Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
A clash of visions
By: Dan Lett
Posted: 06/29/2008 7:33 PM
| Comments:
Throughout my time in Winnipeg, I have watched the painful, emotional debate over how best to restore the glory to Winnipeg's core. I find it fascinating that each time a new proposal arrives - whether it was the Forks/North Portage Development, the MTS Centre or now the debate over a football stadium for Point Douglas - there is such an intense disagreement about how to proceed. And this clash of visions is quite evident in the blogging community.The blogging reactions have varied from the reasonably
balanced approach of our friends at
Policy Frog who seem to engage on all sides of the issue with a somewhat positive although cautious analysis.The
reaction at
Rise and Sprawl challenges the very underpinnings of the Asper proposal for Point Douglas and suggests strongly that the community that exists there now is evolved enough and successful enough to be left as is. R&S is joined in this view, albeit in less elegant
form, by the young Turks at
Progressive Winnipeg who seem to have sipped from the Black-Rod-conspiracies-R-us kool-aid once too often.I personally like the Point Douglas plan, but like many of the above commentators, I have my concerns and a small list of prerequisites I'd like to see respected. Mostly, I'd like to see a decision that tries to accomplish as much good as humanly possible while remembering that someone (can you say
Jordan Van Sewall?) is going to be upset about what you do.As was the case in the debate over the demolition of the Eaton's building to erect the MTS Centre, and the battle over Upper Fort Garry, there is a profound difference of opinion about whether downtown should be left to its own evolutionary pace, or whether progress should be allowed to run rampant. Rise and Sprawl makes the case that Point Douglas is already a community that has evolved into its final form, one that doesn't require a "fix." On that point, I will humbly disagree.I spent a fair bit of time in Point Douglas recently to pen a piece for the dead-tree paper, and think this is an interesting but somewhat inaccurate portrayal of the area. Yes, it has its charming areas, and colourful residents. There are many artists and reclusive older urban professionals who dig the unpolished beauty of the area. But the artist’s enclaves that R&S celebrates do not outnumber the crack and flop houses.Yes, Point Douglas features artists and those who wish to escape the pressures of urban, suburban, and ex-urban sprawl. But it is also a community without a deep foundation. One of the driving demographic forces that created the blight and crime in North Point Douglas was the slow expiration of the older immigrant families that helped to build the once grand Point Douglas. As these older families left, or died off, the dilapidated housing stock fell into the hands of slum landlords, who rented to mostly transient tenants who have no interest in maintaining the properties but a keen taste for illegal drugs. While there are small pockets of stability in both North and South Point Douglas, this overarching trend needs to be addressed. The North Point Douglas residents committee has done good work clawing back their part of the community from the undesirables but what of the future?I am unsure whether the Asper plan "fixes" the community, or simply eradicates it once and for all. I am more convinced that in its current form, and without any new development in the area, Point Douglas will likely one day end up in the hands of slum landlords, transients and crack dealers.As for the historic or architectural importance of the buildings in the area, I will defer to the more knowledgeable analysis at R&S, a site that has become a definitive source on such matters. (Ooops, I'm kissing up again!) My list of prerequisites includes a mix of old and new, with special effort made to save any building of character or historical importance. I have been told by
David Asper that he intends to do just that. The proof will be in the final land-use details.The debate here seems will focus on two main options.First, leave Point Douglas as is and hope that the good work down by people like NPDRC honcho
Sel Burrows will continue to hold the slum lords and crack dealers at bay. Or, turn this historically significant neighbourhood over to a commercial developer, albeit one that comes from a family that has, I believe, put its money where its mouth is in terms of improving Winnipeg.I know there are some out there in the blogosphere who live and breathe conspiracy theories about who will ultimately profit from this grand development. I'm focusing on an entirely different question: Can something be good even if it's not altruistic? Or, more accurately, does it matter that someone makes money developing Point Douglas if it brings people to visit or even live downtown?Stay tuned all, this is going to be a dandy.-30-
Dan Lett, Winnipeg Free Press
15°c Overcast
21°c Cloudy with showers
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.