Posts Tagged ‘downtown’

2000 Condos

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

So Air Canada no longer wants its employees staying in downtown Winnipeg. How do those of us with a passion for the downtown react?

I don’t think there is much comfort in painting a more positive picture even though that may be our first reaction. Air Canada has declared its judgment to the world and the media has assured the message was heard. Perception is more important than reality.

There are always interesting ideas about how to better deploy our police services—horses, buffalo coats and beat patrols—the Chief has undoubtedly considered them all. Political leaders of every stripe are strongly supportive and police budgets are voted an ever increasing share of public resources. In addition, the public and private sectors have both invested in the downtown through major projects like the MTS Centre or the new Hydro Headquarters as well as countless smaller ones. Philanthropy is also doing its part. Support for the Human Rights Museum symbolizes the community’s generosity—The Winnipeg Foundation alone granted $6 million. The Foundation has invested heavily in Central Park, Old Market Square, the Red River Culinary School—the list of projects is very long. And other charities are equally committed.

Despite Air Canada’s conclusion about our downtown, my view is that we are making progress. But to change the situation in a profound way, we need 2000 new condos on the “walkway system”. There are certainly available sites for major residential blocks—for example, over Portage Place, along Graham, over Winnipeg Square, north of the Canwest Building or east of the Fairmont Hotel.

It would take very significant government subsidies and it is not easy for public policy to support private housing. But the advantages accompanying such development would be equally significant. From a safety perspective alone, several thousand residents constantly moving throughout the downtown and connected by our all-weather walkway system would be transformative. Residents would give more meaningful voice to the most obvious needs which mostly relate to root causes. And their presence would not only bring new business (groceries, dry cleaning, etc) but equally important, shore up the business that already exists. Of course, whatever the required subsidy may be, investing public money into the capital construction of new condo units will lever a more significant private investment. It will create jobs and an increased tax base. I haven’t looked recently at how much PST, income tax or other provincial revenue is generated by the construction of a $350,000 condo unit, but at least some of the subsidy would be immediately recovered.

We all want a city where community life flourishes. The Air Canada decision is really a message saying that whatever progress has been made and however well intentioned our efforts to date may be, the results are not sufficient. Setting a goal of 2000 condo units may be entirely arbitrary but can there be any doubt that such a major residential initiative would be a game-changer for the downtown? Hopefully the private and public sectors will seriously consider this option knowing the charitable sector will continue to play a supportive role appropriately focused on the amenities and social services of the downtown area.

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Posted in Neighbourhoods, Philanthropy | 3 Comments »

March 2010

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

The average Winnipeg Foundation grant is $15,000 and last year, we supported 670 different charities. The breadth of our activity underlines that we are indeed a community foundation. But every year, the Board approves a few very large grants. This past week, I attended an update on the Canadian Museum for Human Rights – the landmark project that is currently under construction at The Forks. This project attracted the largest grant in our foundation’s history: $6 million paid over 10 years (2004 to 2013).

The briefing took place in the CanWest Board Room and I couldn’t help but be reminded of a gathering in that very same room about eight years ago when Izzy Asper met with the Board of The Winnipeg Foundation to explain the idea. His passion was immediately apparent as he started his presentation but then there was a very funny interlude when he couldn’t get the audio-visual equipment to work properly. His good humour carried him over that hurdle and soon he had our Directors fully engaged in conversation about the potential of a museum dedicated to human rights.

Last week’s update included details on construction, exhibit design and on-going fund raising efforts. It was inspiring to hear the project described by Stu Murray, the recently appointed CEO, who has clearly embraced the vision and assembled a first rate team. It gives me even more reason to be confident in the impact of this project. Gail Asper also spoke and, of course, it goes without saying that her enthusiasm is contagious. After so many years of incredible commitment, it is hard to know where she gets her energy – especially given her willingness to assume so many other leadership roles as well!

From time to time, people ask me about our large commitment to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and its inevitable impact on our capacity to support other important community projects. My response always starts by pointing out that Foundation grants have been increasing every year and we have been able to meet our commitment to the Museum while supporting countless other good causes.

The project also contributes to our foundation’s vision of “a Winnipeg where community life flourishes.” Not only will the Museum educate and inspire visitors in the area of social justice, it will also create jobs and attract tourists – all good for the Manitoba economy and by extension, our community life. And, as I learned last week, there will be other financial benefits as well. I was struck by the amount of new City taxes this project is expected to generate. Without question, our investment, and that of many other donors, will give the City new capacity for important community building work, perhaps supporting arts organizations or inner city recreation programs. 

At the annual Jewish Foundation luncheon last year, Art Mauro made a brilliant speech characterizing Winnipeg as the new Geneva and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights as an international symbol for social justice. You can read his speech, posted on the University of Manitoba’s website, by clicking here. A strong voluntary sector is key to our community’s success. Directing the new tax revenues generated by the Museum to charities that struggle to find resources would be a fitting tribute to the Museum’s work and an important contribution to our “Geneva.”

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Posted in Charitable Giving, Grants, Partnerships, Philanthropy | No Comments »

May 2009

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Last week, I had dinner with a close colleague who grew up in Manitoba but left the province more than 20 years ago. She returns frequently to see family but has not spent any real time in downtown Winnipeg for many years. This time, she stayed at the Fort Garry Hotel (about which she had only good things to say) and had occasion to walk from the hotel to The Bay and back between 4:30 and 5:30 one afternoon. This short trip generated lots of questions but in the end, she said the walk left her feeling “saddened and unsafe.”

This sobering conversation was in stark contrast to the up-beat annual meeting of CentreVenture, which I also attended last week. The room was filled with many well-known Winnipeggers, largely from the business community. There were stories of countless re-development efforts going on across downtown, and it is fair to say the crowd was abuzz with excitement. Certainly, the Board and staff of CentreVenture demonstrated to their audience that the momentum in addressing the challenges of our downtown.

I continually struggle to reconcile these conflicting views of our downtown. It is the heart of the city and should be the most valued reflection of who we are – a place that makes us proud, a place that is attractive to Winnipeggers and our visitors alike. And yet, when many people think of ‘the core,’ their first thoughts are likely to be negative. Changing this perception of our entire downtown is a good cause and The Winnipeg Foundation is actively working with CentreVenture and others on a variety of related projects.

There was excellent newspaper coverage of the investments going into Central Park over the next few months. Our share of that project is $500,000. A drive past Old Market Square will reveal work is well underway on another major face-lift and the Foundation has committed $500,000 towards the construction of a new stage. Just recently, our Board approved a challenge grant for the charitable organization that operates the Burton Cummings Theatre;if they can find other partners, we will invest in their proposed renovations. We are also looking into an investment into a new facility for Welcome Place to support new immigrants and refugees. This list could go on at considerable length and we have many partners in these initiatives. Suffice it to say, we are all working together trying to create an ever-more vibrant and attractive downtown.

My sense is that we are definitely making progress. But it was good to see the following words attributed to CentreVenture’s Executive Director: “Bricks and mortar in the absence of social responsibility is short sighted and a hollow victory.” Clearly, there is much work still to do.

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Posted in Downtown Green Spaces, Philanthropy | No Comments »