Winnipeg | Exchange District | Developments & Discussions

[TimeFadesAway]

Originally Posted by esquire

And the fact that it opens this desirable plot of land up for redevelopment is a nice plus too.

People in Winnipeg throw around the 'transformation' word a lot in this town. But of any projects short of moving the CPR yard, a well thought out and executed project in this space has the potential to spur the transformation of a huge area (most of South Point Douglas).

[esquire]

^ No one project is likely to be transformative... but combine a bunch of smaller projects like Waterfront Drive residences, pumping station site redevelopment and Canada Cartage site redevelopment, and you can certainly start throwing around the "t" word...

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ No one project is likely to be transformative... but combine a bunch of smaller projects like Waterfront Drive residences, pumping station site redevelopment and Canada Cartage site redevelopment, and you can certainly start throwing around the "t" word...

u forgot about ogilve and the soap plant lands

[TimeFadesAway]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

u forgot about ogilve and the soap plant lands

Developments on those, plus the Watkin's building and the Gateway mess are some of the things that I am hoping a proper development of the Canada Cartage site will spur.

Speaking of Gateway, I was walking on the riverbank this fall poking around because the water levels were so low. At the southern tip of Point Douglas, which would be the Gateway riverbank, the 'land' of the bank isn't actually soil, but tremendous piles of compressed discarded asphalt shingles. We're talking about 100 feet of riverbank, 15-20 feet high.

[bomberjet]

What a mess that place is. But I really like when the river is low like that. Exposes so many hidden features, and garbage, that are usually not visible.

[Kris22]

Here's an update on two Sandhu rental projects on the fringe of the western exchange. I have to say I'm happy they've taken the chance to develop these buildings considering that they are not "prime" exchange district territory; the bag factory is way up on Stanley and Alexander, and the other building is on Adelaide behind the cinema. Both total deadzones at night.

One complaint I have is the "filling in" of the original large, warehouse window sizes with much smaller windows. It looks stupid and alters the heritage aesthetic of the building. Not to mention one of the major draws of these types of buildings is the enormous windows...most of these rental suites are tiny (~500 sq ft) so large windows goes a long way to open up a small space. I live in the area in a similar development that kept the enormous, almost floor-to-ceiling windows and it was basically the selling point for me. I don't turn any lights on during the day.







And the one on Adelaide:

[Urban recluse]

Thank you for those; they look great.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

Thank you for those; they look great.

Yeah, I agree. And in a location where I don't think many would have expected there to be great interest in residential units.

I agree that bigger windows would have been better, but I'm guessing that huge windows might have ruined the economics of the project... as it is, they're not great but not terrible either considering that the development is probably on a really tight margin.

Thanks for the pictures!

[mattpa]

Worked at both sites bag factory is a interesting design but the windows are good because it was a warehouse you have to remember that you can still see alot out of both buildings adalaide is a lot better in my opinion because you have indoor parking but the units are smaller or feel smaller to the bag factory both these places were to get students living in them with being close to red river. I couldnt live at thebag factory everyday on alexander they shoot up coke so always messed up people there

[Urban recluse]

It is unfortunate about the windows. The Bag Lofts project looks very good, but the Adelaide building did not fare as well. Still, the building will add more value to the area as residential than a storage facility.

[Kris22]

Originally Posted by mattpa

Worked at both sites bag factory is a interesting design but the windows are good because it was a warehouse you have to remember that you can still see alot out of both buildings adalaide is a lot better in my opinion because you have indoor parking but the units are smaller or feel smaller to the bag factory both these places were to get students living in them with being close to red river. I couldnt live at thebag factory everyday on alexander they shoot up coke so always messed up people there

Ya I have a feeling the Bag Factory will be slow to fill up just because it's off the beaten path and that corner of the Exchange doesn't feel safe at night. It all comes down to "eyes on the street"; deserted areas are much more likely to be dangerous. That being said this development will be the beginning of getting those eyes on the street and some foot traffic at night.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

It is unfortunate about the windows. The Bag Lofts project looks very good, but the Adelaide building did not fare as well. Still, the building will add more value to the area as residential than a storage facility.

I actually think the opposite lol. At least The Stables the brown "filler" panels blend better with the old brick. The Bag Factory green fillers look ridiculous with the all white building and white plastic windows. I feel like they should've either gone with really bright colours and been purposeful, or just all white... was the building natural before or already painted?

Originally Posted by Kris22

Ya I have a feeling the Bag Factory will be slow to fill up just because it's off the beaten path and that corner of the Exchange doesn't feel safe at night. It all comes down to "eyes on the street"; deserted areas are much more likely to be dangerous. That being said this development will be the beginning of getting those eyes on the street and some foot traffic at night.

I know several people who are (going) in there, young people. The rents are reasonable and it's nice being in a new place. When/if that RRC building goes up it'll help continue to bridge the gap.

[drew]

Are those buildings within the boundaries of the exchange? If they are, I can't see how they ever got permission to do the windows that way.

IMO, those windows are inexcusable. Horrible. Lazy. Embarrassing.

[NK59]

Originally Posted by drew

Are those buildings within the boundaries of the exchange? If they are, I can't see how they ever got permission to do the windows that way.

IMO, those windows are inexcusable. Horrible. Lazy. Embarrassing.

Totally agree. Those are awful. They could have maybe even put two windows in that space and framed between them. Maybe it has something to do with the floor plan inside, but I'm assuming they just cheaped out on windows.

[jmt18325]

I'm not one to criticize, but I agree about the windows. They should have at least centred them. It's looks terrible.

[bomberjet]

Those windows lol Looks like they pulled up to TAG warehouse downtown and loaded out all their stock. Brutal. Nice to have those buildings developed though.

[jmt18325]

It looks like temporary windows you'd put in during construction.

[esquire]

The Bag Factory turned out sorta-OK, I'll wait and see how the Stables (or whatever they call it) turns out before passing judgment although I'll say that at the moment it's not looking that promising.

[Urban recluse]

Perhaps a decade from now, the buildings will be sold, and new, larger windows will be installed. Certainly loft living is attractive with large windows as a basic feature.

[1ajs]

They did it with future renovations in mind at least and the ones on adelaid look like they out ac in then