Santa Came but Got Stuck in Traffic?

The downtown area grind to a vehicular halt on Saturday Nov 12 as our main thoroughfare, Portage Avenue, was locked down to make way for Santa Claus. 

Thousands of parade watchers enjoyed the near perfect above zero temperatures with no snow on the ground as they enjoyed the 102nd Santa Parade.

The only hitch was that the Santa float did not fit under the train bridge on William Stephenson Way at the end of the parade route.  Apparently Santa, as clever as he is round, hitched a ride on the HOT 103 float.  Hope he didn't melt...

Should We Run and Hide?

Yes, there was a homicide in the Exchange District at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday Oct 29.  Yes, I'm always concerned when there is a shooting.  Yes, it is in my neighbourhood.  Yes, the media has been calling for my comments on how concerned local residents are.

Am I upset, fed up and ready to move out:  NO.

When there is a homicide in Fort Garry, Transcona or St. Vital, the media interviews the neighbours for the usual "we don't expect this kind of thing to happen in our neighbourhood" story.  Yet when it happens downtown, we are expected to be triple bolting our doors and living in fear.  It is not going to happen.

I have been living in the Exchange for four and a half years.  Shortly after I moved in, there was a shooting outside a bar at 2:30 a.m. (a pattern, perhaps?) close to my home.  A friend of mine, who lives in River Heights, called me to firstly check if I was okay, and secondly to express his concern about me moving into such a dangerous location (I think he said I was "crazy"). 

Two weeks later, there was a shooting in River Heights, a block from his home.  I took the occasion to call him.  After confirming he was okay, I asked why the heck he would live in such a dangerous community?  Was he looking to move to a safer place...

On that note, just where is a safer place?  Bad things happen everywhere.  And they certainly happen more often in some areas than others.  Is the Exchange District a safe place to live?

I checked the Winnipeg Police Service CrimeStat site, to look at where homicides take place.  Looking at a map of homicides in Winnipeg over the past five years, there are certainly areas where homicides are concentrated.  So how does the Exchange District "rank?"

Zero.  No homicides.  Check out the map below.  (Click for a larger image; homicides are represented by the 'dead bodies';  I highlighted the Exchange District in yellow.)

I'm not going to suggest there is no crime in the Exchange.  We get our share of car break-ins as do all neighbourhoods.  We occasionally have shootings (the CrimeStat map does not show these).  My observation is that most of these shootings match the pattern mentioned above: they occur after the bars close, between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., close to a nightclub where one or more of those involved has been drinking on a Friday or Saturday night.

Two years ago, a R:ED meeting was planned to discuss safety.  We had officers from the Winnipeg Police Service and representatives from the Exchange Biz foot patrol.  The meeting took place at the Kings Head, so residents could have a glass of their fav bubbly as they discussed safety (after all, we all walk to the meetings!).  It was the poorest turnout of any R:ED meeting in our three years.  Now if the meeting was about property taxes, it would have been full.

While Exchange residents, like all Winnipeg residents, have concerns about safety, it is not an overly worry-some issue.  Residents generally feel safe in the area, and enjoy walking the area on their daily activities.

I am planning to attend a WSO performance tonight at the Concert Hall.  I will not be concerned about parking, as I will be enjoying the 5 minute walk from home.  I will not be looking over my shoulder worried about safety. 

Just to be safe though, I will be home before 2:00 a.m.

[want to comment?  See our R:ED Discussion Forum]

Definitely NOT the Opera

The Exchange District is about to get our own version of CBC Radio's program Definitely Not the Opera.  The former Mystique Nightclub on Main Street at Bannatyne Ave is scheduled to re-open as Opera Ultralounge.

You are more likely to find members of the WSO at Hermano's post-performance, but the new Opera Ultralounge is aiming for a sophisticated clientele.  They are targeting those who are slightly "older" -- patrons over 25 get preference at the door; those under 21 are turned away on Fridays.

In what is believed to be a Manitoba first, they will open on Sunday night serving liquor until 2:00 a.m.

Also of note, they will be closed on Saturday night.  Yes you read right, they are only open Friday and Sundays.  They will be open to private functions the rest of the week.

The newly branded nightclub is under the same ownership and has undergone extensive renovations.  It is scheduled to open on November 13th.

Exchange Photo Contest - Extended

The Exchange District Biz is running a contest for the best picture of the Exchange District, with a first place cash prize of $350!  Sponsored by Bill Thiessen, The Urban Agent, Remax Performance, this competition is a great opportunity to sharpen your photo skills and maybe win some cash.

Photos will be judged by a panel of judges who will be looking for an image that best represents the street scape of the Exchange.  A positive image, that can be used to promote the heritage, vitality and interest of this unique area.

Click here to download the contest rules.  The deadline for submissions of prints or digital images has been extended to November 30, 2011.

CEO Sleep out

Over 30 Winnipeg CEOs slept outside at Portage and Main on Thursday September 30th - the coldest night in months, reaching a low of 4 degrees.  No, the stock market did not take a dive forcing our business elite from their homes.  The event is a fundraiser for Change for the Better, in support of homeless employment programs and helping people off the streets.

Gloria Cardwell-Hoeppner, Executive Director of the West End Biz, raised over $2,000 for the event.  She said "its cold, but I found a spot near some bushes, out of the wind, so I should be fine."  Certainly not what Gloria usually worries about on a typical night.

When asked if she brought a warm sleeping bag, she said "I did, but I ended up giving it to a homeless person who came by to watch the entertainment and was cold." 

The Change for the Better campaign helps homeless people get off the street and get into permanent paid employment and a healthier environment. Since 1992, over $100,000 has been raised and 100% of all donations go to homeless employment programs.

Proceeds also fund and support Siloam Mission’s Mission Off the Streets Team (MOST), a program that employs street people to help clean downtown while building life skills that may help participants get a full time job.

Winnipeg has responded with tremendous support, said Stefano Grande, Executive Director of Downtown Winnipeg Biz, "we are hoping to raise over $100,000."

Aside from the sudden population boost at Canada's windiest corner, two things stuck out.  Firstly, CTV's Gord Leclerc bent the "rules" somewhat by having a small tent. 

My favourite CEO Sleepover oddity: in the picture above, note the suit bag hanging in a tree above the sleeping CEOs.  Someone is going to need a phone booth in the morning before their board meeting...

Waterfront Drive Hotel to Proceed

On September 29th, a City of Winnipeg appeal committee again heard the arguments for and against a new boutique hotel being built on a Waterfront drive parking lot near the long-abandoned harbourmaster building.  The vote was tied at 2-2, meaning the appeal was rejected and the hotel project will proceed.

Opponents were against the development for a number of reasons: the three story structure will block some views of the river, wanting to preserve river front property as park land, wanting to use the property to build a park to commemorate Victoria Park (an instrumental area at the time of the infamous Winnipeg General Strike) and wanting to preserve it as a park area as it was an important landing point for the Scottish settlers.

The opponents managed to convert what was previously a unanimous approval to a split decision, but to no avail.  The issue generated considerable discussion about history and heritage, our use of riverbank property and the need for green space versus development.

While this development is destined to proceed, what is to become of the neighbouring property, the Alexander Docks?  With the steady decline of riverboat business along the Red River, and the highly fluctuating river levels, future use of the recently upgraded docks is questionable.   Maybe the silver lining for the hotel decision is that the City will properly develop the Alexander Docks river bank and parking lot area into the kind of green space that the hotel opponents were looking for.
[R:ED Links | opponents | news | poll ]

Manitoba Election 2011

On Tuesday, October 4, 2011 we are to vote in a provincial election.  The following election primer was put together to help those in the Exchange District know what electoral district they are in (as there have been significant changes), and who the candidates are.

What Riding Am I In?

In 2008, the boundary of the Manitoba Electoral Division known as Point Douglas was changed, extending it a bit farther north and west into the North End.  The change included removing the part of the Exchange District west of Main Street and south of the CPR tracks -- this area now included in the Logan electoral division.  For R:ED members, your Manitoba provincial election choices depend on where you live:

Exchange District East of Main Street - Point Douglas Electoral Division.  This area includes all of the East Exchange District, from Higgins to the north, and Lombard Avenue to the south, Main Street to the west and Waterfront Drive to the East.

Exchange District West of Main Street - Logan Electoral Division.  This new riding includes the west Exchange District (and most of downtown), covering the CPR yards to the north and Assiniboine Avenue to the south.  It slices the Exchange District along Main Street to the east and extends west to McPhillips.

Point Douglas Electoral Division

Stats

Population: 20,290
Median age: 35.5
Immigrants: 19.4 per cent
Aboriginal population: 38.3 per cent
Living in poverty: 51.3 per cent
Median income: $16,769

This riding has one of the lowest voter turnouts in the province, at only 40% in the past two elections.

History

The current Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Point Douglas is George Hickes, who was returned with just over 66% of the vote in 2007. The Manitoba New Democratic Party has won every election in the consitituency.  Hickes has been Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since 1999 and announced in February 2011 that he would not seek re-election.

2011 Candidates

Logan Electoral Division

Logan is a new riding, created out of parts of the ridings of Wellington, Minto, Fort Rouge, and Point Douglas.  It includes most of downtown and includes the west Exchange District.
population: 20,940

2011 Candidates

Questions

What is my electoral division:  click here
Where do I vote?  click here

As always, voting is not a privilege, it is a responsibility!  Do some research into the issues, the candidates and the parties and on October 4th, take 15 minutes and include your say in the future.

Great Canadian Waterfront Cleanup   

With the high water this past year, a spring cleanup was not possible.  Now that the water has finally receded to "normal" levels, the high water has left behind a lot of debris.

Local residents are taking on the riverbank!   A shoreline cleanup on Waterfront Drive between Provencher and Higgins was held on Sunday Sept. 25, 2011.   The event was part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, a cross-Canada event to help create healthy waters for everyone, including the wildlife and communities that depend on them.

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is a partnership between WWF and the Vancouver Aquarium.   In 2010, they cleaned 2,235 km of shoreline and removed 98,071 km of litter.  The top three litter items: cigarette butts, food wrappers and plastic bags.

Our Waterfront Drive version of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup was being organized by Monique LaPlante, who happens to own Waterfront Massage Therapy.  It is wonderful to see a local business owner who cares!

Monique organized a BBQ to follow the event for those participating.  Asked why she organized this event, Monique responded that she wanted "to lend a hand to our local community in respect to the upkeep of our shared natural environment and to provide an opportunity to bring the community together."

To add some fun and thanks, Monique says "there were mini-challenges with prizes awarded throughout the cleanup, and at 1:00 we celebrated our shared efforts and appreciation of our beautiful natural environment by enjoying a BBQ together!"

Espresso Anyone?

A new coffee shop has opened at 468 Main Street (at Bannatyne).  The owner, Nils Vik, was trained as an architect, and had been working at EQ3, but he yearned to open a small coffee shop. Parlour Coffee is his brainchild. 

It is small, with about 10 stools, in a beautiful main floor room with white walls, a very high ceiling, beautiful windows to Main Street and a massive chandelier hanging in the centre.  It is simple, classy and elegant.

The staff is friendly and has good coffee knowledge.  They sell coffee beans/grinds to go as well as some coffee accessories.  He also has a small selection of fresh pastries from Stella's. Nils picks them up at 6:00 a.m. on his bicycle each day.

The cappuccino and espresso are bold and flavourful, and they feature a wide range of single origin and coffee blends.  Hours are 7 to 5 Monday to Friday and 9 - 5 on Saturday.

Many Festivals in One: ManyFest

As the all-too-short festival season draws to a close, there are still some downtown events to take in.  Cicyclovia, Lights on Broadway, Taste of Downtown Wine & Cheese Festival, Movie in the Park -- so many choices, so little time.

This year the Downtown Winnipeg Biz has helped us out by combining many festivals into a single two day event.  The combined event, "ManyFest: All Together Downtown" will be held on September 9 and 10. 

The ManyFest website states that "the festival for all ages celebrates community, arts, entertainment and healthy living on the streets of downtown Winnipeg beneath Broadway’s beautiful lit canopy of elm trees, from Memorial Boulevard to Main Street. The three-day outdoor festival will feature a movie in the park, wine festival, Big Dance, music, farmers and artisan markets, Lights on Broadway, Ciclovia, Kids’ Zone, and the Winnipeg 10 & 10 Race."

More info can be found at: www.manyfest.ca

Summer in the Exchange

This video, from Tourism Winnipeg tells it all -- summer in the Exchange if fantastic, full of events (Jazz Fest if featured), fun and vitality.  Check it out...

Waterfront Hotel One Step Closer

On Monday July 4th, the Standing Policy Committee on Downtown Development, Heritage and Riverbank Management met to decide on the rezoning of a piece of Waterfront Drive to allow for the building of a boutique hotel (see story).  At the meeting, opponents of the hotel were represented by those wanting to use the property for Victoria Park, to commemorate the 1919 strike (see story) and those of Scottish descent, hoping to expand the park area.

At the end of the three hour meeting, the committee voted unanimously to rezone the property to accommodate the hotel plan.  The rezoning must now be approved by EPC and council.  They also approved the building of the hotel.

While it was a defeat for the supporters of Victoria Park, the committee agreed to work with the group and see if something could be developed on the adjacent property, the site of the Alexander Docks.  Those against the hotel have 30 days to appeal the hotel approval.

Bill Coady, VP and GM for Sunstone Resort Communities, the firm developing the hotel, was elated at the decision.  He said, while they still had a few hurdles to pass at City Hall, they were continuing with preparations and planning, and are hoping to begin construction this fall or in the spring of 2012.

Boutique Hotel vs Victoria Park

The following article, edited for length, has been provided by Sandy Gessler,  as a narrative on the opposition to a boutique hotel being built on Waterfront Drive, and an alternative proposal.

For a 4 page PDF summary of the proposed Victoria Park proposal, click here.

River-bank Green Space vs Hotel Development

by Sandy Gessler

The plans for a boutique hotel on river front property will have tragic long term results for the principle of public green space and preservation of important heritage sites along the Red River. The hotel plan is raising serious concerns in many quarters and appears rushed without sufficient public discussion of the long term impact and of alternative plans for the Alexander Docks and Harbor Master House sites.

Groups opposing the hotel on the river bank have been unable to determine if an environmental assessment has been undertaken, along with a Green Space Inventory of the area, a local Hotel Inventory, River Bank Destabilization Assessment and if there are any reports on what, if any impact, the construction and ongoing operation of the hotel, will have on the river waterway and on the Shoal Lake inlet located immediately south of the Harbor Master property.

Once a building and parking lot take up the majority of the two lots, Waterfront will no longer be contiguously “water front”. There are other side effects from hotel development such as, the additional traffic and noise generated by the hotel and noise from the onsite bar. A large commercial enterprise such as a hotel is expected to significantly change the nature of the Waterfront Drive neighborhood.

An Alternative Plan

Friends of Victoria Park is a small citizens group proposing an alternate plan for the river front properties. Our proposal is for a vibrant park, landscaped and designed to evoke the feel of Victoria Park, a former city park from the 1900 period, and the site of many activities related to the 1919 General Strike.

The Strike and history of the period are a large part of the foundation of this city. We hope to have a heritage park place by 2019, the 100th anniversary of the Strike.

We want to see the park located on the Alexander Docks and Harbour Master properties as they are the last remaining pieces of the original Victoria Park. Proposed amenities include a period style café, a bandstand, a speakers’ corner, farmers’ market, working docks and appropriate interpretive installations to tell the story of the 1919 era and the important events that took place on the site.
How you can help
For more information go to:  www.victoriapark1919.ca
Contacts are: Glenn Michalchuk, gmichalchuk@Shaw.ca
or Sandy Gessler, Sandra_Gessler@umanitoba.ca

Winnipeg's Downtown Focus

The focus on downtown development may not yet be the hot topic in the Winnipeg'ssuburban Tim Hortons, but it is starting to gathering the attention of the national media.

On May 10th, Brad Lamb, from HGTV's Big City Brokers, was in Winnipeg speaking to 300 at the Delta Hotel.  In Toronto, Brad has been proclaimed "The Condo King," having sold over 15,000 condos with his team, worth $4.1 billion.

He mentioned he had a short tour of Winnipeg, it was his first visit, and said "I found this area I really like called the Exchange District."

He said the area was already vibrant with bars, restaurants and condos, so we had a great start.  He said developers need to focus on providing cool condos that will attract young people.  Government needs to provide more incentives and tax breaks to offset the high costs of condo conversions and to quit nickel and diming developers.

If we can develop 500 - 600 residential units a year, "you'll ifnd that in five or six years everything will have changed.  Everybody will want to be downtown."

In an full article on May 16th titled "Winnipeg rethinks suburban sprawl with downtown reinvention," The Globe and Mail reviewed the development that has taken place over the past three years in Winnipeg's downtown and Exchange District.  "Fighting back against the rush to the suburbs that began in the 1970s, the city is moving to realign itself, coaxing life back to its centre as it looks to the future.

It's nice that others are noticing, but in Winnipeg's suburban Tim's, it's still all about the Jets coming home.

Did you Read about R:ED?

An article in the Winnipeg Free Press on May 1, 2011 talked about R:ED and what we do, and why we do it.  Missed it?  Click here.

A big thanks to David Connors at the WFP, a R:ED member and big supporter of the Exchange District for writing the article.

Waterfront Drive -- The Boom Continues

The Sunstone Boutique Hotels announced in April that it plans to build an $11 million independent hotel on Waterfront Drive.  The three story hotel will have 67 guest rooms.  A restaurant will be built in the existing Harbourmaster building. (Global TV report)

This is the third project planned for the Alexander Docks area in recent years, and this initiative still has to receive approval from council.  The hotel would be built between the harbourmaster building and Waterfront Drive, on what is now a parking lot.  The Alexander Docks area is not part of this development plan.

Sunstone is the same company that has built the residential development, Sky, across the street from the proposed hotel site.  They are also planning to build Phase II of Sky (see picture) next year.

The R:ED meeting on May 17th, New Waterfront Development, will have the developers of both of these project presenting their plans to local residents.  Also at the meeting will be representatives of three other proposed Waterfront Drive developments, H20 Lofts, You Cube Phase II and a proposed apartment complex.

Exchange - One of Canada's Great Places

While it is no surprise to our community, it is nice to note that the Exchange District has made it to the list of the final 26 candidates in the "Great Places in Canada" Contest, sponsored by the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Also from Winnipeg in the Great Neighbourhoods category is Osborne Village. The only other finalist, from the 6,000 nominations is The Forks, in the Great Public Spaces category.

Residential Development Grant gets Boost

Housing and Community Development Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross said in a recent news release that "Downtown Winnipeg has a lot to offer residents and we want to continue to support successful initiatives like the Downtown Residential Development Grant program that help to revitalize the downtown."  To that end, the City and the Province have each added $10 million to the successful program initially announced last year.

- Ross McGowan, President and CEO,
CentreVenture Development Corporation

The program was announced in March 2010, and by fall, all of the initial $20 million in the "three year program" was allocated to 16 projects.

But demand has been high, and there were still literally dozens of development proposals on the table that were only financially viable with the program, due to the high cost of developing older buildings.

Under the program, the increase in property taxes that would have been generated by the development for up to the next 15 years is returned to the developer as a grant to a maximum of $40,000 per condo unit or apartment.

The first $20 million is expected to result in the development of 135 new rental apartments, and 606 new condominium units for an expected additional 1,200 people downtown.  The new funding is expected to bring an addition 1,300 downtown residents.

Now with the additional $20 million, developers can continue with their plans.  It is an exciting time for the Exchange District.

New URL

Clearly you found this page, but if you found it with an old link, you may be interested to know our new URL.  It's a bit long, but it is easy to rember:

Bookmark it and come back often!

All the News thats Fit to Drink?

A news cafe?  It's the newest incarnation of the beautiful location at 237 McDermot (at Arthur Street), former home to Jejomar Bakery, and prior to that Pastry Castle.

This new venture is backed by the Winnipeg Free Press, and features a wonderful cafe with coffee, pastries and food.  The cafe features food from Domenic Amatuzio, formerly of Terrace Fifty Five, Civita and Liberty Grill (in the Exchange). 

I spent a recent lunch hour at the News Cafe with local artist Christian Worthington, talking about the latest show in his Exchange gallery, while devouring a Manitoba Club sandwich.  With Bothwell cheddar, Winkler bacon, chicken and tomato on great bread, it was outstanding! 

The menu features a nice list of salads and appetizers, sandwiches, breakfast items and lunch specials.  They are also licensed with a selection of beer and wine.  Once the weather warms, they will open up what must be one of the nicest patios in the Exchange.

If you are dropping in for a coffee (espresso is good!), you may feel slightly intimidated if you don't have a laptop to open.  This is a working coffee shop, with Free Press staff working on stories amongst other patrons hovering over their MacBooks.

The space will certainly be a social hub and meeting place.  Plans include hosting town hall meetings, small concerts, book meetings, etc.  We have already started discussions with Dan Lett, about holding a R:ED meeting at the venue -- watch for details.

Brooklynn's Bistro Opens

We were very happy to attend a pre-opening event for the new Brooklynn's Bistro at 177 Lombard Avenue.  This beautiful restaurant and it's sidekick, the Boa Lounge are both gorgeous rooms with almost two story ceilings and huge columns, a great environment for fine dining or a casual drink.

Owner Sam Colosimo is best known for his local nightclubs (Mystique, The Rock and most recently, Fame) so this is his first venture into the restaurant business.  To hold true to his roots, he has created an Italian bistro with a fine dining emphasis.  Truthfully, the place is too big to call it a bistro, but after sampling some of the food, the fine dining moniker is definitely appropriate.

Sam's roots in Southern Italy and have instilled in him a love for traditional, homemade Italian food including pasta and sauces from scratch, fresh bread, cakes and pastries -- and this is what he aims to replicate in Brooklynn's.

Before you think we have one too many n's in Brooklyn, it is not named after the New York borough.  Sam and his wife Franca have named the restaurant after their three year old child.  Black and white stylized images of Brooklyn can be seen on the walls in the bistro.  She calls it "her restaurant!"

The Executive Chef is Darryl Crumb.  Originally from Manitoba, Darryl has trained at Le Cordon Bleu and worked in Paris and BC before returning home.  He will be appearing in the Top Chef Canada competition that starts Monday April 11th so cross your fingers that our local entry goes on to be Top Chef!

The food all tasted great and the menu looked interesting.  Of special note is the huge wood burning oven that has been installed - initially used for pizza, but plans for other uses are in the works.

We are already talking to Sam and Franca about holding a R:ED event at Brooklynn's -- watch for the announcement.

Convenience Store Opens

Feeling Safe?  Yes!

Our R:ED homepage hosted a poll that asked "Do you feel safe walking in the Exchange District?"

Of the 62 respondents, 92% said YES they feel safe, and only 8% said NO, they did not feel safe.

Clearly the perception of an unsafe downtown is just that, a perception, in the Exchange District.  The survey response mirrors what residents already know -- the Exchange District is a safe place to live.

Call me crazy if you want, but I love living downtown!

by David Connors, R:ED member
as published in the Winnipeg Free Press, Aug 1, 2010

I am a downtowner.

There, I said it. And what a feeling of release it gives me to finally admit it.

Yes, I am one of those crazy people some of our blessed commentators love to diss on the Free Press website. As in “you’ve got to be insane to live downtown,” or “if I have to go downtown, I get in and out as quickly as possible,” or “the downtown is dirty, dangerous and disgusting.Who in their right mind spends anymore time there than they need to?”

Well, meet me.  Married white male of an age when I guess I should know better.

So, what’s my excuse? I don’t have any. But let me tell you about the Neil Young concert my wife and I attended last week. It was great, of course. Neil somehow survived downtown long enough to deliver a totally satisfying retrospective on his legendary career. When it was over, we slipped out of the side door of the concert hall, walked home, shook up a couple of martinis and from our patio we watched the rest of you walk to your cars for your 25-minute commute to the suburbs. It was very pleasant.

Congratulations on finding parking, by the way. On the rare days when we can’t make it to whatever is on at the concert hall, MTC, or the Pantages Playhouse Theatre, it’s almost as pleasant to sit on the patio and watch you drive around and around looking for parking.   full article

Confessions of a former sprawl addict

Hi, my name is Hazel, and I’m an addict.

For the last 25 years, I’ve been addicted to a string of takers. Time-draining, money-grubbing, fat-building, resource-depleting, toxic machines. For the last 18 months, I’ve been clean. Ever since our move to Canada. And this last weekend, I realized I may be cured.

That’s right, when we moved here 18 months ago, I decided to get rid of my car. This past weekend, my in-laws offered me their sweet little Audi on loan as they fled the cold for the winter. But living without a car for the first time since I was 16, I realize it’s a much better way. I just said, “No.”

Living in the heart of Winnipeg, I’m surrounded by walkable neighbourhoods on every side. Going from a golf course community in Florida undefined let’s call it an experiment, shall we? undefined with a Walk Score of 9 to Winnipeg’s Exchange District with a Walk Score of 88 quickly ended my auto addiction. And the score should actually be more like 98, but Canadian transit is not yet reflected, nor are the new Exchange retail establishments that have been opening one per month ever since I’ve lived here. It’s rich.

So I’d call this a lifestyle within sustainable urbanism undefined walkable, transit-served urbanism integrated with high-performance buildings and infrastructure, that balances environmental, social, and economic requirements undefined and it also makes extreme climates livable.

The principal barrier to greening where we live is how we live. Misguided transportation planning, home and infrastructure financing systems, and zoning practices incentivize sprawling, disconnected lifestyles, and are increasingly unaffordable, unfulfilling, and unhealthy. To reverse sprawl’s unintended consequences we should incentivize compact, diverse, transit-oriented development. The foundation of Real Green is neighbourhood, district, corridor, and regional design, with high-performance infrastructure and green architecture layered upon that base. It’s cost-effective, since even $1 million invested in planning a city is less than gadget-greening a handful of buildings to which everyone drives.

So what does this mean to me personally to have kicked the habit?

My family’s average car miles per month decreased by 90%, going from a 3 car family driving 530 miles per week, to a 1 car family driving 55 miles per week. The AAA Your Driving Costs 2009 lists our combination of three cars costing $0.702/mile. Walkable, transit rich urbanism got us a 90% emissions reduction and saved us $17,206 per year. It also freed up 700 hours per year, which are entirely more fulfilling to spend in other ways than on my addiction. Oh, and all that walking has started dispensing with the weight gain that averages 10 pounds per person living in sprawl. Last Saturday’s New York Times article and CEOs for Cities study intone that my new house, with it’s above-average Walk Score will likely commanded a premium, as much as $30,000. Judging by local real estate prices, they’ve more or less pegged it.

Yearly savings tally:
?- 90% less carbon emissions?
- $17,206 car savings?
- $30,000 house savings
?- 700 hours
?- 10 pounds
?- Real community undefined priceless

Walkability isn’t about doing your duty for others. It’s about a better life for you. Or as Ken Groves put it, “I dwell small and live large.”

It feels great to come clean.

–Hazel Borys  (R:ED Member)

New Condos for Exchange

Qualico Developments has purchased the buildings formerly owned by Nygard International and has confirmed that they will be developing the properties.  This should mean about 150 new condos built behind the Concert Hall.

Qualico has stated that they expect the condos to be in the 500 - 600 sq foot range and sell for under $200,000.

There are strong rumours that a new parking structure will be built across James Street from the Qualico Development condos, with a mix of retail/commercial space on the main floor.  The parking structure would provide much needed capacity for the concert hall, the Sport Manitoba building and the new condos.

The new condos will be developed in phases, with the first expected as soon as late 2010.

The fine print: similar to a number of other projects, the developers are waiting for details on the Manitoba government's new TIF program.  The Tax Incentive Financing program, has been long awaited, and if positive, will drive a lot of downtown development over the next few years. (link: Exchange development in the media)

Never Boring

In addition to being surrounded by the historical architecture of the Exchange, a walk through the district is never dull.  A few weeks back, walking to work, I happened upon this 'couple' sitting on a bench on Albert St. at McDermot. 

I have no explanation, but to note that the artist community in the Exchange is alive and well!

M E M B E R S H I P

We now have over 150 members!  If you know someone living in the Exchange, they can apply for a free membership here.

F I R S T   F R I D A Y S

W E B S I T E