Winnipeg Construction IX

[Urban recluse]

Not bad at all.

https://www.google.ca/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!...ahUKEwjOpMmXrvbNAhUW6mMKHXKhDyEQpx8IcjAK

[CoryB]

The challenge is unless someone makes a large offer to buy out O'Calcutta it is likely to remain. You would likely need to buy the building and business as a going concern too.

[1ajs]

wow they butchered the rbc building hope they put that detail back on :s

[Urban recluse]

Great shots. I am anxious for the recladding to be done.

[rrskylar]

New camera 1ajs?

[Urban recluse]

The upper floors of 280 Fort would make fabulous restaurant space. Ruth's Chris perhaps? Then there's the Vendome, which could become a charming boutique hotel. That stretch of Fort has a lot of potential.

http://www.shindico.com/index.php/component/iproperty/property/255-280-fort-street-winnipeg

[buzzg]

To be honest I think a Sev or McDonald's would be one of the best things for that stretch of Portage. It would show that major companies actually give a 🞵🞵🞵🞵 about being there, they're both companies that have no problem spending money on nicer designs for prominent locations, and they would both be busy at all hours. Plus Sev has the bonus of being an actual 24-hour convenience store. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the only other one downtown is the Mac's on Carlton.

[buzzg]

I am not going to complain about any of the new development going on, it's all incredible, but I fear our decades-old issue of downtown being too big/spread out is only getting worse, even though there are a lot more people downtown now. U of W area, now TNS and The Shed, Fort and Garry have lots of potential, Graham is in there as well, Portage is struggling, Exchange is doing well but is some what separate from the south of Portage area, The Forks is way far out past the emptiness of Main.

We still have no clearly defined action areas and it frightens me. I think this is where CV really needs to step it up and focus their efforts. My thoughts - focus on Fort/Garry/Graham. Those streets will serve as the main links between The Forks, downtown and the Exchange, and the rest will follow. Lets try and create one great, lively strip/area rather than 5 ok ones.

[beatlesque]

- my photo

[buzzg]

Maybe it's just me but they seem to be moving along quite quickly. I know they had said 2 years but seems like they could finish the reclad this summer. Unless they were including fixing up the entire rest of the complex, but I'd assume that would wait until 300 and the connecting part were complete.

[buzzg]

Don't know the best thread for this but does anyone know the city's actual 'new' rules for planting trees on boulevard's, etc? I ask because I was told they no longer plant boulevard trees due to harsh conditions, which is why Corydon (Little Italy) has so many empty tree beds that are just filled with flowers, and it looks ridiculous. HOWEVER – in the last few weeks a ton of new trees were planted on Portage Avenue downtown (median and boulevard), in Osborne Village, Broadway, and several other places that are way more inhospitable to trees.

It really irks me that the trees are not being replaced on Corydon both in the Village, and in the median in River Heights, and on Grant, etc. It 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵. Also, because they were sporadically planted and not done in the centre, we have lost (and will lose more) median trees on Pembina from the bike lane project. I'm ok with that, it's an unfortunate but necessary evil for a good project, but I just hope they plant more after construction wraps up.

[Svenn]

So they just put a new red banner advertising Shopper's Drug Mart over the entrance to Wpg Square at Graham and Fort. The old banner said Chamberlyn's on it and maybe that's why they replaced it...but I'm wondering maybe if Shopper's is planning on expanding into the old Garry's Deli and Chamberlyn's spaces since that whole section is vacant now. Maybe that's the grocery store component that's part of the 300 main development????

[Urban recluse]

Originally Posted by buzzg

I am not going to complain about any of the new development going on, it's all incredible, but I fear our decades-old issue of downtown being too big/spread out is only getting worse, even though there are a lot more people downtown now. U of W area, now TNS and The Shed, Fort and Garry have lots of potential, Graham is in there as well, Portage is struggling, Exchange is doing well but is some what separate from the south of Portage area, The Forks is way far out past the emptiness of Main.

We still have no clearly defined action areas and it frightens me. I think this is where CV really needs to step it up and focus their efforts. My thoughts - focus on Fort/Garry/Graham. Those streets will serve as the main links between The Forks, downtown and the Exchange, and the rest will follow. Lets try and create one great, lively strip/area rather than 5 ok ones.

It really comes down to keeping more people and attracting more younger professionals who will live downtown: demand.

Also, the more places like the St. Regis that disappear the better. As we've discussed, places like the Marlborough remind me of the 90s when downtown was at its worst. Many Winnipeggers see this and they don't want to be around that mess.

[lilwayne]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

It really comes down to keeping more people and attracting more younger professionals who will live downtown: demand.

Also, the more places like the St. Regis that disappear the better. As we've discussed, places like the Marlborough remind me of the 90s when downtown was at its worst. Many Winnipeggers see this and they don't want to be around that mess.

Ya I can't stand hotels like winnipeg hotel woodbine princess hotel being so close to the gl heart of downtown they look like dumps

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

New camera 1ajs?

9 months ago

[esquire]

Originally Posted by buzzg

I am not going to complain about any of the new development going on, it's all incredible, but I fear our decades-old issue of downtown being too big/spread out is only getting worse, even though there are a lot more people downtown now. U of W area, now TNS and The Shed, Fort and Garry have lots of potential, Graham is in there as well, Portage is struggling, Exchange is doing well but is some what separate from the south of Portage area, The Forks is way far out past the emptiness of Main.

We still have no clearly defined action areas and it frightens me. I think this is where CV really needs to step it up and focus their efforts. My thoughts - focus on Fort/Garry/Graham. Those streets will serve as the main links between The Forks, downtown and the Exchange, and the rest will follow. Lets try and create one great, lively strip/area rather than 5 ok ones.

I generally agree with what you're saying although I don't think it's getting worse. I'd say that it's actually getting better but obviously the lack of a single nerve centre where you have all of the elements to create an attractive urban environment means that there won't be much of a multiplier effect... every development whether public or private sector driven is effectively standalone.

As we see more development the various sub-precincts downtown start to grow closer to one another which is positive, but the lack of quality walkable strips with a variety of businesses and residents is really holding Winnipeg back. If Skycity gets off the ground then I think focusing efforts on Graham/Fort/Garry/Smith would be wise. The key though would be to encourage smaller developments... 5 or 6 buildings on the scale of The Pint would make more of a difference than a half-block long beast.

[Urban recluse]

I agree Esquire. I think SkyCity will have a huge impact on the immediate area. If the Garrick is sold to a buyer who wants to clean it up; renovate the upper floors into affordable condos, that would be amazing. Again, Graham has the most potential to become a vibrant destination. Seeing smaller buildings built, at least a block of no interruptions on either side would be spectacular. Redeveloping the Vendome, building a couple of 5 storey buildings in the surface lot between the yoga place and 300 Fort, refreshing 300 Fort's facade, filling the surface lot beside the Pint, etc would be great.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by Svenn

So they just put a new red banner advertising Shopper's Drug Mart over the entrance to Wpg Square at Graham and Fort. The old banner said Chamberlyn's on it and maybe that's why they replaced it...but I'm wondering maybe if Shopper's is planning on expanding into the old Garry's Deli and Chamberlyn's spaces since that whole section is vacant now. Maybe that's the grocery store component that's part of the 300 main development????

I've had this exact thought. Shoppers in other cities are more full service groceries. That expansion makes total sense.

[LilZebra]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Don't know the best thread for this but does anyone know the city's actual 'new' rules for planting trees on boulevard's, etc? I ask because I was told they no longer plant boulevard trees due to harsh conditions, which is why Corydon (Little Italy) has so many empty tree beds that are just filled with flowers, and it looks ridiculous. HOWEVER – in the last few weeks a ton of new trees were planted on Portage Avenue downtown (median and boulevard), in Osborne Village, Broadway, and several other places that are way more inhospitable to trees.

It really irks me that the trees are not being replaced on Corydon both in the Village, and in the median in River Heights, and on Grant, etc. It 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵. Also, because they were sporadically planted and not done in the centre, we have lost (and will lose more) median trees on Pembina from the bike lane project. I'm ok with that, it's an unfortunate but necessary evil for a good project, but I just hope they plant more after construction wraps up.

Yeah, yesterday I spotted along the Pembina Hwy. resurfacing project between Grant and Confusion Corner at least 3 large trees felled.

[1ajs]

if u look at the trees they took down closer u will see allot of rot