Quote:
Originally Posted by esquire
^ Makes sense, but is RBC DS going to mind having the penthouse suite on a BMO-branded building?  |
I didn't even know they were in there – couldn't all fit in the RBC building at 220 Portage?
Quote:
Originally Posted by optimusREIM
I sincerely hope the building can be saved. If not, they should try to at least preserve the facade (I know many of us don't like facadectomies), tastefully, mind you. Maybe it could be incorporated into the podium for a boutique hotel or something along those lines. If the Earl's site is developed into something really well executed, that stretch of Main will be kinda cool actually. I think the worst offenders in the area aren't actually the surface lots, those at least can be made into something nice from scratch. It's the Assiniboine Credit Union building which is somewhat hostile to the streetscape, same with the building to the south of York next to Johnny G's.
In ten years, with 300 Main and potentially something happening with the Earl's site once they vacate to go into 300, the area could be radically different than it is today.
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I agree ideall the WH gets saved, but tbh if it being unsalvageable (aside from the facade) would lead to Pollards developing the empty lot along with it to be something more than a giant patio – I'm kinda down.
The southern building you mention is being converted into the new main campus for Robertson College. Yes there's only one door, but it'll be interesting to see if they open up the private offices along Main to be something more "active" like classrooms or common space. There will certainly be a lot more people in and around the building once it's open.
And I personally think the ACU building is quite well designed overall (90s cosmetics aside) – it's just unfortunate that it's devolved into being closed-off office space. Until this year there were 3 CRU entrances plus the building entrance, one was removed when Ivory left. It has tons of potential to be subdivided into small CRUs in the future. I believe it was Wawanesa that took over Ivory, so when they get their new tower that could be a very real option for the landlord.
Quote:
Originally Posted by esquire
Other than that I agree that south Main is developing nicely and has a lot of potential. The only real issue is that the improvements have all been concentrated on the west side of the street... the only improvement in the last 40 years on the east side of Main is when Earls went up and replaced the rental car lot that used to be there. I find that a little baffling considering the development potential of those sites... proximity to P&M, The Forks, the nice views, etc.
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TFNP is planning on developing the lot north of Union Station in 5-10 years, likely into a mixed-use parkade. Earls will eventually find a partner to redevelop their lots, so that really only leaves the smaller lots surrounding Century Plaza to be developed.
The biggest issue right now with the east side of Main is that
the city needs to decide what the future holds for Transit/RT through downtown ASAP. At some point the busses (or future cars) need to exit Union Station and go west – where that will happen in the long term needs to be decided immediately.
Until last week it seemed like the most logical path would be to turn Wesley and lots along it into the entrance/exit of the RT line to connect with Graham. But if the longer-term transit plan is to take all busses off Graham, that changes everything for the east side of Main, and P&M in general. If Portage is to become the main transit route, then maybe we end up with the transitway entrance/exits behind Century Plaza near Westbrook, with Westbrook becoming the route to connect busses to Portage.
Whatever happens, Transit needs to figure out their plan before anything else happens around there.
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