Winnipeg Construction VIII

[rypinion]

Originally Posted by lilwayne

don't like their choice of location but I don't mind the design...

I think most here would say the exact opposite. Love choice of location, dislike design.

[lilwayne]

what do people hate so much about the design?

lets just say they do away with the surface lot

whats wrong with creating the green space etc...... and having another court yard for ppl to hang out on

I like the glass design,,, once lit up itll probably add little more vibrancy to that area.... I'm sure itll be amended a bit this is just preliminary design...

[esquire]

Oh my that is some kind of hideous. At least the existing surface parking lot offers some hope that something appropriate might one day be built on that site.... this hunk of junk will be an eyesore for at least the next 50 yeas. How on earth could the City ever allow such a waste of space plaza, replete with permanent parking lot? And then it ruins the look of the MAB to boot.

This looks like it will be one of the worst and most inappropriate projects downtown in some time. Almost as bad as that Canalta debacle at The Forks a few years ago.

If this is the winner, I say just keep them in Fort Garry...

[1ajs]

i gues i have a front row seat to this being i live across the st on graham

[rypinion]

Originally Posted by esquire

How on earth could the City ever allow such a waste of space plaza, replete with permanent parking lot? And then it ruins the look of the MAB to boot.

That's the thing though - the city hasn't allowed anything yet. This likely won't pass any variance hearings without substantial changes.

That is, if the council is in a "Earls" mood and not a "Sport for Life Centre" mood.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by rypinion

That's the thing though - the city hasn't allowed anything yet. This likely won't pass any variance hearings without substantial changes.

That is, if the council is in a "Earls" mood and not a "Sport for Life Centre" mood.

The City of Winnipeg is a statute of provincial law and so the province has what's known as 'Royal Prerogative'. They don't need permission; the zoning by-laws simply don't apply.

[rypinion]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

The City of Winnipeg is a statute of provincial law and so the province has what's known as 'Royal Prerogative'. They don't need permission; the zoning by-laws simply don't apply.

Ya, just saw that Wyatt brought that up today.

However, Brian Kelcey is questioning on twitter whether it's true or not. I'd expect that is something (if it was 100% open and shut true) that he would certainly know already.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

The City of Winnipeg is a statute of provincial law and so the province has what's known as 'Royal Prerogative'. They don't need permission; the zoning by-laws simply don't apply.

I know that applies to any govt department that wants to do something (see the now demolished comfort station at Memorial Park) but does it apply to Crown Agencies as well?

For some reason I am thinking that MPI needed city approval a few years ago for something they wanted to do with an identification sign at the street line at the Gateway service center in N.K.

I am only bringing this up because MLL is also a Crown Agency.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by rypinion

Ya, just saw that Wyatt brought that up today.

However, Brian Kelcey is questioning on twitter whether it's true or not. I'd expect that is something (if it was 100% open and shut true) that he would certainly know already.

It's true. Through the statute the Province empowers the City of Winnipeg to create by-laws (not laws, per se) within its territory. But the City can't use those laws to vote the province off the island, so to speak. The province has the ultimate authority on these issues. And that goes even beyond the Feds in this case because of our federalist system.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by rypinion

That's the thing though - the city hasn't allowed anything yet. This likely won't pass any variance hearings without substantial changes.

That is, if the council is in a "Earls" mood and not a "Sport for Life Centre" mood.

This is exactly what I was thinking. I hope it's the Earls mood - Graham actually has the chance of being great in the near future (portions already are good), Main Street is 20+ years away from being habitable.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

It's true. Through the statute the Province empowers the City of Winnipeg to create by-laws (not laws, per se) within its territory. But the City can't use those laws to vote the province off the island, so to speak. The province has the ultimate authority on these issues. And that goes even beyond the Feds in this case because of our federalist system.

Can the city just not issue building permits though or tie them up in courts or something?

Like people are saying nothing is set in stone yet, hopefully these issues get brought up and discussed with MBLL. With Hydro and in future TNS, that's more than enough plaza for Graham. This block especially needs streetfront commercial, it would actually make the "Mall" in "Graham Mall" make sense. I think it's time for the Downtown BIZ to step it up with an area/street development plan like they (apparently) have, or what Corydon now has (ie: everything has to be built to the street now).

It was really disappointing to see Jason Syvixay on the news talking the project up, I expect (and usually get) more from him, and the rest of the BIZ too.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Can the city just not issue building permits though or tie them up in courts or something?

I believe the permitting issue comes down to the same issue. The city is tasked with enforcing building codes on behalf of the province within its boundary but its given that authority by statute through the province.

There's really nothing to fight in court. The province created the City of Winnipeg Charter and holds authority over it. The challenge might be how far that control extends, but its doubtful the city is interested in that sort of challenge when they're desperate for the province to provide resources as it is.

[Only The Lonely..]

RE: Medical Arts Building

Talk about putting lipstick on a pig.

[lilwayne]

is Calgary delusional in thinking their going to overcome this recession the mounting job losses all these oil companies are never going to rehire the same amount of work force again.. their all downsizing cutting production output permantly... all those thousands of jobs lost will never return maybe 20 percent of them may get rehired..

Calgary as a city is done for.... the cost of living is going to sky rocket cuz they aint goin to be making money off the oil for long while...

businesses are relocating out of Calgary all the time... plus almost every oil company in their city is downsizing to cut costs... what shit hole that place will be in 10 in years....

[lilwayne]

its sad though that the province and news is trying to paint a rosy picture for that shit hole of a province...

but no one can overcome over 40 000 job losses in one province.. like its going to chaos out there once the ei checks stop coming in....

[Spocket]

Originally Posted by lilwayne

is Calgary delusional in thinking their going to overcome this recession the mounting job losses all these oil companies are never going to rehire the same amount of work force again.. their all downsizing cutting production output permantly... all those thousands of jobs lost will never return maybe 20 percent of them may get rehired..

Calgary as a city is done for.... the cost of living is going to sky rocket cuz they aint goin to be making money off the oil for long while...

businesses are relocating out of Calgary all the time... plus almost every oil company in their city is downsizing to cut costs... what shit hole that place will be in 10 in years....

Okay, you must be very young.

Calgary will be just fine and I guarantee you that it will recover. Then it will continue to grow and eventually boom again.

This isn't the first time Calgary's experienced a bust between booms.

[thebasketballgeek]

Originally Posted by lilwayne

is Calgary delusional in thinking their going to overcome this recession the mounting job losses all these oil companies are never going to rehire the same amount of work force again.. their all downsizing cutting production output permantly... all those thousands of jobs lost will never return maybe 20 percent of them may get rehired..

Calgary as a city is done for.... the cost of living is going to sky rocket cuz they aint goin to be making money off the oil for long while...

businesses are relocating out of Calgary all the time... plus almost every oil company in their city is downsizing to cut costs... what shit hole that place will be in 10 in years....

Umm what does this really have to do with construction in Winnipeg lol

[roccerfeller]

Originally Posted by lilwayne

is Calgary delusional in thinking their going to overcome this recession the mounting job losses all these oil companies are never going to rehire the same amount of work force again.. their all downsizing cutting production output permantly... all those thousands of jobs lost will never return maybe 20 percent of them may get rehired..

Calgary as a city is done for.... the cost of living is going to sky rocket cuz they aint goin to be making money off the oil for long while...

businesses are relocating out of Calgary all the time... plus almost every oil company in their city is downsizing to cut costs... what shit hole that place will be in 10 in years....

What on earth does this have to do with anything in a Winnipeg Construction thread?

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by lilwayne

what do people hate so much about the design?

lets just say they do away with the surface lot

whats wrong with creating the green space etc...... and having another court yard for ppl to hang out on

I like the glass design,,, once lit up itll probably add little more vibrancy to that area.... I'm sure itll be amended a bit this is just preliminary design...

The green space could have a major issue with the sunlight and the shadow of the building. There is a reason both the library park and the Hydro green space are on the south side of the buildings. The new green space will be on the north side and could be in a shadow for a good portion of the day. It is not a direct comparison but the Japanese garden on Carlton as an example of a green space north of a building.

The mix of styles of the original building and the addition is another issue. As "ugly" as the Medical Arts building is it is a purpose built building and did a pretty good job at it. Personally, I do not feel a glass curtain wall in a doctor's office would be well received.

Another issue is the set back from the sidewalk. This creates a permanent gap along what a street that is otherwise one of the most pedestrian friendly ones in downtown.

On the short list, let's finish off with how that glass curtain wall is apparently not in keeping with current building codes. There has been lots of discussion here on how the new codes will mean far less windows on new starts.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by CoryB

The green space could have a major issue with the sunlight and the shadow of the building. There is a reason both the library park and the Hydro green space are on the south side of the buildings. The new green space will be on the north side and could be in a shadow for a good portion of the day. It is not a direct comparison but the Japanese garden on Carlton as an example of a green space north of a building.

The mix of styles of the original building and the addition is another issue. As "ugly" as the Medical Arts building is it is a purpose built building and did a pretty good job at it. Personally, I do not feel a glass curtain wall in a doctor's office would be well received.

Another issue is the set back from the sidewalk. This creates a permanent gap along what a street that is otherwise one of the most pedestrian friendly ones in downtown.

On the short list, let's finish off with how that glass curtain wall is apparently not in keeping with current building codes. There has been lots of discussion here on how the new codes will mean far less windows on new starts.

I agree with your other points, but that new addition is the MBLL offices, the doctors are staying in the top 10 floors of the tower.

[CoryB]

I know the doctor's offices are not moving into the proposed glass curtain addition. I was trying to point out that the style of the old building was well suited to its intended purpose.