Winnipeg Construction X

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by DancingDuck

There are hydro lines that run along the south side of Taylor for that whole stretch, so the buildings likely have to be set back a bit to accommodate that. I guess the thinking is why have perfectly good empty space when you could just jam in more parking.

Ah right. I know the lines have been there a long time, but nice to have yet another situation with poor planning between gov departments. Would be much better if the lines ran parallel to the tracks at the back of the site to allow for better city planning and development – especially since the lines head straight south at Harrow anyway.

Originally Posted by esquire

Those apartments are going to be right along the CN mainline. Come to think of it there's a fair bit of development near the mainline along Grant and Wilkes... hopefully that's a good sign for the prospects of residential development along the mainline through its downtown stretches.

The apartments are quite far from the mainline, they're along Taylor. It appears to be all retail by the tracks.

Originally Posted by oftheMoon

P&M BMO sold to MB Metis Federation. The building will become the future home of the Metis Nation Heritage Centre.

I think this is a great use for it. Aside from a fancy hotel lobby that would likely never happen, some sort of museum or public use was a good alternative.

[WinCitySparky]

I think this is a great use for it. Aside from a fancy hotel lobby that would likely never happen, some sort of museum or public use was a good alternative.[/QUOTE]

Nice!!

[esquire]

Originally Posted by buzzg

The apartments are quite far from the mainline, they're along Taylor. It appears to be all retail by the tracks.

OK, that makes more sense. For some reason I thought the apartments were that cluster at the bottom right.

As for the Bank of Montreal, this is about the kind of thing that I expected... I would have liked to see some kind of commercial use but seeing that the similarly grandiose Bank of Commerce banking hall up Main has been vacant or semi-vacant for the last 50 years, this type of institutional use was realistically the best we were going to get. It's nice that the lights will stay on but still a huge letdown that BMO is leaving such a major local landmark.

[buzzg]

I hoped for something like this, but didn't expect it – couldn't really think there was another museum we could support here, but this one makes sense.

It is unfortunate, as I believe that was the last bank to be operating out of its original historic building. Now that 441 Main is closed, that old Imperial Bank of Commerce space is vacant. I was surprised when I found out CIBC was still operating out of there until ~20 years ago (was a branch and national training centre) when they moved operations to the Richardson Building. The owner does not want any more clubs in there. Interestingly, all the original millwork and interior is still intact, just been drywalled over to protect it over the years. Owner hoping for a restaurant or office to be interested.

In terms of some of the other Main Street banks. Harvard's plans for 416 Main (with WFG) have fallen through. They still hope to develop it ASAP, but nothing imminent. The Pal will be signing another 2 year lease once they can operate again. Will be interesting to see if La Carnita survives the shutdown, it was never busy even before.

[trueviking]

Let’s hope the MMF are sensitive to the architecture.

Sure would be nice if we could get to it.

[trueviking]

I may have missed it here but a for lease sign is back up on the old antiques and funk building.

^ what’s WFG?

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I may have missed it here but a for lease sign is back up on the old antiques and funk building.

^ what’s WFG?

Western Financial Group

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by WinCitySparky

I think this is a great use for it. Aside from a fancy hotel lobby that would likely never happen, some sort of museum or public use was a good alternative.

Nice!![/QUOTE]

I agree, lots of positives here. The MMF gets a very high profile presence in the downtown and the city avoids having the building potentially sit empty for months or years looking for a tenant.

Personally I think the optics are great as well. The city's historically most prominent t corner hosting an Indigenous presence will, IMO, really move the reconciliation movement forward, especially if the stakeholders on the other corners embrace their new neighbour.

Another thought-a fairly unique attraction like a Metis museum at P & M could potentially increase foot traffic at the corner, especially from visitors to the city. Increased foot traffic could create greater pressure for re-opening P & M. Huh? Huh?

[Jeff]

does this mean that the interpretive centre at upper fort garry park is dead now?

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by esquire

OK, that makes more sense. For some reason I thought the apartments were that cluster at the bottom right.

There's residential along the backside near Pembina and Jubilee. Also on the western edge I believe. It was originally supposed to be some type of seniors housing. Not sure if that still the case.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

i thought u couldnt build within 100m residentil

There are no actual regulations. Just guidelines. If the City want to enforce the guidelines, it's up to them. Railside will be about 30m away from the main track.

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by esquire

OK, that makes more sense. For some reason I thought the apartments were that cluster at the bottom right.

As for the Bank of Montreal, this is about the kind of thing that I expected... I would have liked to see some kind of commercial use but seeing that the similarly grandiose Bank of Commerce banking hall up Main has been vacant or semi-vacant for the last 50 years, this type of institutional use was realistically the best we were going to get. It's nice that the lights will stay on but still a huge letdown that BMO is leaving such a major local landmark.

Is the bank u speak of not The Millennium Centre??????http://www.themillenniumcentre.ca/

[buzzg]

It sounds like it, but the Millennium Centre is not used very much. The odd wedding or small corporate event. It has horrific sound so a lot of people don't want to have events there anymore. The building is actually owned by Heritage Winnipeg, WOW just has the contract to do catering when events come along, but no one is really actively trying to market the space.

I had heard late last year that HW was restoring the upper floor and hoping to find an office tenant to rent it. I imagine that's going to be a very tough sell though. As with BMO, it'd be best if a private developer or institution saw a better use for it and bought it off HW.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by Jeff

does this mean that the interpretive centre at upper fort garry park is dead now?

Yes.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by buzzg

It sounds like it, but the Millennium Centre is not used very much. The odd wedding or small corporate event. It has horrific sound so a lot of people don't want to have events there anymore. The building is actually owned by Heritage Winnipeg, WOW just has the contract to do catering when events come along, but no one is really actively trying to market the space.

I had heard late last year that HW was restoring the upper floor and hoping to find an office tenant to rent it. I imagine that's going to be a very tough sell though. As with BMO, it'd be best if a private developer or institution saw a better use for it and bought it off HW.

Yeah, the Millennium Centre is what I was referring to. Having the Millennium Centre occupying that building is basically one step above being totally vacant or having a potentially destructive tenant like a nightclub where the heritage elements of the building could be damaged. It keeps the lights and heat on and vandals/squatters out, but not much improvement has happened in there.

Having the MMF or some offshoot occupying the Bank of Montreal building is OK, but I wonder about the level of resources they can muster to properly maintain and improve it. Even if they could sink some serious money into it, people would question if it's even the place of an organization like the MMF to be putting a pile of money into a heritage building that isn't even directly linked to Metis history.

I hope they can make it work, but I see this being a tall order for the project's proponents.

[buzzg]

The new main floor corner unit in what is now officially known as 330 Portage (fka NewPort Center) is open to the street and looks like a beautiful space. Didn’t see any lease signs up, and according to the marketing brochure only 1.5 upper floors in the building are available.

The brochure mentions a new two storey retail podium, so seems like it’ll likely still be getting something like the renders. Seems like either they have a tenant already or are waiting for the rest of the podium to be complete. Maybe both.

https://www.commerciallistings.cbre.ca/r.../330%20Portage%20Marketing%20Package.pdf

[buzzg]

Interestingly if you read the article about the Metis Heritage Centre, it doesn't sound like BMO is selling the building to MMF. They use the word partner many times. It actually sounds like BMO will be funding and/or supporting the creation of the centre in some way as an act of reconciliation, and will be involved from an ongoing basis.

I've always wondered why we have very few sponsored cultural buildings and institutions here compared to some other cities. Curious to see how this works. I have no problem with big companies sponsoring or securing naming rights to cultural institutions if it means a big cash influx for them, like Studio Bell in Calgary for example.

Bank of Montreal building to become Métis heritage centre
MMF president calls partnership with BMO 'the perfect example of reconciliation'

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/...ome-metis-heritage-centre-570419582.html

[WinCitySparky]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Interestingly if you read the article about the Metis Heritage Centre, it doesn't sound like BMO is selling the building to MMF. They use the word partner many times. It actually sounds like BMO will be funding and/or supporting the creation of the centre in some way as an act of reconciliation, and will be involved from an ongoing basis.

I've always wondered why we have very few sponsored cultural buildings and institutions here compared to some other cities. Curious to see how this works. I have no problem with big companies sponsoring or securing naming rights to cultural institutions if it means a big cash influx for them, like Studio Bell in Calgary for example.

Free Press specifically says “announced the sale of”.

Screenshot here:

https://imgur.com/P9vK8No

The previous article you posted is pretty much just a political glossing-over for both parties. Smiles and back slapping and all that. At the end of the day it’s still all dollars and cents. Banks don’t know any other language.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Interestingly if you read the article about the Metis Heritage Centre, it doesn't sound like BMO is selling the building to MMF. They use the word partner many times. It actually sounds like BMO will be funding and/or supporting the creation of the centre in some way as an act of reconciliation, and will be involved from an ongoing basis.

It does sound possible that BMO could remain involved somehow. With their deep pockets it would be nice if they stayed on as the owner just to make sure that the building is looked after properly.

The whole thing feels like a bit of a snub of the city on the bank's part... they have this seemingly prestigious monumental landmark that has been part of their corporate history and our civic history for over a century, and they're just walking away from it to save a few bucks across the street instead?

Good on them for at least finding an honourable way out, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[buzzg]

The CBC article actually has more details. Sounds like MMF will be moving most or all of its offices there.

"I think it's going to lift a lot of eyebrows up: 'What's going on here? The Métis, where are they coming from? All of a sudden they're coming and buying some historic, some really landmark locations?'" Chartrand said about the purchases the MMF is now making.

The Bank of Montreal "is just one," he said. An announcement could be coming next week for another location in the downtown area and "it's bigger than Portage and Main," he said.

Sounds like another big building purchase coming.

Originally Posted by esquire

It does sound possible that BMO could remain involved somehow. With their deep pockets it would be nice if they stayed on as the owner just to make sure that the building is looked after properly.

The whole thing feels like a bit of a snub of the city on the bank's part... they have this seemingly prestigious monumental landmark that has been part of their corporate history and our civic history for over a century, and they're just walking away from it to save a few bucks across the street instead?

Good on them for at least finding an honourable way out, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

While I'm sure cost was a factor, BMO did say they had long been past capacity there and it was difficult to have one branch spread over multiple buildings.