Winnipeg: Creative Ideas for Parcel Four at the Forks

[1ajs]

a riel monument?

[spiritedenergy]

i think i have an idea, a fountain that in winter becomes an ice maze

[chrisallard5454]

Winnipeg needs to make an Ice Hotel like one in Quebec City, the ice bar at Festival is rather pale in comparison. I think Residential, multi-use and a park all combined would be a great use for parcel.

[pollswpg]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

a riel monument?

We already have his birth house and statues of him; and also a provincial holiday, streets and city buildings all named after him. I think we could find something else.

[chrisallard5454]

Originally Posted by pollswpg

We already have his birth house and statues of him; and also a provincial holiday, streets and city buildings all named after him. I think we could find something else.

Not to mention his memorial on the St. B. Cemetery. Though they have those for everyone, so it isn't that special. But it is pretty cool that his stone is still there.

[DTFan22]

Originally Posted by WpG_GuY

Something like Federation Square in Melbourne would be ideal, keepingparcel 4 open to the public.

Completely agree with this. Parcel 4 is part of a tourist area (CMHR, Union Station, The Forks, Goldeyes, etc) and should embody and influence that.

The space will need to go for something unique though in The Forks area, something new in the Power of 10.

Right now it has:

1. Museums
2. Shopping
3. Restaurants
4. Recreation (Skateboard park, walking paths, playgrounds etc)
5. Entertainment (Goldeyes, Scotiabank Stage, live musicians, etc)
6. Relaxation spots (benches-albeit I think there could be more, open fields)
7. Art to observe
8. Lodging (Inn at the Forks)
9. Health & Lifestyle services (Spa)
10. ???

I don't think residential would be a good fit, it would also add to congestion in an area that isn't designed to handle residential congestion and would take away from the "everybody's space" concept.

Therefore, I believe it should be something that reflects the museum and "honors" the museums presence while still offering something new for the public.

[alittle1]

Originally Posted by DTFan22

Completely agree with this. Parcel 4 is part of a tourist area (CMHR, Union Station, The Forks, Goldeyes, etc) and should embody and influence that.

The space will need to go for something unique though in The Forks area, something new in the Power of 10.

Right now it has:

1. Museums
2. Shopping
3. Restaurants
4. Recreation (Skateboard park, walking paths, playgrounds etc)
5. Entertainment (Goldeyes, Scotiabank Stage, live musicians, etc)
6. Relaxation spots (benches-albeit I think there could be more, open fields)
7. Art to observe
8. Lodging (Inn at the Forks)
9. Health & Lifestyle services (Spa)
10. ???

I don't think residential would be a good fit, it would also add to congestion in an area that isn't designed to handle residential congestion and would take away from the "everybody's space" concept.

Therefore, I believe it should be something that reflects the museum and "honors" the museums presence while still offering something new for the public.

Gee, I didn't realize we had all those on your list, so, I got to thinking about #10:

1. Car lot

2. Motorcycle track

3. Giant ferris wheel

4. Bungie jump

5. Half-way house

6. Brewery and/or distillery

7. Casino

8. Brothel

9. Grow-op

10. Gallows and/or public stocks

The first few I thought of were transportation oriented, and then I got half way, I decided we should have something revenue bearing or costs us 'no money', and finally, I figured we haven't had a good hanging lately, so that pretty well rounds it out. Keep 'em coming, they're looking good.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by DTFan22

I don't think residential would be a good fit, it would also add to congestion in an area that isn't designed to handle residential congestion and would take away from the "everybody's space" concept.
.

90% of the time the forks could use some congestion....residential is the only way to make it sustainable in the long run....ever been there on a weekday in the winter?...it needs a permanent market to draw from to be successful.....other than sunny weekends in july the forks is pretty dead compared to most urban public spaces in other cities.

the public function could still be maintained even with residential development.....

[alittle1]

Originally Posted by trueviking

90% of the time the forks could use some congestion....residential is the only way to make it sustainable in the long run....ever been there on a weekday in the winter?...it needs a permanent market to draw from to be successful.....other than sunny weekends in july the forks is pretty dead compared to most urban public spaces in other cities.

the public function could still be maintained even with residential development.....

still going on the sublime and off-the-wall thinking.....

What you are saying is that you need someone or something that simulates a draw to the Forks area.

My suggestion would be Nick Hill from Kernhill Co-op and his matress machine that never stopped running. For twenty something years, Nick pumped out his slogan, "COME ON DOWN"....on every tv and radio station in Winnipeg....and people did, come on down. If you think that he would need a bit of beefing up. add Terry Balkin and Brother Lou, of the 'YOU BET'CHA" fame, and the 1980's Park Pontiac theme, "W I C K E D ".
Or, "Don't Toss...Ring Ross...Ross Realty, and use the famous KFC phone number that was impregnated into everyone mind during the Late Movie, Spruce..5..0..4..8..6 .

Those were the calling cards for almost a generation. Where can you buy support like that?

[trueviking]

i was up in the richardson offices yesterday....snapped a pic of that site.....it is huge....imagine what that little hotel would have looked like there...you can fit the intersection of portage and main including all four towers on that site.

[chrisallard5454]

The project may not be deemed great, but I did a quick photoshop just to scale what exactly could fit on this parcel. There is a lot that could potentially go here. In fact there is room for any developer/design architects wildest proposals, without any limitations in terms of shear size.



Thanks for the photo Vike, hopefully you don't mind that I used it.

[chrisallard5454]

There is one thing I am concerned about with regards to this parcel. I am concerned that the majority of the citizens who didn't want the park there, were not against it because it was the wrong development, but because they don't want any development there. And I really hope it isn't the case, but I have a feeling anything outside of an outdoor park will face the same public scrutiny that the water park did.

If a proposal does get pushed through successfully, I would actually prefer if it offered very limited or no parking. Not because I am so much against sprawl that I will do away with cars, but because that will force people to park at other existing locations downtown, which will force people to walk our downtown streets come game time and during concerts. Incentives could also be given for bikers and transit users, such as seat sales and discounts at the diamond. Though personally I believe those kind of incentives should be taking place all over the city.

[trueviking]

^love it!...nice job.

my money is on canalta mysteriously re-appearing in a year with a rendering.

[h0twired]

Just need the Bond Tower in the foreground as well.

[rypinion]

Originally Posted by trueviking

i was up in the richardson offices yesterday....snapped a pic of that site.....it is huge....imagine what that little hotel would have looked like there...you can fit the intersection of portage and main including all four towers on that site.

Nice, that's what is out my window every day. I don't have such a nice zoom on my camera though.

[Biff]

I'm with you guys. I really hope they landscape with palm trees too..................I'm just kidding. Something like that would look great.

[chrisallard5454]

Yeah lol, I just did a quick aerial rendering search, and found one at the right angle. I just wanted to convey what could go there in terms of size. But this rendering actually contrasts well with the museum, and as Hotwired said, with the Bond it will look even better.

[chrisallard5454]

Those two towers with three stories added on top for observation, maybe even a glass bridge connecting the two, to provide multiple vantage points.

That is one pet peeve I have with this city, is the lack of places to just go to catch a view. I just spent the last 2 hours chilling on the 28th floor of Fort Garry Place in the Elevator, enjoying the view. We need more of that.



Cell Phone Pic

I don't know where the grass discussion was taking place, but here is an example of what I would prefer over grass. Another cell phone picture.

[art deco]

I like the idea of using parcel four as a location to display public art. Some permanent and some on a non-permanent basis to afford both established and up and coming artists the opportunity to display their work.

[alittle1]

Originally Posted by chrisallard5454

Those two towers with three stories added on top for observation, maybe even a glass bridge connecting the two, to provide multiple vantage points.

That is one pet peeve I have with this city, is the lack of places to just go to catch a view. I just spent the last 2 hours chilling on the 28th floor of Fort Garry Place in the Elevator, enjoying the view. We need more of that.



Cell Phone Pic

I don't know where the grass discussion was taking place, but here is an example of what I would prefer over grass. Another cell phone picture.

That would be what we know as the informal look. Instead of having grass mowed at a 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 inches with trimmed edges, other plant species would be substituted and allowed to free form. I believe that you can find this method of landscape in the West and North End in rental properties, vacant houses, and properties without a gardener.

I would guess that our fresh ideas for Parcel Four have dried up and the summer holidays aren't even here yet. There have been some great enterprising ideas put forward, I would hope that it doesn't end here. I put forth a few controversial ideas and couldn't even get a bite. Apparently, the group just likes to go with the flow and lets things happen.

Your homework for the Summer of '12 is to come up with two new ideas, however radical, that you would like to see built on this site, a vote will be taken, and a proposal will be sent to City Council.

Class dismissed.