Winnipeg Construction VIII

[pegcityfan]

Saw this morning that the green tiles have all been removed from the entrance of the Walker Theatre entrance exterior (see below photo for reference of the green tiles). Man I hope True North spends some coin on the exterior. A beautiful theatre deserves a nice exterior or at the very least a nice entrance.

[esquire]

^ Agreed completely. It's nice that the theatre was rescued back in the 90s, but it still has a shabby appearance, especially on the outside. A little bit of work would go along way.

[CoryB]

Hopefully in the short to long term True North can buy out the car rental location and build a large, modern lobby at the corner of Smith and Ellice for the Walker Theater. They could even look into putting some sort of restaurant on the second floor of that new lobby to try and capture some of that market like they so skillfully execute at the MTS Centre.

The other thing the new lobby could offered is expanded and more modern green room/dressing room area backstage for the performers at the Walker. I haven't seen what they have now but it is anything like what Pantages had pre-addition is really could use an upgrade.

[pegcityfan]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Hopefully in the short to long term True North can buy out the car rental location and build a large, modern lobby at the corner of Smith and Ellice for the Walker Theater. They could even look into putting some sort of restaurant on the second floor of that new lobby to try and capture some of that market like they so skillfully execute at the MTS Centre.

The other thing the new lobby could offered is expanded and more modern green room/dressing room area backstage for the performers at the Walker. I haven't seen what they have now but it is anything like what Pantages had pre-addition is really could use an upgrade.

Was thinking the same thing. A bar-restaurant with possibly rooftop patio for pre-gamers and after parties would generate some extra dollars for the venue.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Hopefully in the short to long term True North can buy out the car rental location and build a large, modern lobby at the corner of Smith and Ellice for the Walker Theater. They could even look into putting some sort of restaurant on the second floor of that new lobby to try and capture some of that market like they so skillfully execute at the MTS Centre.

The other thing the new lobby could offered is expanded and more modern green room/dressing room area backstage for the performers at the Walker. I haven't seen what they have now but it is anything like what Pantages had pre-addition is really could use an upgrade.

TNSE actually refreshed the green room not long ago, although it wasn't expanded. Details here.

But I'm with you, I'd love to see an expansion. Personally I'd rather not see the Burt swallow up the rental car garage (although something else can go there) for a restaurant, as there are enough existing restaurants nearby for people to patronize. What I'd love to see is an expansion along the lines of what was proposed for the Western Canada Music Hall of Fame around a decade ago.

Unfortunately I can't find a rendering for the latter project, but it basically involved building a nice steel and glass box on the small lawn area immediately south of the existing lobby. Something like that could create a nice lobby/reception area along the lines of what exists at the Playhouse.

[buzzg]

Yeah they had mentioned they wanted to expand the lobby. And they technically didn't "expand" the greenroom, but they added more rooms. There were a bunch of unused ones that they redid, including a full gym.

I'd actually rather see the triangle parking lot north of the Burt used for a lobby/addition, because I think long term that land is much more difficult to develop than the Enterprise one. I feel like that one's only a matter of time. Plus the one to the north could nicely keep the street wall from Princess going south if they decided to put CRUs on that side.

[esquire]

^ That plot north of the Burt is actually decently sized for a mixed use lowrise development. It would make a perfect spot for a smaller player like Sandhu to build something with commercial space on the main level and perhaps 3 or 4 floors of residential above. It would be a very marketable site given the proximity to downtown hotspots like P&M/SHED and the Exchange District.

[1ajs]

work has begun on the deer almond storefront

[flatlander]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

work has begun on the deer almond storefront

The final nail in the coffin of the former Chitaly restaurant.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Yeah they had mentioned they wanted to expand the lobby. And they technically didn't "expand" the greenroom, but they added more rooms. There were a bunch of unused ones that they redid, including a full gym.

I'd actually rather see the triangle parking lot north of the Burt used for a lobby/addition, because I think long term that land is much more difficult to develop than the Enterprise one. I feel like that one's only a matter of time. Plus the one to the north could nicely keep the street wall from Princess going south if they decided to put CRUs on that side.

While the lot you mention to the north makes sense too the challenge is the stage side is on the south of the existing building. If you are correct though and the existing green room space includes a full gym in sounds like there is enough space in the existing footprint that they could do some amazing work.

What would be nice to see is a lobby similar to what the Pantages added many years ago. I only mentioned the idea of a restaurant/bar as that is totally in keeping with the True North playbook. Basically in their ideal world you park in the lot they own, go to one of their venues before an event for dinner/drinks, attend an event at their facility and buy some concessions and souvenirs there, then you go to another venue of theirs for some post-event drinks. It is not my vision on how things are done but rather how True North wants to capture as many of those event based dollars as they can. I think it is just a matter of time until Walker Theater is a place you can have dinner before an event there. It is just too tempting to True North to pass up those dollars. It would equally not be surprising to see them try and purchase the weird triangle lot across the street from the Walker.

[EndoftheBeginning]

The UFO, grabbed from my dashcam video yesterday.

Note the crawler crane in the far background - anyone refresh me on what is going up there south-southwest of the Entegra Credit Union? Steel frame was partially up.

[bomberjet]

Crawler crane is for the new sports buildings going in for the Canada Summer Games on Pacific, and of course just for people to use. Can'r remember the exact name.

Also, on the UFO. There were people working on it when I went by on Monday. Doesn't look like much is happening there. But seems to be slowly progressing.

[no use for username]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Crawler crane is for the new sports buildings going in for the Canada Summer Games on Pacific, and of course just for people to use. Can'r remember the exact name.

Also, on the UFO. There were people working on it when I went by on Monday. Doesn't look like much is happening there. But seems to be slowly progressing.

I believe this is the project

http://www.sportmanitoba.ca/canada-games-centre/qualico-training-centre-construction-0

[EndoftheBeginning]

Originally Posted by no use for username

I believe this is the project

http://www.sportmanitoba.ca/canada-games-centre/qualico-training-centre-construction-0

Ah yes, thanks for the link. They have a construction photo page but it's not very current (last photo was December 2015).

[esquire]

Nice dashcam pic, End.

For a while I was wondering whether the spaceship project was going to fall apart but it looks like it's really in the home stretch now. Love it or hate it, that building is going to be a landmark for years to come.

[bomberjet]

Only issue I have with the UFO is it blocks the view of downtown! Still get a good view from the crest of the Red Rivder bridge though.

[bomberjet]

Council approved $6M in funding for AT projects this year. Some construction, some planning for further upgrades.

Includes a study for determining location of a river Crossing from West to North kildonan. This had been talked about previously, connecting Kildonan Park to Kildonan Drive. And the proximity to Chief Peguis Trail. We'll see where the crossing ends up.

Many other locations across the City being looked at, including downtown and the NW Hydro corridor we were talking about yesterday in the transit thread.

http://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/DMIS/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=15303&SectionId=&InitUrl=

Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Reports.


Geographically, it would make most sense to cross at Bronx Park to the City owned land on the west side at Scotia & Rupertsland. Functionally, it would make most sense to connect Kildonan Drive Park to Kildonan Park.

[rkspec]

i kinda like it! (hope this pic auto resizes)


right click, view image if it does not

[esquire]

^ Nice pic, can't wait until that view is augmented by 300 Main.

[bomberjet]

I noticed the Winter Club tennis courts site is up for sale. $2.3M. Looks like no one can make anything of that site.