Time to bring downtown back to life

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/09/2022 (839 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Downtown Winnipeg needs a shot in the arm. At the height of the pandemic in 2021, 82 per cent of storefront businesses — many of which depended on full offices and foot traffic on a daily basis — reported a drop in revenue. Survey results show 72 per cent of Winnipeggers are worried about the future of downtown.

After 20 years of growth and development, we have taken a step sideways. Now that pandemic restrictions have eased, it’s time to move forward again.

The majority of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s 2,000 business members agree. In a survey we conducted earlier this year regarding the municipal election, downtown was the top issue, even though our members are located throughout the city. Businesses understand the health of downtown matters to everyone.

The success of Winnipeg’s downtown is vitally important to the rest of the city. So much of our city’s reputation, which we use to attract new business and investment, is based on perceptions of our downtown. It is our central business, arts, tourism, restaurant, entertainment and cultural district and a major sports, retail and educational hub.

It is a significant economic driver in our province, and is home to Manitoba’s largest cluster of offices and commercial buildings. It is also one of our most diverse neighbourhoods. Downtown is the heart of Winnipeg.

As part of our election work, the chamber is meeting with mayoral candidates in the downtown area and we are asking each of them how they will work with council to re-energize and reignite the downtown.

On Tuesday, the Winnipeg Chamber will be examining the issues in depth at our State of the Downtown luncheon, where our guest speaker will be former Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett, who was named by Newsweek magazine as one of the five best mayors in the U.S.

With a population of 650,000, Oklahoma City has experienced a downtown resurgence, which is driving its economy and attracting international attention.

Our 2022 Civic Election: Performance Playbook is filled with ideas. To support and encourage additional private investment, we need more residential units, including government support for affordable housing. Downtown’s current residential population is around 18,000 people, which means that only 2.5 per cent of Winnipeg’s population lives downtown.

As we create density and draw residents downtown, entrepreneurs and business investment will follow. Pre-pandemic, approximately 70,000 people worked downtown every day. While the number of people returning to in-person work is increasing, work-from-home situations are likely part of the new normal.

There is an opportunity to create flexible regulations to allow for the conversion of old office space. We need significant public investment in educational spaces, to capitalize on the drawing power of our colleges and universities. We need additional funding for the arts and cultural activities, festivals and all the things that bring us together downtown.

Despite some of the pandemic setbacks in downtown Winnipeg, there are many positive signs, and projects that have recently opened or are in development. The proposed development at the old Hudson’s Bay block, led by the Southern Chiefs Organization, will bring vitality to the arts and education district around Portage and Memorial. The Manitoba Métis building at Portage and Main will enliven our most famous intersection.

These two developments signal a spirit of reconciliation. We are all treaty people, and downtown is for everyone.

True North Square provides a new community gathering space (that we will have to put to good use this spring), and the addition of Wawanesa’s tower right next door will bring thousands to the area. Winnipeg’s new signature tower at 300 Main, and developments on Main south of Portage Avenue are stunning additions.

The City of Winnipeg is in the second year of its recovery strategy, which will inform its downtown plan. The Downtown and Exchange District BIZ organizations are working hard to support business, and are collaborating on new developments. There are a growing number of collaborations between the private sector and social-service agencies to ensure people’s basic human needs are addressed.

The Winnipeg Chamber will continue to lead on the issue of reigniting our downtown, in collaboration with our new mayor, downtown businesses and all those who believe in our city’s future.

Next spring is the Winnipeg Chamber’s 150th anniversary, and we will be throwing one heck of a downtown party to celebrate. I hope to see you there.

Loren Remillard is president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.