Winnipeg Construction VIII

[drew]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Let's spend your money (where the city gets its funding) on a project with no clear benefit. Saying P&M should stay closed is not "just because" but rather a justify your expenditure of the tax money you are collecting.

How much money does it take to remove the barriers and rehab the sidewalks and replace the lights?

They just spent the better part of a million dollars re-habing the backlane behind the building I work in, for no clear benefit, and no one even questioned it.

Now, we have an opportunity to open up the singular intersection in Winnipeg, and we are going to nickel and dime it - over a very modest amount?

[drew]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

The benefit of keeping it closed is for the majority, I would venture to guess that in an unbiased poll 80% of the respondents would feel this way. The vocal minority seems to be rallying for the opening against the wishes of a silent majority!

More made up numbers. Thanks for clarifying my point.

[Bdog]

I find it (sadly) almost funny that this is the most divisive topic on our corner of the forum for the past few years. I can't remember an issue that both sides were so adamantly opposed to the other that they start saying things like "I can't understand how anyone could think the other way". Crazy.

I personally would like to see the intersection opened, but don't think it's that big of a deal. I can see both sides, and understand where both sides are coming from. Sure it would be nice not to have to detour, and the underground can be disorienting and awkward. However, there aren't 50 storefronts within a block in every direction like there was 40 years ago, and I think the impact on downtown or the perception of downtown will be minimal.

I also hope that the traffic and safety impacts are considered carefully. And not because I care about sitting in traffic for an extra 45 seconds (because I don't) - I just wouldn't want to see driver backlash get to a point where politicians start considering alternative measures (e.g. expressways downtown) and the like.

[oftheMoon]

Waverly West infrastructure like that awesome flyover off Bishop, Plessis underpass, proposed Waverly underpass, Chief Peguis extension...

[Only The Lonely..]

My thinking on the subject of Portage & Main is, let's give it a try for a year or two, open it up, and see what happens.

If the place is so desolate that nobody wants to visit, then there should be no problem with pedestrians interrupting the flow of traffic.

If it proves chaotic, then close it again. We can always go back to shuttling people underneath.

There's no downside to this, we are already living with the worst case scenario. The corner is already devoid of human life.

I like many of you drive through Portage & Main several times a day and see no issue with re-opening it.

I am a motorist, transit user, bicyclist and pedestrian. I have interacted with that corner in all of those ways.


IMHO, there are many worse intersections for traffic like Regent & Lag or Route 90 and Sterling Lyon where we allow people to cross at-grade and its not the end of the world.

[windypeg]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Good post, hard to argue with folk who think opening something closed for 30 years will somehow bring back past glory when there is nothing left to bring back. This open Portage and Main call for "just because" only resonates with a very small minority who for all we know may have ulterior motives.

Please enlighten us as to who is in on the conspiracy and what they have to gain from it other than a less depressing environment at our city's most prominent corner.

Originally Posted by rrskylar

The benefit of keeping it closed is for the majority, I would venture to guess that in an unbiased poll 80% of the respondents would feel this way. The vocal minority seems to be rallying for the opening against the wishes of a silent majority!

The opposition has been anything but silent. And just because most Winnipegers oppose it doesn't mean it's a bad idea - heck, based on past track record that's almost a reason to endorse it in this city that hates change. People thought the Forks and MTS Centre were going to be terrible failures too. Our citizenry tends to be closed minded and lacks vision.

[buzzg]

360 Main would be the #1 tenant to oppose reopening, if they even do, with Richardson in 2nd (but I think the Richardsons pretty much have to support the City). If Artis comes with the 360 reno plan and it reorganizaes Scotiabank and puts an entrance or even OTHER CRUs there (restaurant), then that alone would make sense for the barriers to come down, it means businesses are interested in the corner. These things take time.

It has always baffled me why Hy's doesn't have a patio fronting on Portage & Main. There's tons of room, and for those who are going to say it'd be too windy, dusty, loud... there's other patios on Main and on Portage, and ways to mitigate... look what Earls did on KING STREET in downtown Toronto. Glass that deflects sound pollution and wind (look at right of photo).

http://s3.amazonaws.com/btoimageupload/patios/201282-earls-toronto2.jpg

[cheswick]

UofW residence apartment thing. Nearing completion

[BigG]

^^That's a refreshing change of topic. Thanks.

[esquire]

I like it... it makes the Memorial Blvd mall feel a bit more like a proper mall by adding a bit of height. Hopefully one day the hideous Bay parkade will get replaced with a more appropriate building and really take things to the next level.

[CoryB]

^^ You mean like the office tower proposed for Hydro?

[Urban recluse]

Great photo. Thank you.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by buzzg

It has always baffled me why Hy's doesn't have a patio fronting on Portage & Main. There's tons of room, and for those who are going to say it'd be too windy, dusty, loud... there's other patios on Main and on Portage, and ways to mitigate... look what Earls did on KING STREET in downtown Toronto. Glass that deflects sound pollution and wind (look at right of photo).

http://s3.amazonaws.com/btoimageupload/patios/201282-earls-toronto2.jpg

Have u ever stoped at the base of that building for long periods of time its a wind tunnel there padio would be a disaster for them with the gusts u get outa no where its insane I've sat there trying to have lunch the TD building would be a better spot shame as Richardson's have a nice plazza

[esquire]

^ Hy's doesn't really seem like a patio kind of joint...

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Hy's doesn't really seem like a patio kind of joint...

Why not? The Keg in downtown Toronto has a great patio in between a couple of towers and is a great place to hang out in on a summer evening.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by h0twired

Why not? The Keg in downtown Toronto has a great patio in between a couple of towers and is a great place to hang out in on a summer evening.

Hy's is more of an old-school style steakhouse, it just doesn't seem like something they'd naturally have. Maybe if they had a location where a patio would really make sense it might fly, but the plaza in front of the Richardson Building doesn't strike me as one of those places.

[scryer]

I agree with the person who said that we are now living with the worst case scenario: Portage and main being completely devoid of life. Like holy 🞵🞵🞵🞵, knock down those walls that force pedestrians underground, and have them cross the street like every other major city in Canada.

It's not like they won't have the option to traverse through the super confusing underground walk-way in the winter anyways . If you want a little bit of vibrancy in downtown Winnipeg then you're going to need people to come out of the caves and use the sidewalks. Don't worry the storefront businesses will show when the demand is at their doorstep.

This doesn't need pages of opinions.

[Bluenote]

Originally Posted by scryer

I agree with the person who said that we are now living with the worst case scenario: Portage and main being completely devoid of life. Like holy 🞵🞵🞵🞵, knock down those walls that force pedestrians underground, and have them cross the street like every other major city in Canada.

It's not like they won't have the option to traverse through the super confusing underground walk-way in the winter anyways . If you want a little bit of vibrancy in downtown Winnipeg then you're going to need people to come out of the caves and use the sidewalks. Don't worry the storefront businesses will show when the demand is at their doorstep.

This doesn't need pages of opinions.

Thank goodness we do not have a subway system. You'd be telling the city to fill it in as it takes away vibrancy lol

[DancingDuck]

Would the Great Portage and Main Debate perhaps be better in the roads and infrastructure thread rather than with the general construction thread?

[1ajs]