Winnipeg Construction VIII

[Ando]

Originally Posted by drew

^ how could we have had both? the footprint of the park means the tower would have needed to fit on a tiny sliver of land along Fort Street. It would never have happened IMO.

Either way, we still have both. Just slightly further away.

Also, the picture of Paris is nice, but what is/was/maybe proposed for Winnipeg with the tower would have looked nothing like that, ever. More like an old gate, a plaque, a couple benches and some giant fat-bottomed pre-cast monolith casting a giant middle finger down on Main street for the next 100 years.

EDIT: actually, with Fort Garry Place, we basically already have that. But at least the park will be larger.

Drew, of course you are right. Celebrating the history of the city should be a priority and obviously the site of Upper Fort Garry is of utmost historic significance. But all you're going get from (most of) the crowd on here is dyspeptic and dystopian natter, and all the other dys's you can think of. It's cool on here to be negative and run everything down. Of course the park isn't finished, and but it's so much fun think about imaginary condos in the sky that could have been built there and how the park doesn't look great, even though chances are the critics haven been no where near it. I know it's hard to see the logic of 90 percent of the postings on here.

[The Unknown Poster]

Originally Posted by Ando

Drew, of course you are right. Celebrating the history of the city should be a priority and obviously the site of Upper Fort Garry is of utmost historic significance. But all you're going get from (most of) the crowd on here is dyspeptic and dystopian natter, and all the other dys's you can think of. It's cool on here to be negative and run everything down. Of course the park isn't finished, and but it's so much fun think about imaginary condos in the sky that could have been built there and how the park doesn't look great, even though chances are the critics haven been no where near it. I know it's hard to see the logic of 90 percent of the postings on here.

As a casual observer I agree that many posts on here are a little too simplistic

Celebrating our history is a good idea. I cant say I will ever use the park but its not my thing anyway. Trying to create a natural connection to the Forks is wise. I hope those efforts continue.

[Tacheguy]

The park is going to be a fantastic addition in my opinion. I love the flow from waterfront drive, to the cmhr, to the Forks and then Upper Fort Garry. With some creativity in connecting these elements we are going to have an amazing urban corridor. Might even be referenced on Parisienne message boards

[CoryB]

Definitely an interesting comparison between Upper Fort Gary and Earls. One site was an office building I would estimate at over 35 feet high which was demolished for no development (a park). The other site is currently undeveloped (surface parking) and we said no to a planned development because it wasn't tall enough.

In terms of Upper Fort Garry, it is interesting to see a provincial park separated by Assinboine Ave from a civic park. Wonder if the difference in regulations such as operating hours and maintenance might have issues over the long term.

[snowmobile]

Richardson plans to build a new research facility downtown http://www.cjob.com/2015/04/14/69608/?sc_ref=direct

[esquire]

Originally Posted by snowmobile

Richardson plans to build a new research facility downtown http://www.cjob.com/2015/04/14/69608/?sc_ref=direct

Interesting that they're doing it downtown rather than out by the University. Good on them.

[trueviking]

That is spectacular news for many reasons!

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by trueviking

That is spectacular news for many reasons!

Probably behind their bldg at 161 Portage Avenue East.

I hope it's taller than 35 Feet! LOL

Great news though ...

[rypinion]

Great to hear the news is public. Love the fact that they are hoping to go downtown. Disclaimer: I'm an employee but the article has more info than I've heard thus far.

Note that Richardson makes some products that you can buy at the grocery store (and support a local company that contributes to downtown). The brand is Canola Harvest and they make Margarine and Canola Oil. This new facility supports that business.

http://www.richardson.ca/products-and-services/nutrition/retail

[buzzg]

Hopefully an empty lot around Shaw Park. BOND TOWER?!! Hahaha

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by Labroco

Probably behind their bldg at 161 Portage Avenue East.

I hope it's taller than 35 Feet! LOL

Great news though ...

aren't research facilities typically on a few floors due to collaboration with scientists, a tall skinny tower doesn't make sense. also, why new build and not buy the IBM building on Ellice or the (i believe empty) NRC research centre?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

aren't research facilities typically on a few floors due to collaboration with scientists, a tall skinny tower doesn't make sense. also, why new build and not buy the IBM building on Ellice or the (i believe empty) NRC research centre?

For what it's worth, the Canadian Grain Commission does a lot of lab-type product development work and they're located in a fairly standard skinny tower on Main Street. But I take your point... I wondered the same thing regarding the NRC facility. However, it might cost a fortune to redevelop a building to suit a different type of research... and I'm sure Richardson would like to have the facility close to their offices as well as the other grain trade offices downtown. Whatever form it ends up taking, I hope it leaves some room for an eventual new tower at the east end of the block

Interesting note about Canola Harvest, I didn't know that was a Richardson product. I wonder if your company shouldn't do a little more to get the word out about the local link, rypinion... considering how much the owners have done for this city I'd be quite happy to buy their margarine and canola oil products!

[Ando]

Canadian Wheat Board has sold majority stake to G3 Global Grain Group, to be based in Winnipeg.

[rypinion]

If it ends up taking up surface parking, it'd be a big win regardless of if it's a big tower or something lower.

[Biff]

My hope would also be for a location on one of the lots by Global Field. I would imagine that this will be a 3 to 6 storey building.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by Ando

Canadian Wheat Board has sold majority stake to G3 Global Grain Group, to be based in Winnipeg.

Curious to see if they take over the former CWB location on Main.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Cyro

Curious to see if they take over the former CWB location on Main.

More than likely they'll just stay in their current space at the top of the CWB Building. They used to occupy the entire thing but now it's down to just a shell of its former self... they fill roughly a floor and change. I think one of the selling points for the building was that they would remain as a long-term tenant.

[rypinion]

Originally Posted by Cyro

Curious to see if they take over the former CWB location on Main.

Building has already been sold to someone else, CWB simply leases a few floors now.

[bomberjet]

50.1% CWB now owned by Americans and Saudi's. Just awesome. Good job Gerry Ritz. The remaining 49.9% is "held in trust for the benefit of farmers". Whatever that means.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by esquire

More than likely they'll just stay in their current space at the top of the CWB Building. They used to occupy the entire thing but now it's down to just a shell of its former self... they fill roughly a floor and change. I think one of the selling points for the building was that they would remain as a long-term tenant.

This makes the most sense if the number of employees for this new ownership group is not likely to increase.