Winnipeg | Downtown | True North Square | U/C - Page 74

esquire · #**1461** Posted **Apr 8, 2016, 11:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdog

Earl's tried to build a 20 foot tall building on Main, but it was rejected cause it wasn't quite 30 feet tall.

The only thing that was "small" about that project was the floor count... other than that it was a sprawling low density beast with a parking lot to match.

Riverman · #**1462** Posted **Apr 9, 2016, 1:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluenote

Meanwhile the riverboats get shipped out of province or rot away.
They have no where to dock in this city. Something the so called forward thinkers of the forks never thought of. Instead they built way way to small docks for the river boats.

As for it being closed. It os still closed and will be closed till they remove it and put some grass down plant a few trees and call it a park.

The riverboats were a business whose time has passed. The last nail in their coffin was Gord Cartright's little tour boat business at The Forks - jump on for as little or as much time as you want without a 3-4 hour commitment, all for less cost. That is what killed the riverboats' business, not lack of docking.

The Paddlewheel Queen is being converted to a self-propelled barge. The Princess is up for sale, if you see such a great business opportunity, buy it and go to town.

The city closed the Alexender dock for "structural issues" officially, but there is nothing wrong with that dock. All of the MMIW protests, that dragging the river bullshit group and several bonfires lit on the dock caused the city to close it. It is a liability issue, plain and simple.

The docks at the Forks were not put in last year because they were burned in their storage location, twice.

esquire · #**1463** Posted **Apr 9, 2016, 2:27 AM**

^ It's crazy how those riverboats went from being one of the city's most popular attractions in the 60s and 70s to utterly forgotten by the start of this decade.

I went on the River Rouge a few years ago on a summer long weekend afternoon and there were so few people on board the operator probably barely made enough to pay the overhead.

Cyro · #**1464** Posted **Apr 9, 2016, 2:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Latest photo from TNS construction cam. This one won't change either haha. The hole getting ever closer to be done. I think they'll leave another ramp at the far corner, similar to what they have now. They're seems to be a gate there, but maybe I'm wrong.

Nice..

They're moving at an exceptional pace.

It looks like the gate could be there.

Andy6 · #**1465** Posted **Apr 9, 2016, 2:27 PM**

That reminded me of an old photo I have of the excavation for the Eaton's factory (mail order) building, now Cityplace ... exactly 100 years ago (the photo is dated May 30, 1916). The photo is badly faded, but you can see Eaton's Powerhouse in the shot, along with the Annex, Eaton's and the Time Building in the distance. (I wonder who would have been around to do this work in the middle of the war.)

Equipment changes, but excavations are excavations... I wonder what they'll be excavating in the spring of 2116.

[IMG]

Excavations, T. Eaton Co. Ltd., May 30, 1916 by wintorbos, on Flickr[/IMG]

Urban recluse · #**1466** Posted **Apr 9, 2016, 2:50 PM**

I am anxious for the project to be finished. Can you imagine, standing in front of this development, looking to your right down Graham, seeing Sky Tower, to the left, hopefully a redeveloped Bay Building, with many smaller improvements in between.

Bdog · #**1467** Posted **Apr 9, 2016, 6:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

The only thing that was "small" about that project was the floor count... other than that it was a sprawling low density beast with a parking lot to match.

Not sure what was "sprawling" about a new restaurant that was to front the street and actually be built upon an existing parking lot (while keeping the existing building where it is) - I'd call it infill. The last page was making a case for subdividing large parking lots into smaller lots that could be developed with small scale buildings. I guess this is different though cause it's a chain restaurant, doesn't look "urban" enough, and 20 feet as 1 storey isn't as good 20 feet as 2 storeys.

esquire · #**1468** Posted **Apr 9, 2016, 8:05 PM**

^ When I say small buildings, I don't mean a small standalone box on a large surface parking lot. I mean buildings like this one on Alexander, built right to the sidewalk and with the full intention of having neighbours on either side.

Urban recluse · #**1469** Posted **Apr 9, 2016, 8:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdog

Not sure what was "sprawling" about a new restaurant that was to front the street and actually be built upon an existing parking lot (while keeping the existing building where it is) - I'd call it infill. The last page was making a case for subdividing large parking lots into smaller lots that could be developed with small scale buildings. I guess this is different though cause it's a chain restaurant, doesn't look "urban" enough, and 20 feet as 1 storey isn't as good 20 feet as 2 storeys.

The project was a disaster. Earl's refused to put the parking behind the building for starters. The design was too suburban.

Bdog · #**1470** Posted **Apr 9, 2016, 9:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

^ When I say small buildings, I don't mean a small standalone box on a large surface parking lot. I mean buildings like this one on Alexander, built right to the sidewalk and with the full intention of having neighbours on either side.

To be fair, Maxim Bakery (which I love), is essentially a stand-alone box on a surface parking lot. The Earls proposal, was also to be built to the sidewalk (replacing an existing dusty surface lot). What the neighbours do with their land (in this case the 1-storey building directly to its north, theCentury Plaza annex, and its surface lot) are up to them. Anyway, hopefully there's enough demand that something more to the forum's liking gets proposed soon to replace that horrid surface lot - I'm sure that's something we can all agree on.

bomberjet · #**1471** Posted **Apr 12, 2016, 2:40 PM**

By the end of the week, the white crane up top is going to be teetering on the edge. Drill rig has been moved down to the bottom. I'll bet the crane will be down sometime soon too. They look to be moving fast on completing the dig.

bomberjet · #**1472** Posted **Apr 12, 2016, 3:15 PM**

Actually, looks like they're preping to run that crane down the slope right now. Excavator is trimming up a smooth area. Seems iffy to me, but hey.

Wolf13 · #**1473** Posted **Apr 12, 2016, 4:03 PM**

True North's Progress is encouraging. I still remember, not long ago, thinking (like a Winnipegger) that this won't ACTUALLY happen and the dream will die. Their persistence has surely lit a fire under the other recent major developments. Finally, people aren't scared of getting shit done.

Is "shit" too uncouth on this board?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

The project was a disaster. Earl's refused to put the parking behind the building for starters. The design was too suburban.

I'm obviously late to all this, but is there a rendering/link to the design floating around?

BigG · #**1474** Posted **Apr 12, 2016, 4:08 PM**

Shit's fine. BTW, welcome to the forum.

Biff · #**1475** Posted **Apr 12, 2016, 4:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf13

Is "shit" too uncouth on this board?

I am actually offended by your use of "uncouth". Your big fancy words don't belong on a construction related forum.......

joking of course. Welcome aboard!

bomberjet · #**1476** Posted **Apr 12, 2016, 4:29 PM**

And she down in the hole now.

http://www.truenorthsquare.com/development/constructionupdate/

Wolf13 · #**1477** Posted **Apr 12, 2016, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigG

Shit's fine. BTW, welcome to the forum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

I am actually offended by your use of "uncouth". Your big fancy words don't belong on a construction related forum.......

joking of course. Welcome aboard!

Thanks fellas.

After typing uncouth, I was still unsure and spellchecked it twice.

Cyro · #**1478** Posted **Apr 12, 2016, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf13

Is "shit" too uncouth on this board?

Shit no!

It all has to do with context my friend. Calling out a poster as a Shit____, won't fly...

bomberjet · #**1479** Posted **Apr 14, 2016, 4:34 PM**

I wonder if the caissons they've been installing are test caissons for the engineers? The two they've been drilling are now buried below ground surface. Appears they're working on another one next to the church. Also they've been using those two box drill rig things for a while now, doing testing I presume. All that work was done beneath the footprint of the two towers, so I'm assuming that's what they've been up to.

cllew · #**1480** Posted **Apr 14, 2016, 5:44 PM**

I haven't seen anybody being lowered down one of them in a body harness to check out the bottom. that was a common sight when the MTS center was being built. Its sure not a job for somebody that's claustrophobic.

would test caissons be filled with rebar cages and concrete? that's what has happened to all the ones I have seen being created before being covered over with the dirt and crushed limestone rocks.