Winnipeg | Exchange District | Developments & Discussions

[Kris22]

Originally Posted by Bdog

Bad neighbours to who? Towne Theatre? The substation? The parking lot behind it?

Uh, maybe think beyond the immediate lot to each side. Just a few more feet and that will bring you to 3 new residential conversions of heritage buildings that just recently opened: 370 Donald, the Adelaide apartments, and the condos on hargrave. Proof of the residential viability of the West Exchange and proof that residential was creeping up to the church wasteland from all sides.

Not to mention the entire high-density neighbourhood around Central Park that abruptly ends at Calvary Temple.

I'd also like to mention that the Church Wasteland is only what, two blocks north of our "entertainment district" and only 3 blocks west of Portage and Main. Good location for surface lot expansion?

Originally Posted by Bdog

Anyway, for those still in mourning over this travesty, below is a memento of the devastating loss.

They may not be the most attractive buildings but the fact is that those are the types of buildings many businesses can afford the rent at. Having buildings like that next to an up-and-coming neighbourhood like the Exchange would have been a valuable asset for smaller business in the future.

It's about potential. The area directly around Calvary Temple has been growing and becoming more vibrant each year so although this might not feel like a "devastating loss" right now, it will have negative effects in the future.


[Edit] I also want to add that I lived at 370 Donald for almost 3 years, right next to all this, AND used to take my grandma to Calvary Temple years ago (and stay for the services) so I am not just spouting urban idealism abstractly from the internet, I am speaking from the point of view of someone who knows the area VERY well. So the answer to the "bad neighbours to who?" question you asked would be me!

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by Kris22

Uh, maybe think beyond the immediate lot to each side. Just a few more feet and that will bring you to 3 new residential conversions of heritage buildings that just recently opened: 370 Donald, the Adelaide apartments, and the condos on hargrave. Proof of the residential viability of the West Exchange and proof that residential was creeping up to the church wasteland from all sides.

Not to mention the entire high-density neighbourhood around Central Park that abruptly ends at Calvary Temple.

I'd also like to mention that the Church Wasteland is only what, two blocks north of our "entertainment district" and only 3 blocks west of Portage and Main. Good location for surface lot expansion?




They may not be the most attractive buildings but the fact is that those are the types of buildings many businesses can afford the rent at. Having buildings like that next to an up-and-coming neighbourhood like the Exchange would have been a valuable asset for smaller business in the future.

It's about potential. The area directly around Calvary Temple has been growing and becoming more vibrant each year so although this might not feel like a "devastating loss" right now, it will have negative effects in the future.


[Edit] I also want to add that I lived at 370 Donald for almost 3 years, right next to all this, AND used to take my grandma to Calvary Temple years ago (and stay for the services) so I am not just spouting urban idealism abstractly from the internet, I am speaking from the point of view of someone who knows the area VERY well. So the answer to the "bad neighbours to who?" question you asked would be me!

Nailed it. What's more is those buildings were a great end cap to Adelaide, which is slowly starting to rejuvinate. Between some of the mentioned conversions, Innovation Alley tech companies and others, these buildings were a great end cap to what could become quickly a fantastic street (it's currently being narrowed for better AT), with RRC ballooning at the other end – now it's a giant parking lot lot that's empty 6 days a week.

They could have at least landscaped it better to try and hide it....

[Wolf13]

Originally Posted by michelleb

Having been raised fundamentalist, I'm fine with calling them out. The big displays of wealth and membership, evidenced through buildings and parking lots, are a common feature.

You're not unique. Millions of people have been raised fundamentalist without the enlightened anger, even if they walk away from from it. You haven't discovered anything new. Many are still fundamentalist-ish and are perfectly good people. Some are assholes. Others are far less fundamentalist, but hell (*come on, wolf13*), they go to church.

Ultimately a horrible way to generalize a bunch of people, but I guess cynicism is license to classify groups.

So who is next, immigrants? Or should we go for a juicy one like Chevy vs Ford?

[borkborkbork]

Originally Posted by Bdog

The fact that we're calling the demolition of mostly vacant, decrepit low rise 1950s buildings a travesty and the act a "bad neighbours" is hard for me to comprehend ...
Anyway, for those still in mourning over this travesty, below is a memento of the devastating loss. Just to the west of that photo, existing parking lot. Across the street, existing parking lot and concrete Towne wall. I guess that's what we call "destroying the neighbourhood" now.

For me, it's less about those buildings, and more about the fact that it condemns that stretch to remain totally undeveloped/barren for the next 30 years. Before, there was the opportunity to do something there. Now, I don't see it.

[trueviking]

Those old buildings were affordable storefronts...something we dearly lack in downtown. Buildings like that are the economic seeds of an urban neighbourhood. They provide opportunity for small, local business. Something big new buildings or giant parking lots do not do. That opportunity is now gone forever. We should never dismiss their value to a city. Now we have a massive parking lot, an even more discontunous street edge, pedestrian dead zone and lost economic activity. Hydro's move can not be defended.

[buzzg]

^Precisely. I don't think I've heard anyone have an issue with the station here – we all know it was needed, and is much better than the old proposal. This whole thing could have been avoided, and the area potential kept alive, if instead of tearing down the buildings Hydro just built a parking deck on top of the existing lot. I really can't imagine it being that much more than demolition and the surface lot rebuild. Plus, it would have been much better for the neighbourhood economy (directly and indirectly) in the long run.

It's just typical provincial government/Hydro short-sightedness and being pennywise but pound foolish.

[1ajs]

hydro was in a desprit situation for a spot to build a new substation the existing one on king was in a state of major time bomb waiting to happen that coulda taken down part of downtown for months... rovers another time bomb atm and the city of Winnipeg is to blame honestly over all the legacy of Winnipeg hydro..... hydro did its best to deal with a major problem and a church took advantage of them

[TimeFadesAway]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Of course they're nice people Wolf. Most people are nice.

Well, most people seem nice at least. A lot of Trump supporters seem nice until you start probing a bit.

[DancingDuck]

Originally Posted by TimeFadesAway

Well, most people seem nice at least. A lot of Trump supporters seem nice until you start probing a bit.

Let's please not do this here...

[windypeg]

Originally Posted by Wolf13

You're not unique. Millions of people have been raised fundamentalist without the enlightened anger, even if they walk away from from it. You haven't discovered anything new. Many are still fundamentalist-ish and are perfectly good people. Some are assholes. Others are far less fundamentalist, but hell (*come on, wolf13*), they go to church.

Ultimately a horrible way to generalize a bunch of people, but I guess cynicism is license to classify groups.

So who is next, immigrants? Or should we go for a juicy one like Chevy vs Ford?

... says the guy who said indigenous people are poor because they read a Macleans article and then just decided not to bother "getting their shit together" ...

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by Bdog

This one hurts almost as much as when we lost the McIntyre Block.

[h0twired]

Originally Posted by Wolf13

You're not unique. Millions of people have been raised fundamentalist without the enlightened anger, even if they walk away from from it. You haven't discovered anything new. Many are still fundamentalist-ish and are perfectly good people. Some are assholes. Others are far less fundamentalist, but hell (*come on, wolf13*), they go to church.

Ultimately a horrible way to generalize a bunch of people, but I guess cynicism is license to classify groups.

So who is next, immigrants? Or should we go for a juicy one like Chevy vs Ford?

Jerks are generally evenly distributed across all walks of life.

[Wolf13]

Originally Posted by windypeg

... says the guy who said indigenous people are poor because they read a Macleans article and then just decided not to bother "getting their shit together" ...

Goodness, be better than that. My cynicism was towards how society as a whole has changed attitudes, not towards a specific group. That article was an example of such a shift, and it used, as an example, indigenous people. I'd recommend seeing the nuance before slandering.

First, the article generalized everyone in Winnipeg, whether the fortunate, the white, the immigrant, the indigenous, the unfortunate, everyone. And it was poorly written and researched.

Secondly, the posts I was challenging were drawing harsh, personal conclusions about groups of people, the likes of which, if directed at indigenous people, would not be tolerated. Don't try to equate the two.

I did not insult, not malign anyone, nor provide any opinion on anyone's state of struggle or success, I merely provided observation of a delicate topic and an article.

We should be able to talk about sensitive matters without invoking prejudice about posters supposed motives. Especially about unrelated matters.

That said, if I offended, sorry. Not my intent. But it speaks to the climate of offense we live in that the nature of the mere existence of a topic equates to offense. Unlike the posts I was responding to, which were intended to offend of malign.

[windypeg]

Originally Posted by Wolf13

Goodness, be better than that. My cynicism was towards how society as a whole has changed attitudes, not towards a specific group. That article was an example of such a shift, and it used, as an example, indigenous people. I'd recommend seeing the nuance before slandering.

First, the article generalized everyone in Winnipeg, whether the fortunate, the white, the immigrant, the indigenous, the unfortunate, everyone. And it was poorly written and researched.

Secondly, the posts I was challenging were drawing harsh, personal conclusions about groups of people, the likes of which, if directed at indigenous people, would not be tolerated. Don't try to equate the two.

I did not insult, not malign anyone, nor provide any opinion on anyone's state of struggle or success, I merely provided observation of a delicate topic and an article.

We should be able to talk about sensitive matters without invoking prejudice about posters supposed motives. Especially about unrelated matters.

That said, if I offended, sorry. Not my intent. But it speaks to the climate of offense we live in that the nature of the mere existence of a topic equates to offense. Unlike the posts I was responding to, which were intended to offend of malign.

The article was in fact poorly written and researched and more than anything was (as usual) given a sensational headline by the editors which did a lot of harm and didn't even really relate to the content. I'm not defending it.

There certainly are some people who stay stuck in a poverty holding pattern because they have a victim mindset and aren't doing what they can to improve their situation. There's also some who work really hard and can't get anywhere, and some who can't work on improving themselves because of the trauma they're dealing with. Those on the right could do a better job acknowledging that, although those on the left could do a better job acknowledging the role an individual plays in their fortune. Both are important.

I also find religious groups to be good or bad people probably in proportion to the rest of the population and agree you can't generalize like that.

Anyhow this belongs in a different thread so I will cease and desist

[buzzg]

There's a few of these RFP signs up on the Pantages, didn't even notice them last week when I was there (maybe they weren't?).




Also "The Most Interesting Building in the Exchange" just got a fresh coat of paint and new awnings – looks great, if still mysterious.



Also this building across the street from Cargo East is getting all new trim paint (same colours), and several buildings further east on Bannatyne are getting masonry fixed up. Really love to see this buy-in from so many area building owners. It's proof that when the city invests in infrastructure and beautification in areas like this, private investment follows. When all the construction wraps up, (next year) the area's going to look amazing, and very different.

[Wpg_Guy]

From twitter account, it's home to http://www.k9storm.com/

@brent_bellamy
Jun 29
#FridayFunFact: Behind this quaint facade in Winnipeg’s Exchange District they manufacture the world’s preeminent body armour for dogs, including the high tech tactical vests worn by the dogs that captured Osama Bin Laden. https://www.fastcompany.com/1753360/bulletproof-dog-stormed-bin-ladens-lair

[buzzg]

Ya I know what it is.... it's been discussed here many times.

[Urban recluse]

Looks good. Now about those surface lots...

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

Looks good. Now about those surface lots...

With all the action going on around there, it can't be much longer before those 2 have truly outlived there use as a parking lot, and become too valuable not to be developed.

[drew]

Originally Posted by buzzg

With all the action going on around there, it can't be much longer before those 2 have truly outlived there use as a parking lot, and become too valuable not to be developed.

Those lots are really small though..?