Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 31, 2008, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page a5 Winnipeg repress. Com top news Winnipeg free press wednesday december 31, 2008 a 5 1. No system Access fees 2. Free text alerts for budget control 3. No term contract necessary 4. We give Back with fid dollars to every time you use your phone shop fido. Ca drop by a store Call 1 866 301 3436 the new owners guarantee fido stores st. Vital Centre Polo Park shopping Centre exclusive dealer Moga Kildonan place if you share our concern for the environment please use online Billing. Visit fido. Ca Billing. 1. Local airtime Over the allotted monthly minutes in the monthly plan Long distance and roaming charges and any additional options selected and applicable taxes Are extra and Are also billed monthly. 2. With 2 year fido agreement. An Early cancellation fee applies. 3. Limited time offer available until december 31, 2008 on new activations. Activation fee will appear As a credit on your first invoice. Offers and pricing subject to change without prior notice. To fido & design and fid dollars Are trademarks of fido solutions inc. � 2008 fido solutions inc. 15 new plans from per month 1 $ Why blow your budget plus phones at $ 0 2 and no activation fee 3 no system Access fees no tab i Magine waking up every morning and having your Choice of Rivers outside your front door on which to take your daily paddle or Cross country ski. That dream could become a reality if Jim August is Able to find Public support for a residential development at the Forks. The ceo of the Forks North Portage partnership the non profit organization that manages the site is in the Early stages of planning a reconfiguration of the popular tourist destination to coincide with the pending construction of the Canadian museum for human rights. Were looking at some form of what Well Call a mixed use development and were considering a variety of options. It could include residential but also office and commercial. Were going to look at what makes sense and would be complementary to the Forks and the museum. Its a big part of what ill be focusing on from january to june. Were at a very Early planning stage he said. August was Quick to Point out that a final decision on what to do with the six acre area currently a parking lot located South of can West Park wont be made before Winni Eggers Are asked to weigh in through Public consultations and open houses. People have a Strong ownership of the Forks. Whatever we do there were going to need to consult and test out some ideas. Our belief is design becomes of utmost importance he said adding some other possibilities for the potential project include a Hostel a Small hotel or a fitness Centre. A Central piece of the development will be a european style promenade a one Kilometre Public Walkway featuring fountains and sitting areas that will stretch from Pioneer Avenue to the Forks Market August said. The impetus for the reconfiguration is being driven by the museum which will take Over about 400 parking spots by the time its completed several years from now August said. Another 600 to 800 parking stalls will need to be added adjacent to the rail line running parallel to main Street he said. If the museum Hadnot come on Board wed probably be into this project by now he said. The Forks has featured a mixture of Parks gardens and sculptures alongside restaurants and a multitude of shops and other attractions since its rebirth As a Central meeting place in 1987. There has never been a residential component although there was talk a decade ago of building a 100 unit seniors Complex in the Middle of the Forks that never came to fruition. The potential of residential this time around bears Little resemblance to that project August said largely because the proposed location is a Seldom used parking lot thatus closer to main Street than it is to either the red or Assiniboine Rivers. Jino Distasio director of the Institute of Urban studies at the University of Winnipeg said the idea of a seniors Complex was met with stiff opposition in the Community. I think the opposition stemmed from the fact people wanted to keep As much open space As possible at the Forks he said. It has to be stick handled carefully by the Forks administration. Distasio said that As Long As Winni Eggers dont perceive a residential option As shrinking open space at the Forks such a proposal could be endorsed by the Public. There has to be Good design and affordability too. There could be condos and apartments affordable units mixed in with More expensive ones. This could be an Opportunity to be really innovative he said noting Winnipeg has been slow to adopt that Type of Model unlike other centres such As Toronto and Vancouver. The Sites last major development the $ 12 million inn at the Forks hotel which opened four years ago was dogged by controversy since the Forks announced in 1999 that it would accept hotel proposals. Opponents said the area was already too commercial and a hotel would be an inappropriate addition. August said regardless of what the ultimate decision is he wants the development to be very sustainable in keeping with its target Zero plan to minimize its Carbon footprint. Wed like this to be the greenest Public site in the City he said. Geoff. Kirbyson free press. My. Ca new project pitched for Forks mixed use plan could include residential component by Geoff Kirbyson we want your views should residential housing be allowed at the Forks Well publish a selection of opinions. Send your feedback to feedback free press. My. Ca whatever we do there were going to need to consult and test out some ideas Forks ceo Jim August proposed mixed use development at the Forks would be in the area outlined in red in the Aerial photo at left. A 05_ dec 31 08. Ind a5 1 2/ 30/ 08 6 57 10 pm ;