Western Expresso

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by Riverman

Interesting construction method, merging the old with the new.

http://www.urbantoronto.ca/news/2013...nd-centre-west

Pretty cool. Reminds of a project I seen on TV years ago in NYC. Same scenario, except they built the new building completely outside the existing. There was a massive truss system that spanned the existing building to support the new one overhead. Pretty cool stuff.

[vid]

Thunder Bay has a building that sits above an existing building on stilts. It was built by an engineering firm in the 1970s.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by vid

Thunder Bay has a building that sits above an existing building on stilts. It was built by an engineering firm in the 1970s.

Why?

[vid]

Because they could!

I quite like it.

[Jeff]

me trying hard to represent Winnipeg on instagram for the Canadian travel commission!

[steveosnyder]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Good letter, but I don't think the 50 new hires are an addition to the current numbers rather filling positions of those retiring. I know the fire dept, hasn't done any hiring for some time.

Just a question for everyone in general -- I got a reply from Councillor Havixbeck regarding my letter that said (direct quote):

The reason more officers are hired is to serve the inner city and north end. The majority go there, in fact, since I've been on Council, all new resources have been directed there. There will not need to be any new fire or police in the Ridgewood South area. In the Planning department report online, it states existing services are adequate.

I am wondering, has anyone ever seen a precinct plan, subdivision, or any other neighbourhood plan that has ever stated that "due to the size of this subdivision we will require additional emergency services"?

Even in all of the Waverley West development plans, no mention is made of additional police officers needed to service the area.

[bomberjet]

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/loc...222367431.html

Grass-cutting fight put off indefinitely
By: James Turner
Posted: 11:48 AM | Comments: 2

He came to court today ready to challenge what he perceives to be the fundamental unfairness of the City of Winnipeg forcing him to mow the boulevard alongside his home.
Instead, Island Lakes resident Richard Hykawy's fight was put off indefinitely as he sorts out the complex legal procedure involved in making a court challenge under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
"This is not as simple as producing material before the court and asking the court to deal with it," Court of Queen's Bench Justice Don Bryk told him. "This process is more complicated than you understand."
Hykawy, a retired Canadian Forces veteran, is representing himself.
He's arguing his Charter rights are being violated by the city in that he's essentially performing illegal "forced labour" by being sanctioned for not mowing the boulevard along side his Henry Dormer Drive home.


Image source: Google Maps

I can't stand this guy. Cut the grass. I understand he lives on an end/corner lot with a fence and sidewalk between the grass in question, but come on man.

Does he realize he's been cutting the Cities grass in his own front yard? His property doesn't extend to the street, nobodies does. I wonder if he knows. Some places it's only a few feet. Others places it's 20' or more.... Looks like he probably has a good 15' or so.

[h0twired]

It looks like he could probably use the exercise.

[steveosnyder]

Originally Posted by ctochico

well..profit as in not coming out of my pocket. the condo i purchased is brand new, so wouldn't really need much of a maintenance...just some clean up here and there assuming the tenants don't efff it up

I think you need to look at the numbers more -- with the rates at what they are right now (I can refinance at around 3.1%) I think you would be better not paying your mortgage off faster and instead investing more in something else.

Some people feel more secure in owning their home completely, but if you want to look at it as an investment (which it seems like you are) you would want to get the best ROI for your money. If you have 230(ish) K wrapped up in your house (your capital) and you have revenue of $1500 monthly (rent) and expenses of $240 (property/school tax), $100 (home renters insurance), and condo fees ($???, around what, 140 a month?). At those numbers, which I think are somewhat close, you would be getting back around 12k a year. That's only a 5.3% ROI with a lot of downside risks.

[ctochico]

Originally Posted by steveosnyder

I think you need to look at the numbers more -- with the rates at what they are right now (I can refinance at around 3.1%) I think you would be better not paying your mortgage off faster and instead investing more in something else.

Some people feel more secure in owning their home completely, but if you want to look at it as an investment (which it seems like you are) you would want to get the best ROI for your money. If you have 230(ish) K wrapped up in your house (your capital) and you have revenue of $1500 monthly (rent) and expenses of $240 (property/school tax), $100 (home renters insurance), and condo fees ($???, around what, 140 a month?). At those numbers, which I think are somewhat close, you would be getting back around 12k a year. That's only a 5.3% ROI with a lot of downside risks.

good point with the rates, actually mine is lower than that, but without paying the condo off, and purchasing another place, i don't think i would want to handle more than one mortgage at a time, altho its doable, you just don't know what can happen with mortgage rates, and other "emergency" monies you might need at the time. nonetheless, $12k/yr (5.3%) is
pretty good for not doing much. as a long term investment, those numbers are good as far as yearly returns compared to like a GIC or any other form of rrsp which will give you a 2-3% yearly return if you're lucky?

[Crisis]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I can't stand this guy. Cut the grass. I understand he lives on an end/corner lot with a fence and sidewalk between the grass in question, but come on man.

Does he realize he's been cutting the Cities grass in his own front yard? His property doesn't extend to the street, nobodies does. I wonder if he knows. Some places it's only a few feet. Others places it's 20' or more.... Looks like he probably has a good 15' or so.

I'm on his side. I wouldn't want to have to mow the City's grass on the outside of my fence. The front yard grass is one thing, where it is contiguous with the rest of the lawn. The side yard is isloated, he gets no use from it - why should he have to maintain it?

On a somewhat related subject, are Winnipegers responsible for clearing the city sidewalks after snowfalls or face a fine for not doing so? That's the law in Saskatoon and I was wondering if that type of bylaw is very common.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by Crisis

I'm on his side. I wouldn't want to have to mow the City's grass on the outside of my fence. The front yard grass is one thing, where it is contiguous with the rest of the lawn. The side yard is isloated, he gets no use from it - why should he have to maintain it?

On a somewhat related subject, are Winnipegers responsible for clearing the city sidewalks after snowfalls or face a fine for not doing so? That's the law in Saskatoon and I was wondering if that type of bylaw is very common.

That made the news in Regina this year, and council here reiterated that it will remain an "honour system" type thing for now. Not law, but the expectation is that it would be done.

[vid]

Thunder Bay has sidewalk plow/sweepers, sidewalk litter vacuums, and maintains boulevards in many parts of the city. It only costs several million per year.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by Crisis

I'm on his side. I wouldn't want to have to mow the City's grass on the outside of my fence. The front yard grass is one thing, where it is contiguous with the rest of the lawn. The side yard is isloated, he gets no use from it - why should he have to maintain it?

On a somewhat related subject, are Winnipegers responsible for clearing the city sidewalks after snowfalls or face a fine for not doing so? That's the law in Saskatoon and I was wondering if that type of bylaw is very common.

In Winnipeg the city plows snow on all sidewalks. But a I see that a lot people will clear the city one off for the length of their lot, if they are using a snow blower to clean their own sidewalk or driveway.

[vid]

People do that here too, it's weird. I guess that 25 foot gap is a bit of relief for some people but mostly it's just a cruel tease. And then the city will just go over it within a couple days anyway.

[red_179]

Originally Posted by steveosnyder

I think you need to look at the numbers more -- with the rates at what they are right now (I can refinance at around 3.1%) I think you would be better not paying your mortgage off faster and instead investing more in something else.

Some people feel more secure in owning their home completely, but if you want to look at it as an investment (which it seems like you are) you would want to get the best ROI for your money. If you have 230(ish) K wrapped up in your house (your capital) and you have revenue of $1500 monthly (rent) and expenses of $240 (property/school tax), $100 (home renters insurance), and condo fees ($???, around what, 140 a month?). At those numbers, which I think are somewhat close, you would be getting back around 12k a year. That's only a 5.3% ROI with a lot of downside risks.

Don't forget that that rental income is taxable income. Depending on what marginal tax rate you are in, the net rental income after taxes will be a lot less and reduce your ROI.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by Crisis

I'm on his side. I wouldn't want to have to mow the City's grass on the outside of my fence. The front yard grass is one thing, where it is contiguous with the rest of the lawn. The side yard is isloated, he gets no use from it - why should he have to maintain it?

On a somewhat related subject, are Winnipegers responsible for clearing the city sidewalks after snowfalls or face a fine for not doing so? That's the law in Saskatoon and I was wondering if that type of bylaw is very common.

Hes complaining about taxes being high, then wants the city to cut the boulevard. You can see in that photo the resident to the north, well say, cuts the corner of the same boulevard in question. You know the dark green area. The brown area is where the other guy lets the grass grow so long it dies.

[cllew]

I was talking to the owner of the lawn care company I use while they were at my house last week.

He said that while they don't work that part of the city, they would normally charge less to do the yard and boulevard than what the news papers said the city billed Mr. Hykawy just to do the boulevard.

[Cyro]

Welcome to Winnipeg and IGF Stadium fellow visitors......

• Video Link

Edit: ps: Banjo Bowl tribute, for our nieghbors.

[Crisis]

^^^^Well, since you started it.....
• Video Link

Best Premier ever.

Have to give credit to Sellinger's Twitter response, though, very nice:

Greg Selinger ‏@GregSelinger 6 Sep
.@PremierBradWall Well done video. How many takes? I’m betting 12…or was it 13? #flagontheplay #GoBlue