Winnipeg Construction X

[1ajs]

a decade ago we woulda never thought we would see a boom of density going up along pemida eh crazy how that shifted


as for the 3 story project back from the dead ya proy the triangle lot havent been many 3 story proposals

[esquire]

It's nice to see the growing density along Pembina but it would also be nice to see the public realms improving somewhat... this is something that has not happened in any meaningful way.

It would be great if a couple of side streets if not a short stretch of Pembina itself became at least kind of walkable and interesting. Despite all the growth in recent years, it's still mostly the same sea of parking lots and blank walls that it was in 1976.

[trueviking]

Would be great if it was the triangle lot. I was never a big fan of the brass covered building. If that’s it I hope they design an elegant brick building.

[wardlow]

Originally Posted by Jeff

tower crane up at bison and pembina. somewhat imposing sight when driving northbound on pembina. the densification of that strip is no laughing matter now!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmHQZniu..._web_copy_link

I think this building under construction will be slightly taller than the one right at the corner of Bison and Pembina. 16 storeys, commercial on the ground floor.

[lbnevs]

Originally Posted by esquire

It's nice to see the growing density along Pembina but it would also be nice to see the public realms improving somewhat... this is something that has not happened in any meaningful way.

It would be great if a couple of side streets if not a short stretch of Pembina itself became at least kind of walkable and interesting. Despite all the growth in recent years, it's still mostly the same sea of parking lots and blank walls that it was in 1976.

One of the things that struck me about Pembina is the lack of pedestrian crossings. There's a signalized ped crossing at Adamar, and then the next one isn't until St. Maurice School, 400+ meters (a quarter mile) away.

When I drive along Pembina, it's increasingly frequent that I see people darting across the 6+ lanes of traffic to cross the road (to shop, to get home, to catch a bus, etc.).

With increasing density, and more residents in the area walking to shop, take the bus, go to school, etc., it feels like something needs to be done to make crossing the street less risky for local residents.

[zalf]

Would also be nice to see the Southwest Transit Way AT path continued along the railway to Bison Drive. Anyone living at the nascent Bison & Pembina cluster has an unpleasant and indirect trudge along Pembina ahead of them if they're trying to get on to the Blue line trunk at Markham Station.

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I'd be surprised if it was the triangle lot...i called out the owner on twitter about his illegal parking lot and he tore a strip off me when i ran into him on the street...didn't sound like he was interested in developing or selling....but that would be good.

I only suggest the MPI lot because I remember Biff liking that Verne Reimer proposal a lot and I know the property is up for sale.

For sale? 🤔

[esquire]

Originally Posted by lbnevs

One of the things that struck me about Pembina is the lack of pedestrian crossings. There's a signalized ped crossing at Adamar, and then the next one isn't until St. Maurice School, 400+ meters (a quarter mile) away.

When I drive along Pembina, it's increasingly frequent that I see people darting across the 6+ lanes of traffic to cross the road (to shop, to get home, to catch a bus, etc.).

With increasing density, and more residents in the area walking to shop, take the bus, go to school, etc., it feels like something needs to be done to make crossing the street less risky for local residents.

Totally agree. I have noticed this too. There should probably be a couple of sets of lights and crosswalks added between Chevrier and Bison.

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I'd be surprised if it was the triangle lot...i called out the owner on twitter about his illegal parking lot and he tore a strip off me when i ran into him on the street...didn't sound like he was interested in developing or selling....but that would be good.

I only suggest the MPI lot because I remember Biff liking that Verne Reimer proposal a lot and I know the property is up for sale.

Not only did he tear down the building he IS parking illegally. His drawings and proposal was far enough along to believe it was a credible proposal. Very disappointed at the demo AND illegal parking…

[Glenn99]

Originally Posted by zalf

Would also be nice to see the Southwest Transit Way AT path continued along the railway to Bison Drive. Anyone living at the nascent Bison & Pembina cluster has an unpleasant and indirect trudge along Pembina ahead of them if they're trying to get on to the Blue line trunk at Markham Station.

They would catch the downtown Blue on Pembina. No need to walk all the way to Markham.

[post_man]

Incredible, fantastic. Very literally, when looking at ATLRG's renderings.

Were the drawings more realistic? This project is dead-dead, right? This was flashy and ambitious, but you say it was looking credible... surely not in this form though? The renovation next door at 90 seemed to be going well for a while, what's the news there?

[Biff]

I noticed yesterday that that stupid empty white office tower at confusion corner was finally getting some work done to those unfinished balconies. It didn't look good.

When I was driving by they were installing white/grey corrugated roofing style sheet metal vertically to completely cover the spine of balconies. Maybe they have some neat artistic plan, but it appeared that they were just going to cover the whole balcony strip from the top of the building to the bottom in sheet metal. I can only assume that it previously did not pass code and this is their fix.

Brutal

[pegcityboy]

Biff you are being kind , the corrugated siding being installed on that building covering up the so called unfinished part is absolutely hideous !

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Biff

I noticed yesterday that that stupid empty white office tower at confusion corner was finally getting some work done to those unfinished balconies. It didn't look good.

When I was driving by they were installing white/grey corrugated roofing style sheet metal vertically to completely cover the spine of balconies. Maybe they have some neat artistic plan, but it appeared that they were just going to cover the whole balcony strip from the top of the building to the bottom in sheet metal. I can only assume that it previously did not pass code and this is their fix.

Brutal

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by esquire

It's nice to see the growing density along Pembina but it would also be nice to see the public realms improving somewhat... this is something that has not happened in any meaningful way.

It would be great if a couple of side streets if not a short stretch of Pembina itself became at least kind of walkable and interesting. Despite all the growth in recent years, it's still mostly the same sea of parking lots and blank walls that it was in 1976.

Pembina would be perfect for LRT or BRT.....oh wait! Never mind.

[neutroniks]

Originally Posted by post_man

Incredible, fantastic. Very literally, when looking at ATLRG's renderings.

Were the drawings more realistic? This project is dead-dead, right? This was flashy and ambitious, but you say it was looking credible... surely not in this form though? The renovation next door at 90 seemed to be going well for a while, what's the news there?

I believe there's a stationary store at the bottom level called Seduta, which has been a very popular spot amongst locals and during First Fridays, and the upper levels I think are renovated Condos? You can see inside from the street and they've done a great job on the interior.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by esquire

The old hotel was a mess. Even if the second Sutton tower isn't built right away, having a block long podium with one Sutton tower and the Wawanesa tower at the other end is a massive improvement.

I walked that block a lot in its former existence and the west side is definitely going to be taking a step backwards after the renovation. As much as the hotel was something from a different time period it had separate hotel and restaurant entrances and was the sort of place to generate some foot traffic in the area.

We lost a surface lot in a transition so that is a maybe a slight gain. We lost a low rise residence though to make way for the Wawanesa building and that lobby is likely to be similar to the public interactions of the IG tower and the Canada Life buildings on Osborne, in that they are mostly locked down buildings with limited public access. Add in the former bookstore on the corner and overall it feels like a net loss. Also the loss of variety feels important here.

Originally Posted by Jeff

this has me speculating about the future of the Paris building after they vacate as this particular organization is really advocating for office -> residential conversions. there's a comment in the Free Press article where someone says they're not worried about the space after they leave.

My understanding is of the 12 floors about half of them of government offices. And I believe two of the other floors are used for settlement (new immigrant) services. A great solution for the vacant first floor could be moving their intake side of things and perhaps a classroom or two to the main floor and perhaps taking over some of the second floor space the Chamber will also be leaving vacant. Sure that just shuffles the deck for vacancies to higher floors but higher floors can be easier to rent out, especially full floors in buildings with mid-sized floor plates like the Paris building. And while settlement services aren't the sort of sexy thing people may think of they generate a lot of people traffic through a space and its a fairly ongoing and consistent business. There are actually at least three different organizations running settlement services out of downtown and likely more. It is the sort of lower rent thing that is good for filling up unused spaces in buildings and reality is there are a lot fewer Ubisoft and STDs that are opening up new offices in Winnipeg than the amount of new office space that was built as part of True North Square so we need to find ways to use those spaces.

[borkborkbork]

the confusion corner building is hilarious.

the city is obviously not serious about holding developers to any sort of standard. imagine trying to get this building approved in any other major city

[esquire]

Originally Posted by borkborkbork

the confusion corner building is hilarious.

the city is obviously not serious about holding developers to any sort of standard. imagine trying to get this building approved in any other major city

I caught a glimpse of it. I don't get how putting up that farm machine shed wall is any cheaper or makes any more sense than just finishing the balconies as originally planned.

That building has taken on even more of an industrial park cold storage building character now.

[Luisito]

That white building at confusion corner reminds of buildings I have seen in central america. Only thing missing is a few palms trees in the front.