Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Gas station site added to heritage park at city's birthplace
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The province is buying the PetroCan station
WINNIPEG — The Friends of Upper Fort Garry have arranged to incorporate the Petro-Canada gas station site at Broadway and Main Street into the heritage park planned for Winnipeg’s birthplace, the volunteer group and the Doer government said today.
The provincial government has purchased the Petro-Canada station for $1 million and will assume possession Sept. 15, Premier Gary Doer said. Petro-Canada will then donate $1.35 million to the heritage park, the premier added.
It is uncertain when the gas station will close, said Friends spokesman Jerry Gray.
Premier Doer and Friends chairman Gray held a noon press conference to announce the Petro-Canada gas station that sits immediately north of Upper Fort Garry’s sole remaining gate will be dismantled.
The Friends took possession of two parcels of surplus city land along Main Street and Assiniboine Avenue today. The group has also reached a deal to purchase the Grain Exchange Curling Club on Fort Street and incorporate it into the future heritage park.
The Petro-Canada agreement means the only existing building that will be left on the block that once contained Winnipeg’s birthplace is the Manitoba Club, which the Friends have no plans to purchase and demolish.
History
Updated on Monday, June 1, 2009 at 12:48 PM CDT:
updated
Updated on Monday, June 1, 2009 at 12:48 PM CDT:
updated
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PREVIOUS
14 Comments
Posted by:
June 1, 2009 at 10:23 PM
hear, hear, it is frightening how little appreciation some of these people have for their own city's history. Let's hope they are a very sad tiny minority.
Posted by: DaPegger
June 1, 2009 at 9:09 PM
A mature city does not turn its back on its history. There is only one Upper Fort Garry, there are literally hundreds of locations in the downtown core where another gas station can be built. In fact just north of Broadway and Main there are a number of decrepit buildings that need to be demolished, any one of which would be a perfect location for a replacement gas station.
Petro-Canada should be commended for its support for this initiative.
I would also like to thank those who have posted here complaining about the loss of that gas station. I have been here for 4 years, and compared to the inhabitants of other cities I have lived in, I have come to the conclusion that Winnipeggers are immature, selfish and so obseesed with consumerism and instant gratification. Thank you for helping to confirm that conclusion.
Posted by: Cindy
June 1, 2009 at 9:03 PM
You common people complain about the Manitoba Club saying this purchase is to provide the Club with a nicer backyard. Well how would YOU like to look out at a gas station after a nice steak and lobster dinner (that is 50% tax deductable by the way)? And what about the fumes from the gas pumps drifting in the lounge when you are trying to enjoy a cocktail after a hard day of flogging your employees to work harder?
Posted by: Anon
June 1, 2009 at 8:48 PM
more public money down the drain.
why cant the elites of this town at least have some vision?
Posted by: Chester
June 1, 2009 at 6:01 PM
From this map, it appears a path led from the fort gate to Broadway before the Manitoba Club was built. TEAR DOWN THE MANITOBA CLUB.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/manitobamaps/2244599791/sizes/l/
Posted by:
June 1, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Fantastic news. Re a gas station, I'm sure all you private sector pro-development zealots will agree that if the market for a gas station downtown is there, someone will build one.
Posted by:
June 1, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Hey, we have enough parking lots downtown that could convert to a gas station if they really wanted too! Now, that the Petro Canada will be leaving, I'm sure others will step up.Isn't there a Shell station at Maryland and Portage?
As for this move, it will make that corner of Main and Broadway, look much better, and it is high time the provincial government of Manitoba finally realized how important this site is, considering that is where the birth of this province came from.
Posted by: Dunder Mifflin
June 1, 2009 at 2:57 PM
If memory serves, when they built the new bridges and did work to Main St, at the time I think we were told this was the last time ever these parts of the fort would be seen again... Now, did they mean they are still under a road that won't ever be dug up again, or did they destroy the structure for the good of the road?
Oh ya... what about the tunnel that runs from the train station to the hotel ? That would be neat to open up again.
Posted by: Jesus of Suburbia
June 1, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Fantastic news.
While I'm not suggesting that this will become some sort of "destination magnet" for international tourism ( as the delusional proponants of that joke of a museum going up at the Forks are trying to dupe everyone with ), it is none the less a rare and tangible piece of Winnipeg/Manitoba history that deserves respect.
Sadly, after being hidden behind an out of place gas station for years, many people aren't even aware that it exists. Removing that station will open the area up and be a huge improvement even without any further development.
Being in the construction industry I often find myself shaking my head at the "history huggers" who seem to freak out when someone wants to so much as repaint a fence. But in this particular case I find myself in agreement. This spot is a unique gem!
Congratulations and continued success to the Friends of Upper Fort Garry. Looking forward to the finished product.
Posted by: Winni-Pig
June 1, 2009 at 12:32 PM
While I agree with the aims of the project wholeheartedly, as we encourage people to move downtown and foster city tourism, there may be some need to address the lack of gas stations in the area bounded by Logan, Tache, Sherbrook and the Assiniboine. With this one gone, the nearest from the corner of Portage and Main is now either south over the QE bridge on Goulet or North at Redwood and Main. Going west, the nearest to down town is at Maryland.
At the North West corner, the nearest is at the base of the Slaw Rebchuk bridge, at Logan.
This could become an inconvenience in the near term if drivers get caught needing gas at a long distance from stations. (Spoken as someone who knows!)
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