Winnipeg Construction VIII - Page 290

steveosnyder · #**5781** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 4:28 PM**

Yes, and another change of topic...From my office I noticed that the Galpern/Porter building is having an exit cut out n the West side of the building onto the roof of the building next door... Does anyone know if the building next door was purchased by the same people? Is this going to be a roof-top patio for the new condos in the Porter, or just a fire exit?

Authentic_City · #**5782** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 4:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammon

Just a quick question unrelated to the above- does anyone know what is happening with the old McNaught dealership on Portage? What an eyesore that building has become...

Good question. It was up for sale some time ago, but I don't know if it actually changed hands. I can't tell if anything is going on in the repair shop, but the the showroom is empty for sure.

Anyone old enought to remember when this area had several dealerships? Midway, Murray, McNaught, Terry Balkan, and some used car lots too. People used to buy cars downtown. What a concept!?!

esquire · #**5783** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 4:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Anyone old enought to remember when this area had several dealerships? Midway, Murray, McNaught, Terry Balkan, and some used car lots too. People used to buy cars downtown. What a concept!?!

There was also Metro Motors, Dominion Motors, even Jim Gauthier wasn't that far from downtown. It's amazing how we went from all of those in the early 80s to virtually nothing in less than 20 years.

I wonder if we'll see the return of new cars downtown? Honestly, if you're selling upmarket cars like Infiniti, Lexus, MB, BMW, Audi, Acura, etc., it might not be a terrible idea to lease some cheap downtown storefront retail around Portage and Main to use as a small showroom... Might give a bit of an edge compared to the inconvenient locations where dealers all are now!

Tacheguy · #**5784** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 4:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Good question. It was up for sale some time ago, but I don't know if it actually changed hands. I can't tell if anything is going on in the repair shop, but the the showroom is empty for sure.

Anyone old enought to remember when this area had several dealerships? Midway, Murray, McNaught, Terry Balkan, and some used car lots too. People used to buy cars downtown. What a concept!?!

Bought my first car at Midway many, many years ago. It caught on fire on Portage Avenue as I was driving it home.

esquire · #**5785** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 4:59 PM**

I happened to drive by it yesterday and now I'm wondering...any word on the heritage reno gone wrong at 272 Main? It looks completely mothballed now. Any hope of salvaging it?

Authentic_City · #**5786** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

There was also Metro Motors, Dominion Motors, even Jim Gauthier wasn't that far from downtown. It's amazing how we went from all of those in the early 80s to virtually nothing in less than 20 years.

I wonder if we'll see the return of new cars downtown? Honestly, if you're selling upmarket cars like Infiniti, Lexus, MB, BMW, Audi, Acura, etc., it might not be a terrible idea to lease some cheap downtown storefront retail around Portage and Main to use as a small showroom... Might give a bit of an edge compared to the inconvenient locations where dealers all are now!

I recall reading somewhere that the CBC building on Portage was originally a car dealership too back in the 40s.

Personally, I hate the suburban/exurban automall concept. It's okay when shopping for a car, but for service, I'd prefer a central location.

I'm not sure if downtown Winnipeg will see a high end car dealer any time soon, but you never know. Birks moved back downtown, so it's conceivable that a high end car dealer could do some type of business close to the captains of industry at Portage and Main. Do rich people shop for cars on their lunch hour?

Simplicity · #**5787** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 5:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

I recall reading somewhere that the CBC building on Portage was originally a car dealership too back in the 40s.

Personally, I hate the suburban/exurban automall concept. It's okay when shopping for a car, but for service, I'd prefer a central location.

I'm not sure if downtown Winnipeg will see a high end car dealer any time soon, but you never know. Birks moved back downtown, so it's conceivable that a high end car dealer could do some type of business close to the captains of industry at Portage and Main. Do rich people shop for cars on their lunch hour?

The Hargrave Development project at the corner of Sterling Lyon and Kenaston is supposed to be bringing two luxury car dealerships there. They don't specify which and outside of Mercedes, most luxury dealerships are already at Pointe West, so it would almost have to be another brand. The only thing that would seemingly be missing would be a luxury import dealership that services numerous brands, but I doubt companies like Bentley and Maserati are looking for entree into the Winnipeg marketplace...

Biff · #**5788** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 5:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplicity

The Hargrave Development project at the corner of Sterling Lyon and Kenaston is supposed to be bringing two luxury car dealerships there. They don't specify which and outside of Mercedes, most luxury dealerships are already at Pointe West, so it would almost have to be another brand. The only thing that would seemingly be missing would be a luxury import dealership that services numerous brands, but I doubt companies like Bentley and Maserati are looking for entree into the Winnipeg marketplace...

Audi will be one of the new dealerships, the other I am speculating will be a BMW (just a guess) or perhaps an Infinity.

esquire · #**5789** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 5:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

Audi will be one of the new dealerships, the other I am speculating will be a BMW (just a guess) or perhaps an Infinity.

Is St. James Audi moving there, or is this an entirely new location?

With M-B moving a little farther down Kenaston and Nott moving in on McGillivray, it looks like this area is becoming the go-to place for luxury cars in Winnipeg.

Labroco · #**5790** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 5:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplicity

No, I understand that, I'm just wondering what the schedule might look like. If they intend to do anything in the near future, they're going to have to get moving. If they're intending to wait it out, then I can see your plan working.

As I mentioned it's now owned by Calvery...

Hydro may have been the catalist but are not now involved to my understanding...

It's between Calvary, the city and the community...

Hydro has the land they want for their substation, Calvery has a new lot

and 4 bldgs slated for demo...

It's not a Hydro issue as they did not buy and demo Luke's ...

That saga is about to unfold...

Riverman · #**5791** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 5:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Is St. James Audi moving there, or is this an entirely new location?

St. James just built a new facility on Rte. 90.

CoryB · #**5792** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 5:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammon

Just a quick question unrelated to the above- does anyone know what is happening with the old McNaught dealership on Portage? What an eyesore that building has become...

I think the dealership moved changed names and moved out of downtown, perhaps become Murray at Bishop and Waverly. Someone tried to keep the downtown location open as a service and used car point. At the height of the fuel insanity when everyone was buying scooters they also opened a Vespa dealer. Seems ultimately they couldn't run a profitable business.

Labroco · #**5793** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 5:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labroco

As I mentioned it's now owned by Calvery...

Hydro may have been the catalist but are not now involved to my understanding...

It's between Calvary, the city and the community...

Hydro has the land they want for their substation, Calvery has a new lot

and 4 bldgs slated for demo...

It's not a Hydro issue as they did not buy and demo Luke's ...

That saga is about to unfold...

Luke's should really become a ministry outreach centre for the general community that surrounds Calvery instead of congregants who drive in once a week for a few hours on Sunday. An outward approach to the community is really more in keeping with their core ministry...
That in my opinion is a move valid direction for the site and community to take.

It is helpful and progressive for the community and church.

CoryB · #**5794** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 6:04 PM**

Keep in mind most of the dealerships in Pointe West are owned or tightly affiliated to Birchwood (aka the Chipmans) and are unlikely to move. In terms of what else might show up at Sterling Lyon and Kenaston I would guess the Subaru dealer on Pembina relocating as a possibility. I am not sure what other dealer or brand could be locating there. Is Winnipeg at the point where a second BMW dealership would make sense?

esquire · #**5795** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 6:05 PM**

Walked by the Reiss Building at King and McDermot earlier today... I saw that the second floor is being gutted. Anyone know what's going on in there?

For that matter, does anyone still occupy that building? Bedford Investments, maybe?

Simplicity · #**5796** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 6:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

Audi will be one of the new dealerships, the other I am speculating will be a BMW (just a guess) or perhaps an Infinity.

Without any dealerships moving, that would be a second dealership for all of them. I guess with service departments driving dealerships these days that might be the play (moving closer to their core clientele), but you're still gonna cannibalize sales, you've still gotta put up an expensive dealership, and you've still gotta deal with ever-more demanding franchisors. I can't imagine St. James Audi is thrilled with the prospect of another dealer.

esquire · #**5797** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 6:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplicity

I can't imagine St. James Audi is thrilled with the prospect of another dealer.

Especially considering that they'd be pretty close together... they'd be a short distance apart by any measure for dealers of the same make, let alone for a specialty product like Audi.

There may be more to this, though... if the VW biz is going well, perhaps the whole space will go VW, and Audi will leave for Whyte Ridge? Or perhaps it's the same franchisee?

I'd like to see what the new Audi dealership will look like... obviously it won't be as big as the cool new urban-style locations in Toronto and Houston, but perhaps it'll take some of their design cues? This thing looks pretty awesome at night:

Source: Wier Enterprises

rypinion · #**5798** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 6:47 PM**

Bartley has responded to Brent (and then to me) on twitter after looking into it. Calvary bought from a third party, not Hydro. He says it lies "Just outside downtown" so the demo might not be a problem.

Update: He now agrees that it is downtown. See:

https://twitter.com/bkives/status/582615723383508992

trueviking · #**5799** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 6:50 PM**

yeah. mental note. don't tweet stuff until you have the details....oops.

blind rage is a bad place to start from.

I still don't understand how it could be approved for demolition.

Biff · #**5800** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 6:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Without any dealerships moving, that would be a second dealership for all of them. I guess with service departments driving dealerships these days that might be the play (moving closer to their core clientele), but you're still gonna cannibalize sales, you've still gotta put up an expensive dealership, and you've still gotta deal with ever-more demanding franchisors. I can't imagine St. James Audi is thrilled with the prospect of another dealer.

The Audi portion of St James Volkswagen will be moving. All combined Volkwagen/Audi/Porsche etc are becoming singular entities. I am not sure if St James Audi will retain the same name when it relocates to the Seasons shopping area. St James Volkswagen will be renovated into a exclusive VW dealership.