Portage, Main key to growing downtown: Bowman
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/09/2017 (2956 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Portage and Main was closed to pedestrians nearly 40 years ago, but Mayor Brian Bowman remains convinced reopening the intersection is necessary for Winnipeg’s growth.
“Opening up Portage and Main has never been only about tearing up barriers and throwing pedestrians into the mix and hoping for the best,” Bowman told reporters Wednesday. “It’s about studying how we can integrate with what is already happening in our downtown and create a vision based on partnering with the businesses and the community to develop a plan to make a transformation-only intersection everyone-friendly, not just car-friendly.”
The city’s iconic intersection was closed to pedestrians on Feb. 24, 1979. Bowman said he doesn’t imagine it transforming into a version of New York City’s Times Square, which was what former mayor Glen Murray hoped could be achieved when he initiated an international design competition in 2003.
Murray’s competition drew submissions from around the world.
But Murray was gone from the city when the winning design was chosen in 2005 and when a $10.5-million proposal was eventually presented to council in 2007, which incorporated the design changes and suggested the intersection be open on evenings and weekends, then-mayor Sam Katz wanted no part of it.
To see some of the submissions, go online to: wfp.to/portageandmain. The winning design, #073, was submitted by Toronto architect Janet Rosenberg & Associates, in collaboration with local firm Corbett Cibinel Architects.
While opinion surveys show a slight majority of Winnipeggers is opposed to reopening the intersection, Bowman said he believes the initiative is necessary.
“We’re not building a Times Square at Portage and Main, but we are working to study and understand ways to better connect our city, work with property owners in the area and create a vision that works for Winnipeg,” Bowman said.
“I continue to believe our Portage and Main intersection can be more and can do more for our downtown and our city. It can help us better connect our city. It can help build a better sense of belonging, and it can become a more engaging destination.”
aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca
