Portage Place cancels Christmas

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This article was published 17/12/2024 (312 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Santa Claus isn’t coming to downtown.

Portage Place mall has issued a notice to shoppers expecting to see jolly old St. Nick that it won’t celebrate Christmas.

There are no decorations or visits with Santa, in light of the sale of the mostly vacant shopping centre to True North Real Estate Development, which has plans for a massive redevelopment.

“As we navigate through the transition of our upcoming sale of Portage Place, we regret to inform you there will be no Santa’s Village or holiday decorations,” said a notice posted on the mall website. “We appreciate your understanding.”

Mall management did not return a call Tuesday.

“It’s sad, but not a surprise,” given the redevelopment, said one retail worker.

On Tuesday, there were few shoppers in the mall, although many office workers were spotted walking through it to access the skywalk system. Other people warmed up, relaxed in common areas or got a bite at the food court.

True North’s real estate firm announced last month it had officially acquired the building, land and assets from the North Portage Development Corp., Premise Properties and Spruceland Mall Ltd.

The firm said in November that site preparations will begin this year and foundational work for the health and housing projects will start in April.

The 1.2-million-square-foot project will include 216 housing units, with up to 40 per cent of them designated affordable, a health-care services tower, main-floor grocery store, community centres, office space for social agencies and other services.

On Sept. 27, the company announced it had reached a deal to buy the site from North Portage for the $650-million redevelopment.

The transaction includes the purchase of the land and parking facilities beneath the property, formerly owned by the Forks North Portage Partnership.

True North is partnering with Southern Chiefs’ Organization to deliver and manage the housing component, to be called TN-SCO Housing 92 Inc.

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The federal government has committed $10-million to fund support public spaces at the re-developed site, with a further $17-million in funds that could potentially flow from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

City council approved $40 million in incentives, including another $10 million of federal housing money earmarked for Winnipeg, while the provincial government has promised to lease the health tower and fund medical services for around $77 million a year.

Company president Jim Ludlow said in September the housing component is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, with the whole project done by the end of 2028.

The mostly vacant and slumping mall was meant to revitalize downtown when it opened in 1987. Decades later, it has increasingly been deemed a poor fit for the area, which faces challenges linked to addictions, poverty and homelessness.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca