WINNIPEG | Osborne Village: Canada's Greatest Neighbourhood of 2012

[raggedy13]

Hi all,

I just moved to Winnipeg's Osborne Village neighbourhood and decided to do a little photo tour of the area.

As per my thread title, it was declared "Canada's Greatest Neighbourhood" in 2012 by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP). It's an honour bestowed upon a different city and neighbourhood in Canada every year and Winnipeggers never pass up the chance to mention it when describing Osborne Village to out-of-towners.

Whether it's Canada's best neighbourhood is debatable, but most people would probably argue that it is Winnipeg's best (or at least most popular) neighbourhood. For one, it has the highest population density in the city which provides a density of retail, restaurants, and bars within a convenient walking distance, which is pretty rare for Winnipeg. It also has a great central location that is close to other interesting neighbourhoods like Downtown, West Broadway, and Corydon, as well as providing convenient transit access to much of the city, including the University of Manitoba. As such, a lot of students and young people live in the neighbourhood. The neighbourhood, like much of Winnipeg, has a great stock of old buildings and lots of potential. It is also one of the few areas of Winnipeg where new (low-rise) infill apartment buildings are a common sight.

Here's a map to give some geographic context:



At any rate, I moved to Winnipeg last year and while I liked my old neighbourhood (West Broadway), I'm enjoying living in Osborne Village. I also like my new apartment and view that, coincidentally, overlooks my old neighbourhood...


West Broadway Pano by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6575 by raggedy13, on Flickr

The tower in the background is the airport...

IMG_6579 by raggedy13, on Flickr

Crazy to think that there are mature, built-out residential neighbourhoods under all these trees. Fun fact: Winnipeg has the largest mature urban elm forest in North America.

IMG_6589 by raggedy13, on Flickr

It surprised me how much people bike here when I first arrived. Now I bike around the city all the time myself, something I didn't do when I lived in Vancouver.

IMG_6593 by raggedy13, on Flickr

My view of the Assiniboine River which, in this part of town, divides Osborne Village from West Broadway...

IMG_6553 by raggedy13, on Flickr

Just down the street from my apartment building, surrounded by high-rise residential towers, is this little old house with a giant gate outside. I don't know much about the history of the area but I imagine it used to lead to some giant manor along the river back in the day and now the gate house and gate is all that remains.

IMG_6599 by raggedy13, on Flickr

There are a few other old stately looking homes that have survived in the area...

IMG_6602 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6606 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6610 by raggedy13, on Flickr

And lots of interesting old apartment buildings...

IMG_6614 by raggedy13, on Flickr

Looking south down Osborne Street...

IMG_6615 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6616 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6617 by raggedy13, on Flickr

Looking north towards the Osborne Street Bridge...

IMG_6653 by raggedy13, on Flickr

Assiniboine River...

IMG_6642 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6638 by raggedy13, on Flickr

Water is a bit high...

IMG_6634 by raggedy13, on Flickr

New residential tower going up downtown...

IMG_6628 by raggedy13, on Flickr

Top of the Provincial Legislature above the treetops, with Winnipeg's infamous Golden Boy at the pinnacle...

IMG_6623 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6641 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6645 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6648 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6650 by raggedy13, on Flickr

Still milking it...

IMG_6655 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6659 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6661 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6666 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6668 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6671 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6673 by raggedy13, on Flickr

Some of that newer infill I mentioned...

IMG_6674 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6678 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6687 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6690 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6691 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6694 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6697 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6700 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6704 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6706 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6711 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6713 by raggedy13, on Flickr

This hotel has seen better days, but it actually has a great funky little brunch place inside.

IMG_6717 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6720 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6724 by raggedy13, on Flickr

This is one of, if not thee, best restaurant in the city... Segovia. Very tasty tapas place.

IMG_6727 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6731 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6737 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6739 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6741 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6745 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6915 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6921 by raggedy13, on Flickr

This is apparently the most expensive condo tower in the city. Overlooking the river and one unit per floor...

IMG_6922 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6926 by raggedy13, on Flickr


IMG_6890 by raggedy13, on Flickr

And that's it for now. I continued on to the adjacent Corydon neighbourhood but that will have to wait for another day in the very near future. Thanks!

(My Corydon pics are now up for anyone interested... http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...04#post7070304)

[Jeff]

yay! great tour. thanks for sharing

[Coldrsx]

Loved visiting that area a few years ago, it would be where I would live.

Thanks for the tour.

[SignalHillHiker]

Great thread. The tree canopy there is insane. The Toad in the village is a fun spot. Unburger was great too.

[raggedy13]

Thanks for the comments!

Just thought I'd add this map to give a bit more geographic context...

[phillyskyline]

Nice tour!

[gothamite]

that looks really nice! I want to move there (except in the winter --not that NYC is some picnic then either) "The Bronx" apartments?? (which looks like someplace that could actually be in the Bronx) lol

[xzmattzx]

Looks like a really nice neighborhood! Is this a big nightlife area, then?

[raggedy13]

^Ya, I think it would be fair to say that it is a big nightlife area, at least by Winnipeg standards. It is certainly one of the few areas with a regular flow of pedestrian traffic in the evening. There are two clubs that I'm aware of (one is above the American Apparel), and there are a few pubs and several restaurants that keep the area busy evenings and weekends.

Other nightlife areas in the city would be the Exchange (warehouse district north of Downtown), Downtown, and Corydon (Winnipeg's Little Italy), which has a decent strip of bars and restaurants. Winnipeg's downtown isn't the liveliest place most evenings as it became a bit stagnant and hollowed out in the 80s and 90s, but it's on an upswing and getting livelier outside of business hours with some solid newer bars/restaurants. I suppose another nightlife area would be The Forks, a touristy park/marketplace area just to the east of the Downtown core, where there are a couple museums, a nice hotel, some restaurants/bars and a number of public events are held.


I just moved to Winnipeg 8 months ago, so I may not be presenting the most accurate information, but these are my general impressions so far.

[raggedy13]

Originally Posted by gothamite

that looks really nice! I want to move there (except in the winter --not that NYC is some picnic then either) "The Bronx" apartments?? (which looks like someplace that could actually be in the Bronx) lol

Ya, Winnipeg is pretty cold in the winter by most standards, but I survived my first one here despite being used to rainy Pacific Northwest winters. I definitely prefer it once the weather warms up but the city is starting to embrace winter culture more and more with some neat events, initiatives, and outdoor activities. Like the "warming hut" design competition...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/tr...park.html?_r=0

[montréaliste]

Great looking naborhud.

[gatt]

nice!

[DLLB]

Great thread! I used to bike in that area all the time when I lived in the ole peg. It has so much character and great old architecture.

[pallo]

I love how Winnipeg seems to be stuck in a 1970s time warp (in a good way) from an architectural point of view

[raggedy13]

Thanks for the continued comments!

My Corydon pics taken the same day are now up for anyone interested...
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...04#post7070304

[Beedok]

All the greenery and water makes it look much less dry than it is.

[Jeff]

amazing in-depth tour!!

the golden boy isn't "infamous" he's famous! the golden boy showing his junk at -35 gives us all hope! loooove Winnipeg's trees.