Winnipeg | The Forks Market | Railside at The Forks

[Tacheguy]

Granville Island has a very good market, but overall the place doesn't impress me. The Forks is magic imo.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by Tacheguy

Granville Island has a very good market, but overall the place doesn't impress me. The Forks is magic imo.

I think Granville Island is incredibly overrated, but I'll admit I was a little underwhelmed by the Forks when I first saw it, mainly because I didn't actually go inside the market, because I didn't realize that was the point. I assumed the Forks was the big park which was nice and all, but pretty empty.

Totally changed my mind since the winter hit though. The market inside is probably the busiest place in Winnipeg, though I wish it was more affordable. The skating trails are something to truly be proud of. Should be included in any promotional material ever. I light up like a kid every time I go out there.

[Authentic_City]

Originally Posted by Tacheguy

Granville Island has a very good market, but overall the place doesn't impress me. The Forks is magic imo.

We had friends out from Vancouver, and that was their assessment too. Granville Island is nice and a great place to shop for fresh seafood and such, but the Forks has a lot more going on. I do think adding some housing would push it over the top, as long as it's done right. I would like to see a better food market in the Forks. No waterslides and CanAlta hotels please.

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

No waterslides and CanAlta hotels please.

i think we know that won't be happening, no longer to beat a dead horse!

What I'm hoping for is some housing that can accommodate families with late teens (3 bedrooms, 2 baths, central game rooms?). we don't all want to live in suburbs. I'd love to move my family there. kids would be near so much and hopefully easy access for transit to university

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by Tacheguy

Granville Island has a very good market, but overall the place doesn't impress me. The Forks is magic imo.

Was at Granville back in September during their Fringe, really packed, kinda disorganized, place felt almost claustrophobic, pedestrians mixed in with vehicle traffic, cars parking in a haphazard way, really a mess!

Pretty tough to compare the beautiful brick buildings at the Forks to the steel clad shantys that is Granville.

[Wolf13]

Originally Posted by joshlemer

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but has anyone noticed that Vancouver and Winnipeg had very similar downtown waterside rail yards, which both in the 80s/90s were redeveloped. In Vancouver's case, their former rail yards became dozens of condo towers, and Winnipeg's became the forks

Vancouver Before
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/u...cd6-A46278.jpg

Vancouver After https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.26605.../data=!3m1!1e3

Winnipeg Before:
http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/99...predevwide.jpg
Winnipeg After:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.88117.../data=!3m1!1e3

Which city do you think made out better? I thought it was weird that they are so similar in shape and size, proximity to downtown, and period of redevelopment.

On one hand, Yaletown is much more lively and livable (if you have lots of money) than the Forks area is (can you even talk about the livability of an area that has 0 residential units?). And Yaletown surely brings in much more tax revenue than the Forks does. But on the other hand, Winnipeg's Forks area is very successful in my opinion at being a great community gathering place, and there's really something for almost everyone there. You can spend a day at the Forks, but would you spend a day walking through the Yaletown condos? No thanks..

Yaletown is awesome. So is the forks.

Their origins are comparable, but final products, not so much. I spend a fair amount of time in Yaletown whenever I get the chance, and would easily pick it over the forks. But the forsk is still really amazing, but more family oriented. If my kids are with me, Forks for sure.

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

^Wouldn't a better comparison be Granville Island to the Forks? Both were industrial sites, and both were developed as public gathering spaces with produce/food markets, hotels, shops, restaurants, etc. The development of Yaletown had a completely different objective. Even setting aside the size of the two urban areas, I don't think the comparison is quite right between Yaletown and the Forks.

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Was at Granville back in September during their Fringe, really packed, kinda disorganized, place felt almost claustrophobic, pedestrians mixed in with vehicle traffic, cars parking in a haphazard way, really a mess!

Pretty tough to compare the beautiful brick buildings at the Forks to the steel clad shantys that is Granville.

Granville is a little more shmooshed together but I still like it. Not as well designed as the Forks, but BUSY, and that's necessary.

But then again I've been to the forks probably 3 times in the last 1-2 weeks and it's been completely packed... especially late on weekends. This is a huge achievement for the forks, to become a place where 20-40 year olds want to be at night.

[TimeFadesAway]

Originally Posted by Wolf13

But then again I've been to the forks probably 3 times in the last 1-2 weeks and it's been completely packed... especially late on weekends. This is a huge achievement for the forks, to become a place where 20-40 year olds want to be at night.

I was at the Forks last night and it was packed with a whole variety of people. Who would have thought 10 or so years ago that on a random Tuesday night in January that the Forks would be so busy?

[Tacheguy]

Originally Posted by TimeFadesAway

I was at the Forks last night and it was packed with a whole variety of people. Who would have thought 10 or so years ago that on a random Tuesday night in January that the Forks would be so busy?

As car access becomes more difficult at the Forks I think you are going to see properties near the site developed as residential buildings. The secret is getting out that living within walking distance of the Forks has become a huge year-round benefit when living in Winnipeg. I am very optimistic about south main st. For example.

[bomberjet]

I was at the Forks on Saturday night for the Ice Castle thing (which is cool but just more ice).

Yes it was a Saturday night. But loads of people everywhere. The Common was jammed that there were no seats and large groups of people were standing and drinking. That's happens regularly when I go to the Forks. No sitting room in the Common. Forks needs to get the other two halls into a similar vibe as the common. Which I think they're trying to but not there yet.

[wags_in_the_peg]

the young adults now think the Forks is cool, need to get residential going ASAP to get their deposit $

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I think Granville Island is incredibly overrated, but I'll admit I was a little underwhelmed by the Forks when I first saw it, mainly because I didn't actually go inside the market, because I didn't realize that was the point. I assumed the Forks was the big park which was nice and all, but pretty empty.

Totally changed my mind since the winter hit though. The market inside is probably the busiest place in Winnipeg, though I wish it was more affordable. The skating trails are something to truly be proud of. Should be included in any promotional material ever. I light up like a kid every time I go out there.

What is not "affordable" about the Market? It's free. Retailers set their prices just like a mall or anywhere else you go.

Originally Posted by Tacheguy

As car access becomes more difficult at the Forks I think you are going to see properties near the site developed as residential buildings. The secret is getting out that living within walking distance of the Forks has become a huge year-round benefit when living in Winnipeg. I am very optimistic about south main st. For example.

Exactly. There are lots of people who would be willing to give up their cars if they really felt they didn't need one. As residential grows here and a food market (re)opens, I think it'll be a pretty easy case for people to ditch their cars.

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

the young adults now think the Forks is cool, need to get residential going ASAP to get their deposit $

Yup – this is exactly what they set out to do. Less tourist and more local. If young people think it's cool, lots more will go – and tourists want to be where the locals go.

[Ando]

Passero at the Forks given five stars.
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ar...470913283.html

[Ando]

More new about the Food Hall in the FP.

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ar...474377493.html

[esquire]

^ It's amazing how FNP has breathed new life into The Forks. It was always a popular spot, but they are absolutely packing them in these days.

[Tacheguy]

I wish fNP would acquire the Johnston terminal from the Martens boys. It seems like an underused jewel, and the market building is bursting at the seams. I was there today on the trail and having some tourtière. The looks of pure joy on the faces of hundreds of people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds was a sight to behold.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by Tacheguy

I wish fNP would acquire the Johnston terminal from the Martens boys. It seems like an underused jewel, and the market building is bursting at the seams. I was there today on the trail and having some tourtière. The looks of pure joy on the faces of hundreds of people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds was a sight to behold.

Yeah, and they were smart to do a phased approach to the Market reno's. They've already changed course for the next phases as it's so busy in there now, they want to make sure they don't cram too much in. That's part of the reason Generation Green moved to The Exchange – they were going to be taking over a huge portion of the second floor, but TFNP realized it wasn't a great use of space, and they need more open public space up there. The second floor is going to be completely different than we know it now.

I heard the revenues that The Common did in January (a record) and they are jaw-dropping, even if you don't consider the fact it is JUST beer and wine at a kiosk. The way things are going, TFNP may be able to sell off some of their North Portage assets (*cough* Portage Place *cough*) sooner than anticipated. Seismic changes to The Forks and Portage Ave may not be too far off...

[esquire]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Yeah, and they were smart to do a phased approach to the Market reno's. They've already changed course for the next phases as it's so busy in there now, they want to make sure they don't cram too much in. That's part of the reason Generation Green moved to The Exchange – they were going to be taking over a huge portion of the second floor, but TFNP realized it wasn't a great use of space, and they need more open public space up there. The second floor is going to be completely different than we know it now.

That's good news. The Forks Market needs to be upgraded to handle the crowds they're getting now... I was there yesterday and parts of it felt like the MTS Centre during an intermission, it was that crowded. I realize every day is not like a long weekend, but I think they need a little more space to allow for crowd flow, etc. That might mean moving some stuff upstairs which is currently occupied by a lot of gift shops which are really just afterthoughts. A more prominent entrance to the upper levels would be a good start, as would be more washrooms... having just that one washroom and a couple of tiny ones is not enough when you have well over a thousand people in there.

Integrating the Johnston Terminal a little better into the rest of the complex as Tacheguy suggested would be nice too... it feels like it has barely changed since it opened in the early 90s, compared to the rest of the site which has evolved so much.

[scryer]

Since moving out of the city in the last 5 years, and visiting a couple of times, I have to honestly say that the biggest and most culturally significant improvement that Winnipeg has achieved, was the Forks. Considering how small this change is, it still packs a pretty good punch.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by buzzg

I heard the revenues that The Common did in January (a record) and they are jaw-dropping, even if you don't consider the fact it is JUST beer and wine at a kiosk. The way things are going, TFNP may be able to sell off some of their North Portage assets (*cough* Portage Place *cough*) sooner than anticipated. Seismic changes to The Forks and Portage Ave may not be too far off...

This isn't the first cryptic thing I've heard about the bolded establishment lately

[optimusREIM]

Originally Posted by Jeff

This isn't the first cryptic thing I've heard about the bolded establishment lately

No I've heard plenty of cryptic talk from buzzg lately that seemed to be hinting at major changes coming to downtown. Let's hope it's right!