Winnipeg Construction VIII - Page 230

Cyro · #**4581** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 6:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluenote

And we lose a landmark ice cream vendor.

Bummer

... on that note I'll donate my time to BullDoze it if the project proceeds.
(of course I'll keep the "Eat Ice Cream Sign", actually it's still part of the Elevation diagram from dinprojects). Change is hard to embrace at times.

Speaking of demos, any one familiar with the landmark, Chester Fried Chicken/Pizza/Gas Bar @ 477 Pembina Hwy that's been mothballed for eons?

It's been finally leveled and some work has started this week. Not sure what they are doing with the lot.

>> https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.867393,-9...3m4!1e1!3m2!1sbJzrXCQbU2wjRKpCG0ukuA!2e0

cllew · #**4582** Posted **Nov 3, 2014, 7:17 PM**

As far as I can tell from the city web site, it looks like a big digital sign was approved to go on the site. It also looks like there may be a building behind the sign to screen it from the houses on Dudley.

buzzg · #**4583** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 1:26 AM**

Lount's new condos on River are going up incredibly fast, and are looking great — lots of stone masonry as opposed to stucco (or metal siding). Hopefully this gives them confidence to do a lot more projects.

Also, there is a zoning variance sign up on the massive surface lot across from 160 Smith's parkade (south of CityPlace). Anyone know what this is about? That would be amazing if it's pegged for development.

Bdog · #**4584** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 5:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Unknown Poster

Save Banana Boat. lol

Where were you all when I wanted to save the McDonalds Caboose on Pembina?

Or the log cabin McDonald's, also on Pembina lol.

bomberjet · #**4585** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 2:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzg

Also, there is a zoning variance sign up on the massive surface lot across from 160 Smith's parkade (south of CityPlace). Anyone know what this is about? That would be amazing if it's pegged for development.

That's the other MPI lot, other one being SoPo. The Donald lots were for residential, IIRC. SoPo is slowly moving forward apparently. Original timelines of 1 year are way gone by now.

The Unknown Poster · #**4586** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 3:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyro

Bummer

... on that note I'll donate my time to BullDoze it if the project proceeds.
(of course I'll keep the "Eat Ice Cream Sign", actually it's still part of the Elevation diagram from dinprojects). Change is hard to embrace at times.

Speaking of demos, any one familiar with the landmark, Chester Fried Chicken/Pizza/Gas Bar @ 477 Pembina Hwy that's been mothballed for eons?

It's been finally leveled and some work has started this week. Not sure what they are doing with the lot.

>> https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.867393,-9...3m4!1e1!3m2!1sbJzrXCQbU2wjRKpCG0ukuA!2e0

Yes, I noticed that. About time. It had a sign that said something like "Opening Soon" for about ten years. I went there once. It was the only gas bar open on Christmas one year as I foolishly assumed getting gas on Christmas morning wouldnt be a problem

The Unknown Poster · #**4587** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 3:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdog

Or the log cabin McDonald's, also on Pembina lol.

Good point. I have fond memories of that McD's, sitting in the covered wagon for parties.

Biff · #**4588** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 3:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bomberjet

That's the other MPI lot, other one being SoPo. The Donald lots were for residential, IIRC. SoPo is slowly moving forward apparently. Original timelines of 1 year are way gone by now.

^^^^The lot you are referring to (the other MPI lot) is the northern half of that huge parking lot on Donald. The part of that parking lot in question, across from the Lobby parkade is not the MPI lot. The Variance is for a billboard.

Boooooooooooooooooooooooo

Cyro · #**4589** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 5:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cllew

As far as I can tell from the city web site, it looks like a big digital sign was approved to go on the site. It also looks like there may be a building behind the sign to screen it from the houses on Dudley.

Thanks for the search, yeah, one double sided static digital sign 20ft. max. height coming up.

I believe your talking about the RMF-L Rezoning/Variance for 629 Dudley Ave. A 3F- 6 unit residential project that will be located right across the street behind the billboard, lovely.

Actually, the building will be a very nice looking addition to the street..

Info/Renders:
http://winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS/ViewDoc.asp?D...itUrl=/CLKDMIS/Documents/ccc/2013/a13216

BAKGUY · #**4590** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 5:10 PM**

A new Topic. Concern for needed Hotels Downtown in the next 2 years!
With The Westin Project unfortunately dead @ 416 main Street and The Place Louis Riel conversion to rental apartments... We also have The RBC Convention Centre poised to open in approximately a year and a half with no new hotels committed to build yet?
the Expansions alone could fill 2 major hotels and that does not include the PLR conversion back to rental apartments.. that is a loss of 314 units. Alt hotel only brings 151. (The Delta for example has just shy of 400 and Westin 340 )
Some of my top picks for sites of new hi-rise hotels downtown are: 416 main street3 Former Carlton Inn site, SOPO site, Donald St MPI lot, Winnipeg Square and the lot on St. Mary @ Edmonton St where Lakeview has announced and rescinded plans for a hotel or 2 there dozens of times now.. I see a problem, any thoughts?

Simplicity · #**4591** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 5:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAKGUY

new Topic. Concern for needed Hotels Downtown in the next 2 years!
With The Westin Project unfortunately dead @ 416 main Street and The Place Louis Riel conversion to rental apartments... We also have The RBC Convention Centre poised to open in approximately a year and a half with no new hotels committed to build yet?
the Expansions alone could fill 2 major hotels and that does not include the PLR conversion back to rental apartments.. that is a loss of 314 units. Alt hotel only brings 151.

Unfortunately, it can't. And it won't.

Lot's of research has been done into the feasibility of a newly constructed downtown hotel and all of it is a non-starter. Couple that with the $8MM purchase price demands of Centreventure to avoid a write-down and it'll be many, many years before we see another downtown hotel.

Just as a little food for thought, Lakeview Management - one of the most experienced and financially sound hotel developers in the country - owns the surface lot at the southeast corner of York and Carlton and directly adjacent the expansion. For many years they've been trying to justify the build of a hotel given their success with the Sheraton Four Points brand and the fact that they're well connected to the existing convention centre both physically and at a business level. They've never been able to. And before the RFP for the Convention Centre expansion went out, both they and the city were working together to have a hotel built on their site. Lakeview ultimately decided against it which was part of the reason the Carlton Inn was purchased - Centreventure got ahead of themselves and misread the interest of a Dallas-based hotelier whose wishy-washy commitment was never solid enough for anybody to be out purchasing land on behalf of. Of course, we all know how that's played out.

Part of the difficulty is that surface parking is far more valuable than a hotel at that site leaving the valuation a difficult combination of forgone perpetual revenue plus whatever menial purchase price existed, or the equally unattractive alternative, an absolutely unsupportable $8MM land cost. And they're both market driven, but only one is the result of reckless incompetence.

Riverman · #**4592** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 5:39 PM**

How many new hotels have been built at the airport lately? Eight? Plus the renovation of the Airliner.

That appears to be where the hotel market is.

Simplicity · #**4593** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 5:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverman

How many new hotels have been built at the airport lately? Eight? Plus the renovation of the Airliner.

That appears to be where the hotel market is.

And this market is completely tapped. Can't get a hotel financed in the area any longer...

Cyro · #**4594** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 5:46 PM**

Quite true, the market has become quite saturated..

Discussed in this article from Sept. 2012...

Hotel construction booming
Delta Winnipeg joins lengthy list of renos, additions and new builds

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/hotel-construction-booming-169022176.html

bomberjet · #**4595** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 5:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

^^^^The lot you are referring to (the other MPI lot) is the northern half of that huge parking lot on Donald. The part of that parking lot in question, across from the Lobby parkade is not the MPI lot. The Variance is for a billboard.

Boooooooooooooooooooooooo

Boo-urns is right. I always thought it was that whole stretch. Double disappointment for me today..

Riverman · #**4596** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 5:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplicity

And this market is completely tapped. Can't get a hotel financed in the area any longer...

Whatever, the expansion there was because that is where people want to stay, not downtown.

Simplicity · #**4597** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 6:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverman

Whatever, the expansion there was because that is where people want to stay, not downtown.

Yeah, that's because whatever conferences are being held in Winnipeg can be done at any of the hotels in the area and they're more convenient to travelers. They generally don't require a massive convention centre.

The Unknown Poster · #**4598** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 6:13 PM**

Friend of mine owns the Sheraton on Pembina. Spent a lot of money doubling the size and completely renovating the existing structure in 2008/2009. I hear about the good and bad of the hotel business a lot.

Cyro · #**4599** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 6:31 PM**

Just to be clear, the proposed $11-million Lakeview Inn & Suites hotel W of the existing portion of the Convention centre, 6F I believe, is no longer on the table or is on hold?

Simplicity · #**4600** Posted **Nov 4, 2014, 6:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyro

Just to be clear, the proposed $11-million Lakeview Inn & Suites hotel W of the existing portion of the Convention centre, 6F I believe, is no longer on the table or is on hold?

It's been in perpetual limbo for years, but my understanding - and it's always possible this will change - is that it's dead. I guess if the expansion proves to be under-serviced, it'll be revived. But don't forget, that's a very valuable surface lot. In order to hurdle your existing return, you have to do much better than if you were just sitting on a piece of vacant land. My suspicion is this has always been part of the larger hold-up. It's not just the risk of having a mostly unoccupied hotel, it's the risk of losing a major revenue stream all at the same time.