Winnipeg Construction X

[blueandgoldguy]

I recall Doer discussing the idea of a national/provincial park in Point Douglas prior to leaving office. I wonder what the boundaries of the park would have been or will be in the future should this happen?

[Authentic_City]

This is a new federal initiative:

https://parks.canada.ca/pun-nup/~/link.aspx?_id=076BB0900B1D449FA30CF65F7E06587E&_z=z

[peg]

Originally Posted by NewIreland

That proposal has been around for years. It's not happening.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

This is a new federal initiative:

https://parks.canada.ca/pun-nup/~/link.aspx?_id=076BB0900B1D449FA30CF65F7E06587E&_z=z

Hopefully it isn't too late to expand Winnipeg's existing urban national park to include the once in a lifetime area scheduled to be lost to the horrible Railside development that people here keep pushing, likely as they stand to personally profit off that development. Once the land is developed Winnipeg will likely never again have an opportunity to build a large scale urban park in downtown Winnipeg.

[building_lover]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Hopefully it isn't too late to expand Winnipeg's existing urban national park to include the once in a lifetime area scheduled to be lost to the horrible Railside development that people here keep pushing, likely as they stand to personally profit off that development. Once the land is developed Winnipeg will likely never again have an opportunity to build a large scale urban park in downtown Winnipeg.

I'm not sure the either/or thing works here...

Downtown Winnipeg could absolutely use another urban park, but without an adjacent residential neighbourhood to fill it with people it will always be underutilized.

Look to La Fontaine or Jeanne-Mance or Jarry in Montreal, they work because they're surrounded by blocks of apartments that fill the parks with people at all hours of the day. I mean even just look at Central Park in Winnipeg. Whatever happens at Railside needs a residential component.

Honestly it's too bad Upper Fort Garry turned out the way it did, that's probably a more appropriate location than Railside. Take over that last corner of parking, connect it to Bonnycastle Park, and you'd have something pretty decent. As it stands, it's truly one of the more severe examples of terminal design brain. They could have put down a soccer pitch and some trees, but instead they overcooked it into a place that looks nice and does not much else. A win for History I guess?

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Hopefully it isn't too late to expand Winnipeg's existing urban national park to include the once in a lifetime area scheduled to be lost to the horrible Railside development that people here keep pushing, likely as they stand to personally profit off that development. Once the land is developed Winnipeg will likely never again have an opportunity to build a large scale urban park in downtown Winnipeg.

Yeah. That’s what we need at the forks. More grass. Why in the world would downtown Winnipeg need a large scale park? Who is going to use it? Is the existing park space at the forks, Stephen Juba, Fort Garry, and Bonnycastle overrun with people? They look pretty empty to me. What a colossal wasted opportunity it would be to make a park at railside. You must be profiting off that idea somehow.

I love the comment that the only way someone could support residential development of the largest urban parking lots in western Canada is if they are profiting off it. Maybe they just think it’s a good idea. Maybe that’s why residential development was part of the forks masterplan since day one.

[Labroco]

Tractors at the tip of Point Douglas. Some clean up is happening…

[Hecate]

Originally Posted by building_lover

I'm not sure the either/or thing works here...

Downtown Winnipeg could absolutely use another urban park, but without an adjacent residential neighbourhood to fill it with people it will always be underutilized.

Look to La Fontaine or Jeanne-Mance or Jarry in Montreal, they work because they're surrounded by blocks of apartments that fill the parks with people at all hours of the day. I mean even just look at Central Park in Winnipeg. Whatever happens at Railside needs a residential component.

Honestly it's too bad Upper Fort Garry turned out the way it did, that's probably a more appropriate location than Railside. Take over that last corner of parking, connect it to Bonnycastle Park, and you'd have something pretty decent. As it stands, it's truly one of the more severe examples of terminal design brain. They could have put down a soccer pitch and some trees, but instead they overcooked it into a place that looks nice and does not much else. A win for History I guess?

Lol one of montreals main parks is Jean Drapeau it’s a couple islands in the middle of the st Lawrence. Nobody lives next to it and it’s a successful tourist attraction featuring gardens, concert spaces, an amusement parc, and a casino. So the idea the forks needs condos to thrive is just silly. Quite frankly condos at the forks is stupid. This space should be a fucking park.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Hecate

Lol one of montreals main parks is Jean Drapeau it’s a couple islands in the middle of the st Lawrence. Nobody lives next to it and it’s a successful tourist attraction featuring gardens, concert spaces, an amusement parc, and a casino. So the idea the forks needs condos to thrive is just silly. Quite frankly condos at the forks is stupid. This space should be a fucking park.

I can see the merit to this. It's not as though there is a shortage of developable land surrounding The Forks. Maybe it makes more sense to push the apartment development to the land ringing the area (South Main, Provencher/Tache, East Exchange, Westbrook St) instead of at The Forks itself? Then you could build at a larger scale.

The Forks seems fairly lively as it is, it's not as though it's dying for people.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by esquire

I noticed some large brackets being installed right at the very tippy-top of 201 Portage. Looks like there will be some sort of sign or lighting going in up there? I don't remember any mention of it when Harvard was discussing renovation plans... anyone know what they're putting in?

Some City Hall insufficiencies attached to this. The structural permit for a new sign was approved before the actual sign permit was, now the city is denying the permit for the sign as it violates bi-laws for clutter (2 coporate logos), height and wayfinding.


https://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/DMIS/ViewPdf.asp?SectionId=690848

[esquire]

^ Seems like amateur hour on the part of the landlord. Having two different bank logos at the top cheapens the look of the place. It's bad enough as it is with BMO at the bottom and RBC at the top.

[Hecate]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Yeah. That’s what we need at the forks. More grass. Why in the world would downtown Winnipeg need a large scale park? Who is going to use it? Is the existing park space at the forks, Stephen Juba, Fort Garry, and Bonnycastle overrun with people? They look pretty empty to me. What a colossal wasted opportunity it would be to make a park at railside. You must be profiting off that idea somehow.

I love the comment that the only way someone could support residential development of the largest urban parking lots in western Canada is if they are profiting off it. Maybe they just think it’s a good idea. Maybe that’s why residential development was part of the forks masterplan since day one.

You love the comment because it’s the truth. And if residential has always been a part of the forks master plan… well then, it’s a stupid master plan. We have an opportunity to do something wonderful here that could spur economic growth and residential development throughout the rest of downtown. Once the land is built on there is no turning back. Tree it over, plant grasses, create space for sports to be played so when the little kids living downtown want to play soccer or baseball the parents don’t have to bus them to charleswood for team sports. Honestly fuck condos.

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Seems like amateur hour on the part of the landlord. Having two different bank logos at the top cheapens the look of the place. It's bad enough as it is with BMO at the bottom and RBC at the top.

they are on different sides of the building so I see no issues with that personally. The more "lit up" our skyline is the better, IMHO.

[building_lover]

Originally Posted by Hecate

Lol one of montreals main parks is Jean Drapeau it’s a couple islands in the middle of the st Lawrence. Nobody lives next to it and it’s a successful tourist attraction featuring gardens, concert spaces, an amusement parc, and a casino. So the idea the forks needs condos to thrive is just silly. Quite frankly condos at the forks is stupid. This space should be a fucking park.

Casino? Theme park? Yeah, it's barely a real park.
I lived there several years and hardly went there and don't know anyone who did either. You go there to go to ride a rollercoaster, watch F1, see a massive music festival. It's closer to the Red River Ex than a neighbourhood park.

The parks that become a part of people's daily lives are woven into neighbourhoods. They have baseball diamonds, soccer fields, pools, stuff people use on a daily basis because they are close to their homes, and have amenities that you don't need a ticket to take advantage of. Are we catering to tourists or trying to create neighbourhoods?

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

Some City Hall insufficiencies attached to this. The structural permit for a new sign was approved before the actual sign permit was, now the city is denying the permit for the sign as it violates bi-laws for clutter (2 coporate logos), height and wayfinding.


https://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/DMIS/ViewPdf.asp?SectionId=690848

the clutter bylaw needs to be deleted

[thebasketballgeek]

Originally Posted by Hecate

You love the comment because it’s the truth. And if residential has always been a part of the forks master plan… well then, it’s a stupid master plan. We have an opportunity to do something wonderful here that could spur economic growth and residential development throughout the rest of downtown. Once the land is built on there is no turning back. Tree it over, plant grasses, create space for sports to be played so when the little kids living downtown want to play soccer or baseball the parents don’t have to bus them to charleswood for team sports. Honestly fuck condos.

You can do both. It’s not like any residential development in the Forks would prevent a skating rink or basketball court. There’s already ample green space within the forks to add most amenities kids require. There’s already a ton of infrastructure for children in the forks that aren’t easily accessible to the rest of the population such as the theatre and children's museum. Also, there is already a baseball park in the Forks lol.

Personally, I would go with having a k-8 and 9-12 schools in the forks which will increase demand to live in the DT. And then use the north lot as an archaeological site (remember the site is 6,000 years old), but with the Union Station becoming a major rapid transit hub it would be a big miss not adding any sort of permanent population to the Forks. Especially with all the property tax revenue that can be generated from condos in the Forks and on the Main St parking lots while we’re at it.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Yeah. That’s what we need at the forks. More grass. Why in the world would downtown Winnipeg need a large scale park?

I thought someone with your wide knowledge of city planning, etc would be well versed on the impacts a development similar to Central Park in NYC can have on a city.

Originally Posted by trueviking

Who is going to use it? Is the existing park space at the forks, Stephen Juba, Fort Garry, and Bonnycastle overrun with people? They look pretty empty to me.

Why bother with any public greenspaces then? Let's sell off Assinboine Park and build single family homes, same with Assiboine Forest. Let's get rid of Upper Fort Garry and build transitional housing for those suffering from homelessness. (clearly meant as sarcasm).

Parks and green spaces are an essential part of a vibrant community and further developing The Forks as a public space is a once in a generation opportunity.

Originally Posted by trueviking

What a colossal wasted opportunity it would be to make a park at railside. You must be profiting off that idea somehow.

I love the comment that the only way someone could support residential development of the largest urban parking lots in western Canada is if they are profiting off it. Maybe they just think it’s a good idea. Maybe that’s why residential development was part of the forks masterplan since day one.

Sorry, my apologies. I didn't realize all the architects, engineers, project managers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc would be 100% donating their professional time to the project and that it would be public owned housing. /s

I have argued against The Forks having public housing for as long as that has been public for these exact reasons. Develop the stretch of land east of Main St as housing to support The Forks and then the surface parking lots that are all over downtown and The Exchange area.

When I am saying no to condos at The Forks I am not saying to leave those surface lots as is. If we go back to when The Forks site first opened and developed the entire free space as condos we wouldn't have Niizhoziibean, the CN stage, the skate park, the CMHR, or likely even Inn at the Forks and MTYP.

While I do not personally have the vision for what the next 10, 20 or even 50 years might bring to the site and further expand it's public presence I can tell you we 100% do not need it to be another generic condo development just as much as we don't need it to be a CanAlta hotel. And based on other posts here I can see I am not alone, but I also have zero vested interest in seeing any one type of development proceed on the site over another. Can you say the same?

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Hecate

You love the comment because it’s the truth. And if residential has always been a part of the forks master plan… well then, it’s a stupid master plan. We have an opportunity to do something wonderful here that could spur economic growth and residential development throughout the rest of downtown. Once the land is built on there is no turning back. Tree it over, plant grasses, create space for sports to be played so when the little kids living downtown want to play soccer or baseball the parents don’t have to bus them to charleswood for team sports. Honestly fuck condos.

See you truly get it.

Yes, the area would benefit from more residential development but there is no shortage of space for that to happen. Look at that huge parking lot just the other side on the CN line from the Goldeyes ball park or the number of surface parking lots between Main St and the tracks.

If The Forks vision was to further expand all the park elements that already make it a go to destination for locals and tourist those other residential developments become even more in demand. It could truly be the catalyst that is needed to turn downtown residential into something highly desired.

On the other hand once the condo development start getting built and the architect cashes the cheque for the design it is game over on a potentially transformative opportunity.

[trueviking]

Yeah. Evil architects. Wouldn’t landscape architects profit over a park? LOL.

Another giant park in the middle of downtown Winnipeg is the dumbest idea. The Forks has more than enough green space. It IS the park you are talking about. We already have the giant urban park you want. Now we need people living beside it to use it.

The Forks needs permanent population to be more than just a drive in destination. Residential is a perfect use. A rare opportunity because many people will likely live at the forks who would not live on the other side of the tracks. It will be a driver of urban living.

A park would be an empty field. Like all the adjacent green space is. There’s a new park that’s about half the size of Railside literally across the street that cost millions to build and it is completely empty. No tourists. No locals.

A better idea is a pedestrian bridge connecting downtown to Whittier Park, so those all kids don’t have to bus to Charleswood.

[BlackDog204]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Yeah. Evil architects. Wouldn’t landscape architects profit over a park? LOL.

A giant park in the middle of downtown Winnipeg is the dumbest idea. The Forks has more than enough green space. It needs permanent population to be more than just a drive in destination. It’s a perfect use. A rare opportunity because many people will likely live at the forks who would not on the other side of the tracks. It will be a driver of urban living.

A park would be an empty field. Like all the adjacent green space is.

A better idea is a pedestrian bridge connecting downtown to Whittier Park, so those all kids don’t have to bus to Charleswood.

I always thought that the downtown area had quite a bit of greenspace already. The Forks, Central Park, etc.

I've been hearing about the foorbridge over the river ever since the idea of putting the stadium in Point Douglas was floating around 15 years ago. Seems like a good idea.

I actually heard the city had plans to eventually build a footbridge from the U of M, connecting it to Normand Park in St.Vital. I've always thought that to be a great idea, considering it would be beneficial for many St.Vital residents.