A Map of Recent Main Street Developments

CommunityWalk Map - Changes to Main Street

This is a look at some of the development along Main street in the past couple of years.

There were a couple of sizeable buildings opened on land that sat vacant for many decades, namely the WRHA Dwontown Access building and United Way HQ.

New joints like The Tallest Poppy, The Edge artist's village and Main Meats took over existing spaces. Even the McLaren got in the act with a sushi bar.

A couple of new projects are well on their way to completion:

Youth for Christ's Center for Youth Excellence at Higgins and Main.

The Bell Hotel doesn't look different from the front but from the back work is ongoing. The latest thing are new windows all around.

On the other side of the subway at Euclid, the former California Fruit Market is being transformed into the new, larger home of Neechi Foods.

Kraut King now Famena's Famous Roti / Curry

The former Kraut King has gone Jamaican ! It is now Famena's Famous Roti / Curry.

It can be found at the base of the Garry Street Parkade.

Related:
Map
238-240 Portage Avenue (former Dreman Place)
New owner shows faith in downtown eatery Winnipeg Free Press

Walkway Expansion Complete !

The latest phase of the Walkway expansion is now complete ! The $8.4m project connects CityPlace with the Convention Centre.

Aside from being handy for pedestrians it also gives some interesting new views up St. Mary and of St. Mary's Cathedral.

To see the construction in progress over the last year check out my full post on the Downtown Walkway Expansion.

Related:
News Release City of Winnipeg
Walkway Expansion Opens Winnipeg Free Press
Skywalk Expansion Opens CBC
New Section of Downtown Walkway Global (Video)
Indoor core loop nears completion Winnipeg Free Press

Downtown Trends 2010

Last week the Downtown Biz released the 2010 version of Downtown Trends. It's a booklet of downtown stats: everything from demographic info to pedestrian counts to projects in development.

Here are some interesting tidbits and comparisons between 2007 (the last Trends) and 2010...

- Number of parking stalls downtown: 32,000 (2007); 35,000 (2010).
- Increase in housing units downtown since 2005: 893.
- The Downtown Spirit free bus daily use: 613 rides per day (2007); 1290 (2010).

One flat statistic was the amount of tourist and convention traffic between 2007 and 2010 but the number of 'arts and entertainment' visits to downtown has nearly doubled thanks to things like the MTS Centre, Jazz Fest, Fringe Fest etc.

Changes Underway at The Bay Downtown

Changes underway at The Bay
CBC July 8, 2010
The historic retailer is beginning a multi-million-dollar renovation at the end of July and moving a Zellers store — which belongs to the Hudson's Bay Trading Company — into the basement.

Related:
450 Portage - The Bay Winnipeg Downtown Places

CentreVenture's Downtown Plans

CentreVenture revealed it's new downtown revitalization plans to the media today (report is not available on-line).

Downtown revitalization plans revealed CBC July 7, 2010
New plan to save downtown Winnipeg Free Press July 7, 2010

Downtown opportunities for home buyers

Downtown Opportunities for Winnipeg Homebuyers
Winnipeg Real Estate News
And judging by the growing optimism towards the rebirth of downtown, along with more than 1,000 new rental or condo units for sale that are under or about to commence construction, the downtown is poised to become one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the city.

News: Funding recipes feed core growth

Funding recipes feed core growth
Winnipeg Free Press Martin Cash June 28, 2010

The recession may have knocked some of the steam out of the pace of new housing starts and the floodway and the Manitoba Hydro building may be completed, but development has not died off in Winnipeg. Instead, it has moved to the most unlikely of places -- downtown.

News: Big Portage Revitalization Plan

Big Portage revitalization plan

Winnipeg Free Press June 16, 2010

Firm eyes pieces of empty stretch for sports, entertainment centre

Related:

Longboat Development Corp

News: Bonnycastle Park hi-rise a go

Hi-Rise Development Planned for Winnipeg
CBC.ca Jun 10, 2010
Preliminary approval has been granted for a $45-million riverfront development that will include the first residential highrise in downtown Winnipeg in about 20 years.

Green light given to downtown high-rise apartment tower
Winnipeg Free Press June 10, 2010
City council's downtown development committee voted this morning to approve a 25-storey residential tower at 300 Assiniboine Avenue, a parcel of riverfront land the city sold to Crystal Developers in 2008.

Also see: Heritage Landing

News: Better Times for the Avenue Building !

Update June 2010 !
Avenue Building Renovation Forging Ahead
Winnipeg Free Press June 8, 2010
Development Project Receives Financial Support
Province of Manitoba June 8, 2010
Avenue Building gets $8.5m lease on life
CBC June 8, 2010

Some great news was announced regarding the Avenue Building yesterday.

Empty for nearly 20 years, and left at the altar on a couple of occasions, Mark and Rick Hofer have stepped up and begun to renovate the Avenue Building. I had a chance to hear the Hofers speak back at the 2010 Heritage Winnipeg Preservation Awards ceremony where they picked up an award for their work on The Edge on Princess (a.k.a. 230 Princess Street). They were passionate and pumped about downtown and some of the great heritage buildings we have.

The renovations will cost about $7m, $2m of that comes from the province and city. The plans are to have retail on the main floor and 59 apartments on the upper levels. Renovations are underway.

This is great news for the Avenue, both the building and Portage !

Related:
Core eyesore gets new life WFP April 20, 2010
Paging Dr. Finkleman West End Dumplings
My Avenue Building Photo Gallery

Update:

2010 Downtown Living Tour

The Downtown Living Tour is back June 25 and 26, 2010.

If you want to get a peek inside some of downtown's living spaces, from the well established like Kiwanis Chateau at Place Promenade to the not yet completed youCUBE on Waterfront, here's your chance.

Also, there are developer presentations from folks like 5468796 Architecture and the U of W Renewal Corporation who have brought some interesting projects to life downtown.

Check out the above link for times, locations and registration info.

News: Big condo plan just got bigger

Big Plan Just got Bigger
Winnipeg Free Press May 28, 2010
Qualico Developments is considering almost doubling the number of residential units it will be constructing in its high-profile East Exchange District redevelopment project.

News: Sports Bar Opens at Portage & Hargrave

The Dayton Building at Hargrave and Portage (top right) was home to Blush Ultra Club but, thanks to a $1m renovation, has reopened as 4play Sports Bar.

For the Love of the Game
Winnipeg Sun May 14, 2010
The 4Play Sports Bar held its grand opening Friday afternoon, beaming all kinds of athletic action on to more than 35 televisions — one of them much like a high-definition movie screen.

New facility to add to nightlife around MTS Centre
Winnipeg Free Press Feb 18, 2010
Two local businessmen will be injecting some Las Vegas glam into the blossoming nightlife around the MTS Centre, with the opening next month of a new mega sports bar on Portage Avenue.

News: Next Stop Portage Avenue

Next Stop Portage Avenue
Winnipeg Free Press April 30, 2010

Portage Avenue, however, has not advanced as quickly as was hoped when the MTS Centre opened to great fanfare six years ago. In fact, it has been slipping backwards.

News: Breathing New Life Into Downtown

Breathing New Life Into Downtown
Winnipeg Free Press April 28, 2010

CentreVenture Development Corp. has unveiled its new vision for downtown Portage Avenue, which includes a new hotel across from the MTS Centre and extending the skywalk system to the University of Winnipeg.

News: Biz Bike Patrol Starts

Biz Patrol Takes to Bikes
Winnipeg Sun April 28, 2010
The annual bicycle patrol run by the Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone is off and pedalling, after wrapping up three days of training with an objective to keep a particularly close eye on The Forks.

Image: Police Dept Motorcycle Corps 1912 MB Archives Foote Collection 1557-N2643

News: Bell Hotel to Become Housing

On Friday afternoon there was an announcement that the three levels of government invest over $6m to renovate and create 42 supportive housing units in the former Bell Hotel. The project will be called the Bell Hotel Supportive Housing Conversion.

Nice to hear news of the restoration of another empty century-plus building, not to mention the provision of much needed accommodations for those at high risk of becoming homeless,

Related:
Joint News Release April 23, 2010
...Bell Hotel into Supportive Housing Wpg Sun Apr. 22, 2010
Bell Tolls for Downtown Hotel CBC Aug. 31, 2010
Bell Hotel Overview Historic Buildings Committee (pdf)

News: The Windsor is Back in Tune !

Yet more good news about a century-plus heritage building and a true entertainment icon: The Windsor Hotel.

After a January rumour went around that the Hotel was to close or be demolished, (one denied by the owner), the local music community rallied (literally) to raise awareness and hopes of a new buyer for the venue.

Last month Wayne Towns, former owner of The Royal Albert and now owner of The Winnipeg Hotel, purchased the Windsor. A re-opening concert is set for this weekend featuring Big Dave MacLean.

Related:
The Windsor Hotel facebook page
Windsor Hotel Happy to be Singin' the Blues Again WFP April 20, 2010
Controversy at the Windsor Hotel Uniter, Jan. 20, 2010

News: Forks Housing Plan Revealed

Forks Housing Plan Revealed
CBC April 18, 2010
The proposal, which calls for the construction of as many as 350 condominiums and apartments at the historic site, would bring thousands of residents to the area within the next five years.