72 Donald Street - Chateau 100

Place: Chateau 100 (Website)
Location: 72 Donald Street (Map)
Opened: Fall 1970
Developer: M.E.P.C. Canadian Properties Limited
Contractor: InterOcean Contracting
Cost: $5.3 m (total project cost, including Centennial House)

Background:

Illustration, March 14 1969, Winnipeg Free Press.

Despite their distinct appearances, Chateau 100 and Centennial House were constructed as one complex. The names of both buildings reference the Manitoba Centennial year of 1970.

The project was first proposed in 1964. The land was purchased and existing properties, mostly old apartment blocks, were demolished. MEPC Canadian Properties, however, got into a dispute with the province and city over the high cost of property taxes in the downtown so they put a moratorium on new projects in the city. MEPC Group was a national real estate development and management company that had a number of holdings in Winnipeg.

A 1969 tax freeze on new construction in the downtown brought MEPC back to the table. On March 14, 1969 Mayor Juba and Premier Weir stood together with MEPC president Peter Anker as the $5.3 project was announced at the Charter House Hotel.

Winnipeg Tribune, December 1969 (source)

Construction began in 1969. Centennial House, the 8-storey office portion facing Broadway, was the first to open on July 1, 1970.

Display suites for the 26-storey Chateau 100 opened in July 1970 and and tenants began moving in during the winter months. Bachelors rented for $132.50 per month, 1-bedrooms at $149.50 and 2-bedrooms at $189.50.

It appears that there was no formal grand opening.

May 22, 1971, Winnipeg Free Press

Chateau100 has main floor retail space, (original retail tenants included Speedee Mart, a Salisbury House restaurant, barber shop, hairdresser and dry cleaner.) The plaza level has two squash courts, an outdoor sun deck, saunas and a gym. The upper floors contain six floors of covered parking and 260 bachelor, one and two bedroom apartments.

MEPC also was responsible for covering a majority of the costs of Centennial Fountain located on the boulevard on Broadway across from Centennial House as part of the project.