Winnipeg Construction X

[drew]

^ sure. But coming right out and saying it concerns me.

[Kris22]

Given the location sandwiched between West Broadway and the West End (and on a loud and busy street) I would say a budget-oriented apartment complex is totally appropriate. I'm pretty excited about this project.

[bomberjet]

They should go with something like the precast tower on Harkness. I find the looks pretty decent for precast concrete slabs. Maybe that's not the cheapest form of building though. Steel studs and foam seem to be the norm.

[drew]

Given the location sandwiched between West Broadway and the West End (and on a loud and busy street) I would say a budget-oriented apartment complex is totally appropriate. I'm pretty excited about this project.

^ I am not discounting it's appropriateness, but I hope they at least put a bit extra into the Portage Avenue facing facade.

[esquire]

Given the prominence of the site I would imagine that the City will raise the bar a little higher than for some out of the way project in Westwood, no? What with Portage Avenue being an official Image Route or whatever the City calls them...

Not that I'm expecting a prize winner of a building, but I would think think it would have to be something a bit better than the absolute bare minimum?

[drew]

^ I hope so. But we can all agree the statement "durable, community focus with utilitarian stacking and scale" does not exactly make you hold out a lot of hope.

[DonaldSmith]

Originally Posted by drew

^ I hope so. But we can all agree the statement "durable, community focus with utilitarian stacking and scale" does not exactly make you hold out a lot of hope.

I envision a similar construction to their 221 Stradbrook project with insulated concrete panels.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Very positive news. That stretch of Portage is pretty tired looking apart from UW's building, so having something new go up will improve the appearance of this downtown gateway. I'm not quite sure what to make of this description, though: "durable, community focus with utilitarian stacking and scale "

They said something similar for their towers on south Pembina... and we get more Affinity Crapitecture.

[pspeid]

Personally i think based on it's location, a decent apartment tower is quite good for the site. IMO not everything has to knock my socks off, in terms of architectural design. If it were near Portage & Main I might feel different, but right now I'm looking forward to seeing some renderings.

[buzzg]

A utilitarian shape and structure can open up some savings to be spent on better quality finishing materials. Aka maybe the "stacking" they're referring to means it's going to be a plain rectangle instead of having oddly shaped or cut floors – which is fine.

[esquire]

A decent looking podium with CRU space will absolve the building of most architectural sins on the upper floors. I just want something to fill in that lot and project an air of vitality, and new buildings tend to do that even if they aren't necessarily the greatest looking.

So is the mystery project that some of you were alluding to last week or whenever it was?

[wardlow]

Originally Posted by buzzg

A utilitarian shape and structure can open up some savings to be spent on better quality finishing materials. Aka maybe the "stacking" they're referring to means it's going to be a plain rectangle instead of having oddly shaped or cut floors – which is fine.

Yep. I think the suggestions that it's going to end up looking like a highrise version of this are a little off the mark.

[wardlow]

Originally Posted by esquire

A decent looking podium with CRU space will absolve the building of most architectural sins on the upper floors. I just want something to fill in that lot and project an air of vitality, and new buildings tend to do that even if they aren't necessarily the greatest looking.

So is the mystery project that some of you were alluding to last week or whenever it was?

Absolutely. When I saw drawings it looked like much of the podium was about the same height as the Casa Loma apartments next door. Maximum height of the whole things was about 20 storeys.

I think I had alluded to this project some months ago, like late spring or early summer 2019, but not recently. Glad to see it's still very much in the works.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by esquire

So is the mystery project that some of you were alluding to last week or whenever it was?

No, that is between Memorial and Main.

[rkspec]

What ever happened to the National Typewriter building across from 634 portage being demoed and build into a condo tower?

https://winnipeglovehate.com/2011/07/07/national-typewriter-building/

[esquire]

Originally Posted by buzzg

No, that is between Memorial and Main.

Good stuff, I forgot about that. Nice to know there are more projects in the pipeline.

[Jeff]

I'm just happy to see there is still sustained confidence in this section of the West End. Slow and continual renewal and densification of the area south of Portage and east of Sherbrook is good for all of downtown It's got a long way to go, but the momentum is promising!

[lilwayne]

If u include portage place that's 4 more towers purposed for the core

Not bad

We need a super tall tho hopefully this decade last decade was huge for our downtown from 2009 - 2019 lot of new developments downtown

[cllew]

Originally Posted by rkspec

What ever happened to the National Typewriter building across from 634 portage being demoed and build into a condo tower?

https://winnipeglovehate.com/2011/07/07/national-typewriter-building/

The people who proposed that in 2011 sold the building in 2013 and the building is under review for getting on one of the city's historic building lists, even though the current owners say the upper floors are too far gone to save.

[drew]

National typewriter building has a deadbeat owner.

AFAIK, they also own a few underused properties and empty lots in the West Broadway area.