Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg Zoning for Soul Zoning, streetscaping and sense of place Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg Insert map Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg Outline 1. What was happening - history 2. Underpinnings of change 3. What’s happening now Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg What was Underpinnings What’s happening of change happening now Boom, decline, Zoning & Streetscaping cultural programs & public art investment building sense of place complete community Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg What was happening Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg • Indigenous groups used this part of Red River for transportation and settlement. • Europeans used river and its tributaries to access valuable fur trade on the continent. • After 1670, Hudson Bay and Northwest Companies built rival fur trading posts called Upper and Lower Fort Garry, connected by Main Street. W hat was happening – early days Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg • In 1882, construction of CPR spurred development of an industrial district here. • Much housing was torn down to support growing industry. Major land use was warehousing – storage of manufactured goods arriving from Europe, heading west and south. What was happening – early days Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg • In 1911 there were more than 200 wholesale businesses and warehouses in the Exchange. • Most warehouses connected by spur rail lines leading from Red River. What was happening – early days Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg • By 1912, Winnipeg was one of the fastest growing cities in the world • This was driven primarily by its location between manufacturers in Europe & Eastern North America and the west’s expanding markets. • During 1920s Winnipeg’s Exchange District coordinated more than 1/2 the world's grain sales. What was happening – boom Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg • 1914 - Panama Canal opened. Was biggest factor in Winnipeg’s decline. • 1919 - Winnipeg General Strike. Some key events were located in the East Exchange, including Hell’s Alley where a striker was killed by the RCMP. What was happening – decline Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg • With depopulation and suburbanization, blight and decline took hold in the area. • The East Exchange in the 1950s-60s was a concern for the City, who commissioned an economic and land use study to chart a way forward. • The study found the area to be so bad that it recommended that no new residential development be allowed: Austin Street, East Exchange, 1962 South Point Douglas Economic and Land Use Analysis, Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg, 1966 What was happening – decline Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg • 1960s - Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg built an arts and culture hub in East Exchange. • Winnipeg Concert Hall, Planetarium, Museum. • Classic mid-century urban renewal scheme to attract suburbanites back to the core. Image: Winnipeg Architecture Foundation What was happening – megaprojects Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg Underpinnings of change Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg • 1970s-1990s, concept of complete community not yet popularized. Heritage restoration was focus in Exchange District. • All 3 levels of government began contributing to heritage restoration and preservation. • Included protective legislation, investment, heritage conservation credits/ research, and commemorative recognition. City of Winnipeg, 1974 Restoring Electric Railway Chambers façade, 1995. Underpinnings of change– heritage restoration Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg • 1999 - Centre Venture Established, in part to enhance use of heritage buildings in area. • 2004 – Waterfront Drive developed in alignment with Plan (2000). • First major residential and commercial growth effort in the East Exchange in almost 100 years. Underpinnings of change– Waterfront Drive Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg • 2004 a new Downtown Zoning By-Law was established, specifying a residential and mixed use focus for much of Downtown including East Exchange. Compare this to: • The 1966 study that recommended against any new residential in the area. • The 1988 Zoning By-Law - principal residential uses were still not outright permitted in East Exchange. • The 2004 Downtown Zoning By-Law also waived all parking requirements Downtown . Removal of this barrier further facilitated residential and mixed use. Underpinnings of change– Zoning Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg • 2004 – present - multiple family/mixed use grant programs. • All programs use Tax Increment Financing (TIF). • Some programs applied further incentives to: • Rental apartments • Affordable units • Redevelopment of surface parking lots • Strategic infill locations • Structured parking Underpinnings of change– Housing Incentives Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg East Exchange District Housing Units - 2008 to present Program Address Approval Completed # Condo units # Rental units # Affordable Downtown Multiple Family/ 340 Waterfront Dr. 2008 Y 109 Mixed Use Building Grant Program 530 Waterfront Dr. 2008 Y 10 110 James Ave 2010 Y 19 2 128 James Ave 2010 Y 10 4 133 Market Ave 2011 Y 15 10 Downtown Residential 25 Amy Street 2011 Y 33 0 Development Grant Program 130-134 James Ave 2013 Y 49 49 540 Waterfront Dr. 2013 Y 40 40 139/145 Market Ave 2013 Y 67 82 98 Market Ave 2016 N 64 7 165 McDermot Ave 2016 N 34 4 Live Downtown 109 James Ave 2016 N 87 11 104 James Ave 2016 N 118 12 352 303 221 Prior to 2004, there were 128 dwelling units in East Exchange. Now approx. 1,000. Underpinnings of change– Housing Incentives Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg What’s happening now Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg Background WSP & HTFC provided the CW Public Works with 10 year detailed engineering and urban design study for the North East Exchange. The Study provided a guide to help the City prioritize and coordinate infrastructure improvements to the area including: - Services and utilities - Roadway upgrades - On-street parking - Improved sidewalk corridors - Improved pedestrian safety - Pedestrian Lighting - Bike facilities - Wayfinding routes - Sustainable tree planting - Heritage elements - Public Art What’s happening now Background Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg What’s happening now Background Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg Funding Sources Public Works: Roadwork & Utilities CentreVenture: Streetscaping Property, Planning & Development: Streetscaping What’s happening now Background Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg Work Completed to Date 2014-2017 - Market Avenue - Bertha Street - Elgin Avenue – Hell’s Alley - Rorie Avenue - Lily Street - John Hirsch Place - Woonerf - Pacific Avenue - Monument to the Winnipeg General Strike 1919 by Monteyne Architecture What’s happening now Background Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg Under Construction 2018 - James Avenue Streetscape - Water Level Indicator Heritage Interpretation - Waterfront Drive Upgrades: Pedestrian Crossings - Waterfront Multi-Use Path Connection - Bannatyne & McDermot Avenue Bike Lanes What’s happening now Background Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg Streetscaping and Sense of Place - Sidewalk Corridors and Pedestrian Crossings - Pedestrian Lighting - Bike Facilities - Sustainable Tree Planting - Heritage elements - Public Art What’s happening now Streetscaping and Sense of Place Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg Exchange District Design Guide DRAFT Design Guideline for the Exchange District with three key design principles: - Improve safety, accessibility and comfort of the pedestrian environment. - Establish a simplified menu of streetscape elements compatible to historic place. - Ensure sustainability and cost effectiveness of streetscaping elements from maintenance and replacement perspective. Document Provides Guidelines for: - Sidewalk Corridors - Intersections - Paving - Street Elements What’s happening now Sidewalk Corridors and Pedestrian Crossings Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg 2015 City of Winnipeg Accessible Design Standard Standard intended to support the implementation of the City’s Universal Design Policy within built environments. Key Sections: - Accessible Routes, Paths and Corridors - Ramps, Stairs and Handrails - Detectable Warning System - Seating - Exterior Standards: ground surfacing, lighting and streetscaping. What’s happening now Sidewalk Corridors and Pedestrian Crossings Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg What’s happening now Sidewalk Corridors and Pedestrian Crossings Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg What’s happening now Sidewalk Corridors and Pedestrian Crossings Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg What’s happening now Sidewalk Corridors and Pedestrian Crossings Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg What’s happening now Sidewalk Corridors and Pedestrian Crossings Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg Concept Plan What’s happening now Sidewalk Corridors and Pedestrian Crossings Zoning for Soul – East Exchange District, Winnipeg Completed & Upcoming Work 2014-2018 - Market Avenue Streetscape - Bertha Street Streetscape - Elgin Avenue – Hell’s Alley - John Hirsch – Woonerf