Winnipeg Construction

[SKYSTHELIMIT]

Originally Posted by Reed Solomon

They've lost their.... minds.

I agree with Biff here about the need for more art downtown, it makes a statement of livability and dedication to the core, in the sense that it invites you to exit your car take a stroll to examine the pieces. Chicago is a great example of this as many of their art installations are getting as much attention as the main landmarks.

[chrisallard5454]

Originally Posted by roccerfeller

But art is what it is...its not exactly dollar store type of stuff if you want it done by professionals

plus what exactly would qualify as basic beauty? something like this could end up qualifying as such. Art adds to city feel, city vibe, and reduces the bland and boring factor. Winnipeg could use more art, you can't go wrong with it unless it sucks (and for the record I have not seen what this artwork will be like, so I don't know how good or bad it will be...but I am open to the idea)

Further, art will always have a higher up-front cost...but once that cost is paid, its paid. It doesn't (always) need regular maintenance like trees or other types of plants such as flowers where city worker fees are also involved in maintenance. I like greenery a lot, but it has its place. Its not going to be suited for every single area of the city, and Portage is a busy road with many intersections and turning junctions and whatnot. Putting certain types of greenery there would just not work the same way art would.

If done correctly, art can have a huge impact, and is another way to beautify something that lacks it.

I agree that overall more art is needed, which is why I love the Empty Vas thing at the Library, as well as the Plaza. But you must agree that art thrown on a heaving, chipping and crumbling sidewalk/boardwalk is similar to throwing paint on cracked drywall without mudding it first.

This sounds cliche but our downtown roads/sidewalks and boardwalks are in horrible shape. I am not saying they aren't doing anything about it, because they are. But this is what I meant when saying they should first start with the basics before trying to spruce it up to make it look good. Because when I see art on a crappy road, I see an attempt to hide something bad with a quick fix.

What they are doing on Market is great. They will be widening the sidewalk, putting new lighting/landscaping and resurfacing the road. I would first prefer that and once our downtown streets are in the shape of most downtown streets then I would be happy to see tons of art.

I am also not naive enough to suggest that all the downtown streets should be fixed, but the main routes should definitely be worked on. And I don't just mean a patch here and there. Downtowns provide the biggest impression on the welfare of a city, and when patches are thrown down rather than proper fixes, it looks bad on us.

I do however agree that the city would look better with more art. Personally one of the things Winnipeg should also continue to pride itself on and pursue is our Mural art! It is a great way to spruce up the buildings and make them more interesting.

I have a question as well. This morning on the way to work I saw two people in a span of a minute throw down their butts and just leave them on the sidewalk, The first of which made sure to spit on his - He was a business man as well. Does someone have to be part of a program to do clean up of litter and butts downtown? Or would I be able to go myself and do a clean up if I wanted to? If so, is anyone else interested in doing some volunteering downtown? It would be cool to get people out cleaning, just as regular citizens showing people that it is good to care. Anyone interested?

[Boreal]

Just to add to the tree conversation - Ash is beautiful, but the Asian emerald ash borer beetle will with a high degree of probability, touch down soon, and that is not a good deal.

Tilia (a.k.a. linden, basswood) is increasingly becoming an option.

[chrisallard5454]

Originally Posted by Boreal

Just to add to the tree conversation - Ash is beautiful, but the Asian emerald ash borer beetle will with a high degree of probability, touch down soon, and that is not a good deal.

Tilia (a.k.a. linden, basswood) is increasingly becoming an option.

Would diversity play any part in preventing the introduction to such an invasive species?

If they planted no two of the same species side by side would this prevent an introduction perhaps?

In university a friend of mine did a study on the effects of salt on roadside plant life, and for most species it is pretty devastating.

I wonder if there could be an alternative out there to ridding our roads of ice. Because it is not only bad for our plants, but for our roads, cars, bikes, sewer systems, road paint, buildings, light posts, etc. etc. I always though Winnipeg used sand over salt.

[cllew]

Sand (with some salt in it to keep the stockpiles from freezing) are used at -10 and lower.
Pure salt is used after a snowfall and above -10.

This article from the Free Press goes into detail on what the city did last year with sand and salt usage. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/loc...ice=mobile&c=y

I personally sweep up what sand I can in the spring and reuse it on my sidewalk and back lane driveway the next year as spot traction grit if required. By the time I sweep it up most if not all the salt has been washed out by the spring melt or rains, so I don't worry about it damaging my concrete. This year I have two 5 gallon buckets full ready for use in 2012/13.

[drew]

Originally Posted by chrisallard5454

I have a question as well. This morning on the way to work I saw two people in a span of a minute throw down their butts and just leave them on the sidewalk, The first of which made sure to spit on his - He was a business man as well. Does someone have to be part of a program to do clean up of litter and butts downtown? Or would I be able to go myself and do a clean up if I wanted to? If so, is anyone else interested in doing some volunteering downtown? It would be cool to get people out cleaning, just as regular citizens showing people that it is good to care. Anyone interested?

I've been noticing the cigarette butts all over the ground lately too. I was thinking that the city should offer a bounty for these things. Maybe something like 1 cent per butt collected. Let's get these things off the street, and encourage and reward people picking them up. There are literally thousands of these things every block downtown.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by drew

I've been noticing the cigarette butts all over the ground lately too. I was thinking that the city should offer a bounty for these things. Maybe something like 1 cent per butt collected. Let's get these things off the street, and encourage and reward people picking them up. There are literally thousands of these things every block downtown.

Or maybe smokers can start disposing of their butts properly.

[drew]

^ yeah, because that's happening.

Lets be realistic. "Butts" aren't considered litter by most people. The same person who would never throw their trash on the street would never think twice about tossing their butt on the sidewalk.

Let's make picking up trash profitable. In fact, let's extend refunds to other common goods like disposable drink lids, plastic bottles, etc. etc. If it is worth money, someone will collect it. Just like beer bottles and scrap metal.

[c vist]

Originally Posted by Reed Solomon

They've lost their.... minds.

Or their marbles?

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by chrisallard5454

Would diversity play any part in preventing the introduction to such an invasive species?

If they planted no two of the same species side by side would this prevent an introduction perhaps?

In university a friend of mine did a study on the effects of salt on roadside plant life, and for most species it is pretty devastating.

I wonder if there could be an alternative out there to ridding our roads of ice. Because it is not only bad for our plants, but for our roads, cars, bikes, sewer systems, road paint, buildings, light posts, etc. etc. I always though Winnipeg used sand over salt.

Diversity does not really play as big of a role when it comes to the preservation of target species. Even in a natural setting, diversity just ensures that the whole - a forest for example - would remain largely intact even if one or two member species were under siege. What's worse, the ash borer unlike most tree destroyers actually is not specific to a particular species but targets the entire Ash genus (Fraxinus). As a result, even the garden centre varieties of Ash that can occasionally be purchased are affected as well as both Green Ash and Black Ash - both of which occur naturally in Manitoba. Even if Ash are sparsely planted, it will be found. The emerald ash borer like most insects has a quick life cycle and reproduces in large amounts - basically once a few individuals are introduced, the population begins to grow exponentially. Thus, there is no hiding locally. A few remedies are available, but none of them are really effective for the most part - the most effective being nearly as harmful as the beetle itself.

[cllew]

Foundation work in progress at the Boston Pizza on Henderson.

[Darren Tate]

Originally Posted by drew

I've been noticing the cigarette butts all over the ground lately too. I was thinking that the city should offer a bounty for these things. Maybe something like 1 cent per butt collected. Let's get these things off the street, and encourage and reward people picking them up. There are literally thousands of these things every block downtown.

Your heart's in the right place, but you'll never find me cleaning up after smokers—or anyone for that matter. Unless somebody finds a use for cigarette butts, nobody will be paying us to collect them. Vancouver has a similar problem, not just with cigarette butts, but with gum. So many sidewalks downtown are covered with tons of squashed gum, and since it's practically fused to the concrete, it stays there FOREVER. Truly disgusting. Nobody seems to know what to do about that either. Smokers—and gum chewers—need to be reminded that litter is litter, no matter what it is. I'd rather work at trying to change people's attitudes than cleaning up after them.

[chrisallard5454]

In case you missed it on the Canada Thread, here is a cool little map on Winnipeg's construction history. I am loving the blue!



Many more maps can be found at the site here.

http://env-blogs.uwaterloo.ca/atlas/...d=448#Families

[roccerfeller]

^ Really interesting picture

comparing it with Calgary:



wow at that sprawl! Though currently Calgary is trying to prevent sprawl and promote RT in addition to more condo style housing and nearby downtown living. Lots of local discussion about that and its something I've read often, brought up often, in local papers and such.

Edmonton too:




Interesting when considering housing construction and where the focus is. Also the Edmonton, Cal and Peg shots aren't all entirely to scale due to both different map scales but also different sizes of images but tis interesting to see.



Really neat data, thanks for that chrisallard!

[cllew]

Originally Posted by cllew

Any idea what is going on the south side of the Regent Costco lot? I see that they have a large section fenced off and a Graham construction site office there.

I am thinking that it could be a Costco gas bar but have not been able to find anything on line about them putting one in this location.

Looks like it is going to be a gas bar, there were a few flatbeds with large fiberglass tanks sitting on the lot Monday around lunch time.

Today (Thursday) as I was driving by I saw there are a few large excavations in the lot, so its a good bet I know where the tanks went to.

[Bluenote]

Originally Posted by roccerfeller

Interesting when considering housing construction and where the focus is. Also the Edmonton, Cal and Peg shots aren't all entirely to scale due to both different map scales but also different sizes of images but tis interesting to see.



Really neat data, thanks for that chrisallard!

Also those were back in 2006 when the BOOM was going very strong for Edmonton and Calgary, Vs When Winnipeg was just revving up. I would like to see what Winnipeg looks like now, as so many developments are NOT on that map. Sage Creek, Wav West, RoyalWood Phase 2, etc etc. Also take NOTE that is you look at Area that each city takes up, ( use the legend in KM's each picture has )we are all pretty much tied. Even though we have the smallest pop of the three. So when I hear people complain about urban sprawl in Calgary, they should also take note that we are just as bad.

[good_dude]

Originally Posted by Bluenote

Also those were back in 2006 when the BOOM was going very strong for Edmonton and Calgary, Vs When Winnipeg was just revving up. I would like to see what Winnipeg looks like now, as so many developments are NOT on that map. Sage Creek, Wav West, RoyalWood Phase 2, etc etc. Also take NOTE that is you look at Area that each city takes up, ( use the legend in KM's each picture has )we are all pretty much tied. Even though we have the smallest pop of the three. So when I hear people complain about urban sprawl in Calgary, they should also take note that we are just as bad.

The maps show that urban sprawl is WAY worse in both Calgary and Edmonton than in Winnipeg - but interestingly, both those cities also have a lot more urban infill than we do.

Agreed a 2011 update would be cool to see.

[trueviking]

what thread in the canada section has those maps?....i cant find it.

[lilwayne]

[IMG]http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/648*258/3428393.jpg[/IMG]

work on this place has begun on the Specialized Services for Children and Youth centre on Notre Dame Avenue.

lot of construction goin on in da city

[JamieDavid Exchange]

Some sad news.....

The remaining Zellers stores that are not converting to Target will be closing shop by March 2013.

So, that means our downtown Zellers will soon be gone with nothing planned for its space.

I have a bad feeling that once Zellers leaves the building, The Bay will probably follow. Very sad if that happens. The Bay is really the only place to buy designer goods in our downtown.

Just another reason for suburban folk to avoid our downtown and head to the malls.