Winnipeg | Downtown | True North Square | U/C

[Winnipeg Grump]

On a positive note, the hardware to hang the big display in the True North Square is going up right now.

[Winnipeg Grump]

Soooo, there's 4 or 5 workers on site today. They used the crane this morning to set up a couple of porta-pottys on the slab.

And had another chat where it was relayed that PCL had confirmed the financial reason for why it was shut down but that it was expected to be back up and running any time now.
Not sure if Northland had been self-funding this and then had to go get external funding or what happened.

[buzzg]

Good to hear

[Winnipeg Grump]

Taken this morning.
Just walked by and they have the first panel up.

[esquire]

^ Cool... makes me wonder if they'll ever put one up on Bell MTS Place where the brackets have been in place since the arena was built?

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Cool... makes me wonder if they'll ever put one up on Bell MTS Place where the brackets have been in place since the arena was built?

Maybe it's all part of the secret CanadInns plan, have a rooftop patio where you can watch the screen on the arena.

[buzzg]

Went for a walk and have some updates.

Skip the Dishes is putting a 35' HIGH sign in the plaza...



LC got a nice little flag sign up. Also ACU is literally taking the entire main floor (including Graham across from Powerhouse), except for the small separate unit at Carlton & Graham that I've heard will be a coffee shop. That plaza is going to be deaddddd.







Also still unclear if the city/BIZ has given up on the nice SHED lighting for signals or if they're just waiting for construction to finish, it's weird. Graham is a mess right now, so many different streetscaping styles.

Over on Garry this hole with wiring hanging out has been there almost a year now, and for some reason there's a bench style that I've never seen anywhere else in the city. Bonus: look at the placement of all those light poles - a mess!

[esquire]

Great pics... too bad about some of the stuff in them.

The city would never just randomly place street lights in the middle of a roadway lane, so I don't know why it likes to have street lights and other stuff strewn about sidewalks in a way that either swallows up half the width of the sidewalk (Portage Avenue) or basically forces people to walk a zigzag pattern in places (every other downtown street). It's too ad hoc... there should be a clear, straight walking path down every sidewalk.

[bomberjet]

Did you notice if the bus stop on graham that is/was under the skywalk is back at the shelter in your photo.

[Kris22]

Ya it's absurd actually how many different objects on one sidewalk downtown are misaligned. I assume it's the result of different planning committees over the years, and the only reason our city gets away with it is because of generally lower pedestrian traffic. Otherwise it wouldn't fly.

As far as the Skip sign is concerned, it's one of those things I need to see in person to decide if it's garish or not. Downtowns are generally supposed to have signs and be flashy, so if it's done well I don't mind. Remember those old pics of Portage avenue with all the signs? It's a sign of life sometimes.

[plrh]

There is a new downtown sidewalk tender out right now. A stretch of Ellice and a couple of blocks on Saint Mary. I will take a look for design inconsistencies tomorrow.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Did you notice if the bus stop on graham that is/was under the skywalk is back at the shelter in your photo.

Weirdly the temporary stop has been moved to the TNS block but is right at the corner of Graham & Hargrave (where you'd think it should be), but the actual new shelter and digital sign are in the middle of the block. It doesn't really make any sense. I guess they didn't want to have the stop and shelter right at the plaza entrance, but there's at most only room for 3 busses to queue on that block now based on where they put the stop, maybe only 1 bendy bus.

I screwed up this photo, but you can also see the city yet again seems to be struggling to consistently put (or not) the blue "launch pad" at the stops. They just made the pavers open up.

[Tbone04]

Originally Posted by buzzg

LC got a nice little flag sign up. Also ACU is literally taking the entire main floor (including Graham across from Powerhouse), except for the small separate unit at Carlton & Graham that I've heard will be a coffee shop. That plaza is going to be deaddddd.

Really would have been great to have restaurants with patios surrounding plaza.

[Peggerino]

I thought the plan was for a high-end grocery store in the plaza, is this not a thing anymore?

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by Peggerino

I thought the plan was for a high-end grocery store in the plaza, is this not a thing anymore?

Yes it’s under construction.

The hype of this plaza has turn into a huge disappointment. I was anticipating a very lively place lined with CRU’s and patios. Such a shame. Another dead play to added to the many already downtown.

[esquire]

I don't think it's too bad, the only issue is that it's just a normal office building courtyard (albeit a nice once) as opposed to some magnificent showpiece. It felt pretty lively last summer whenever there were any events programmed in there, and the return of hockey will probably inject some life into the place whenever that happens.

[wags_in_the_peg]

the huge tv screen is being mounted as we speak

[GreyGarden]

I agree with Esquire, I don't really mind what we're getting. It's exactly what I expect from a big new downtown complex. I don't think this is a Winnipeg thing either - I've never really had a desire to go eat/hangout at a downtown mega development in Toronto. The exception was when I made a special trip to Eatly this January. The Hargrave Market is a bonus in my opinion. In fact, I think I heard that TN consulted with the Eatly people on putting the space together.

If Sutton Place happens and Chop is across the street that should be a nice mix and create a bit of flow through the plaza. Thankfully its not that big.

I think the fact that cool young people are going to Hargrave Market is a big success. I don't usually think of young people when I think of downtown complexes and development. So its great to see lots of young people going (at least before Covid). I generally think of downtowns consisting mainly of chains and hotel restaurants and the cool trendy stuff is in the surrounding inner city neighbourhoods. Obviously people have different tastes and I'm speaking in broad brushes.

[GarryEllice]

Originally Posted by buzzg

I screwed up this photo, but you can also see the city yet again seems to be struggling to consistently put (or not) the blue "launch pad" at the stops. They just made the pavers open up.

The open pavers thing is what they've done at bus stops in the recent construction on Garry Street too. Maybe it's a new standard? Or a quirk of whoever is designing the downtown construction? I found the blue square much clearer.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by GreyGarden

I think the fact that cool young people are going to Hargrave Market is a big success. I don't usually think of young people when I think of downtown complexes and development. So its great to see lots of young people going (at least before Covid). I generally think of downtowns consisting mainly of chains and hotel restaurants and the cool trendy stuff is in the surrounding inner city neighbourhoods. Obviously people have different tastes and I'm speaking in broad brushes.

It's important to remember that it was a honeymoon period as it was new. I agree with your statement about "cool" young people, but I think many were just coming to check it out. That coolness will wear off and you'll be left with the less cool young professionals and event/game attendees lol.

Originally Posted by GarryEllice

The open pavers thing is what they've done at bus stops in the recent construction on Garry Street too. Maybe it's a new standard? Or a quirk of whoever is designing the downtown construction? I found the blue square much clearer.

I honestly think it's just another lack of oversight on the city's part. All the new stops on Pembina, Exchange (from bike lanes), and lots of other streets all have them.