Winnipeg Construction VIII

[CoryB]

CBC announced yesterday it is selling i's long time Calgary location as part of its internal efforts to evaluate it's properties. The article below mentions the effort is specifically looking at old, out dated facilities with relatively high maintenance costs. This would seem to heavily describe the Winnipeg location on Portage Ave. Maybe it is just a dream but I picture something like a new CBC Manitoba facility just to the west of their existing location done in partnership with the U of W communications and RRC CreCom programs. Once CBC has moved out demo the existing building and make it part of the U of W space, either as a greens space expansion or a new building. Basically have U of W cover several blocks along Portage Ave to tie all their buildings together with the CBC basically be a "guest" on the campus.

CBC Calgary moving and selling long time building.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by CoryB

CBC announced yesterday it is selling i's long time Calgary location as part of its internal efforts to evaluate it's properties. The article below mentions the effort is specifically looking at old, out dated facilities with relatively high maintenance costs. This would seem to heavily describe the Winnipeg location on Portage Ave. Maybe it is just a dream but I picture something like a new CBC Manitoba facility just to the west of their existing location done in partnership with the U of W communications and RRC CreCom programs. Once CBC has moved out demo the existing building and make it part of the U of W space, either as a greens space expansion or a new building. Basically have U of W cover several blocks along Portage Ave to tie all their buildings together with the CBC basically be a "guest" on the campus.

CBC Calgary moving and selling long time building.

Calgary is an odd duck in the CBC universe, it's one of Canada's biggest and most important cities but they have a rickety old CBC facility that looks better suited to a place like Brandon. This plan sounds like it will pave the way to a major overhaul for them.

By contrast, Winnipeg's CBC's facility is not that old... the broadcasting operations take place in the eastern wing of the building which is barely 15 years old. I suppose it's possible that they could try to sell, but I would think the need to replace their facility is a lot less pressing here.

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by esquire

Calgary is an odd duck in the CBC universe, it's one of Canada's biggest and most important cities but they have a rickety old CBC facility that looks better suited to a place like Brandon. This plan sounds like it will pave the way to a major overhaul for them.

By contrast, Winnipeg's CBC's facility is not that old... the broadcasting operations take place in the eastern wing of the building which is barely 15 years old. I suppose it's possible that they could try to sell, but I would think the need to replace their facility is a lot less pressing here.

The weak presence could be related to the fact that Calgary was eliminated as a content-producing local station in the 1980s, when the CBC cut back to one station per province (two in Ontario and French Quebec). As a consolation prize, CBC made Calgary the western production centre for the new CBC Newsworld, which had been slated for Winnipeg.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by BigG

Good read.

Viking's article way more informative and a lot better written than the Guardian article Viking himself posted the link to.

[The Unknown Poster]

Originally Posted by CoryB

CBC announced yesterday it is selling i's long time Calgary location as part of its internal efforts to evaluate it's properties. The article below mentions the effort is specifically looking at old, out dated facilities with relatively high maintenance costs. This would seem to heavily describe the Winnipeg location on Portage Ave. Maybe it is just a dream but I picture something like a new CBC Manitoba facility just to the west of their existing location done in partnership with the U of W communications and RRC CreCom programs. Once CBC has moved out demo the existing building and make it part of the U of W space, either as a greens space expansion or a new building. Basically have U of W cover several blocks along Portage Ave to tie all their buildings together with the CBC basically be a "guest" on the campus.

CBC Calgary moving and selling long time building.

Red River had a decent radio station for their students but a certain someone chased it away.

[LilZebra]

Originally Posted by CoryB

CBC announced yesterday it is selling i's long time Calgary location as part of its internal efforts to evaluate it's properties. The article below mentions the effort is specifically looking at old, out dated facilities with relatively high maintenance costs. This would seem to heavily describe the Winnipeg location on Portage Ave. Maybe it is just a dream but I picture something like a new CBC Manitoba facility just to the west of their existing location done in partnership with the U of W communications and RRC CreCom programs.

Years ago I envisioned a new CBC Manitoba broadcasting centre, located next to Eaton Place on Graham Avenue.

That was prior to 1998 when they tacked on that expansion.

[cheswick]

Condo project on former Palamino Club site. The ICON.

Images from @brent_bellamy twitter:

[h0twired]

Ugh. Could they have put less windows along Portage?

[trueviking]

parking lot and end wall along portage avenue....nice.

[buzzg]

Was this approved? It's the worst possible way that building could be designed, unless it was underground condos with a surface lot on top. Like what would be so bad about putting the parking adjacent to the lane?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Was this approved? It's the worst possible way that building could be designed, unless it was underground condos with a surface lot on top. Like what would be so bad about putting the parking adjacent to the lane?

The building itself isn't that great, but it's roughly on par with most non-downtown/Osborne Village lowrise condo buildings going up around the city so I wouldn't worry about that side of things.

However, changing the orientation of the building would be an easy way to improve things drastically. I wonder if the City can require the developer to put the building up to the street and put the parking in the back? The Downtown Design Board (or whatever it's called) managed to get the developer of the Humphry Inn to do just that years ago... initially they wanted their parking out front, but the City persuaded them to put it in the back and the end result was much better. I wonder if the same sort of thing could be done here?

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by esquire

The building itself isn't that great, but it's roughly on par with most non-downtown/Osborne Village lowrise condo buildings going up around the city so I wouldn't worry about that side of things.

However, changing the orientation of the building would be an easy way to improve things drastically. I wonder if the City can require the developer to put the building up to the street and put the parking in the back? The Downtown Design Board (or whatever it's called) managed to get the developer of the Humphry Inn to do just that years ago... initially they wanted their parking out front, but the City persuaded them to put it in the back and the end result was much better. I wonder if the same sort of thing could be done here?

Although from what I recall of their generally excellent TripAdvisor reviews, security of parking is clearly a significant concern. Not sure if it would be different if their lot weren't hidden around the back, though.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Was this approved? It's the worst possible way that building could be designed, unless it was underground condos with a surface lot on top. Like what would be so bad about putting the parking adjacent to the lane?

Pretty much on the rezoning and subdivision of the lot, 30 day extension on the file granted. See disposition below:

Originally Posted by Cyro

Speaking of the iconic Palamino location...1133-1137 Portage ave.
Up for rezoneing..Demolish everything on the lot, rezone to RMF-L from C2.
Plan Construct: 4 storey 64 unit MF dwelling. 36 in ground parking stalls, 29 surface
parking stalls.

Jan.6 Executive Policy Committee
http://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/DMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=14923&SectionId=&InitUrl=

Disposition of the meeting found here: #3

http://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/DMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=14931&SectionId=&InitUrl=

Building/Parking lot orientation

https://twitter.com/brent_bellamy

[Authentic_City]

Looks like there might be a savior (with some pretty deep pockets) for the Fortune Block and MacDonald Building on Main Street:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/time-may-get-better-for-times-change-d-club-1.3392812

[LilZebra]

Well, they can start by fixing (painting) or replacing that rusted old large pipe on the side of the Fortune building, next to the Sign shop.

I was just about to photograph it and include it in my Winnipeg eyesores blog post.

Glad something is going to be done.

[trueviking]

best news all week!.....spectacular.

[esquire]

^ Yes, that is phenomenal news. Those buildings, from a historical, architectural and cultural (given the presence of Times Changed) standpoint punch far far far above their weight. To see them given new life would be a great thing for downtown Winnipeg. It would be a small but very conspicuous improvement. Kudos to Pollard if he can pull that off.

[CoryB]

I really hope the Pollard deal goes through and the improvements to the builds happen. That said we have seen well intentioned people get caught up in red tape taking on a heritage building project. It is also unclear how willing the current owners are going to be to make a fair and reasonable deal to sell those builds.

[LilZebra]

Renewing the Fortune Building should also include demolishing the Winnipeg Hotel, another eyesore.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by jimj_wpg

Renewing the Fortune Building should also include demolishing the Winnipeg Hotel, another eyesore.

Noooo!!!! It dates back to 1882... what it needs is to have the various indignities inflicted on it over the years undone, and brought back to something resembling its original state.