Today the Province announced support for a North Portage Development Corporation initiative to turn the top four storeys of the Canada Building (opposite Giant Tiger on Donald St.) into residential space. It also announced support for the construction of a significant number of student residence spaces at the Richardson College for Environment under construction on Portage Avenue (across from Lions Manor).
In addition, work will soon begin on York The Hotel's renovation and conversion into apartments, and rumors continue to abound that the Holiday Inn will soon become a student residence as well. Also, the apartment block at Assiniboine and Fort may yet proceed if they can resolve their issue with the defenders of Upper Fort Garry, and there is still the prospect of the condo block where Dubrovnik's currently stands.
On top of all this, people are moving in significant numbers into the new condos built in the Exchange District (both east and west sides) over the past couple of years.
All things considered, there has probably been more residential development downtown in the past two years than at any time since Fort Garry Place was built. It would be great if this were only the starting point rather than the culmination, but in any event I do think some credit should be given where it is due for this. Hopefully the momentum will continue to build.
I agree. I am currently looking at a little condo just off Arlington. The guy showed me a number of little buildings tucked away here and there in the core.
[quote][cite] mrchristian:[/cite]I agree. I am currently looking at a little condo just off Arlington. The guy showed me a number of little buildings tucked away here and there in the core.[/quote]
[quote][cite] mrchristian:[/cite]I agree. I am currently looking at a little condo just off Arlington. The guy showed me a number of little buildings tucked away here and there in the core.[/quote]
Cool. There are a fair number of smaller condos in the inner-city with very, very little if any visible turnover. Sounds like you've managed to uncover that world a bit...good luck with your hunt!
It's been a while since a new housing coop has appeared. Whatever happened to those?
It is time for the city to clean up the area north of Portage Place as it has turned back into what it was before the CAI was put in place the seedy hotels have to go and the old blocks that survive on welfare need to be reno'ed so that they don't house the vagrants and malcontents of socieity which come out on the street and scare most people out of the area.
[quote][cite] jim:[/cite]It is time for the city to clean up the area north of Portage Place as it has turned back into what it was before the CAI was put in place the seedy hotels have to go and the old blocks that survive on welfare need to be reno'ed so that they don't house the vagrants and malcontents of socieity which come out on the street and scare most people out of the area.[/quote]
Actually, this area is light years ahead of where it was 7 or 8 years ago when there were more than a handful of boarded up or otherwise neglected buildings in the area. The only really sketchy places appear to be the Manitoba Housing buildings... MH is looking more and more like a slumlord, as their properties are neglected and there seems to be a "who cares" vibe emanating from inside.
I live downtown along Assiniboine Avenue, and it's the same story there - the only sketchy buildings in the area are Manitoba Housing. I wish they could get their act together...provincially-run housing should not be what's dragging these areas down.
I think that if Manitoba Housing contracted out the management of the individual projects to NGO's that were made up of the tenants of those housing units you would see improvement in those places. If the tenants were managing the places they would take ownership of them. I bet you would see the problem tenants evicted by the tenant-led managment committees, or they would clean up their acts pretty quick.
Wasn't there some controversy (scandal) recently about MH? I seem to recall some people were abusing their positions and scamming money, or some such thing. <p>Anyone remember?
Coincidence or what><p>On the news just now was a report that two people were fired and one resigned over awarding contracts to themselves or friends. The matter has now also been turned over to the Justice Dept. and the Auditor for further actions.<p>This shows how screwed up that department is IMO.
Empower the community, or smaller not for profits in those communities. They will do a better job.
Look at Winnipeg Housing or Lazarus or Westminster Housing. Their buildings are far superiorly maintained, and they are involved in building community. MHRC is a beast that needs to go. Its time.
Yes that is true but then where would all of the mentally challenged go as no one else wants them and goverment kicked them out of Selkirk. After all it was against there rights to be there. so now we send them out to the street to find life and house them at MH homes .
I hear the Fairchild Lofts won't renovate the other half of the building till all the condos in the renovated half sell, I hope that happens soon, it looks real odd as it is right now. But other then that the downtown is definitely seeing growth, I see it every day!
"the vagrants and malcontents of socieity which come out on the street and scare most people out of the area."
I'd wager that people in Winnipeg who are scared of walking around downtown are scared because they might have to actually *gasp* WALK two or three blocks from their car to where they are going, not because of the people on the street. That, or the fact that it might cost them fifty cents to park the vehicle in the first place.