VISION The vision for Downtown Winnipeg is clear a place where - PDF document

VISION The vision for Downtown Winnipeg is clear – a place where people are living, working, and playing in a vibrant and dense environment. Our downtown is a complete collection of unique districts and strong connections need to be maintained for every mode of transportation. Pedestrian connections are of upmost importance, as it is only by walking that people frequent the shops, restaurants and services lining our major streets. With the ongoing revitalization of our downtown, there are increased opportunities to physically connect our emerging Waterfront, Forks, Exchange and Portage Avenue districts for pedestrians. Our Mayor, City Hall and downtown stakeholders are commitued to this vision for the downtown. But the barricades at Portage and Main are a barrier for people wanting to walk freely in our downtown. So there is a sense of urgency to re-open Portage and Main to pedestrians, at the same time setuing the development framework for the next two decades. People crossing Portage and Main prior to the opening of the underground concourse, 1979. (photo courtesy of the City of Winnipeg Archives) OPPORTUNITIES & CONSTRAINTS For Portage & Main to re-open to pedestrians, there is a need for a broad coalition of stakeholders to come together to take charge of this vision and set into motion a series of steps aimed at removing the barriers to create the change envisioned. How can people cross Portage and Main to get to their favourite restaurant, or visit their most loved park, while addressing the real and perceived challenges such as pedestrian and vehicular safety, as well as, automobile and transit delays? What are the design and engineering solutions to create a win/win scenario? How can all businesses benefjt from more people at the corner of Portage and Main? For this to happen, a signifjcant cohort of residents, businesses, workers and Winnipeggers must rise and be part of this transformation to re-open Portage and Main. Caption on fjle, 1979: “Residents of Winnipeg who for a hundred years have fought the wintry winds at the corner of Portage and Main will now cross in summertime comfort with the provision of an environmentally controlled pedestrian concourse beneath Canada’s most famous corner.” (photo courtesy of the City of Winnipeg Archives) NEXT STEPS What is the future vision for Canada’s most important intersection? Can it be more than a traffjc crossing, but integrates people, events and historical connections too? How do we continue to celebrate the heart of our city? Creating a downtown for and by Winnipeggers is the key. What is your vision? Throughout the year, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ and its partners will be engaging with the public to imagine what is possible for this iconic intersection. GET INVOLVED! Atuend the Portage and Main Panel Discussion at The Fairmont Winnipeg, Feb. 4th, 2016, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. GET INVOLVED! Send your photo and a quote about your favourite Portage and Main memory, or ideas for what you’d like to see at Canada’s windiest corner! + Be entered to win a picnic at Portage and Main in the Spring of 2016. Email jason@downtownwinnipegbiz.com Caption on fjle, 1979: “Shivering on the corner of Portage and Main on a cold, windy day For more information: htup://downtownwinnipegbiz.com/portageandmain/ waiting for traffjc lights to change will now be just a memory with the opening of a climate controlled underground pedestrian concourse linking the four corners of Winnipeg’s famous intersection.”(photo courtesy of the City of Winnipeg Archives)

HISTORY: An early commercial centre of Winnipeg There were 33 buildings surrounding Portage & Main by 1869, thanks to Henry McKenney purchasing land and building a store here in 1862. Until the later part of the 1800s, Portage and Main was simply swampy land at the intersection of the north-south and east-west ox cart trails. The Portage & Main intersection is now 153 years old! View of Portage & Main in 1874. (photo courtesy of the City of Winnipeg Archives) Main Street, looking north from Portage Avenue, 1903. (photo courtesy of the City of Designed by New York architects McKim & Mead, the Bank of Montreal was constructed on the Winnipeg Archives) south-east corner of Portage and Main in 1911. This view shows the Winnipeg Riot with the Bank of Montreal in the background, 1919. (photo courtesy of the City of Winnipeg Archives) Portage & Main in the 1930s. (photo courtesy of the City of Winnipeg Archives) View of Portage & Main in 1949. (photo courtesy of the City of Winnipeg Archives)

HISTORY: A place where people have gathered to celebrate their famous corner At the turn of the century, Portage & Main was already a place to gather and hold parades, or to stage protests. View of the General Strike at Portage & Main in 1919. (photo courtesy of the City of Winnipeg Winnipeg Jets fans gather at Portage & Main to celebrate, Archives) 2015. (courtesy of the Winnipeg Free Press / photo by Boris Minkevich) Winnipeg’s 75th Anniversary Celebration - Portage and Main parade in 1949. (photo courtesy Crowd at Portage & Main for Winnipeg Jets Day on May 28, 1976. (photo courtesy of the City of the City of Winnipeg Archives) of Winnipeg Archives) Caption on fjle: “Hockey fans gathered at Portage and Main to celebrate the return of the NHL Crowd at Portage & Main the day Jets owner Ben Hatskin signed Bobby Hull to a record to Winnipeg. Matu Guenther, 12, plays goalie during a massive pick-up hockey game on May 31, million-dollar contract, 1972. (courtesy of the Winnipeg Free Press / Winnipeg Tribune / photo 2011.” (courtesy of the Winnipeg Free Press / photo by Mike Deal) by Gerry Hart)

HISTORY: A prestigious offjce hub In recent decades, Portage & Main has been known for its offjce towers and concentration of professional offjces. The Richardson Building was built on the north east corner of Portage & Main, as part of Lombard Place, in the late 1970s, adding a 33 story tower to Winnipeg’s skyline (Winnipeg’s fjrst skyscraper). The 34 storey Trizec Building / Winnipeg Square on the south west corner came along shortly after. And in 1987, the north west corner of Portage & Main saw the addition of 201 Portage (formerly known as the TD Centre). Architectural rendering of the Trizec Building, south west corner, 1970s. (photo courtesy of the City of Winnipeg Archives) Aerial view of the Portage & Main intersection showing the Bank of Nova Scotia (Trizec Building) under construction, 1979. (photo courtesy of the City of Winnipeg Archives) HISTORY: A traffjc corner For over three decades, Portage & Main has been full of vehicles and not people, after barricades were put in place to stop pedestrian crossings and instead diverting folks to the underground concourse. The Portage & Main circus was designed by Smith Carter Partners, with construction for the tunnel that sits View of the Richardson Building from 201 Portage, 1990s. (photo courtesy of the City of approximately 2.4m below grade beginning in 1977. Winnipeg Archives) Vehicles at Portage & Main in the 1970s. (photo courtesy of the City of Winnipeg Archives) Architectural rendering of the Portage & Main circus - 1970s. (image courtesy of the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation)