Winnipeg Construction VIII

[steveosnyder]

Originally Posted by cheswick

What a ludicrous argument to build a parkade. There currently isn't enough parking for the handful or professors to park? An increase of parking costs in the area isn't going to drive a professor or Doctor into taking the bus. What utter nonsense.

The idea that parking is a problem for this reason is funny. The only reason that parking is a 'problem' in the area is because we still don't charge close to market prices for it (because people assume it should be free all the time). Increase the price of parking and more students will tend to take the bus, doctors/professors will still get their indoor heated spots paid for and we will all be the better for it.

[esquire]

^ Transit to HSC is a tougher sell as a destination than downtown... there are relatively few direct routes so most people will have to transfer at least once, in many cases twice.

HSC is a major destination with employees, patients, students and others coming to the site numbering well into in the thousands daily. Even if half of them took the bus the reality is that you'd still need a lot of parking capacity to accommodate everyone else.

[steveosnyder]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Transit to HSC is a tougher sell as a destination than downtown... there are relatively few direct routes so most people will have to transfer at least once, in many cases twice.

HSC is a major destination with employees, patients, students and others coming to the site numbering well into in the thousands daily. Even if half of them took the bus the reality is that you'd still need a lot of parking capacity to accommodate everyone else.

I agree, but bringing the parking supply more in line with the price, instead of the other way around, shows us where our priorities lie.

The number (and number of routes) of buses to HSC is a problem, but it isn't an insurmountable hurdle.

[esquire]

^ For what it's worth, parking at HSC is pretty well near or at downtown prices. I don't get the impression that it's artificially cheap.

Of course, there is a steep drop off in price when you use nearby surface lots, but that's owing in part to the fact that many people simply don't feel very comfortable walking around or leaving their car unsecured beyond the confines of the HSC campus.

[CoryB]

Seems most of the posters here have been lucky enough to never get a call in the middle of the night that a love one is being rushed to the hospital. There are lots of reasons hospitals the parking is common at hospitals and not just in Winnipeg. There is actually a CBC story making the rounds today about how parking rates at Ontario hospitals is unfairly punitive and they will be capped.

The fact of the matter is U of M is planning to eliminate a surface lot on the HSC campus and part of their plan is to add additional levels to the one parkade in that area they have direct control over. If anything these changes will both increase demand and decrease supply of U of M controlled parking at HSC. Isn't that ultimately what people here are wanting?

[esquire]

^ While we're on the topic, I wish St. B would build a decent parkade. On weekdays it is tough to find a parking spot of any kind around there, even if you're willing to pay top dollar. And surface lots abound, making the surrounding area (especially to the south) as ugly as sin.

I wish they'd put up one good sized parkade and relieve the parking pressure that is encouraging the continued use of valuable land for parking.

[bomberjet]

^Never mind the flood of vehicles on surrounding, and pretty quite, residential streets in St. B.

[steveosnyder]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Seems most of the posters here have been lucky enough to never get a call in the middle of the night that a love one is being rushed to the hospital. There are lots of reasons hospitals the parking is common at hospitals and not just in Winnipeg. There is actually a CBC story making the rounds today about how parking rates at Ontario hospitals is unfairly punitive and they will be capped.

The fact of the matter is U of M is planning to eliminate a surface lot on the HSC campus and part of their plan is to add additional levels to the one parkade in that area they have direct control over. If anything these changes will both increase demand and decrease supply of U of M controlled parking at HSC. Isn't that ultimately what people here are wanting?

Acutally, I think the first part is a bit of bull. Being that I have a son who has an anaphylactic reaction to eggs I would love if they charged more for parking, and charged for Sunday's. You can not find a parking spot even remotely close to emergency on a Sunday (this happened about 3 weeks ago), yet the Parkade sits empty.

I ended up leaving my car in the loading zone right outside for about an hour and left my child with the nurse because I had to move my car. So it goes both ways I guess.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Seems most of the posters here have been lucky enough to never get a call in the middle of the night that a love one is being rushed to the hospital. There are lots of reasons hospitals the parking is common at hospitals and not just in Winnipeg. There is actually a CBC story making the rounds today about how parking rates at Ontario hospitals is unfairly punitive and they will be capped.

The fact of the matter is U of M is planning to eliminate a surface lot on the HSC campus and part of their plan is to add additional levels to the one parkade in that area they have direct control over. If anything these changes will both increase demand and decrease supply of U of M controlled parking at HSC. Isn't that ultimately what people here are wanting?

I personally don't want anything, I was pointing out that simply because there is development in the area, there doesn't NEED to be more parking added as some people are suggesting. If it makes financial sense to the University have at it, but the notion that parking to be added is somehow a necessity is an extremely curious statement. Parking rates can be adjusted to equate demand with supply, more supply is not needed just cause more people are in the area. With proper pricing the parking in the area is more than enough for people going for emergencies and doctors finding spots. The lots should be charging the rates to maximize profits.

I don't understand any logic behind a parking rate cap. Its better that you don't find a spot at all then have to pay more for one? Let the market dictate the rate.

Originally Posted by steveosnyder

Acutally, I think the first part is a bit of bull. Being that I have a son who has an anaphylactic reaction to eggs I would love if they charged more for parking, and charged for Sunday's. You can not find a parking spot even remotely close to emergency on a Sunday (this happened about 3 weeks ago), yet the Parkade sits empty.

I ended up leaving my car in the loading zone right outside for about an hour and left my child with the nurse because I had to move my car. So it goes both ways I guess.

Yeah exactly. And that's what capping rates will do for you. There will be more people willing to park at those prices then there are spots for them to park in.

[CoryB]

1. Hospitals can and have setup dedicated sections of parking for new arrivals at the ER. Saying a skies the limit rate would help solve that issue is looking past much more reasonable solutions. No would should be paying $5+ a hour for parking cause they dropped someone off at the ER.

2. In terms of the HSC area, the plans announced this year would either decrease available parking or hold it at comparable levels. One project is underway to increase parking at the Manitoba Clinic parkade in advance of their new building being built on their surface lot and the former gas station. The U of M nursing building will again be built on an existing surface lot and additional levels will be added to an existing parkade.

Overall the direction HSC is going is a definite win for people that hate surface parking lots, pretty sure the new Women's building took out a third one and that is part of a longer list of surface lots that have been lost. If they build another monster parkade to keep up the trend in the longer term I would still consider that a win.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

^Never mind the flood of vehicles on surrounding, and pretty quite, residential streets in St. B.

witnessing the rush of nurses at shift change cross to lyndale drive, Lawndale and pinedale in norwood flats makes me think they aren't getting paid nearly quite enough!

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by Jeff

witnessing the rush of nurses at shift change cross to lyndale drive, Lawndale and pinedale in norwood flats makes me think they aren't getting paid nearly quite enough!

nurses are very well paid! they just mark in my 'hood cause they are either cheap or like the exercise

[Jeff]

(that was said tongue in cheek ) I just say that cause I live in st b as well and frequently have to circle the block whenever I have a car to park and notice the people in scrubs hurrying off back to the suburbs in a tizzy at 4pm!

[BAKGUY]

Which Hotel Brand will rise in True North Square? A 5 Star hotel. so I am guessing, Mariott, Hilton because those brands already exist but also possible yet a bit less likely, Hyatt or Westin. Westin wanted in on Portage and main but that fell thru last year...Anyone else wish to take a guess? I quite like the streetscaping the city and province will do as this will surely make this a public plaza we have yet to see in our city! From what I can surmise, The hotel would be between 14 - 17 floors, the office and residential towers between 18 - 24 floors depending on interest? True North claims they have office space pretty much committed to. I am assuming once Skycity is at a high rate of sold units, then they can determine how many units and floors are needed for the residential component.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by BAKGUY

Which Hotel Brand will rise in True North Square? A 5 Star hotel. so I am guessing, Mariott, Hilton because those brands already exist but less likely, Hyatt or Westin. Anyone else wish to take a guess? I quite like the streetscaping the city and province will do as this will surely make this a public plaza we have ye to see in our city! From what I can surmise, The hotel would be between 12 - 17 floors, the office and residential towers between 18 - 24 floors depending on interest? true North claims they have office space pretty much committed to.

If I had to guess, I'd say it'll likely be a Starwood brand as Marriott is now represented downtown since they took over the Delta chain. Hyatt would be the second most likely.

As for which Starwood brand, I'd say Sheraton or Westin as both are conspicously absent in this city, and both are appropriate for a downtown full service hotel.

[Authentic_City]

Taken yesterday morning at HSC

[CoryB]

Re hospital parking - the direction coming out of Ontario is hospital parking fees will be capped at $10 per day and patients/family can buy multiple day passes in advance that will effectively cap parking costs at $5/day. Both those rates are well below what you would pay at any hospital in Winnipeg currently.

In terms of the True North Square hotel, I don't know the specific brand but I am betting on whomever is the current preferred hotel for visiting NHL and AHL teams. I would also put down Germain as a possibility but less likely.

[The Unknown Poster]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Re hospital parking - the direction coming out of Ontario is hospital parking fees will be capped at $10 per day and patients/family can buy multiple day passes in advance that will effectively cap parking costs at $5/day. Both those rates are well below what you would pay at any hospital in Winnipeg currently.

In terms of the True North Square hotel, I don't know the specific brand but I am betting on whomever is the current preferred hotel for visiting NHL and AHL teams. I would also put down Germain as a possibility but less likely.

I always forget the details (bunch of people here know), but I believe it's the Sheraton parent that has the NHL contract. But it has to be a 5-Star hotel, if Im not mistaken. It would make sense to have a hotel that the NHL can use.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by The Unknown Poster

I always forget the details (bunch of people here know), but I believe it's the Sheraton parent that has the NHL contract. But it has to be a 5-Star hotel, if Im not mistaken. It would make sense to have a hotel that the NHL can use.

Sheraton and Westin usually fall into the 4 star category (along the lines of the existing Delta), but they can be done to a much more upscale standard... some the Sheratons in Asia are eye-popping.

That said, Starwood has some more upscale brands it can use too like Le Meridien or W Hotels (which were both rumoured for the Portage and Main hotel that fell through a couple of years ago) so they're a possibility too, I would think.

I think the true five star Starwood/Hyatt/Marriott brands like St. Regis (the actual chain, not the down at the heels hotel on Smith St.) or Ritz-Carlton are probably not likely as I'm not sure that there's really a market for such a large top-shelf hotel.

[buzzg]

Westin is the first-choice hotel for the NHL, under contract. Any city with a Westin either by the airport or near the arena (within a set distance) automatically gets the contract. Cities without a Westin within the set range, teams are allowed to make their own arrangements, with certain requirements of what a hotel has to have.

In terms of TNS I'd say it's likely to either be Westin or Germain. Because if it's not Westin, there's no guarantee that teams would leave the Fairmont for whatever the new one is. And I can't stress enough how well Germain and TN/Longboat worked well together and how happy they are with the Alt.