Winnipeg Construction IX - Page 434

buzzg · #**8661** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 12:20 AM**

I'd take that Western Investor article with a big, juicy boulder of salt. If The Bay is asking for $20mm, and that's all the capital that's been raised – where is the other several hundred million gonna come from? Seemed like a very jumped-the-— article to me.
Especially considering as TV mentioned, he's worked on 4 proposals which never saw the light of day.

1ajs · #**8662** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 1:07 AM**

in order to get any real investment in the bay building you need to light a fire under the management of portage place to get their acrt together and get this place alive again or nothing will happen

Urban recluse · #**8663** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 1:33 AM**

Dudley’s design is pretty cool!

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/shopping-for-a-new-day-at-downtown-bay-428938303.html

EspionNoir · #**8664** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 2:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

Dudley’s design is pretty cool!

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/shopping-for-a-new-day-at-downtown-bay-428938303.html

Omg this is real! With difficulties.

Spocket · #**8665** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 5:00 AM**

I think it's obvious that the best anybody can hope for with the Bay is that it could be gutted and have the facade preserved. We've discussed at length how unusable the floorplates are in this market so there's really little point in arguing for total preservation.

Biff · #**8666** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 2:48 PM**

I heard a rumour over the weekend that Wawanesa is bursting at the seams and might be looking for more space....part of the conversation led to the parking lot in front of their current tower at Main and Broadway which was met with a smile and a wink.

...from someone on the inside. I don't know how much validity it might have, but interesting nonetheless.

bomberjet · #**8667** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 2:49 PM**

Are their any real, serious proposals for the Bay? Vike worked on one that didn't go anywhere. I keep hearing the talk in SSP, but am not sure if there's anything real or we're all just wishing, hoping, praying for something.

optimusREIM · #**8668** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 3:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

I heard a rumour over the weekend that Wawanesa is bursting at the seams and might be looking for more space....part of the conversation led to the parking lot in front of their current tower at Main and Broadway which was met with a smile and a wink.

...from someone on the inside. I don't know how much validity it might have, but interesting nonetheless.

I would be pumped if they built even 5 or 6 floors there. That particular lot is really prominent. That part of main street needs a little help

buzzg · #**8669** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 3:47 PM**

That would be a fantastic location for them to expand or build a new building. Such an important corner it would be great to finally get it filled in. In 5–10 years the via lot across the street will be developed by TFNP, and it would be a much different feeling around there.

Speaking of that corner – anyone know if the city has come to a resolution with NWC to finish the bike path to The Forks? Like at some juncture they're just going to have to expropriate it already.

esquire · #**8670** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 3:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by optimusREIM

I would be pumped if they built even 5 or 6 floors there. That particular lot is really prominent. That part of main street needs a little help

The rumor certainly seems reasonable... They added all that space in the former Sport Manitoba building, and before that they hadn't expanded in years despite having grown over that time.

I'd love to see something on the scale of the existing Wawanesa building go up on that corner... It would help the streetscape there immeasurably.

buzzg · #**8671** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 3:56 PM**

Is the Wawa building ALL internal or are there other tenants in there as well?

esquire · #**8672** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 3:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzg

Is the Wawa building ALL internal or are there other tenants in there as well?

Been a few years since I was last in there, but AFAIK it's all Wawanesa.

DonaldSmith · #**8673** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 4:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff

I heard a rumour over the weekend that Wawanesa is bursting at the seams and might be looking for more space....part of the conversation led to the parking lot in front of their current tower at Main and Broadway which was met with a smile and a wink.

...from someone on the inside. I don't know how much validity it might have, but interesting nonetheless.

Longer term plan to consolidate operations there by bringing over Western Financial Group at Polo and potentially some functions from High River. Or so says the scuttlebutt....

optimusREIM · #**8674** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 4:26 PM**

^based on this then it is likely that something of moderate size could be built.

esquire · #**8675** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 4:28 PM**

Is there a max height along that stretch of Broadway?

20 storeys would be the ideal for that site IMO.

ywgwalk · #**8676** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 4:41 PM**

I think they also just put in a "Wawanesa Innovation Lab" in the BellMTS building at Portage and Main.

optimusREIM · #**8677** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 5:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Is there a max height along that stretch of Broadway?

20 storeys would be the ideal for that site IMO.

I would personally be happy with something less tall, sort of like this:

But at around the 20 storeys you mention it would be pretty impressive and really anchor that end of the skyline, more like this:

These are just my ideas, but I like the idea of the curve sort of marking the entrance to Broadway and inviting the eyes to look down the street.

pspeid · #**8678** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 5:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by EspionNoir

Omg this is real! With difficulties.

Very real IF the project can find someone with very deep pockets who doesn't mind spending a lot of money they will not see returned for a long time (or ever). IM(uneducated)O as long as Pallister is premier and doesn't want to spend $$ on development projects (probably another 6 years at this point, considering he will most likely be elected for at least a second term) that means a civic minded millionaire will have to step up and buy the building from The Bay, then lease it to whatever development consortium is able to do the conversion. I can see this happening, but only when the wrecker's ball is poised to swing and take the building down.

wardlow · #**8679** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Is there a max height along that stretch of Broadway?

20 storeys would be the ideal for that site IMO.

No maximum height on Broadway this far from the Legislature... I think those height restrictions stop applying around Carlton or Hargrave. It's kind of surprising there isn't some kind of height restriction to keep things in line with Broadway's fairly consistent 10-15 storey range.

windypeg · #**8680** Posted **Dec 4, 2018, 7:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pspeid

Very real IF the project can find someone with very deep pockets who doesn't mind spending a lot of money they will not see returned for a long time (or ever). IM(uneducated)O as long as Pallister is premier and doesn't want to spend $$ on development projects (probably another 6 years at this point, considering he will most likely be elected for at least a second term) that means a civic minded millionaire will have to step up and buy the building from The Bay, then lease it to whatever development consortium is able to do the conversion. I can see this happening, but only when the wrecker's ball is poised to swing and take the building down.

We need David Thompson to pull a John Pollard.