Winnipeg Construction VIII

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

According to Imperial, back in 2013 a national restaurant chain was set to occupy the main level while one floor was leased for a "business centre operator"...

That's interesting... larger cities are chock-a-block with business centres, but in Winnipeg, as far as I know, Regus at 201 Portage is the only full-service operator located here. There are others like space2work, but I don't think they're quite the same.

This isn't the first place I'd expect a business centre to pop up, although I can understand that the location has appeal.

Parking will be interesting around there... there are no parkades or even any surface lots of a certain size, and there aren't really any streets with on-street parking adjacent to the development. I wonder how they'll address that?

I can see the main floor being a logical space for a restaurant. I wonder if that's still lined up?

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

One thing is definite: DIN is predictable in its designs. I am not a fan of their work: the Buhler Centre looks like it is clad in drywall, and Minuk said this development will resemble that despite the brightness of the rendering.

Personally, I've never been enamored with the aesthetics's of the Buhler building, reflective fins and exterior cladding.. Actually, the interior layout is odd in itself.

Irregardless, I don't have much of a problem with the Osborne proposal, even if it seems somewhat simple in it's exterior color and form..

[Urban recluse]

For a principle corner bordering the village, I would prefer something with setbacks and color. The design almost resembles a 1970s building that has been cheaply renovated. I suspect budget is a consideration, but the city should insist on a more architecturally- pleasing design. This design would be acceptable in an industrial park.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Cyro

Personally, I've never been enamored with the aesthetics's of the Buhler building, reflective fins and exterior cladding.. Actually, the interior layout is odd in itself.

I feel you on this. Buhler Centre is okay, in that it's not a totally terrible abomination. But no one is really going to love it or cite it as an example of great Winnipeg architecture. It has that built on the cheap vibe about it.

This project is similar in that regard, although its size kind of makes up for it a bit. It does seem to fit its setting reasonably well, especially consdering how many truly dreadful buildings there are around CC right now. But I'd be a lot less happy about it if it were only 2 or 3 storeys.

[buzzg]

During the day Buhler Centre is pretty drab looking, but I actually like it at night. The fins are hyper-reflective, when people have turning lights on it looks pretty cool, and the weird window cutouts are lit up and you can see all the colours inside.

If someone could convince Burger King to close (or relocate) the drive thru so a something could be built between it and that Jeweller/Yoga building fronting Osborne it would be an astronomical improvement. Honestly even a convenience store, I think it'd do pretty well there with the bus stops, there's nothing between Shell/711 on Corydon and Shell/Macs on Osborne.

I know there's literally 0 chance of this happening unless someone redevelops the land or the city (somehow) retroactively bans drive-thrus in Corydon-Osborne. rool:

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by esquire

I feel you on this. Buhler Centre is okay, in that it's not a totally terrible abomination. But no one is really going to love it or cite it as an example of great Winnipeg architecture. It has that built on the cheap vibe about it.

Actually I know a lot of people who do. It's very much built on the cheap but I personally love the Buhler design. It's very innovative in its simplicity. Looks beautiful at many times of the day and night.

[Boreal]

I too, like the Buhler Centre, and hope that this DIN project moves ahead. It would be a nice addition to the area.

I wonder what the likelihood of Phase 2 is?

Interesting at any rate.

[1ajs]

only thing about buhlr thats botherd me was those grall blade poles and how they break off so easy and are left snaped poor design on that part


inside shot

[esquire]

I get the economic realities of development in Winnipeg and all that and I agree that DIN did a good job considering what they likely had to work with. However, in my view the Buhler Centre would be a great building to have tucked away a bit on a side street as opposed to what is arguably the second or third most prominent intersection in the entire city... it's a solid, well designed Kia or Hyundai on a corner meant for a Rolls Royce.

That said, the bar for Confusion Corner is not set quite as high... the proposal for the Imperial Properties development looks appropriate for its surroundings.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by esquire

I get the economic realities of development in Winnipeg and all that and I agree that DIN did a good job considering what they likely had to work with. However, in my view the Buhler Centre would be a great building to have tucked away a bit on a side street as opposed to what is arguably the second or third most prominent intersection in the entire city... it's a solid, well designed Kia or Hyundai on a corner meant for a Rolls Royce.

That said, the bar for Confusion Corner is not set quite as high... the proposal for the Imperial Properties development looks appropriate for its surroundings.

Speaking of Confusion.. Does anyone know if Confusion Corner Bar & Grill own their parking lot or rents/leases it? It'd be great to see something built there, even if its retail with a parkade above, maybe some residential too. However if they own it I don't think anything happens for 20 years until the land is too valuable to be a free lot.

[esquire]

According to CJOB, MLLC is about to build new front additions to the casinos while also renovating the interiors.

http://www.cjob.com/2015/12/14/mcphillips-st/





Source: cjob.com

These would be a huge improvement over the cheeseball early 90s vintage facades currently adorning both buildings...

[BigG]

The casinos are making a lot of money. Club regent is undergoing a massive expansion also. Government making money on the sins of its citizens.

[bomberjet]

Haven't been by Club Regent in a few weeks. But they already had the entire front stripped down and and looked like new insulation put up. I'm assuming the render from CJOB is whats going back up.

Also they had cleared out the old Park Pontiac, Robins, and McDonalds buildings from the front. Well McDonalds was awaiting its newly completed restaurant to the west of the old Park Pontiac.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by BigG

The casinos are making a lot of money. Club regent is undergoing a massive expansion also. Government making money on the sins of its citizens.

Call me a socialist, but if we're going to have gambling (and we might as well given that people are going to do it either way), it's better if government can benefit and put the proceeds back into the community instead of having guys like this get rich off them:

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by buzzg

If someone could convince Burger King to close (or relocate) the drive thru so a something could be built between it and that Jeweller/Yoga building fronting Osborne it would be an astronomical improvement.

What about a demo of the existing Burger King to have it basically back at the same spot, drive thru included, but as the ground floor of a 3-5 floor building?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by CoryB

What about a demo of the existing Burger King to have it basically back at the same spot, drive thru included, but as the ground floor of a 3-5 floor building?

Now we're talking. Although I'm fine with leaving the drive thru out.

That entire block of the old Dominion store needs to be levelled and rebuilt, including the awful Hilltop Research building. It just sets a terrible vibe for the entire Confusion Corner intersection.

[BigG]

Originally Posted by esquire

Call me a socialist, but if we're going to have gambling (and we might as well given that people are going to do it either way), it's better if government can benefit and put the proceeds back into the community instead of having guys like this get rich off them:

I don't disagree with you. The taxes and profits collected from tobacco, liquor, gambling and, soon, marijuana sales may as well be used to benefit the rest of the population. Whether it be healthcare, infrastructure or other services.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by esquire

According to CJOB, MLLC is about to build new front additions to the casinos while also renovating the interiors.

http://www.cjob.com/2015/12/14/mcphillips-st/



Source: cjob.com

These would be a huge improvement over the cheeseball early 90s vintage facades currently adorning both buildings...

Actually I'm quite pleased with this render of McPhillps St., bringing it up to date with casinos across Canada, giving it a very modern and stream lined exterior....

Although I'm still curious about the Hotel that was proposed some time ago. Possible over saturation of the market in terms of rooms or simply placed on the back burner for the time being?

[esquire]

^ I wonder if saturation of the market is even an issue when it comes to the casino hotel at McPhillips Station (when did it lose the "Street" in the name?)... I'd imagine that hotel, much like the HSC CanadInns, would be relying on facility traffic. No one coming to Winnipeg for a non-casino vacation or for business would be staying there. It's a terrible location for a hotel for anything other than casino purposes.

If the hotelier can secure enough commitments from tour operators to bring in enough gamblers to fill the place up, I'd imagine there is a good chance it will get built eventually...

I wonder what MLLC proposes to do about the railway line, though? The article suggests they want to get rid of it, but that is an important connection to Selkirk and the industries served by rail there. They can't just get rid of the rail line because CanadInns wants to build a hotel there. Would they reroute it instead?

[The Unknown Poster]

Too bad they went with CanadInns. I was at Club Regent for a work party and while the room looked fine, the food and service was 3rd rate.