Winnipeg Construction X - Page 300

thebasketballgeek · #**5981** Posted **Oct 25, 2021, 2:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildCake

634 Portage is going ahead to City Centre committee for zoning changes.

https://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/dmis/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=21310&SectionId=&InitUrl=

Just looking at the reasons for rezoning I think the city needs to make major zoning reform changes because it wastes the developers time to need a variance to reduce number of parking units and foregoing setback requirements since it’ll get approved anyway.

The least they could implement is no parking minimums or setback requirements in inner city neighborhoods. While they’re at it commercial only zoning should be completely eradicated for mixed use as it’s currently a massive waste of space and highly inefficient use of land. It would allow for major densification on corridors in streets with little to no residents such as Waverley or Kenaston.

GreyGarden · #**5982** Posted **Oct 25, 2021, 3:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

There have been varying degrees of improvement around most parts of downtown and "inner city" Winnipeg (a strange term that seems to refer more to prevalence of poverty than geographical location as the words would imply), but that stretch of North Main has been very resistant to any of that. Other than maybe some minor streetscaping, I am hard pressed to think of any improvements along North Main from the CP tracks to Mountain Avenue over the last 30-odd years.

Yeah, Osborne, West Broadway and the West End are all experiencing investment and "improvements". I'm unsure of Central Park and Centennial but it seems inevitable that those dominos will go as the investment in the West End picks up and the Exchange starts to spill over a little. The pace varies and may be slower at times but it exists. I don't think that's happening along North Main and I don't see it happening in the short or medium term either given the current state and values of the West End, Central Park and Centennial. I suspect those areas will have to get quite a bit more expensive before North Main starts to experience meaningful investment.

esquire · #**5983** Posted **Oct 25, 2021, 3:33 PM**

Most of those other areas have gone back and forth with a one-step forward, two-steps back kind of thing (the West End in particular has seen this kind of thing) but yeah, North Main has not really seen any steps forward in a very long time.

Mind you it's not like it's gotten much worse over the last decade, but there haven't really been any signs of improvement that you could point to and say "look, things are starting to happen, people are investing in the area".

city_slicker · #**5984** Posted **Oct 25, 2021, 5:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildCake

634 Portage is going ahead to City Centre committee for zoning changes.

https://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/dmis/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=21310&SectionId=&InitUrl=

Tallest building outside the downtown in 35 years

Renderings and planning analysis are in Wildcake's link

davequanbury · #**5985** Posted **Oct 25, 2021, 7:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Downtown itself went through a bit of an upswing but that strip of North Main past Logan has been declining for decades, probably going back to the 50s. It at least maintained a nice urban streetscape for many years but even that's eroding as buildings slowly get lost to fire and nothing is ever built to replace any of them.

In fact, the area has always been resistant to development. The original slums of Winnipeg were in the immediate vicinity of the tracks. The area around Dufferin and King was called "New Jerusalem" (a quick google of the term will reveal images).
Here is an example to contextualize just how entrenched the area is, when they built the CPR station and Royal Alexandra hotel it was billed as a revitalization effort, and that was 1905.

Another example: by 1925, A.M. Fraser was in a tax battle with the city over the assessment of his property at Main and Logan. Fraser argued the area was so poor that the city's assessment was unfair. He chose to demolish the top 4 floors to spite the city.

The fact that this area has been so resistant to development is largely due to the fact that the railroad created undesirable landuses. Other reasons include stigma about foreigners, and lot sizes that were much smaller than areas further south.

When you look at photos of the strip from the 50's you certainly see a complete street scape, but the types of business tell a different story: labour agencies, wholesalers and Jobbers, cheap hotels...

esquire · #**5986** Posted **Oct 25, 2021, 7:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by city_slicker

Tallest building outside the downtown in 35 years

Renderings and planning analysis are in Wildcake's link

This is an impressive project. It's been a long time since something on this scale has been built in that area.

One thing I do like about the design is how sympathetic it is to the Casa Loma Apartments. That is a really stately building and it's an excellent landmark that marks the entry into downtown Winnipeg from the west. The only problem is that as LilZebra told us before, it is a run down building with a lot of issues including rampant pests. It would be the cherry on top if P3 bought Casa Loma and included it in the project with a total renovation. It's such a nice building and it's sad to see it in a sorry state... including it would totally change the face of that entire block.

Wpg_Guy · #**5987** Posted **Oct 25, 2021, 7:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I forgot about that... I wonder if he still owned the building?

He died earlier this year.

Wpg_Guy · #**5988** Posted **Oct 25, 2021, 7:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by city_slicker

Tallest building outside the downtown in 35 years

Renderings and planning analysis are in Wildcake's link

Project thread: https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=246258

WinCitySparky · #**5989** Posted **Oct 25, 2021, 8:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildCake

634 Portage is going ahead to City Centre committee for zoning changes.

https://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/dmis/ViewDoc.asp?DocId=21310&SectionId=&InitUrl=

Thanks!

WinCitySparky · #**5990** Posted **Oct 25, 2021, 9:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

This is an impressive project. It's been a long time since something on this scale has been built in that area.

One thing I do like about the design is how sympathetic it is to the Casa Loma Apartments. That is a really stately building and it's an excellent landmark that marks the entry into downtown Winnipeg from the west. The only problem is that as LilZebra told us before, it is a run down building with a lot of issues including rampant pests. It would be the cherry on top if P3 bought Casa Loma and included it in the project with a total renovation. It's such a nice building and it's sad to see it in a sorry state... including it would totally change the face of that entire block.

If it’s even for sale? By the way you’ve described the way it’s run, it sounds like a minimal-investment money mine for someone who A) Doesn’t care to spend any capital fixing anything that doesn’t really need fixing/upgrading and B) Part with an easy money mine whose low-rent grade of tenants probably don’t complain about anything non-life affecting, and who can’t afford to fight back much if they get pushed out for doing so. I’ve known many people who have lived there. The place ain’t luxe and neither are its inhabitants. P3 would probably need to make an insane offer to coax the building out from a landlord like that. And I’m sure with so many other projects on the go, they aren’t going to needlessly throw around money for the sake of ideals.

esquire · #**5991** Posted **Oct 25, 2021, 9:34 PM**

Of course, if it's not for sale there isn't much P3 can do about that.

WinCitySparky · #**5992** Posted **Oct 26, 2021, 1:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Of course, if it's not for sale there isn't much P3 can do about that.

Anyone know who owns it?

WinCitySparky · #**5993** Posted **Oct 26, 2021, 3:03 AM**

Anyone hear anything recently about the proposal that floated around for the 20-storey apartment that was going to be situated between Muse Flats and Downtown Commons, replacing the tiny commercial building that exists there now?

Arcticwolf · #**5994** Posted **Oct 26, 2021, 3:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinCitySparky

Anyone hear anything recently about the proposal that floated around for the 20-storey apartment that was going to be situated between Muse Flats and Downtown Commons, replacing the tiny commercial building that exists there now?

Where Is this located?

Is it 634 Portage ave.?

WinCitySparky · #**5995** Posted **Oct 26, 2021, 12:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcticwolf

Where Is this located?

Is it 694 Portage ave.?

No. 308 Colony. Between Downtown Commons and Muse Flats.

Biff · #**5996** Posted **Oct 26, 2021, 1:32 PM**

^^^Same architect as 634 Portage, similar looking building. They are still hoping to start late this year or early 2022.

esquire · #**5997** Posted **Oct 26, 2021, 1:34 PM**

With all the development in the area, maybe, just maybe there is a chance that the godforsaken McDonalds/Rexall/Tim's combo will get demolished to make way for something better on the former car dealership site at Portage and Sherbrook?

thebasketballgeek · #**5998** Posted **Oct 26, 2021, 1:54 PM**

Yes please that McDonald’s is unanimously hailed as the sketchiest one in the city. It would be a prime opportunity to finally implement a 25-50,000 sq ft grocery store in the west end and plaster a few high rises on top of it. Just copy and paste the St. Norbert Co-op there.

buzzg · #**5999** Posted **Oct 26, 2021, 2:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Most of those other areas have gone back and forth with a one-step forward, two-steps back kind of thing (the West End in particular has seen this kind of thing) but yeah, North Main has not really seen any steps forward in a very long time.

Mind you it's not like it's gotten much worse over the last decade, but there haven't really been any signs of improvement that you could point to and say "look, things are starting to happen, people are investing in the area".

North Main was actually turning itself around 10 years ago, and I place 95% of the blame of it's current state on the United Way and WRHA. It's like the police – organizations that say they help the people around there really are detrimental to them. Both those buildings replaced numerous small buildings and businesses with giant fortresses that fully destroyed all street activity and momentum the area had.

Now you add on Main Street Project which is disgusting and the area is far worse now than 10 years ago. Whoever picked that location for MSP should never be running a social enterprise (was it the guy ousted?) – they picked a location on one of the busiest (and windiest) streets in the city to line all their patrons up for all to see, zero dignity in that. Plus, it's a like a fucking landfill in front of it at all times. No garbage cans, they never clean, it shouldn't be allowed. None of the other shelters in the area have any problem with garbage like this. Drives me nuts.

esquire · #**6000** Posted **Oct 26, 2021, 3:07 PM**

^ I think we're talking about two different things, you're referring to the stretch of Main that's downtown, I'm talking about North Main through Point Douglas (i.e., past the CP tracks). Two similar but different strips.

I agree that Main between City Hall and Higgins was improving organically 10-15 years ago but it went completely off the rails. Ironically the WRHA building pretty much killed any forward movement.

Conversely, once you get north of the CP tracks there has been no improvement of any significance that I can think of.