Winnipeg | James Avenue Pumping Station | Completed

[Peggerino]

Ok Travis Bickle

[H2man]

I need to be honest and say I don't get downtown as much as I would like to (I don't work downtown but would try to patronize the restaurants and bars as much as possible to do my part, but now that doing those things aren't a thing I'm pretty isolated), but this weekend my wife had to work so today I took my son and dog for a nice urban walk in the east exchange. Had a lovely stroll through Stephen Juba and snaked around the streets. I sure wish I took pics to post of the Pumhouse development! It's super cool and looks close to done, at least from the outside. My only critique is that the pumphouse itself is quite hidden, although the developer did what they could to keep a physical space between the new building (which blends well with the the street and other buildings on Waterfront) and the pumphouse. It's another piece of the puzzle to fill in that gap toward Higgins.

I love the Cibo building going onto the water, and would love to see a similar development take over the Alexander Dock adjacent. Lots of potential there and it's currently a bit of a plight tbh.

[Alexander 90]

Originally Posted by H2man

I need to be honest and say I don't get downtown as much as I would like to (I don't work downtown but would try to patronize the restaurants and bars as much as possible to do my part, but now that doing those things aren't a thing I'm pretty isolated), but this weekend my wife had to work so today I took my son and dog for a nice urban walk in the east exchange. Had a lovely stroll through Stephen Juba and snaked around the streets. I sure wish I took pics to post of the Pumhouse development! It's super cool and looks close to done, at least from the outside. My only critique is that the pumphouse itself is quite hidden, although the developer did what they could to keep a physical space between the new building (which blends well with the the street and other buildings on Waterfront) and the Pumphouse. It's another piece of the puzzle to fill in that gap toward Higgins.

I love the Cibo building going onto the water, and would love to see a similar development take over the Alexander Dock adjacent. Lots of potential there and it's currently a bit of a plight tbh.

Every day Homeless set up camps inside Steven Juba Park. They light fires along Waterfront Drive. They have a party area towards the North for 20 years now. The residents at 300 Waterfront (Strand) call the COPS every day to have them removed. The homeless problem is out of control and no one cares. Santos refuses to respond to emails from Waterfront residents as they are racist according to her. Centre Venture's RFP stated the Pumphouse must be visible from Waterfront Dr. They built a rental area and it blocks the entire Pumphouse. On the back they are building the apartments close as well. Also young criminals with back packs are using crowbars and sledge hammers to break into lock boxes and enter the apartment buildings. I saw the video.
RNDSQR will lose their ass. I guarantee it.

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[peg]

I recently walked through the area as well, and I thought that the East Exchange is looking great, I actually prefer it to the West Exchange these days. It was pleasant, with people strolling, dog walkers and not a lot of cars.

I quite like the way the pumphouse development fronts the park. The new Alexander development down the street is going to look great. Wonderful street wall forming along Waterfront.

[WinCitySparky]

Originally Posted by Alexander 90

Every day Homeless set up camps inside Steven Juba Park. They light fires along Waterfront Drive. They have a party area towards the North for 20 years now. The residents at 300 Waterfront (Strand) call the COPS every day to have them removed. The homeless problem is out of control and no one cares. Santos refuses to respond to emails from Waterfront residents as they are racist according to her. Centre Venture's RFP stated the Pumphouse must be visible from Waterfront Dr. They built a rental area and it blocks the entire Pumphouse. On the back they are building the apartments close as well. Also young criminals with back packs are using crowbars and sledge hammers to break into lock boxes and enter the apartment buildings. I saw the video.
RNDSQR will lose their ass. I guarantee it.

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Nah. You’re imagining things.

[NewIreland]

Originally Posted by WinCitySparky

Nah. You’re imagining things.

Waterfront Drive is the new East Hasting's! Haven't you heard?

[GreyGarden]

The H2O apartments are in a tough spot. I do have some sympathy. They're a good three blocks north of the more built up ("nice") part of the East exchange. The Alexander development should help inject some life and additional eyes on the street closer to H2O. But that still leaves the two blocks between Alexander and George. H2O is also right on the edge of a pretty dodgy industrial area, which I would not want to walk around in at night.

Essentially the area isn't populating and developing quick enough. I personally find that the parts of the Exchange that are built up and populated are really nice. The buzz from pre-pandemic activities like restaurants and bars is missing, but the area's population and average income has probably never been higher. So when I walk through the Exchange I often see residents going about their day or evening, and the area feels quite safe. That feeling is missing up by H2O. I've seen this in other cities too, where you can be walking on a beautiful urban street that feels safe and full of eyes, and then you walk one further block and there's that feeling of unease.

Tough situation re H2O. Hopefully development pushes north. That being said, I don't really see Slumlords taking over luxury condominiums in the Exchange. The area's population and average income is still growing. As long as that trend continues, I think the area will improve and be okay. The City can only do so much to boot homeless people out of places and improve safety, they can put more cops walking on the street. But really, without lots of residents, an area is always going to feel sketchy. If anything, TIF probably does more to ensure a safe downtown.

[esquire]

^ Slumlords won't take over condos like the Excelsior and the Strand, but they could take over more marginal rental apartment buildings out on the periphery. And then the situation really starts to deteriorate.

I don't know why A90 isn't encouraging RNDSQR with their development... that project will help close the gap between the more established East Exchange and his property further up the street. It will be great news for H20 because suddenly it won't feel like it's out on the edge so much. Which makes me wonder, how are YouCube and the spaceship doing? They are even more out of the way than H20.

I think Labroco needs to take his neighbour A90 for a drink and provide some reassuring words

[drew]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Slumlords won't take over condos like the Excelsior and the Strand, but they could take over more marginal rental apartment buildings out on the periphery. And then the situation really starts to deteriorate.

Within the building where I work in on James Ave near Waterfront, it is the Airbnb units that cause the problems, especially since the start of Covid.

Since there aren't any tourists out there, you can imagine who is most likely to be looking for short term accommodation these days - people selling stuff. Usually their bodies or a substance. And we have had issues with both in our building - and the increase in property crimes that come with the clientele.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by drew

Within the building where I work in on James Ave near Waterfront, it is the Airbnb units that cause the problems, especially since the start of Covid.

Since there aren't any tourists out there, you can imagine who is most likely to be looking for short term accommodation these days - people selling stuff. Usually their bodies or a substance. And we have had issues with both in our building - and the increase in property crimes that come with the clientele.

Not surprising at all. In a city like Winnipeg which has relatively little tourism at the best of times unlike the Londons, Miamis and Tokyos of the world, I see airbnb as being a recipe for that sort of mischief. I feel for anyone who has to live or work near that kind of nonsense.

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Slumlords won't take over condos like the Excelsior and the Strand, but they could take over more marginal rental apartment buildings out on the periphery. And then the situation really starts to deteriorate.

I don't know why A90 isn't encouraging RNDSQR with their development... that project will help close the gap between the more established East Exchange and his property further up the street. It will be great news for H20 because suddenly it won't feel like it's out on the edge so much. Which makes me wonder, how are YouCube and the spaceship doing? They are even more out of the way than H20.

I think Labroco needs to take his neighbour A90 for a drink and provide some reassuring words

Funny, I just told my brother to take him out for coffee!

Since Friday we have had two brand new steel doors destroyed by crow bars trying to gain access ($3,000). A grade/dock lift vandalized ($1,200) broken window ($600) more gang tagging ($300). This is happening every day of every week for us. The “homeless” have Uber Eats and bottle service delivered to the waterfront park every day! Sally Anne & Silomn have lunch / dinner delivery service as well!

When your councillor won’t return calls to deal with community issues and the President of Centre Ventures makes more than the Mayor and possibly Premier, there is a problem in governance.

When people like A90 say they have had enough one should really sit up and listen. The problem is no one is left to listen let alone creat the necessary changes. He is rabid with frustration and anger. I don’t blame him. Spaceship and H20 are in exactly the same spot. They cannot retain their tenants due to the crime and fear partially due to inaction on lighting, safety patrols and no movement on the Docks. The young people who have stepped up, taken a chance and worked for change have been IGNORED. It’s shameful.

[trueviking]

its quite unbelievable that the City has just let alexander docks just rot. Pothole filling budget doubles and infrastructure investment that would grow the economy is pushed aside.

[bomberjet]

Since there are no trees in the area between Cibo and the area just north of the docks. I feel like this would be a good spot to put in sheet piled wall along the riverbank. This will flatten the area, increasing the useable space. Put in a playground and /or some other type of family friendly amenities. You could even include a small dock.

Spend a few million and turn it into something for the area residents. Instead of the dump it is.

[ywgwalk]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Since there are no trees in the area between Cibo and the area just north of the docks. I feel like this would be a good spot to put in sheet piled wall along the riverbank. This will flatten the area, increasing the useable space. Put in a playground and /or some other type of family friendly amenities. You could even include a small dock.

Spend a few million and turn it into something for the area residents. Instead of the dump it is.

Sky Condos is definitely starting to fill up with toddlers, we always walk to The Forks for the playground but having something around Alexander Docks would be perfect.

Would be nice to have something like a tennis court or something like that too.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by ywgwalk

Sky Condos is definitely starting to fill up with toddlers, we always walk to The Forks for the playground but having something around Alexander Docks would be perfect.

Would be nice to have something like a tennis court or something like that too.

Civic politicians seem more concerned about dog parks than parks for children (humans)!

The all about me generation puts pets before kids anyway!

[buzzg]

I know of a few Exchange condo buildings who's boards voted to ban Airbnbs over the last year or two. One of them actually monitors Airbnb for owners still trying to do it.

I know someone that was living in Glasshouse but only lasted a few months because he said it was so horrible with all the Airbnbs. Constantly fights breaking out in hallways, damage and break-ins, etc.

[esquire]

I've stayed in airbnbs while abroad, mainly because it's a convenient and inexpensive way to travel as a family. You get a kitchen, separate bedrooms, a living space... all things that cost a fortune when you book them in a hotel. But you can tell that people who live in those buildings hate them... I've had people give me the stink-eye. You don't feel welcome. And those were in places with healthy levels of tourist activity. I couldn't imagine the situation here.

[trueviking]

^^^ ha ha. Classic. Couldn’t help yourself. Your hatred for CentreVenture is hilariously illogical.

Fun fact. The mayor is the 18th highest paid city employee. 7 of the top 10 are cops. 32 of the top 50.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by trueviking

^^^ ha ha. Classic. Couldn’t help yourself. Your hatred for CentreVenture is hilariously illogical.

Fun fact. The mayor is the 18th highest paid city employee. 7 of the top 10 are cops. 32 of the top 50.

your on the inside of some of the circles tv and your ignoring him for his bias of cv. put that aside and listen.
i have my own dislikes for cv many of us do.. but still

also the eaxchange should bein a compltely different civic ward then its in

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by trueviking

^^^ ha ha. Classic. Couldn’t help yourself. Your hatred for CentreVenture is hilariously illogical.

Fun fact. The mayor is the 18th highest paid city employee. 7 of the top 10 are cops. 32 of the top 50.

Let’s be clear.. My comment was about compensation of the President of Centre Ventures. If I’m incorrect please let me know. There is nothing illogical about this or funny. Consistently commenting on an agency that has challenges in a forum in a thoughtful and I would say professional way is in no way off side.

As the Chairman of Centre Ventures to take a comment about compensation of the President (which I believe to be true) as an excuse to attack and accuse me of hate is unprofessional and undignified of the Chair. You are attempting to deny and deflect the comment. It’s unbecoming of you. I would also suggest your projecting.

As I said, if my comment is incorrect please let me know. As the financials of CV for 2018, 2019 and 2020 have still not been posted on the website one cannot be sure.

I would have hoped you would have zeroed in on the challenges expressed in the post by the stakeholders who have made multimillion dollar commitments to the City and area instead of once again not listening to the constituency you claim to represent.

In all sincerity, I think it is you who has stopped listening...

8 years is WAY too long to sit on a board...

Your in the CV bubble...

(As for your public urban commentary and articles, your spot on. Keep up the good work).