Quote:
Originally Posted by Coil
Well, eye of the beholder etc... but this would be rightfully skewered in any first year design studio. And I'm not only speaking aesthetically, although the rendering is a real turd and the architect's other work inspires little confidence.
In a more perfect world I can imagine this little area of the city becoming a dense, mid-rise, walkable, car-minimal neighbourhood. Instead we're planning to build a 4-storey parkade and then put some people in a tower up and away from the street. Winnipeg deserves better.
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Honestly that area will never be what you're envisioning mainly because it's sandwiched between 4 thoroughfares that are always loud and busy, and all of the shops nearby are not actually in this little pocket of residential; you either have to go to OV, downtown, the forks, or to Marion/Goulet. The area around Mayfair really offers nothing in itself other than proximity to places that actually have stuff. My point being that a tower on a podium is appropriate for this location. There is actually a lot of low and midrise residential in this area (that has been there for decades) and it hasn't created any sort of charming and walkable neighbourhood. As much as I share you ideals for that type of neighbourhood, this pocket of downtown is designed to be car-centric and connect major roadways. Not exactly the type of streets that are appealing for sidewalk-hugging residential units.
You also have to remember that the selling point for this building is all on the backside of the lot: the river views and downtown views. A tower is the best way to maximize these views. If you look at the buildings next door,
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.88431...i8192?hl=en-GBand
many other low-rise buildings like these along the river, 95% of the units don't actually face the river. And guess what they put at the back of the lot? Surface parking. What's the point in building on a riverfront property and using the riverside part of the property for parking?
So in my opinion the developer is just playing to the strengths of the location. No one wants to live on the mainlfoor at Mayfair and Main, but everyone wants a beautiful view of the river and downtown.