Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 28, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press monday june 28, 2004 City / District b5 Green group re energizing old buildings Chinatown heritage site to House latest environmental technology Mcdonald said preliminary plans by Aldo Santin Call for redeveloping both buildings and linking them with an atrium. When a n aboriginal environmental finished the two buildings will have consulting firm has plans to 25,000 Square feet of new space. The breathe new life into the old group would move from its current salvation army Citadel in Chinatown. Location on Mcdermot Avenue and the the Centre for indigenous Environ redeveloped buildings would House its mental research plans to redevelop staff a Library a conference Centre two 1900-Era buildings using the latest formally known As a Centre for Dia Phil Hossack / Winnipeg free press environmental sustainable Logue and about 14,000 techniques. Square feet of Revenue Gener Macdonald says the building at 221 Rupert ave. Will be the focus of his groups $5 million redevelopment project. we want to when finished the build rating leased space. Ings would generate their Mcdonald said final figures make it the Ald said they re about to secure fund own electricity from solar Haven to been set but he Esti ing that would allow them in Early july mates the project would Cost Energy minimize water greenest to clean up the Citadel building and the usage and Recycle All waste about $5 million. Most of that one on Pacific. Water on site heritage Money he said would come the buildings have been vacant for we want to make it the from the Federal government. 20 years and there Are lots of Pigeon greenest heritage building in building in building materials Sal droppings. In some spots the Pigeon Canada Rodney Mcdonald aged from the demolition of Canada droppings Are two feet thick Mcdon an environmental consultant 217 Rupert most Likely Ald said adding construction fencing with the research group said. ? environmental bricks will be used in the would go up around the property and a the group was Given three consultant Rodney redevelopment of the other general site cleanup would also take buildings ? 217 and 221 Mcdonald two buildings Mcdonald place. Rupert and 216 Pacific Avenue which Back onto each other in a one Block area Between King Street and main Street ? As a charitable donation two years ago. Architects determined 217 Rupert in to structurally sound and should be demolished. The $5-million redevelopment project will focus on 221 Rupert ? the for Mer salvation army Citadel a four Storey heritage designated build ing. The Pacific Avenue building used to have a Public Bath in the basement. City takes next Steps to develop old Arena by Aldo Santin the developers vying for the site of the soon to be vacated Winnipeg Arena site will become Public in two weeks. A spokesman for the City a planning property and development department said an extensive administrative review of the bids which has been going on for three months will end shortly with a report and recommendation to City coun cil a standing committee on planning property and development. The committee has a tentative meeting set for july 5, where the administrations recommendation on How to proceed with the bids will be considered. Mayor Sam Katz said its important that the City handle the review properly and reach a decision that is in its Best interest. You want to make the right and Best decision for the City Katz said adding he has to been briefed yet on the sub missions but expected that would Hap pen soon. Six bids As Many As six bids were submitted to the City for property currently occupied by the Winnipeg Arena which is being replaced by the downtown its Centre Arena that is slated to open in november. The City has refused to disclose the identity of the bidders or the terms of their proposals. The free press Learned of three bidders. One is from the investment firm that owns the Polo Park shopping Centre. Another is from a Toronto area devel oper that wants to buy the Arena and con Vert it into the worlds largest indoor water theme Park. The third is from a North end Man who wants to convert the Arena into a Chil Drens amusement Centre. However that bid has Likely been rejected by the City because the Man did not put in an offer to buy the building or the vacant site ? a requirement of the City a proposal Call. Instead he offered to lease the Struc Ture. The City is winding Down the operations of Winnipeg enterprises corp., the arms length entity that owns the Winnipeg Arena and used to own the Canad inns stadium before it recently turned it Over to the Winnipeg football club. As part of the financing arrangement with True North the group that is build ing the new downtown its Centre the City was required to demolish the Winnipeg Arena shortly after the new one opens in the fall. But the City persuaded True North to let the building stand if a development proposal can be found that does to compete with the new Arena. said or sold to other develop ers with projects in the area. The Centre was established 10 years ago As a non profit organization offer ing integrated solutions to Environ mental issues. The centres staff work with aboriginal and non aboriginal clients offer ing education training research and consulting in the Fields of forestry Cli mate change water and sustainability. Centre staff held an open House recently to reveal their plans. Mcdon Mcdonald said the two buildings would be left to air out in August. Demolition of 217 Rupert would occur Over september and october. The next phase would be design and construction he said. The group has hired Corbett Ciminel architects the firm that designed the nearby red River colleges downtown Campus. The Centre has yet to secure financing for the final stages. ;