Winnipeg Construction VIII - Page 43

SKYSTHELIMIT · #**841** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 6:41 PM**

All the best to you and your family Miniari. As someone who just recently moved from Winnipeg to B.C I completely agree with your assesment of Winnipeg. I still follow this thread quite closely and feel as it is one of my greatest connections to the city. Since March I still get people who ask where I transferred from and they usually have the response of "well I guess your glad to get out of there" to which I quickly correct to "one is never glad to leave the one they love." I too have the majority of the family out here in B.C and this was a big determining factor in my decision to accept a position out here.

So as you will see Winnipeg never leaves you and with the help of this site you will never truly leave it.

rrskylar · #**842** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 6:42 PM**

Best of luck Mininari! Victoria would be tops on my list of places to live in Canada if I wasn't rooted in Winnipeg for a few more years.

esquire · #**843** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 7:03 PM**

I took a good look at the Portage Avenue Dollarama today...considering it was a beehive of activity for a good part of the summer, one can barely tell the difference as to how it looked before and after construction. I can see that there was a bit of decorative stone added, a black stripe was added above the windows...was there anything else? What was the point of that "renovation"?

I note that its neighbour, MEC, has new signage with the new, much bolder and more noticeable MEC logo on it. By contrast, The Bay still doesn't have the new Hudson Bay wordmark up yet. The head office may have forgotten that they have a store in downtown Winnipeg.

...and good luck, miniari!

headhorse · #**844** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 7:05 PM**

good luck, Miniari! I guess I'm one of the few who went the other way

Cyro · #**845** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 7:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I took a good look at the Portage Avenue Dollarama today...considering it was a beehive of activity for a good part of the summer, one can barely tell the difference as to how it looked before and after construction. I can see that there was a bit of decorative stone added, a black stripe was added above the windows...was there anything else? What was the point of that "renovation"?

Was this strictly an exterior renovation to the property our was thier any remodelling to the interior?

Does it improve the Curb appeal at all Esquire? Or ,Is it a walk by and not even notice it look? Haven't seen it since some one mentioned it a while back.

esquire · #**846** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 7:25 PM**

^ No difference whatsoever inside the store. The difference on the exterior is barely perceptible.

trueviking · #**847** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 7:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I took a good look at the Portage Avenue Dollarama today...considering it was a beehive of activity for a good part of the summer, one can barely tell the difference as to how it looked before and after construction. I can see that there was a bit of decorative stone added, a black stripe was added above the windows...was there anything else? What was the point of that "renovation"?

I note that its neighbour, MEC, has new signage with the new, much bolder and more noticeable MEC logo on it. By contrast, The Bay still doesn't have the new Hudson Bay wordmark up yet. The head office may have forgotten that they have a store in downtown Winnipeg.

...and good luck, miniari!

they even re-used the diamond tiles but instead of being on each pilaster there are three above the door....its quite unbelievable

I don't get why the fake cornice cuts off at a 45 degree able either.

Cyro · #**848** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 8:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueviking

they even re-used the diamond tiles but instead of being on each pilaster there are three above the door....its quite unbelievable

I don't get why the fake cornice cuts off at a 45 degree able either.

Never mind, It is the " Walk by and not even notice Look" after seeing the photos. It's a little sad for such a high profile location.

Biff · #**849** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 8:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueviking

they even re-used the diamond tiles but instead of being on each pilaster there are three above the door....its quite unbelievable

I don't get why the fake cornice cuts off at a 45 degree able either.

I don't know what you guys are talking about. The change is so obvious and dramatic, my wife and 2 children are anxiously awaiting our trip down this weekend to check it out. We did the same when the Jets returned (went to games), visited the new IKEA, same with Cabela's and now this Dollarama has captured our imagination. Give it a chance, this is likely the tipping point downtown revitalization has been looking for.

trueviking · #**850** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 8:25 PM**

Had a chance to spend some time in Victoria this summer working on a project there....it is great city...its small, but very walkable....you will love it Mininari....keep watching here to stay in touch.

Cyro · #**851** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 8:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

I don't know what you guys are talking about. The change is so obvious and dramatic, my wife and 2 children are anxiously awaiting our trip down this weekend to check it out. We did the same when the Jets returned (went to games), visited the new IKEA, same with Cabela's and now this Dollarama has captured our imagination. Give it a chance, this is likely the tipping point downtown revitalization has been looking for.

Your right Biff. We haven't given it a chance yet.It could change the dynamic of the entire area.A beacon of light attracting hordes of suburbanites to the core.

rypinion · #**852** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 8:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

I don't know what you guys are talking about. The change is so obvious and dramatic, my wife and 2 children are anxiously awaiting our trip down this weekend to check it out. We did the same when the Jets returned (went to games), visited the new IKEA, same with Cabela's and now this Dollarama has captured our imagination. Give it a chance, this is likely the tipping point downtown revitalization has been looking for.

Joking aside, the one nice thing to see there is the patio for the next-door restaurant that extends well onto Dollarama's frontage.

CoryB · #**853** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 8:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I took a good look at the Portage Avenue Dollarama today...considering it was a beehive of activity for a good part of the summer, one can barely tell the difference as to how it looked before and after construction. I can see that there was a bit of decorative stone added, a black stripe was added above the windows...was there anything else? What was the point of that "renovation"?

It seemed like a lot of the activity was focused on what was "behind" the wall. They also did a lot of work on the back of the building. This all makes me thinking something like a leaky roof may have been one of the main drivers for the renovation and the change to the look of the building was merely an afterthought.

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I note that its neighbour, MEC, has new signage with the new, much bolder and more noticeable MEC logo on it. By contrast, The Bay still doesn't have the new Hudson Bay wordmark up yet. The head office may have forgotten that they have a store in downtown Winnipeg.

My thinking is that HBC would love to forget they have a giant white elephant store in downtown Winnipeg.

esquire · #**854** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 9:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoryB

It seemed like a lot of the activity was focused on what was "behind" the wall. They also did a lot of work on the back of the building. This all makes me thinking something like a leaky roof may have been one of the main drivers for the renovation and the change to the look of the building was merely an afterthought.

I think you're probably right. However, our expectations were raised a bit when someone posted a snippet from one of Gendis' (the landlord) filings which made reference to plans to beautify this property in light of all the development taking place in the area, etc. They made it sound like it was going to be a full-scale renovation (possibly even a new tenant), and with all the scaffolding we could be forgiven for expecting that.

But yeah, in the end they probably fixed a leak, put up some stone while they were at it, and moved the location of the $20 worth of tile on the facade.

That building is actually fairly young as far as Portage Avenue downtown buildings go... I think it was built in the early 90s and was once occupied by Shoppers Drug Mart and Le Chateau. It always had the look and feel of a placeholder building that was never meant to last, so now that it's over 20 years old it must be starting to show some serious signs of wear and tear.

1ajs · #**855** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 9:23 PM**

wish buisnes would take the time to wash the sidewalks infront of their buisnes sigh looks so gheto how dirt it is around there

Riverman · #**856** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 9:31 PM**

Best of luck in the future Mininari. I spent a winter in Port Alberni in the early 80s and while I didn't care for the rain, at least you don't have to shovel it!

Riverman · #**857** Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 9:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ajs

wish buisnes would take the time to wash the sidewalks infront of their buisnes sigh looks so gheto how dirt it is around there

Someone needs to invent a machine that dissolves chewing gum.

SKYSTHELIMIT · #**858** Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 12:49 AM**

.....

cllew · #**859** Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 1:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ajs

wish buisnes would take the time to wash the sidewalks infront of their buisnes sigh looks so gheto how dirt it is around there

They would probably look better if they did not use the current city water to wash them.

Mininari · #**860** Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 3:52 AM**

Thanks for the well wishes everyone!
I'll certainly make my location Victoria/Winnipeg, and I'll be back from time to time for work-related matters as well as to visit the many friends that I have here.

Cheers.