Winnipeg Construction X

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Big miss for TOD is being too harsh IMO. The Stradbrook tower is still a pretty substantial building across the street from a BRT station... it's a pretty good development from a transit perspective even if the building itself is not necessarily an award winner in the making.

Anywhere else id be OK with this development but as a TOD it's a major fail. For one, the parking should be underground, not above ground taking up more then half the site. The density should be double or even triple then what is being built there now, a second tower could have gone up on the site of the parkade. If the parkade was critical to the success of this site then it should have been disguised and wrapped with townhouses or CRU. As a TOD i see this as a major fail, the 'better than nothing' mentality is just not good enough anymore.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by esquire

I appreciate the humour of that phrase because it highlights the irony of one of Winnipeg's more prestigious clubs having pretty well the same appearance as an industrial recycling facility.

But that said, I wonder how long WWC will last in their location before they sell to developers and move out? I don't have a heat map of the WWC's membership base but I'd wager that it's probably concentrated on the south side of town... if they put something up on, say, McGillivray, suddenly it's cheap land, oodles of parking, and proximity to many of their members.

The site would definitely have some appeal for redevelopment.

They just sunk a fortune into renovating a lot inside, presumably with money from the sale of the tennis courts, it's not going anywhere. It is unfortunate they aren't spending a dollar on the crumbling, peeling exterior.

[Wpg_Guy]

mullions going on Newport.

[Authentic_City]

Did anyone see this in the news today: "Province may appoint new planning authority to oversee development in Winnipeg and area"

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manit...ning-1.5342913

In principle, I don't think it would be a bad idea to have a regional planning authority that could coordinate between all the capital region municipalities. But, I am a little worried that Pallister would stack the planning authority to ensure Winnipeg doesn't have too much power and the exurban municipalities could end up driving the process. On the other hand, it would be a great thing if everyone worked together to ensure the overall economic health of the region rather than competing against each other and contributing to sprawl.

[esquire]

I see it was announced that the new Women's Hospital is opening on December 1, 2019. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 24, 2011.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Did anyone see this in the news today: "Province may appoint new planning authority to oversee development in Winnipeg and area"

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manit...ning-1.5342913

In principle, I don't think it would be a bad idea to have a regional planning authority that could coordinate between all the capital region municipalities. But, I am a little worried that Pallister would stack the planning authority to ensure Winnipeg doesn't have too much power and the exurban municipalities could end up driving the process. On the other hand, it would be a great thing if everyone worked together to ensure the overall economic health of the region rather than competing against each other and contributing to sprawl.

I could see this being an organization to help the municipalities work together in determining what is the most appropriate path forward for development.

Stacking another agency above the City, dictating where and what we spend money, will never work.

[dmacc]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Did anyone see this in the news today: "Province may appoint new planning authority to oversee development in Winnipeg and area"

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manit...ning-1.5342913

In principle, I don't think it would be a bad idea to have a regional planning authority that could coordinate between all the capital region municipalities. But, I am a little worried that Pallister would stack the planning authority to ensure Winnipeg doesn't have too much power and the exurban municipalities could end up driving the process. On the other hand, it would be a great thing if everyone worked together to ensure the overall economic health of the region rather than competing against each other and contributing to sprawl.

The potential for this is promising, as with anything the execution will determine if it's successful.

[drew]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Did anyone see this in the news today: "Province may appoint new planning authority to oversee development in Winnipeg and area"

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manit...ning-1.5342913

In principle, I don't think it would be a bad idea to have a regional planning authority that could coordinate between all the capital region municipalities. But, I am a little worried that Pallister would stack the planning authority to ensure Winnipeg doesn't have too much power and the exurban municipalities could end up driving the process. On the other hand, it would be a great thing if everyone worked together to ensure the overall economic health of the region rather than competing against each other and contributing to sprawl.

I think this is a terrible idea - even considering what a mess the City is in wrt the planning and property department.

The last thing we need is to have the Province with final say on how the City is developed.

Edit - I just realized this was metro area and not Winnipeg specific. So, in theory I can get behind this, as long as they keep their noses out of the City departments.

[trueviking]

Horrible idea. Must be stopped. The provincial government is not interested in city-building issues. We don't need their rural\suburban ideals in the city. Stay away. Leave the city to the city. Maybe give the planning department some money to hire more people instead.

"It would only handle plans that would affect transportation, development or servicing for the whole area"

I can picture it now...we need giant roads blasting through our neighbourhoods to cut two minutes off the long haul trucking routes, or provide faster access for hog barns to the airport. They are already studying spending billions to make the perimeter an 'american style freeway'...The provinces priorities are not urban. Stay out of the city.

[Hecate]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Horrible idea. Must be stopped. The provincial government is not interested in city-building issues. We don't need their rural\suburban ideals in the city. Stay away. Leave the city to the city. Maybe give the planning department some money to hire more people instead.

"It would only handle plans that would affect transportation, development or servicing for the whole area"

I can picture it now...we need giant roads blasting through our neighbourhoods to cut two minutes off the long haul trucking routes, or provide faster access for hog barns to the airport. They are already studying spending billions to make the perimeter an 'american style freeway'...The provinces priorities are not urban. Stay out of the city.

Lol. Or maybe it will lead to a kick ass network of public transportation that allows people to actually leave their cars at home. Or at least at have some park and rides, so the city can alleviate some of its traffic issues without having to build a massive network of American style freeways. Regardless the perimeter highway and 75 should be freeways. Time for the province and feds to stop wasting time. Too many people are dying on our shitty highways.

[trueviking]

If you can show me any evidence of the province demonstrating a city-building priority I may think differently. These were the guys that cut transit funding last year. They fought to choke up their piece of rapid transit. They changed TIF from funding urban growth to rural pig barns. I have zero belief they will be the driving force behind progressive urban change. ZERO.

The province should be funding the city’s priorities (like a kick-ass system of public transit) but it should keep its nose out of setting them.

[trueviking]

I can think of many better ways to spend billions of our tax dollars than building massive clover leaf interchanges on the perimeter.

[LilZebra]

Originally Posted by drew

I think this is a terrible idea - even considering what a mess the City is in wrt the planning and property department.

The last thing we need is to have the Province with final say on how the City is developed.

Edit - I just realized this was metro area and not Winnipeg specific. So, in theory I can get behind this, as long as they keep their noses out of the City departments.

It wouldn't be the Province with a say, it'd be closer to what Winnipeg had prior to 1972.

Federal
Provincial
Metro
Municipal (City of Winnipeg, RM of Assiniboia, City of East Kildonan, etc...)

But this time it would be (City of Winnipeg, RM of Headingley, RM of Springfield, RM of Rosser, RM of East St. Paul, etc...)

Metro had its own group (10?) of Councillors, who were elected separately. This time we don't know if there would be an Metro Council or not or just the function of a regional planning commission, which is what most (except for TV) want.

Winnipeg had a Planning Commission that I think included some or all of the adjacent suburbs.

This whole Winnipeg Metro Region thing started at the tail end of the Filmon years. Probably the only thing they ever did right. Why the WMR thing didn't happen any sooner is that the NDP got elected in 1999 and this was put on the back burner till Pallister got elected in April 2016.

Hope Ed Schreyer's son is shitting his pants over this.


A quote from the discussion paper:

The recommendations are not intended to create another layer of bureaucracy or government, but rather suggest a move toward regional coordination. A coordinated regional approach does not mean losing local autonomy for local matters but rather means working together toward common goals and benefits. For the Winnipeg Metro Region, the key elements to a regional approach are; regional land use and infrastructure planning, shared services, and regional economic development. Elements are considered regional when they benefit more than one municipality, such as regional infrastructure like those roadways and bridges that support fluid goods movement across municipal boundaries.

[Spocket]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I can think of many better ways to spend billions of our tax dollars than building massive clover leaf interchanges on the perimeter.

While I agree with everything you've said on the matter, this one isn't one of them. There have been plenty of deaths and life-altering accidents to justify interchanges on the Perimeter and it should have been done decades ago.

[Bluenote]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I can think of many better ways to spend billions of our tax dollars than building massive clover leaf interchanges on the perimeter.

Stay in your little bubble then.
You do realize that ALL the goods a services use those highways. But I'm guessing since you never venture out of your bubble that you think your food and services are grown in your backyard....

I used to respect your opinions but seriously the highways in this province needs to be brought out of the 50's. I know personally how shitty they are. My dad died on the perimeter. So you and your stupid transit that has been subsidized by us the tax payers for decades can wait now. You got a billion spent on the entire RT line.

FYI the city's largest tax base being the new suburbanites use those highways also. Maybe they should all move to the bedroom communities and then screw your precious transit over with even less tax dollars.

[DavefromSt.Vital]

Originally Posted by Spocket

While I agree with everything you've said on the matter, this one isn't one of them. There have been plenty of deaths and life-altering accidents to justify interchanges on the Perimeter and it should have been done decades ago.

IMO, the Perimeter has reached a point where one interchange at a time should always be under construction. They don't have to be elaborate; just parclos or diamonds. Piece by piece the highway will be improved. No need to expend billions at a time. Just keep improving things as time goes on.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

IMO, the Perimeter has reached a point where one interchange at a time should always be under construction. They don't have to be elaborate; just parclos or diamonds. Piece by piece the highway will be improved. No need to expend billions at a time. Just keep improving things as time goes on.

Agreed 100%. The big mistake with the Perimeter is that the province didn't start doing that as soon as the loop was completed back in 1997. Even at the modest rate of 1 new interchange every 3 years, we would have 7 new interchanges with one more on the way, which would have pretty well taken care of the most treacherous at-grade intersections. And it probably wouldn't have broken the bank. The Perimeter's fundamentals are sound, it just hasn't been properly kept up to date... it's like a nice solid 1960s house where the owners cheaped out on the upkeep over the years.

The idea that it's an either-or choice between upgraded transit and an upgraded Perimeter doesn't hold water. We should be able to have both of those things.

[Authentic_City]

I think it's true that it doesn't have to be either-or between transit and roads, but I am guessing that the exurban municipalities that might be part of this new regional planning authority will want roads prioritized, rather than transit. Correct me if I'm wrong, but upgrading the perimeter is a provincial matter, is it not? Why would this fall under the mandate for the urban planning authority anyway?

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I can think of many better ways to spend billions of our tax dollars than building massive clover leaf interchanges on the perimeter.

I like you and your thoughts, however getting goods to market efficiently is important! bring on massive clover leaf interchanges inside the city (and help me getting to my kids activities on time)!

[esquire]

It's too bad the city's planning function is so badly broken that the province feels the need to step in and fill the vacuum.