the next 2 years when the project is set to get off the ground there will be a new shift in peoples perception of dt.. I have seen significant changes already i cant imagine how appealing downtown will be once alt hotel, heritedge landing, glass house are completed. Also not to mention the new museum and convention center finally open thier doors. I think this project will be the tipping point once its completed are downtown will see a tremendous surge in growth and development.

each year we have about 10000 new arrivals and students in this city... who are looking for places to rent or buy.... Projects that our in our dt will be appealing to these ppl who dont have cars, liscences... who are not familiar with the city.. To live in the core in a building where everything is accessible and a promise of safety and security damn its going to be a go.. Any cynisim regarding this project only comes from people who are unstable in the mind,, are just looking for reasons to complain.. Winnipeg should be happy people are even attempting to build this quit whining and complaining how it wont work.. and start supporting it and try to encourage more developers to push it beyond the limits

and tru you talk a big game... but quit knocking these projects i think anything is possible... like i said our dt has some of the most potential out of any dt in canada to flourish and boom. more than 60000 people work or go to school in dt.. and travel to dt almost every day... Not to mention ppl who come to the concerts, and sporting events at mts center. Who go to the forks, or go to winnipeg art gallery,, winnipeg convention center for events. Im telling u if a project like this goes through along with the other ones thatll bring so many more ppl to dt. and will also contribute to more investment from businesses and other condo developments.. itll be a spiral effect.

[bmyers]

Viking: with all respect to all other towers in Winnipeg, ours is a signature project, 20 storeys is not signature in my mind. When we built our proforma for the project, we were working with a cost consultant familiar with costs in Winnipeg and the construction issues.

If you truly hope that this project goes ahead, don't post negative posts regarding the project on here and buy a unit. I think you can get $2.15 to $2.25 psf (or more) of rent here, get a small unit for investment purposes.

Cyrodill: About 150 metres approximately on height. Amenities are still being decided on. Architecture questions should go to @Butterwortharch on twitter

JamieDavid Exchange: Our registrations so far have been across the board from 20 year olds to 70 year olds. Having spent some time outdoors in Winnipeg in February, I think our connection to the indoor walkway system will be a big plus.

[1ajs]

no hes not hes just stating his professional opinion

[lilwayne]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

no hes not hes just stating his professional opinion

no hes dumping on it... because hes not the architect behind it or not involved in the project in someway. Its more about how he would do it.. what he thinks would work... Man the other people who are putting thier mind and thoughts into this project are also professionals respect them.. If it works it works if it doesnt oh well.. BUt im 100 percent behind it and think anything can work in this market.. especially with how real estate market has blown up of late.. and the low vacancy rates.

[Riverman]

Originally Posted by lilwayne

Any cynicism regarding this project only comes from people who are unstable in the mind,

The cynicism comes from something called math, and the ability use it to come to conclusions.

[rypinion]

Originally Posted by bmyers

If you truly hope that this project goes ahead, don't post negative posts regarding the project on here and buy a unit.

Cautiousness isn't negative, and he's a very well respected poster so I'd be careful about attacking him, especially in front of people who could be future unit-purchasers.

[lilwayne]

Originally Posted by rypinion

Cautiousness isn't negative, and he's a very well respected poster so I'd be careful about attacking him, especially in front of people who could be future unit-purchasers.

okay so how many projects has tru been the developer for? and this guys not attacking him.. Just defending his project... you guys are the ones attacking this project for no good reason..

these people been around 20 plus yrs built in all diff kinds of markets... whats there to question like the man has stated this is thier best case scenerio reender.. They believe they can sell this many units if not than itll be altered slightly...

[Cyro]

Welcome to Friendly Manitoba, where forward thinking and progressive individuals come to live.(**) I'm surprised many posters last a week here...IMO No need to respond, just an observation and personal opinion.

[bomberjet]

So Ben comes on here to provide some information for everyone (which he has no responsibility to do any such thing, by the way) and gets ripped a new ass O because he's being honest.

Clearly a project on this scale will have it's issues, we all know that. So not sure why they're getting drilled for trying to build the largest private sector drivin project this city has seen in a LONG time, if ever. And they're not even a local company to boot.

Edit: Lol Cyrodill, exactly what I was getting at.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by bmyers

Viking: with all respect to all other towers in Winnipeg, ours is a signature project, 20 storeys is not signature in my mind. When we built our proforma for the project, we were working with a cost consultant familiar with costs in Winnipeg and the construction issues.

If you truly hope that this project goes ahead, don't post negative posts regarding the project on here and buy a unit. I think you can get $2.15 to $2.25 psf (or more) of rent here, get a small unit for investment purposes.

Cyrodill: About 150 metres approximately on height. Amenities are still being decided on. Architecture questions should go to @Butterwortharch on twitter

JamieDavid Exchange: Our registrations so far have been across the board from 20 year olds to 70 year olds. Having spent some time outdoors in Winnipeg in February, I think our connection to the indoor walkway system will be a big plus.

this isn't a promotional web site....its a place do discuss development....im not posting negatives, I am posting what my experience has been in the very recent past on very similar projects with very similar developers.

I definitely want this project to go ahead, but I need more than a Chinese rendering to convince me that this is something different than what I have seen fail in the past...its easy to propose a signature building....its another to make the business case for it in our market....

a 28 storey tower at portage and main above a 4 star hotel is signature for Winnipeg.

If you are basing your business plan on $2.25psf, you have an uphill climb....$2.00 is top end....our best right now are in the $1.80-90 range.

I've said my bit....I very much cant wait to be proven wrong....for whatever reason projects like this help with civic pride....I want it to go ahead 100% as designed...I really like it and think that it would do great things for that area of downtown.....you have my 100% support.....my words are only cautionary having been through the exercise already.

[Lenin]

I for one am cautiously optimistic. Even if the long term reality unfolds to produce a scaled back building (which I suppose is rather likely), I'm still excited that the property will cease to be a glaring surface area parking lot. I've always found that area in between the Radisson and the old post office / new police HQ to "feels" like the true centre of the downtown core. It's a shame and an embarrassment that it's been an parking lot ocean for so long. Any kind of density in the area would be great.

Perhaps if this development proves to be particularly successful in the coming years it will spark more interest towards the east around Fort Street. A few low or mid rise residential units in the area would be far cooler than the Fountain Tire, etc. and other existing small businesses around there. The Fortress development could really get the ball rolling and increase interest in that part of the core. Even if the project is scaled back and fails to attract any more surrounding development ever, at the very least it sounds like we're losing one of the most horrid parking lots in the city. And this, my friends, is awesome.

P.S. - on a related note, I have a fetish for iconic or slanted crowns for skyscrapers, and really hope they manage to keep "some" kind of unique roof structure in place. At the very least it would spice up our local postcards.

[bmyers]

I apologize if I came across as attacking Viking, my intention was only to point out if you truly wished for your son to get a hit in baseball, you don't tell him he has a 1% chance at success!

I appreciate everyone's feedback and hope we can meet your expectations.

[Riverman]

Originally Posted by Lenin

.I have a fetish for iconic or slanted crowns for skyscrapers,