Winnipeg Construction X

[Biff]

Sandy Shindleman really is no friend to downtown.

https://retail-insider.com/podcast/2...hindico-group/

[wags_in_the_peg]

hate to piss on the momentum but I drive down Portage daily, I dont work downtown but I know a dozen or so people who work for Gov Cad, IG, Canada Life and Air Canada. there's not a bus shack b/w portage place and polo park that doesnt have someone living in it. it's getting worse every week. sorry guys, but many of the folks I've talked to hope to never return to work downtown and want to WFH or location outside downtown. more residential will help, everthing helps but the core issue needs to be resolved. many of these dont qualify to live in shlters as they have rules and wont allow them in there

[drew]

The bus shack stuff really bothers me. I walk to and from most days down Portage, and the garbage, obvious drug use, etc. is ridiculous.

There must be some method of curtailing this. At this point, no one who actually wants to use the bus shacks to wait for a bus can, so maybe just removing them altogether would be a start.

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

hate to piss on the momentum but I drive down Portage daily, I dont work downtown but I know a dozen or so people who work for Gov Cad, IG, Canada Life and Air Canada. there's not a bus shack b/w portage place and polo park that doesnt have someone living in it. it's getting worse every week. sorry guys, but many of the folks I've talked to hope to never return to work downtown and want to WFH or location outside downtown. more residential will help, everthing helps but the core issue needs to be resolved. many of these dont qualify to live in shlters as they have rules and wont allow them in there

This.

When I came back after living in the States I couldn't believe how many homeless people are now living in bus shacks downtown.

I attribute it to when Mayor Bowman invited the homeless to stay in the bus shelters over the winter.

I think people who need help should be able to get it, but the transit shelters are for transit riders.

It's not to be used for social housing or to have a safe place to smoke meth.

Where will bus riders go when it's minus 30 and some guy and his girlfriend are living in the bus shelter with a dog?

It's sad to say but after years away, Winnipeg looks pretty run down.

In Seattle, there are real transit police. They have guns and handcuffs and can arrest you. Maybe we need that here.

The police should regularly do a sweep of downtown transit shelters. if you need help, they'll give you a ride to the Main Street project...but you can't live there.

I don't think it's a mistake that we are hearing about more violent incidents on city buses. Our transit system is not safe.

[esquire]

I get the impression that Transit has become a much more menacing place, from the shelters to the buses. I don't envy the bus drivers, they thought they were signing on to a public transportation agency, but it is slowly turning into something very different.

It's a bit like the New York subway in the 70s, our inability to get a handle on something so basic speaks to much bigger problems that are looming.

[anthonyk]

Originally Posted by esquire

I get the impression that Transit has become a much more menacing place, from the shelters to the buses. I don't envy the bus drivers, they thought they were signing on to a public transportation agency, but it is slowly turning into something very different.

It's turning into social work.

[GreyGarden]

I had something stolen right out of my hands on a Winnipeg bus a couple weeks ago. It was about 7pm and still bright out and lots of people around. I was shocked. It was busy so I didn't feel unsafe, but it was a negative experience and has impacted my transit riding experience since.

[WinCitySparky]

Originally Posted by drew

The bus shack stuff really bothers me. I walk to and from most days down Portage, and the garbage, obvious drug use, etc. is ridiculous.

There must be some method of curtailing this. At this point, no one who actually wants to use the bus shacks to wait for a bus can, so maybe just removing them altogether would be a start.

Yup I would say this is the solution honestly

[WinCitySparky]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

This.

When I came back after living in the States I couldn't believe how many homeless people are now living in bus shacks downtown.

I attribute it to when Mayor Bowman invited the homeless to stay in the bus shelters over the winter.

I think people who need help should be able to get it, but the transit shelters are for transit riders.

It's not to be used for social housing or to have a safe place to smoke meth.

Where will bus riders go when it's minus 30 and some guy and his girlfriend are living in the bus shelter with a dog?

It's sad to say but after years away, Winnipeg looks pretty run down.

In Seattle, there are real transit police. They have guns and handcuffs and can arrest you. Maybe we need that here.

The police should regularly do a sweep of downtown transit shelters. if you need help, they'll give you a ride to the Main Street project...but you can't live there.

I don't think it's a mistake that we are hearing about more violent incidents on city buses. Our transit system is not safe.

I’m also supportive of hard core enforcement. It’s the only way the message is going to get out that the shacks aren’t for the scum.

[WinCitySparky]

Let’s take this to the Transit thread as we’re getting off topic seems like

[OTA in Winnipeg]

Originally Posted by drew

The bus shack stuff really bothers me. I walk to and from most days down Portage, and the garbage, obvious drug use, etc. is ridiculous.

There must be some method of curtailing this. At this point, no one who actually wants to use the bus shacks to wait for a bus can, so maybe just removing them altogether would be a start.

Eliminate them. Bus stops only. Pretty simple really.

Also, the meth. That's the real problem.

[Jammon]

Originally Posted by OTA in Winnipeg

Eliminate them. Bus stops only. Pretty simple really.

Also, the meth. That's the real problem.

Stop the behaviour by getting the Downtown Biz Patrol and Cadets to push them out of some of these spaces, like the bus shelters. Isn't that what we pay them to do? I have no problem with congregating in public spaces, but I have to say-- I drive past the A/C building almost every day and I can see how it would be intimidating to go in there everyday. Portage Place looks awful, the Bay shuttered up, Glasshouse has become a rental for prostitutes and drug dealers- it hasn't done much to bolster the image of our DT. It looks really run down again, much like the 90s and early 2000s.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Jammon

Glasshouse has become a rental for prostitutes and drug dealers-

Is this hyperbole or is it actually bad in there? I'd be curious to hear from someone living in there.

[GreyGarden]

I've heard from others that due to the lack of long-term tenants and Airbnb, living at Glasshouse can be very unpleasant at times. This doesn't seem like a strictly Winnipeg phenomena however. The Ice Condominium complex in the south Core of Toronto drips luxury from the outside, but apparently is a nightmare to live in for similar reasons:

https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-t...ondos-toronto/

[Jammon]

Originally Posted by GreyGarden

I've heard from others that due to the lack of long-term tenants and Airbnb, living at Glasshouse can be very unpleasant at times. This doesn't seem like a strictly Winnipeg phenomena however. The Ice Condominium complex in the south Core of Toronto drips luxury from the outside, but apparently is a nightmare to live in for similar reasons:

https://www.blogto.com/real-estate-t...ondos-toronto/

A lot of the movie crews that come into town for longer stays will be housed at Glasshouse and I know of quite a few that have complained about the living situation there. One friend was telling me they had a pizza delivered and it was stolen from outside their door. Drugs, prostitution and parties are all the norm there.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Jammon

A lot of the movie crews that come into town for longer stays will be housed at Glasshouse and I know of quite a few that have complained about the living situation there. One friend was telling me they had a pizza delivered and it was stolen from outside their door. Drugs, prostitution and parties are all the norm there.

That is fucking depressing. Maybe it's a good thing SkyCity didn't get built, from the sounds of it, it might have just become a den for drug dealers and pimps.

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by Jammon

A lot of the movie crews that come into town for longer stays will be housed at Glasshouse and I know of quite a few that have complained about the living situation there. One friend was telling me they had a pizza delivered and it was stolen from outside their door. Drugs, prostitution and parties are all the norm there.

Well, I just learned that we have a 21 floor glass tower smack in the centre of downtown that is a vertical Brothel.. . 2020's version .Wow...

[Jammon]

Originally Posted by esquire

That is fucking depressing. Maybe it's a good thing SkyCity didn't get built, from the sounds of it, it might have just become a den for drug dealers and pimps.

Yeah. Doesn't leave a great impression of the city. Two guys I know from Vancouver are currently staying there and they hate it. Downtown just looks dilapidated right now and you can really see the social disparities and homelessness. They weren't left with a great impression of our DT core, but I made sure to give them a different experience doing Corydon and Osborne Village.

I mean, what can you say? I'm not going to argue it because I was feeling so positive about all the DT developments- but Portage Ave, in particular, is a mess right now between Main and Memorial.

[esquire]

Airbnb must have changed things for the worse. When I was younger in the pre-Airbnb era I owned a downtown condo and it was great as far as apartment living goes... mostly owner-occupied with some rentals, but as far as I know the renters were long term. Having a revolving door of different people coming through night after night would not be great, especially if they misbehave as many seem to.

[drew]

Originally Posted by OTA in Winnipeg

Eliminate them. Bus stops only. Pretty simple really.

Also, the meth. That's the real problem.

I should clarify that it is specifically the bus shelter near Sherbrook and Portage that is the worst offender.

Constantly occupied, with blatant drug use and just garbage garbage garbage.

It is basically right in front of a youth outreach/drop in centre too.

The rest of the shelters downtown remain unoccupied most of the time.

This particular one appears to fall outside of the reach of downtown biz, so maybe that is why it is a problem.