Winnipeg Construction IX

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by robertocarlos

Yes. Except for the bill-board at the top. That's not going to fly.

What billboard? Are you referring to the Wawanesa sign that's on the huge glass atrium at the top? Because there's no reason that wouldn't be allowed.

[bomberjet]

How many cars fit in their current lot? Somewhere around 30. Take the bus. I see Wawa people on my bus all the time.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by dmacc

Congrats on the the new child, best wishes to your family.

Those maternity wards are something special and the nurse's really seem to do outstanding work in those departments. I won't comment on the shuffle as this isn't really the thread for it.

Yes, congratulations, bomberjet. Exciting times!

I totally hear you on the NICU nurses. My kids spent the first few days of their lives in there. What the nurses do on a daily basis in a fairly tough environment blows me away. Incredible care and compassion.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by dmacc

That map looks very disturbing, but there are only really 5 major spots that need to be filled.

1) the lot at Carlton and York, across the street from RBCCC

2) The long stretch on Donald between York and St. Mary

3) The Sky City lot on Graham

4) The other lot on Graham

5) the lot on Fort between Graham and St. Mary

Parcel 4 is in the works and some have mentioned shovels could be in the ground for some of the projects by the end of the summer. The rest are smaller or less significant and can fill up once the others create a good density to downtown.

Agreed. Having just those five sites filled in would make an enormous difference. I might even add one of the lots at Broadway and Garry to the list, just to cut down on the empty feeling and to make it look less like Broadway was frozen in time circa 1982.

[bomberjet]

Thank you! It's really quite the place.

I see all sorts of posting online about healthcare in Canada. And how it's not as great as people make it out to be. With the care that our boy is receiving, we would be flat broke, have to sell the house, everything for this. Our life would be flipped completely upside down (even more than it already is) and have to start from scratch in major debt. I am so greatful to live in this country with the care we receive. We showed up there out of nowhere and they literally jumped and ran to save our boy.

The new women's hospital, regardless of delays, will be top notch world class facility for all of us to use. We should all be very thankful we have access to these resources.

[robertocarlos]

Originally Posted by buzzg

What billboard? Are you referring to the Wawanesa sign that's on the huge glass atrium at the top? Because there's no reason that wouldn't be allowed.

I know that it will be allowed. I'm saying it's ugly and tacky.

Edit: Wait, that's an atrium with real trees? Never mind.

[Gm0ney]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

How many cars fit in their current lot? Somewhere around 30. Take the bus. I see Wawa people on my bus all the time.

What? They've got about 100 surface spots at Broadway and Main plus some underground there. And that's just one of the building's they're consolidating...

[wardlow]

Originally Posted by buzzg

What billboard? Are you referring to the Wawanesa sign that's on the huge glass atrium at the top? Because there's no reason that wouldn't be allowed.

I've done one downtown zoning bylaw rant today, so I'll leave it to someone else to find out if a gi-normous sign like that is allowed downtown... (Spoiler alert: it's almost certainly not permitted, though it will probably still go through because Downtown Revitalization Politics.)

Anyway, I wonder what this means to the potential redevelopment of the current Wawanesa property at Broadway and Main?

[robertocarlos]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

How many cars fit in their current lot? Somewhere around 30. Take the bus. I see Wawa people on my bus all the time.

They can probably take the same bus. Some might have to walk from Main street but it's indoors.

[bomberjet]

My point being is it's nearly impossible to provide parking for 1100 staff. Hydro has zero parking for staff except some fleet vehicles and execs. same thing for most other companies. They'll work it out.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by wardlow

I

Anyway, I wonder what this means to the potential redevelopment of the current Wawanesa property at Broadway and Main?

me too...pretty much valueless as an office building in resale. Its why I thought they would go with their first plan and develop beside.

The only thing I could see happening is a residential conversion. The parking lot remains a parking lot.

[esquire]

^ Why is it worthless as an office building?

[optimusREIM]

I could see some smaller companies looking for boutique space like smaller law firms or accounting firms go in there. The parking lot could become residential one day but yeah, I don't see it being developed into an office. Perhaps mixed use hotel/condo would be a good way to go. It's close to the forks after all

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

My point being is it's nearly impossible to provide parking for 1100 staff. Hydro has zero parking for staff except some fleet vehicles and execs. same thing for most other companies. They'll work it out.

Unless things have changed that is false. I know Hydro used to have a limited number of spots that were made available to non-executive staff via some random allocation. The spots were a hot item for employees as they were available for below market rates. Also those same spots were behind the MPI v Hydro incident.

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

We kind of have two discussions going. But it's noted the new RWB residence will be immediately adjacent to the existing facilities. Someone also mentioned it will be 225 Carlton.

How about 34 bachelor suites already existing at 399 Graham for the ballet school dormitory? They could be tuned up and ready for January 1st. Easy, seamless and economical... just needs a new coat of paint.

[esquire]

The lack of parking at TNS will be a limiting factor in the continued growth in the area... there are partners of TNS tenants without parking spaces in the complex and that is an annoyance for some of them, as they're ponying up higher costs to be at a place where they can't park their car the way that they could in the old place. And it's going to get worse as the new TNS buildings come on stream.

I know no one loves parkades, but at some point soon the demand will get high enough that the market will have to respond.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Labroco

How about 34 bachelor suites already existing at 399 Graham for the ballet school dormitory? They could be tuned up and ready for January 1st. Easy, seamless and economical... just needs a new coat of paint.

Labroco to the rescue!

The location certainly works.

[cheswick]

Am I the only one who finds it weird that a few posts below a picture of the dearth of surface lots downtown someone is asking where wawanesa employees will park?

[davequanbury]

Originally Posted by cheswick

Am I the only one who finds it weird that a few posts below a picture of the dearth of surface lots downtown someone is asking where wawanesa employees will park?

You are not the only one.

[esquire]

You might think of it as weird, but for the people paying the bills on these offices and apartments, there is a certain level of amenities they expect. The people I am talking about are annoyed about having to find spaces at the Convention Centre parking lot or other nearby parkades... they aren't going to walk from Ellice or Garry over to TNS.

It's a bit like paying $200 a night for a hotel room and the desk clerk telling you that you have to wash your own towels and bedding. At a certain point you realize that you can get more for you money.