Winnipeg Construction X - Page 455

thebasketballgeek · #**9081** Posted **Mar 4, 2023, 5:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverman

No thank you, I have all I need. But thanks for your generous offer.

My point is, all the complaints about the poor transportation infrastructure have merit, and just about every other city is more well thought out. But you can change - not Winnipeg, Winnipeg will not change.

The alternative is to find a place to live that has everything you like in a city, and endeavor to move there. It may take time, maybe years, but your happiness is worth it. We only get one crack at life so you should like where you live.

We are free to live anywhere in this country. Take advantage of that freedom.

Serious question but if one were to move out of their city why not just go to a place with a better climate and in all likelihood better transportation elsewhere outside of Canada? It wouldn’t be relatively too hard as Canadian citizens to make a move compared to most immigrants in the third world. In fact I’m sure most of the EU would welcome a Canadian immigrant with open arms.

The top tier cities here are too expensive and really they aren’t all that walkable compared to most top tier cities around the globe. With that being the case it’s hard to find a better bang for your buck then Winnipeg besides Edmonton and maybe Saskatoon. If I was moving out of Winnipeg I’d probably head to the Netherlands or Australia and stop pretending the big 3 are world class cities for anything besides its food (and views for Vancouver).

dennis · #**9082** Posted **Mar 4, 2023, 8:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rivercity

For me its moving vehicles off high streets in the city so they can actually be enjoyed. We can hum and haw about being a car centric city but even if kenaston isnt widened for a billion bucks that money isnt going to be allocated to active transit or transit transit, who are we kidding. I guess i am just cynical about this city in general these days.

Spot on. For me, when I look at other cities that we try to emulate with a superior urban design than Winnipeg, It seems that this is a factor. It helps reduce the stroad factor. Freeways are not great, but if placed in the right areas, concentrating on perhaps industrial zones of cities, it may actually benefit central business districts and residential areas.

WinCitySparky · #**9083** Posted **Mar 4, 2023, 9:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis

Spot on. For me, when I look at other cities that we try to emulate with a superior urban design than Winnipeg, It seems that this is a factor. It helps reduce the stroud factor. Freeways are not great, but if placed in the right areas, concentrating on perhaps industrial zones of cities, it may actually benefit central business districts and residential areas.

Totally!!

Highwayman · #**9084** Posted **Mar 5, 2023, 4:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis

Spot on. For me, when I look at other cities that we try to emulate with a superior urban design than Winnipeg, It seems that this is a factor. It helps reduce the stroad factor. Freeways are not great, but if placed in the right areas, concentrating on perhaps industrial zones of cities, it may actually benefit central business districts and residential areas.

I'm happy we never were one of those cities like in the USA that went crazy on the freeways. There isn't anywhere in this city that is hard to get to. Even in rush hour. The things that make some trips longer are snowstorms. But that's every city with snow. Some cities just shut down. But I don't think I have ever had a longer cross the entire city commute then maybe 45 minutes. Try that on a free way in say the Twin Cities. It won't happen. You are in bumper to bumper in 70mph zones and stuck 10 miles outside the city.

However we do need to like you mentioned finished the commercial side of this . Like the perimeter. Like Center Port Way needs to bypass Headingley. Like the St Norbert bypass. And stopp allowing a set of lights whenever a developer wants one on Bishop. Example the stretch between St Anne's and Lag. The rest of Bishop is actually fine aside from the terrible road conditions.

Had we let a certain Mayor from the 60's build his utopia of freeways we wouldn't have the exchange and downtown would be a wasteland. As everyone would just bypass it.

WinCitySparky · #**9085** Posted **Mar 5, 2023, 6:41 PM**

I mean downtown is a wasteland lol but I get your point

BAKGUY · #**9086** Posted **Mar 5, 2023, 11:45 PM**

May I ask where the Winnipeg Construction X can now be found? It seems I am on The Transportation & Roads Thread.

dmacc · #**9087** Posted **Mar 6, 2023, 2:32 PM**

Looks like True North Development might buy Portage Place. This would be huge for that location. I sure hope it pans out.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstori...ce-mall-multiple-sources-say/ar-AA18gKYi

bomberjet · #**9088** Posted **Mar 6, 2023, 2:50 PM**

Legend has it True North will own all of downtown.

Wpg_Guy · #**9089** Posted **Mar 6, 2023, 2:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmacc

Looks like True North Development might buy Portage Place. This would be huge for that location. I sure hope it pans out.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstori...ce-mall-multiple-sources-say/ar-AA18gKYi

In the portage Place redevelopment thread

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=240158

trueviking · #**9090** Posted **Mar 9, 2023, 9:32 PM**

I had lunch at the restaurant in the Marlborough Hotel today....food was actually pretty good.

Talked them into giving me a tour of the different spaces in the hotel....wow...so much potential.....such beautiful spaces.

The person showing me around told me that it was purchased six months ago and the new owner will be undertaking a full top to bottom renovation and hopes to compete with the Fort Garry as a luxury hotel.....honestly, if the guest rooms were even Canadinns quality, it would be an amazing hotel because the public paces are so nice.....I was surprised that it is pretty clean in there...it needs a refresh but the interiors have been well kept.

esquire · #**9091** Posted **Mar 9, 2023, 10:42 PM**

^ That is great news. I have a hard time envisioning the Marlborough as a luxury hotel as I'm not sure that it ever had that role, at least in recent decades. I think it could do well as a midmarket hotel (kind of like CanadInns) trading off a good downtown location right between The Exchange, Portage and Main and the arena.

Even into the 90s it was kept up in pretty good shape, it was really just in the last 25 years that it has gone downhill. Which is surprising to me, I would have thought there to be value in maintaining it properly.

The main and top floors still have a real elegance to them. Just needs a little spit and polish.

WinCitySparky · #**9092** Posted **Mar 10, 2023, 12:58 AM**

Yeah went to the restaurant for a brunch a while back, it’s lovely in there. Really hope the owners’ plans come to fruit.

wags_in_the_peg · #**9093** Posted **Mar 10, 2023, 1:10 AM**

whats the restaurant there? always looking for a new lunch spot. the Reagle Beagle closed sometime ago

esquire · #**9094** Posted **Mar 10, 2023, 2:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

whats the restaurant there? always looking for a new lunch spot. the Reagle Beagle closed sometime ago

Joanna's Cafe... I haven't been there in years. It's a simple little restaurant in a beautiful space.

The dining room is even more impressive. And then of course the top floor banquet rooms. The Marlborough has a very impressive collection of dining and banquet rooms, arguably only surpassed by the Fort Garry and Fairmont in terms of wow factor.

CoryB · #**9095** Posted **Mar 10, 2023, 3:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

^ That is great news. I have a hard time envisioning the Marlborough as a luxury hotel as I'm not sure that it ever had that role, at least in recent decades. I think it could do well as a midmarket hotel (kind of like CanadInns) trading off a good downtown location right between The Exchange, Portage and Main and the arena.

The Marlborough ballroom is definitely up there with the Fort Garry and Fort Garry Place rooms. Not sure exactly when Marlborough was at its peak but the stories I have heard suggest it was into the 80s if not later. I think the biggest issue with the ballroom is the lack of lobby space for when an event like a wedding is wanting to not open the doors to a certain time. Also being on an upper floor the limited elevator capacity and relatively slow speed is a minor issue too.

rivercity · #**9096** Posted **Mar 10, 2023, 3:21 PM**

Doesnt the Marlborough also have an indoor pool on one of the upper floors?

esquire · #**9097** Posted **Mar 10, 2023, 3:21 PM**

^ Agreed, it is a great ballroom. The huge windows really make it. It is kind of a budget version of the 7th floor ballrooms at the Fort Garry.

For at least the last 25 years the Marlborough seemed like it could be more than what it is.

I wonder if the renovation will make better use of the old wing of the building? From what I understand, that part hasn't been used for guest rooms in a long time. I have no idea what is in that space, apparently the rooms were converted to commercial spaces (offices and showrooms and such) many years ago?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rivercity

Doesnt the Marlborough also have an indoor pool on one of the upper floors?

The pool is located next door in what was one of the Garrick Cinema's screening rooms. There is a skywalk access over the backlane to get there. I think it is the only downtown hotel with a waterslide.

WinCitySparky · #**9098** Posted **Mar 10, 2023, 4:48 PM**

Ahh the 7th floor ballroom at the Fort Garry, I was on a job there like 12 years ago doing a major general restoration and lighting/power/projection screen upgrade, and a facelift of the skywalk. Got to cut holes in the ballroom ceiling and climb right into the “sky”, super neat. They had ceramics masons there remaking all the deteriorated cast ceiling tiles and everything. Very cool.

1ajs · #**9099** Posted **Mar 10, 2023, 7:22 PM**

hopefully they can get the bedbug situation under controll

BAKGUY · #**9100** Posted **Mar 10, 2023, 10:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rivercity

Doesnt the Marlborough also have an indoor pool on one of the upper floors?

Their pool existed @ The Garrick Event centre on Garry St.
Hopefully they buy or have access to it as it is closed.
I think there is or was a skywalk/bridge to get to it.
I have said for years this historic hotel must be rescued and it can actually compete with The Fort Garry on many levels.
The main Churchill's dining room is unparalleled in the city.
There also exist a couple of other lovely smaller banquet rooms