Winnipeg | Hudson’s Bay Building | Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn | U/C

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by dennis

I am somewhat disappointed, but at least the building will some life again.

some life? It will be one of the busiest buildings in the downtown.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by esquire

The funny thing about all this is that everyone involved in this project will be patting themselves on the back for building positive Indigenous relationships when in reality this is yet another case of a discarded building being repurposed as a second rate facility for Indigenous people to use.

Passenger railways fell out of use and Canadian Pacific had no use for its old station... hand it over to Indigenous groups, let them deal with it.

Winnipeg's role as a financial centre has disappeared, Bank of Montreal has no use for a stately old banking hall at Portage and Main. Turn it over to MMF.

Hudson's Bay no longer needs a big downtown retail emporium. Hand it over to Southern Chiefs, and then pat yourself on the back for promoting reconciliation.

I'd be more convinced about all these amends supposedly being made if it wasn't just old, unwanted buildings being turned over to Indigenous groups. It's the real estate equivalent of some piece of junky furniture being placed on the curb, hoping someone will pick it up so it won't be your problem anymore.

It is truly depressing. It feels like Winnipeg is being put in its place and humbled by this announcement. We are the red headed step child among Canadian cities.

This project is being led by First Nations. It is nobody saddling them with anything. It is an inspiration for the city. I hope more First Nations reach for the stars like they are.

MMF paid good money for BMO because they see it as an important opportunity for themselves.

Both of these projects are about opportunity. Neither are hand-me-down anything. Both are inspiring.

The private sector group that was looking at the bay was a call centre. Would that be better?

[Temperance]

Waiting for more details today, but it sounds like a great project for our city. A mixed use building with housing, public space, and commercial. A powerfully symbolic way to work towards reconciliation and bringing some vibrancy back to the downtown. Fantastic!

[Gravity Wins]

Consider me cautiously optimistic. It could work out great. And even if it doesn't, it can't be any worse than the ghost of a building it is now.

[biguc]

Originally Posted by trueviking

500 people will call the Bay home. That's as many as the shiny new tower at Main and Graham that everyone has such a hard on for. It will have two restaurants, a grand public square, day care, medical clinics, office space, retail, art galleries and cultural centres. What exactly were you expecting? Not only that, it is an incredible model for reconciliation in our city, province and country. Our city's prosperity depends wholly on the prosperity of First Nations and this will go a long way to making that happen.

That sounds great. Where is the grand square? Are they taking out the parkade too?

I hope it has a ground floor market for artisans and food. And maker/studio space elsewhere. Guess we'll find out the details today.

[WinCitySparky]

Originally Posted by biguc

That sounds great. Where is the grand square? Are they taking out the parkade too?

I hope it has a ground floor market for artisans and food. And maker/studio space elsewhere. Guess we'll find out the details today.

The parkade is owned separately.

[biguc]

Right, but it could have been bought. Viking mentioned a grand public square. There's no space for such a thing on the existing building footprint.

Unless they're giving it the donut treatment and it'll be in the middle.

[WildCake]

Originally Posted by biguc

Right, but it could have been bought. Viking mentioned a grand public square. There's no space for such a thing on the existing building footprint.

Unless they're giving it the donut treatment and it'll be in the middle.

Maybe the deal included Portage Place as a sweet add on, and they'll tear it down to make a public square

[Biff]

The articles this morning said it was a $130m project. That doesn't sound like enough. I thought a couple of years ago there was a quote for $110m to bring it up to current code.

The feds must be contributing a big chunk of cash because I was under impression that the Province was only contributing $10m. They still have that $25m fund for historic preservation, but I don't believe that addresses any of the code or renovation items.

[Biff]

It did say the Paddle Wheel Restaurant was coming back.

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by Temperance

Waiting for more details today, but it sounds like a great project for our city. A mixed use building with housing, public space, and commercial. A powerfully symbolic way to work towards reconciliation and bringing some vibrancy back to the downtown. Fantastic!

Couldn't agree more. Winnipeg always has had the potential to be at the forefront of real reconciliation in the country. The Metis centre at P & M, the Bay, the APTN studios, all along the city's main downtown thoroughfare, are solid examples of this. Indigenous people benefit, the downtown benefits, it couldn't be better. I wish the project all the success in the world.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Biff

The articles this morning said it was a $130m project. That doesn't sound like enough. I thought a couple of years ago there was a quote for $110m to bring it up to current code.

The feds must be contributing a big chunk of cash because I was under impression that the Province was only contributing $10m. They still have that $25m fund for historic preservation, but I don't believe that addresses any of the code or renovation items.

That was part of the reason I was underwhelmed by yesterday's leak. Based on the figures in the story, the scale of the renovations will be on the scale of fresh paint and plywood partitions as opposed to any kind of comprehensive overhaul of the building.

Don't get me wrong, I see the need for what this project is trying to deliver. It's just sad that what should be a showpiece building is going to be used for such a basic, unremarkable function. It's one step above that meme from last year that showed the building painted green with a giant Dollarama sign out front.

Seeing what has happened with old department stores across the country and then seeing the plans for our old Bay store is like being a kid and watching your friends get bikes and Playstations for Christmas, while you get a pack of socks and underwear. Sure they're useful and important, but...

[The Unknown Poster]

The comments around the horn are so disgusting. Its an embarrassment really.

This project sounds terrific and unique. Very exciting.

[bomberjet]

I'm optimistic by the sounds of TV's description.

Private companies couldn't make it work. So obviously it is being supported mostly by the government, seemingly the Feds. I think we knew that from the beginning. So instead of giving that money to a private company, this seems decent. Hopefully it works out and isn't done on the cheap.

[GreyGarden]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I'm optimistic by the sounds of TV's description.

Private companies couldn't make it work. So obviously it is being supported mostly by the government, seemingly the Feds. I think we knew that from the beginning. So instead of giving that money to a private company, this seems decent. Hopefully it works out and isn't done on the cheap.

Exactly the right take in my opinion. We've known for a long time that this project was going to require help from all three levels of government. In my opinion, and given that the feds are dealing with a housing crisis in lots of the country, the government should not be funding luxury apartments or paving the way for a hotel or office and/or countless other fantasy development schemes for this building. This sounds like it has the potential to be a real positive contribution to the downtown, and frankly I was getting worried about the Bay.

On another note, I went by the building this morning on my way to work and they've put up nice posters along the main floor windows. It looks a lot better than the rust belt plywood that was there last night. I'm glad they were able to address that before the PM's visit.

[esquire]

This Globe and Mail writer sees it for what it is. It's HBC unloading a liability and making it someone else's problem while getting a bit of good PR.

[1ajs]

in that sens ur right they are dumping it up. but if people ask and due diligence is done in planning on this issue and see its worth going after then are they dumping it?

[biguc]

That asbestos claim is irresponsible. All buildings of a certain age have asbestos in them. That doesn't mean it's a liability.

[esquire]

^ It's not HBC's problem anymore, though.

[biguc]

Nor is it, necessarily, anyone's. He's talking like HBC is back to handing out smallpox blankets.