For the past several years, the Downtown BIZ and its partners have teamed up with downtown REALTORS® and housing developers to promote the new and exciting places to live downtown through tours and exhibitions.
This year, young professionals were invited to explore making the move to downtown at the BIZ’s first-ever Downtown Living Midsummer Mixer — and hundreds of Winnipeggers responded.
In the past few years, thousands of Winnipeggers have made the move to the city centre — downtown now has close to 16,000 residents — and with 30 new residential projects being planned downtown, it’s a number that is set to grow. Long-derelict buildings such as the Avenue on Portage have been transformed into living spaces. The last few gaps in the coveted Waterfront Drive space are being filled in. And many of these projects are aiming to make downtown living more accessible for young professionals.
With many spaces priced at under $200,000, these developments will allow more young Winnipeggers the chance to live in a historic brick-walled loft or enjoy a river view.
It’s an opportunity young Winnipeggers were eager to hear more about, crowding around displays of condominiums like H20 on Waterfront, District Condominiums, 128 James, Phase 2 of Sky on Waterfront and rental properties such as the Avenue on Portage and Residences on York.
These developments are just one piece of the momentum that’s happening downtown. The past few weeks have seen years of work culminate in a flood of announcements, including the return of the NHL, news that the old Met theatre will host downtown’s first dinner theatre, and word of the Bell Hotel’s redevelopment as the city’s first supportive housing project.
The urban campuses of Red River College and University of Winnipeg continue to welcome students to downtown, while the opening of the Canadian Museum for Humans Rights is on the horizon. And a $75-million private-sector investment in a mixed-use building across from the MTS Centre — a 15-storey boutique hotel, office and retail building anchored by a new public parkade — has just been announced.
There’s a feeling of confidence in downtown, of optimism and momentum that should continue for years to come, one that home buyers are noting.
For more information about downtown living, visit the BIZ’s website at www.downtownwinnipegbiz.com or call 958-4640.