Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Gut historic buildings: Hydro
Substation plan angers groups in Exchange
WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image
At far left is the hydro substation on King Street that wants to expand to buildings on McDermot Avenue.
Hydro spokesman Glenn Schneider said the utility is in discussions to buy three century-old buildings on McDermot between Princess and King streets.
Schneider said Hydro needs to expand its nearby substation on King Street and the historical buildings are the logical site for an expansion.
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"We've started discussions with the current property owners," Schneider said. "We're prepared to work with (city hall) to see what we can do. Keeping the building facade is maybe something that is workable."
The three buildings -- the Wilson Building (288 McDermot), the Glengarry Block (290 McDermot) and the Daylite building (296 McDermot) -- were recently sold to an Edmonton property-investment firm.
All three buildings are on the city's historical buildings conservation list.
Schneider said buildings that house electrical substations must be gutted of all interior floors and ceilings to accommodate the height of the electrical equipment. He said some sites are fenced, while others have only exterior walls.
Schneider said there is no timetable for the project, adding Hydro is still talking with the new owners and doesn't know if they want to sell. The owners could not be reached for comment.
Hydro's plans have drawn criticism from CentreVenture, the Exchange District Business Improvement Zone and the local residents' association.
Cindy Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg, said she wants to know why Hydro selected these three buildings. She doesn't believe the utility's plans for the area are appropriate.
"We want to bring people and activity to the Exchange," Tugwell said.
She said the streetscape on that block of McDermot is the same as it was 100 years ago and suggested gutting the three buildings would be inappropriate.
"The recent success in the Exchange District has come from growth in retail, office and residential sectors," said Brian Timmerman, director of operations for the Exchange BIZ. "If Hydro takes away that whole block, it would affect life in the area."
John Giavedoni, chairman of the Residents of the Exchange District, said even if Hydro were to maintain the exterior brick facades of the three buildings, the plan would be devastating to the area's continued growth.
"Area businesses depend on people who work in those buildings," Giavedoni said. "Hydro's plan would create a dead zone -- there'd be no activity on that side of the street."
Giavedoni said Hydro's new headquarters building on Portage Avenue is praised for revitalizing downtown, but the substation project would have the exact opposite impact for the Exchange area.
Hart Mallin, a building owner who has developed condos in the area, said expanding an electrical substation onto such a prominent street would be devastating for the area. He said Hydro should be encouraged to relocate its existing substation and build a larger facility on a nearby site that doesn't have such a negative impact.
"This location is Hydro's first choice because of economic considerations, but it should find another location."
Ross McGowan, CEO of CentreVenture, the city's downtown economic development agency, said he's heard rumors of the proposal. He said he would oppose any plans that call for demolition of the three buildings.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 22, 2009 B1
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PREVIOUS
12 Comments
Posted by: PinkElephantPhotography
January 22, 2009 at 6:34 PM
I think this is a horrible thoughtless idea. As a small business owner of a photography studio, we have just spent thousands of dollars on renovating and opening a studio on the third floor of one of these buildings. It would be so sad to see this happen after all that we've put into this. We chose this specific building due to its location and beautiful rustic structure. I think the city should be doing more to preserve and encourage more small business' in, not OUT of this area.
Posted by: Mark W
January 22, 2009 at 12:58 PM
I just walked by the Hydro substation building as well as the heritage buildings in question. There are parking lots on all three sides of the current hydro building as well as a fairly large one across from it on King street. Why not start filling in some of that space before or the lot at nearby King and Notre Dame before tearing down those beautiful buildings?
Posted by: Mr. Reader
January 22, 2009 at 12:44 PM
This should be stopped. We need the exchange, we need to preserve it, we need to look at this intelligently for the future of this area and the larger picture. Keep this Hydro expansion out of these buildings!
Posted by: AH
January 22, 2009 at 12:27 PM
I completely echo SteveM's comment. I too moved away from Winnipeg but returned. The Exchange is the only place I would consider living. Time to start writing some letters to politicians, it seems. Too bad our provincial MLA is Speaker of the House. Does that make him have to be neutral on issues like this?
Posted by: H M K
January 22, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Hey, here's an idea. Let's revitalize the exchange in the way it's SUPPOSED to be done - by getting more people to own homes there. These three buildings would make for perfect moderately-priced condominiums.
Posted by: Trevor
January 22, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Please stop Hydro from ruining these beautiful pieces of Winnipeg's history! For the sake of the future of the Exchange District! These buildings must be saved! Make them mixed use condos and retail, not a hydro substation! I can't believe how ignorant someone would be to even suggest this fate for these gorgeous buildings...
Posted by: Trevor
January 22, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Please stop Hydro from ruining these beautiful pieces of Winnipeg's history! For the sake of the future of the Exchange District! These buildings must be saved! Make them mixed use condos and retail, not a hydro substation! I can't believe how ignorant someone would be to even suggest this fate for these gorgeous buildings...
Posted by: SteveM
January 22, 2009 at 11:18 AM
I am a resident of the Exchange and live close to the proposed substation. I am also a young professional born in Winnipeg who came back from other cities for my career. This proposed site is a complete and utter embarrassment to the City of Winnipeg and is indicative of the backwards thinking, sprawl/suburban mindset that it is caught in. As if there are not alternative and equally economically attractive locations to place this substation? And really, Hydro is a crown corp so if they were really sensitive to economics they would likely cut vacations, pay, and half of their staff. I know, I'm a research analyst for private and publicly traded companies. The Exchange District is Winnipeg's only hope to attract tourists or to create a vibrant community while becoming more efficient economically. I moved to the exchange because it is the only part of Winnipeg that feels like a city and not some suburbian-hell. I will aggressively lobby against this and think that this would effectively render the Exchange District dead.
Posted by: lollipopsandsunshine
January 22, 2009 at 10:32 AM
What a ridiculous idea. Is there seriously no other way to do this without gutting three perfectly viable heritage buildings in the best district of the city?
Posted by: Mark W
January 22, 2009 at 9:27 AM
CentreVenture says they would oppose plans that call for the demolition of the three buildings. Are we to infer then that they approve of plans that would maintain the facade but gut the interior?
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