Winnipeg's Exchange District | East/West | Development

[Urban recluse]

An inviting and dynamic neighborhood must be created, and that f@ckin bunker is as far from this as you can get.

[Pinus]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

An inviting and dynamic neighborhood must be created, and that f@ckin bunker is as far from this as you can get.

Let me guess; it's better in Edmonton and Halifax, right? RIGHT?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Exactly, but all the possible layouts shown in the plan have a 10 foot setback and a "sliver park" which to me screams they are just putting up some plants to hide the fact there's nothing there. Even worse, the plan showing the possibility of the north third being one big building had parkade entrance/exits off James.

Looking at the renderings, the setbacks look pretty minor. For the type of buildings being proposed it's not that bad (although I suppose one could ask why bother with them in the first place).

Who knows how closely developers will follow the script shown in the overall site plan, but I could live with what's shown.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by esquire

Looking at the renderings, the setbacks look pretty minor. For the type of buildings being proposed it's not that bad (although I suppose one could ask why bother with them in the first place).

Who knows how closely developers will follow the script shown in the overall site plan, but I could live with what's shown.

Well the city owns the land and CV is overseeing development, so they'll stick to whatever script the city allows them to write.

[1ajs]

chill it guys

[esquire]

Anyone know what's shaking with the development on the Bodega's site? Is it being redrawn or is it DOA?

[buzzg]

^I heard they walked away, but was just hearsay.

I’m other news, not sure if the exchange had a different group doing snow removal this winter but 50% of curb corners got wiped out it seems. You’d think Bann & Main was under construction it got destroyed so bad. Seems like waaaaay more collateral damage from plowing than normal.

If they don’t already (which I assume) the city should send inspectors after every major clearing and charge contractors for damages. At this point it’s impossible to lay blame on someone, but the city still has to pay for the poor work to fix it.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by esquire

Anyone know what's shaking with the development on the Bodega's site? Is it being redrawn or is it DOA?

I was told, very challenging with all the heritage rules...moving at a snails pace.

[dmacc]

Originally Posted by buzzg

^I heard they walked away, but was just hearsay.

I’m other news, not sure if the exchange had a different group doing snow removal this winter but 50% of curb corners got wiped out it seems. You’d think Bann & Main was under construction it got destroyed so bad. Seems like waaaaay more collateral damage from plowing than normal.

If they don’t already (which I assume) the city should send inspectors after every major clearing and charge contractors for damages. At this point it’s impossible to lay blame on someone, but the city still has to pay for the poor work to fix it.

It's built into the cost of snow removal. The company is responsible for paying the bill of damaged curbs. That's probably why you see large gaps between the curb and where the plow stops. Often there is a 12"-18" gap.

[windypeg]

Originally Posted by buzzg

^I heard they walked away, but was just hearsay.

I’m other news, not sure if the exchange had a different group doing snow removal this winter but 50% of curb corners got wiped out it seems. You’d think Bann & Main was under construction it got destroyed so bad. Seems like waaaaay more collateral damage from plowing than normal.

If they don’t already (which I assume) the city should send inspectors after every major clearing and charge contractors for damages. At this point it’s impossible to lay blame on someone, but the city still has to pay for the poor work to fix it.

Cities like Montreal get twice as much snow as we do and yet somehow they manage to clear it without destroying every curb, lightpost, bench and bike rack in sight. Is there a reason the guys who plow here are so incompetent?

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by windypeg

Cities like Montreal get twice as much snow as we do and yet somehow they manage to clear it without destroying every curb, lightpost, bench and bike rack in sight. Is there a reason the guys who plow here are so incompetent?

Not to mention clear it with much more frequency. I swear I was at my in law in Montreal during a snowfall and within the span of a few hours the street was cleared twice and the sidewalk once, before it stopped snowing on a completely residential street.

[oftheMoon]

Letter from City yesterday indicates James Ave reconfiguration will have back-in angled parking on the north side only between Amy and Lily along with sidewalk on the north and streetscaping. $2M budget. 9 weeks.

Raised intersections at Waterfront/James & Waterfront/McDermot will also be part of the reconstruction to "help calm traffic and increase driver awareness of pedestrian crossing." This project will also include the connection of the asphalt pathway located behind the Mere Hotel with the North Winnipeg Parkway near Galt Ave. $900k. 5 weeks.

[optimusREIM]

Speaking of James and waterfront, any word on the status of the pumphouse residential component?

[headhorse]

I think it's summer 2020 occupancy for the building on waterfront, so they'd have to be starting soon. also, any more news on 104 james?

[wardlow]

^ From what I understand, it's going ahead again, with revised and designs and plans the City can live with... eg, no more sunken plaza in front.

[buzzg]

Good to hear about the raised intersection at James and Waterfront, as well as the connecting of the paths – the city really dropped the ball on the sidewalk/AT path around the hotel. Sidewalk should have continued along the street, and ideally no loading bay, but just a standard cut-out loading zone for the hotel.

It's funny just yesterday as I waited to turn onto Waterfront as people sped by, was thinking the city should really square off all the street corners along Waterfront, the big round corners make it more dangerous for pedestrians, and allow cars to peel into and out of corners with lots of speed. Makes no sense there.

[esquire]

^ The city has an obsession with inserting round corners and slip lanes wherever possible. It's as though it avoids putting in a proper 90 degree angle intersection at all costs. It can't resist chipping away walkability and pedestrian safety to improve traffic flow 0.02%.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ The city has an obsession with inserting round corners and slip lanes wherever possible. It's as though it avoids putting in a proper 90 degree angle intersection at all costs. It can't resist chipping away walkability and pedestrian safety to improve traffic flow 0.02%.

This was one of the first things to jump out at me when I came to Winnipeg. Seems like every semi-major intersection outside downtown has slip lanes. Guess it's just a product of the development era though.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

This was one of the first things to jump out at me when I came to Winnipeg. Seems like every semi-major intersection outside downtown has slip lanes. Guess it's just a product of the development era though.

I can live with slip lanes in suburbia but they are a hindrance downtown. For example, the one at York and Main is downright absurd.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by esquire

I can live with slip lanes in suburbia but they are a hindrance downtown. For example, the one at York and Main is downright absurd.

Especially considering that's a main entrance to The Forks.