Winnipeg Construction VIII

[headhorse]

Originally Posted by h0twired

Agreed. The lack of pedestrian traffic definitely killed the possibility of adding CRUs to the parkade, however had they been built they probably would remain vacant due to the sheer cost per sq ft coupled by the crappy location.

That said, lease rates are definitely the greater influence here as the Alabama Block was almost fully occupied prior to its demolition.

I understand that the area may not be totally desirable to retail tenants right now, but isn't that why the city is investing millions in the area? if there are going to be all these public dollars available to private developers and for things like streetscape enhancements, developers should have to make these sort of investments (and really, adhere to things like OurWinnipeg) for the future. we want Hargrave (and other downtown streets) to be walkable and attractive in the next 10 years, right? so we should be planning for that now, not letting developers use current market conditions as an excuse to cheap out and build things that are going to be around for decades but are only built for present conditions.

[Authentic_City]

Originally Posted by trueviking

yeah...i conveniently ignored the parkade...no way we should be publicly funding parkades with no ground level retail frontage....

Bingo.

I thought the subsidy was provided to ensure that developers could build something a bit better than the usual concrete bunker (i.e. with ground level retail)? If this subsidy was removed, would the parkade not proceed in its present stripped down form? I mean, it will be attached to a hotel and office building, and eventually a hi rise condo, across from the MTS Centre, etc. Surely there is a strong business case to build this without public subsidy? Why are we subsidizing it?

[chrisallard5454]

Also notice that Portage is relatively void of residential (aside from Avenue). The Glasshouse project would surely provide some sort of enticement for mom and pop shops opening up in the parkade. If there was a coffee shop to open up on the ground floor, that would be quite the incentive for people to stop in on the way to work from the building in the mornings.

[bomberjet]

Attended a YP event at the Met tonight, fantastic facility. Ross McGowan was guest speaker. Some items before I forget:

Fortress paid $9M for the property and will also be redeveloping the St. Regis.
SoPo is "this" close to going ahead.
Carlton Inn site hotel will be on south portion of the property. North half for future mixed use.
Funnelator will be going up next week. Seen a video of the LED screen type thing and it looks pretty cool.

There's something else I'm forgetting. Post some pics of the Met later too.

[DancingDuck]

All fantastic bits of news! Especially excited for the funnelator

[trueviking]

I heard from the horse's mouth that sopo is progressing...i would not say its 'this close'.....i was told it has a good chance....i really hope so....its a great development.

that is a ton of money for the fortress land....not sure how I feel about them developing the St. Regis....into what I wonder.

carlton inn site will be a multi use parking lot on the north side...trust me.

i'm going to a sneak peek of the inuit gallery design presentation on friday...i'll snap a few shots.

[1ajs]

friday damn sounds amazing i will be watching the twitter feed as i will be building western canadas largest lego display this weekend with my local lego users group at the mega trains show out at the end of elice in the curling rink

[armorand93]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

friday damn sounds amazing i will be watching the twitter feed as i will be building western canadas largest lego display this weekend with my local lego users group at the mega trains show out at the end of elice in the curling rink

You mean the Highlander? Considering how I live about 5-10 mins away by foot, I'd gladly come by and visit!

Iunno how I got the "subject title" as a winky face... thats weird haha. But yeah, I'd definitely come by if its at the Highlander!

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

friday damn sounds amazing i will be watching the twitter feed as i will be building western canadas largest lego display this weekend with my local lego users group at the mega trains show out at the end of elice in the curling rink

If you're referring to Canlan (formally known as the Highlander) it hasn't been a curling rink since early 90's I believe. It's 3 ice rinks adn 1 soccer pitch. Maybe you are thinking of Deer Lodge curling rink on Ness?

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Attended a YP event at the Met tonight, fantastic facility. Ross McGowan was guest speaker. Some items before I forget:

I've been at the Met for 2 events (charity thing and pre-Jets game) and what a great facility. Too bad the pre-game food sucked and waittress took 20 minutes out figure out the bills. Almost never made it to the game on time.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I heard from the horse's mouth that sopo is progressing...i would not say its 'this close'.....i was told it has a good chance....i really hope so....its a great development.

They will likely be starting with two of the three buildings first and the parkade structure. I am very impressed that they were able to progress at all, let alone so quickly. I echo Vikings sentiments that this will be a great development. I love the vibe around the MTS Centre on event nights and this should make it much better than the wind-swept wasteland that currently exists at this site.

[steveosnyder]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

I've been at the Met for 2 events (charity thing and pre-Jets game) and what a great facility. Too bad the pre-game food sucked and waittress took 20 minutes out figure out the bills. Almost never made it to the game on time.

I had this same experience the one time I was there and I thought the Met was to be a up-scale place. You would think a nice place like that would hire based on serving ability rather than other.... we'll call them "talents". It's not Hooters.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by trueviking

carlton inn site will be a MULTI USE PARKING LOTon the north side...trust me.

.....sorry man, this made me laugh out loud.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I heard from the horse's mouth that sopo is progressing...i would not say its 'this close'.....i was told it has a good chance....i really hope so....its a great development.

that is a ton of money for the fortress land....not sure how I feel about them developing the St. Regis....into what I wonder.

carlton inn site will be a multi use parking lot on the north side...trust me.

i'm going to a sneak peek of the inuit gallery design presentation on friday...i'll snap a few shots.

The way I understood it was the St. Regis will be part of the overall tower thing.

Lol ya. The key word was FUTURE mixed use development.


With the pumphouse development, he said they are going for a mixed use office, residential and hopefully a grocery store development. Was that included in the original announcement? didn't remember that.

Some interesting stats. In the year prior to CentreVenture purchasing the St. Regis, police were dispatched 2,200 times at a cost of $380,000. In the 9 months since, police dispatched 8 times. Similar numbers for the Carlton, but not as high.

[rypinion]

Originally Posted by steveosnyder

I had this same experience the one time I was there and I thought the Met was to be a up-scale place. You would think a nice place like that would hire based on serving ability rather than other.... we'll call them "talents". It's not Hooters.

Really? I've been a number of times and I don't think I've ever seen a waitress who would be hired by Hooters/Moxies/Earls/etc. They must have changed hiring practices as of late (I haven't been in a year I believe).

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Biff

They will likely be starting with two of the three buildings first and the parkade structure. I am very impressed that they were able to progress at all, let alone so quickly. I echo Vikings sentiments that this will be a great development. I love the vibe around the MTS Centre on event nights and this should make it much better than the wind-swept wasteland that currently exists at this site.

Good news. I'm a bit surprised that it has taken so long to develop this land... I expected to see something go up here once the MTS Centre and Hydro building were finished. When you consider its proximity to major activity hubs, it is a pretty prime piece of real estate by Downtown Winnipeg standards.

Is the plan still to build two low rise office buildings, one mid rise hotel and a parkade?

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

The way I understood it was the St. Regis will be part of the overall tower thing.

Lol ya. The key word was FUTURE mixed use development.


With the pumphouse development, he said they are going for a mixed use office, residential and hopefully a grocery store development. Was that included in the original announcement? didn't remember that.

Some interesting stats. In the year prior to CentreVenture purchasing the St. Regis, police were dispatched 2,200 times at a cost of $380,000. In the 9 months since, police dispatched 8 times. Similar numbers for the Carlton, but not as high.

2200 times in year? That seems high. That's 6 calls every day.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

The way I understood it was the St. Regis will be part of the overall tower thing.



With the pumphouse development, he said they are going for a mixed use office, residential and hopefully a grocery store development. Was that included in the original announcement? didn't remember that.

Some interesting stats. In the year prior to CentreVenture purchasing the St. Regis, police were dispatched 2,200 times at a cost of $380,000. In the 9 months since, police dispatched 8 times. Similar numbers for the Carlton, but not as high.

The initial press release about pump house never mentioned a grocery store so that is new and positive.
They talked about an indoor-garden-style public gathering space, a restaurant/bar suspended above the lower level of the pumphouse, some smaller cafés or restaurants and some clothing stores.

If those stats are correct that is an amazing bit of info, for the reduction in WPS calls to the location.

[bomberjet]

That's what was said last night. Either way, there is a significant reduction in police call outs to both locations. Which saves time and money for the taxpayer. Apparently the Bell hotel has been fairly successful since it was purchased and converted to a rehabilitation type facility.

Of course its all gum drops and lollipops from Ross.

[headhorse]

work starting on St. Chares Hotel?? they're tearing off the siding and exposing the brick underneath.



from https://twitter.com/garethduplooy