Winnipeg Construction VIII - Page 295

esquire · #**5881** Posted **Apr 1, 2015, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplicity

I don't think there's much value in those properties at the moment. The Luke's space is pretty large and I'm not sure who fills that building if Luke's doesn't.

Not terribly surprising... that's what makes this especially aggravating. The building was occupied with a viable, useful business and probably would have remained so were it not for Hydro's meddling.

Labroco · #**5882** Posted **Apr 1, 2015, 7:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplicity

I don't think there's much value in those properties at the moment. The Luke's space is pretty large and I'm not sure who fills that building if Luke's doesn't.

Bingo!

CoryB · #**5883** Posted **Apr 1, 2015, 9:05 PM**

Keep in mind the "need" for parking at Calvary is not limited exclusives to Sundays. They do have some evening events and would also use their parking for funerals which could be during the daytime. That said, pitching a plan could look at the primary use (Sundays) and the main secondary user (evenings I assume) and the relative use of the non-church owned lots nearby.

As I said before, focus less on the outcome that is undesired (the demo of buildings) and more on other plans for how the needs that is intended to meet (parking for church visitors).

Bdog · #**5884** Posted **Apr 1, 2015, 10:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveosnyder

I think it perpetuates a "do-go" zone... But make sure you use your car and you don't stay too long. They are taking a cue from Walmart, they are aiming for 40% building coverage with 60% land-use for parking, and everyone goes to Walmart, so I think they are on to something.

To be fair to the church, they're just trying to maintain the level of parking they currently have (not losing or adding any net spots, at least according to the Freep).

Riverman · #**5885** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 1:01 AM**

Saw TV in front of those buildings late this afternoon. Research?

trueviking · #**5886** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 3:49 AM**

Ha ha. Yeah. I'll probably make it the topic of my next column. It's quite hilarious how much surface parking there is in that area.

It looks like the westernmost addition had its own front door at one point. It could be quite easily repurposed into three or four smaller units. It appears to be in good shape. The main building is from the 40's so it's at least modern construction.

trueviking · #**5887** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 3:51 AM**

Second building of the H20 apartments on waterfront is coming along well. It really fills in the density at that end of the street.

trueviking · #**5888** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 3:54 AM**

I wonder if those condos across from Lukes will ever get done. It looks like such a nice redevelopment of that old building. The garage appears finished now.

Labroco · #**5889** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 6:04 AM**

It's unclear to me why Hydro didn't just walk in and expropriate the parking lot for the substation?

The city thinks nothing of expropriating parking from businesses on St. James Street where it creates a true hardship. They expropriated a whole parking lot on Higgins and Gomez for the Disralie Freeway and to this day have still not settled with the owners and keep postponing.

There clearly is a need for the substation so why treat these owners differently?

Lukes would still be there, the buildings would not be condemned or in jeopardy depending on how optimistic one may be and Calvery would still have lots of parking. Who really would not go to church because they they had to walk a little farther?
Why not have a little bus to pick up those really compromised to ensure they end up on the pews on time?

Expropriate fairly and consistently and these situations would not arise...

Biff · #**5890** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 1:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueviking

I wonder if those condos across from Lukes will ever get done. It looks like such a nice redevelopment of that old building. The garage appears finished now.

I believe it was a project of the late Ernie Walter. I absolutely love those corner balconies. Unfortunately they will now be overlooking the new hydro substation.

esquire · #**5891** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 1:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

I believe it was a project of the late Ernie Walter. I absolutely love those corner balconies. Unfortunately they will now be overlooking the new hydro substation.

That project came on stream about 10 years ago, around the time that the first wave of condo development in the Exchange peaked. Unfortunately the location probably made it a tough sell... those couple of blocks make all the difference in the world when it comes to being in the middle of a vibrant urban neighbourhood vs. being surrounded by surface parking lots and yes, now a hydro substation.

The Exchange's population just isn't growing fast enough to fill in those gaps between that building and the existing neighbourhood. Too bad, because it looks great.

steveosnyder · #**5892** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 2:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

I believe it was a project of the late Ernie Walter. I absolutely love those corner balconies. Unfortunately they will now be overlooking the new hydro substation.

The late Bill Theissen (I think... I'm just googling for confirmation).

esquire · #**5893** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 2:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveosnyder

The late Bill Theissen, not Ernie...

Was he actually behind it? I thought he was the listing agent.

steveosnyder · #**5894** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 2:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Was he actually behind it? I thought he was the listing agent.

I remember talking to him quite a while back about it... For some reason I thought he was involved financially as well.

News searchs bring up a guy named Nestor Budyk, a first time guy -- so simplicity will be in here shortly telling us the woes of being an amateur trying to develop heritage buildings

cheswick · #**5895** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 3:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labroco

It's unclear to me why Hydro didn't just walk in and expropriate the parking lot for the substation?

The city thinks nothing of expropriating parking from businesses on St. James Street where it creates a true hardship. They expropriated a whole parking lot on Higgins and Gomez for the Disralie Freeway and to this day have still not settled with the owners and keep postponing.

There clearly is a need for the substation so why treat these owners differently?

Lukes would still be there, the buildings would not be condemned or in jeopardy depending on how optimistic one may be and Calvery would still have lots of parking. Who really would not go to church because they they had to walk a little farther?
Why not have a little bus to pick up those really compromised to ensure they end up on the pews on time?

Expropriate fairly and consistently and these situations would not arise...

For one thing the city and MB Hydro are two different entities. Another guess is that this particular lot isn't absolutely necessary for Hydro to build on. They had a different plan of gutting building in the exchange before some uproar made them look elsewhere. So not sure if the MB expropriation act would even allow it since this particular lot isn't necessary for their project. it could be done on numerous properties. So I assume because of this a negotiation was preferred (or necessary) rather than expropriating.

Simplicity · #**5896** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 4:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

I believe it was a project of the late Ernie Walter. I absolutely love those corner balconies. Unfortunately they will now be overlooking the new hydro substation.

All of Ernie Walter's properties are currently being sold by his son.

Simplicity · #**5897** Posted **Apr 2, 2015, 4:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveosnyder

I remember talking to him quite a while back about it... For some reason I thought he was involved financially as well.

News searchs bring up a guy named Nestor Budyk, a first time guy -- so simplicity will be in here shortly telling us the woes of being an amateur trying to develop heritage buildings

In hindsight, this guy probably would've been happy to take that advice ten years ago. Now he's millions of dollars into a project that's no closer to success than it was as a mostly vacant building.

Another unwitting Exchange philanthropist

rrskylar · #**5898** Posted **Apr 3, 2015, 4:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueviking

I wonder if those condos across from Lukes will ever get done. It looks like such a nice redevelopment of that old building. The garage appears finished now.

What's it been about 7-8 years now with that project!

Tacheguy · #**5899** Posted **Apr 3, 2015, 4:48 PM**

The April 4 edition of the Economist has a cover story that would likely be of great interest to followers of this forum. It talks about the social and economic costs associated with poor zoning practices in large cities, as well as the compelling arguements in favor of greater reliance on land value taxes. Worth a read...

rypinion · #**5900** Posted **Apr 3, 2015, 4:58 PM**

Looks like two residential buildings on Maryland are on their way, according to the developer's twitter 54 Maryland (8 residential, 1 commercial unit) is almost under construction:

http://54maryland.ca/

And that 100 Maryland (11 apartment units) just got approval and is in the design phase.

Getting this info from here:

https://twitter.com/rockykalsi