Winnipeg | 90 Alexander Ave | (Great West Metal Redevelopment)

[Labroco]

I vote to fix the dock and landscape. Any additional buildings or programming can be in “Phase Two”.

There is WAY too much planning and consultation for anything to ever get done!

[optimusREIM]

Why not create criteria for development then allow a private party to take on the risk?

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by optimusREIM

Why not create criteria for development then allow a private party to take on the risk?

The Alexander Docks are city public realm but I vote for it to be under the stewardship of The Forks. It’s my belief they are best equipped to oversee and manage the design / construction and programming of the area. It’s really not a huge number to put the area in a usable format until a final proposal and program are put into place.

I can assure you RNDSQR is not pleased the promised infrastructure (The Docks) has not been designed, tendered and constructed as of yet. They have made a $35,000,000 + investment based partially on this promise.

Once again very pleased with both RNDSQR and Pumphouse investments in the area. Let’s try and help them out…

[esquire]

Let us not forget that a certain proprietor of H20 apartments has also been very agitated by the lack of improvement at Alexander Docks and the rest of Waterfront Drive!

[optimusREIM]

Originally Posted by Labroco

The Alexander Docks are city public realm but I vote for it to be under the stewardship of The Forks. It’s my belief they are best equipped to oversee and manage the design / construction and programming of the area. It’s really not a huge number to put the area in a usable format until a final proposal and program are put into place.

I can assure you RNDSQR is not pleased the promised infrastructure (The Docks) has not been designed, tendered and constructed as of yet. They have made a $35,000,000 + investment based partially on this promise.

Once again very pleased with both RNDSQR and Pumphouse investments in the area. Let’s try and help them out…

What I meant by that, is that whoever manages the site should come up with strict criteria for what needs to be built (other than functional docks say) and then allow private companies to build the buildings and take on the operation of the buildings (whatever those buildings turn into). Was there ever a RFP?

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by esquire

Let us not forget that a certain proprietor of H20 apartments has also been very agitated by the lack of improvement at Alexander Docks and the rest of Waterfront Drive!

Yes! Promises were made to him as well. I don’t blame him for being rabid at this point although a more nuanced approach may lead to a more receptive audience.

There is also Flying Saucer Guy 👽 (Green Tree) who share similar sentiments.

Why is it 2 or 3 home owners or members of R.E.D. seem to garner more attention on a minor zoning matter than 4 or 5 guys whom make a $100,000,000. investment in the area. They are sitting in an echo chamber with no one listening. It’s shameful.

[rivercity]

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/you-coul...rway-1.6052044

This article seems to indicate 2024 as a possible start date and that consultation is underway

[Labroco]

Originally Posted by optimusREIM

What I meant by that, is that whoever manages the site should come up with strict criteria for what needs to be built (other than functional docks say) and then allow private companies to build the buildings and take on the operation of the buildings (whatever those buildings turn into). Was there ever a RFP?

I self censored my previous comments again! Lol

My position is this is really green space / public realm and does not need much more than dock and landscaping. There is lots of other land in the area to build architecture.

The idea a building would go up on front of RNDSQR and block the view after their investment does not sit well me either.

What you are proposing is a CV approach and unfortunately it has its limitations.

St Regis site going on 10 years, Market Lands and Market Lands 2 going on seven years, Duncan / Galt / Waterfront going on four years. Tens of Millions have been spent on acquisition, studies, consultants and consultation. None of them are fully funded yet, have building permits or have broken ground. (Although I wish they all were).

My point being it’s been going on for years and this approach would / could drag on for another 5.

There must be political will from the mayor’s office, the councillor and maybe provincial interest as well.

I’m saying for very little let’s drop in some new piling and landscape the area until it’s figured out.

If the land was under The Forks mandate I truly believe a successful solution would be arrived at vs the alternative.

I’m just so tired of the current situation with no movement or solution. 4 or 5 development sites are on hold until a solution is found.

[Sheepish]

EXACTLY.
Forget the homerun now. Create a situation that improves the area, makes the dock area accessible and usable. And start a bigger planning process in the mean time. Waiting another 3-5 years while it sits idle and in disrepair is completely unacceptable. If CV gets involved nothing will happen to it. Should be an election issue for the councilor/candidates in the ward.

[wags_in_the_peg]

return it to be public / private docks, like so many other cities and towns have. If i lived in Exchange (which i dont) I'd love to have a place on shore to keep my kayak chained up at the riverfront (and pay a rental fee). Or even a small public dock space for motorboats. such a huge potential waste of space.

[Riverman]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

return it to be public / private docks, like so many other cities and towns have. If i lived in Exchange (which i dont) I'd love to have a place on shore to keep my kayak chained up at the riverfront (and pay a rental fee). Or even a small public dock space for motorboats. such a huge potential waste of space.

Haha, your kayak would be gone in an hour, chained or not. Thirty years of living on the river In the inner city has taught me a lot.

Why not just remove the existing quay and just landscape the bank to the shore? The are no vessels remaining that require such a structure.

[Kris22]

What do you guys think the actual usage of a new dock area would be? I'm wondering if it's even worth doing anything boat-related with the site.

[peg]

Originally Posted by Kris22

What do you guys think the actual usage of a new dock area would be? I'm wondering if it's even worth doing anything boat-related with the site.

I think the restoration of the dock should happen, and the dock should be made even better.

The biggest issue for me is that Winnipeg is a river city, and the Alexander docks were the only docks that allowed large vessels from Lake Winnipeg to dock in the city.

The riverboat industry was already dead before the docks became unusable, but the lack of any dock infrastructure deters any possibility of using our rivers for leisure and other river-oriented business.

There are other issues that prevent the large-scale use of the rivers going into Lake Winnipeg, but this doesn't mean we shouldn't look forward and make investments now that will benefit the city and the province. After all, the Red River has been the core infrastructure which this city was built upon, and I don't think we should leave that in the dust.

Docks or small marinas are common in many cities, and I am sure we can overcome the issues mentioned above. We just need to try.

[(sub)urban]

Originally Posted by peg

I think the restoration of the dock should happen, and the dock should be made even better.

The biggest issue for me is that Winnipeg is a river city, and the Alexander docks were the only docks that allowed large vessels from Lake Winnipeg to dock in the city.

The riverboat industry was already dead before the docks became unusable, but the lack of any dock infrastructure deters any possibility of using our rivers for leisure and other river-oriented business.

There are other issues that prevent the large-scale use of the rivers going into Lake Winnipeg, but this doesn't mean we shouldn't look forward and make investments now that will benefit the city and the province. After all, the Red River has been the core infrastructure which this city was built upon, and I don't think we should leave that in the dust.

Docks or small marinas are common in many cities, and I am sure we can overcome the issues mentioned above. We just need to try.

This. I wouldn't be in favour of some massive marina to try and spur significant river-related boating development -- that's just unrealistic -- but some sort of dock to allow for any sort of river-centered development would be nice! We have boats and little river cruises at the Forks, some sort of dock back in place at Alexander could make for a cool little line there.

I mean hell, build a dock at Assiniboine Park too. Have them be easily convertible into skating hubs in the winter too and suddenly Winnipeg has something unique and not especially expensive to build and sustain, I would think.

Edit: Actually let's have some fun. gimme a convertible dock at BDI, the U of M and Kildonan Park. Run a seasonal weekend one up to Gimli too.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by Riverman

Haha, your kayak would be gone in an hour, chained or not. Thirty years of living on the river In the inner city has taught me a lot.

Why not just remove the existing quay and just landscape the bank to the shore? The are no vessels remaining that require such a structure.

someone has been docking their boat the the base of mere this summer


as for the dock whys red not spearrheading starting a yaught club that can use the dock and force the cities hand

[Riverman]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

as for the dock whys red not spearrheading starting a yaught club that can use the dock and force the cities hand

No one with any knowledge of boating on the river would ever tie their boat up in crime-ridden downtown. It has been years since any boater with any sense moved first to Gimli or Winnipeg Beach, and then finding out that how much boating on Lake Winnipeg sucks before moving to the Kenora area. Lake of the Woods is not affected by winds or weather. We did our last eight years of boating there and it was bloody wonderful.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by Riverman

No one with any knowledge of boating on the river would ever tie their boat up in crime-ridden downtown. It has been years since any boater with any sense moved first to Gimli or Winnipeg Beach, and then finding out that how much boating on Lake Winnipeg sucks before moving to the Kenora area. Lake of the Woods is not affected by winds or weather. We did our last eight years of boating there and it was bloody wonderful.

How does the Royal Manitoba Yacht Club fit into boating on the Red River? How much traffic do they put on the river from their dock in West St. Paul and would their members dock downtown for events if there was a secure docking area?

[Kris22]

Originally Posted by peg

I think the restoration of the dock should happen, and the dock should be made even better.

The biggest issue for me is that Winnipeg is a river city, and the Alexander docks were the only docks that allowed large vessels from Lake Winnipeg to dock in the city.

The riverboat industry was already dead before the docks became unusable, but the lack of any dock infrastructure deters any possibility of using our rivers for leisure and other river-oriented business.

There are other issues that prevent the large-scale use of the rivers going into Lake Winnipeg, but this doesn't mean we shouldn't look forward and make investments now that will benefit the city and the province. After all, the Red River has been the core infrastructure which this city was built upon, and I don't think we should leave that in the dust.

Docks or small marinas are common in many cities, and I am sure we can overcome the issues mentioned above. We just need to try.

I guess my worry is that it appeals to a rather small niche of people and I really just don't know how many people would use it. My parents used to boat on the red in the 80s and 90s but I haven't met anyone since then that does I think they used to launch at St. Vital park and make stops at Grapes Pier 7, the forks, or maybe up to lockport. I'm wondering what the draw of stopping at the Alexander docks would be.

They used to take me tubing which now seems ridiculously unsanitary but I will pretend the water was cleaner in the 90s.

[optimusREIM]

We should lean into the rivers. If someone with an ounce of business savvy were to try getting riverboats up and running again Im sure it could be a smashing success. Who doesn’t like a riverboat dinner and cruise? Throw in a small casino and boom! Money! The key will be in the marketing. Imagine the tourist draw

[biguc]

What about lake cruises departing Alexander Docks?