Comments on: Five questions for the Friends of Upper Fort Garry http://policyfrog.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/five-questions-for-the-friends-of-upper-fort-garry/ Dissecting politics, business and the media in Manitoba Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:48:37 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Kris Merrells http://policyfrog.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/five-questions-for-the-friends-of-upper-fort-garry/#comment-380 Kris Merrells Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:58:29 +0000 http://policyfrog.wordpress.com/?p=216#comment-380 I have lived in Winnipeg all my life, and, barring unforeseen circumstances, plan to continue to live here. I am a huge fan of the city's history, and have repeatedly stopped at the Upper Fort Garry site to look around and read what's there, and remind myself of what life was like when the fort was established and inhabited. However, I do not see why the city should be forced to re-neg on a deal that has been already made with (Crystal Developers?) for the apartment complex. For the person who says that we are not preserving our history, I would ask how the current parking lot preserves our history. Plus, they aren't even tearing down the current site. It's being integrated into the development as a park, therefore "preserving" the current historic site. I am also a proud Winnipegger; I also love history. Build the apartments. Don't bilk us for donations to save a site that is currently a parking lot. I have lived in Winnipeg all my life, and, barring unforeseen circumstances, plan to continue to live here. I am a huge fan of the city’s history, and have repeatedly stopped at the Upper Fort Garry site to look around and read what’s there, and remind myself of what life was like when the fort was established and inhabited.

However, I do not see why the city should be forced to re-neg on a deal that has been already made with (Crystal Developers?) for the apartment complex.

For the person who says that we are not preserving our history, I would ask how the current parking lot preserves our history. Plus, they aren’t even tearing down the current site. It’s being integrated into the development as a park, therefore “preserving” the current historic site.

I am also a proud Winnipegger; I also love history. Build the apartments. Don’t bilk us for donations to save a site that is currently a parking lot.

]]> By: PolicyFrog http://policyfrog.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/five-questions-for-the-friends-of-upper-fort-garry/#comment-342 PolicyFrog Mon, 03 Mar 2008 03:12:15 +0000 http://policyfrog.wordpress.com/?p=216#comment-342 Sorry Larry, but you're wrong across the board. I was born here, and I live here out of choice. If I didn't want to be here, I'd move. Of course that doesn't mean I can't see plenty of areas where we could improve. I also have a healthy respect for our city's heritage. If you read through some of my other posts, you'll see I'm a big advocate for the Exchange District in particular. However, I recognize we have to strike a balance between the past and the future if we hope to build on the modest progress our city has made in recent years. I have no problem with building a heritage park to recognize Upper Fort Garry, but I disagree strongly with the Friends' position that such a project can't co-exist with an apartment complex. To put it bluntly, I think downtown residential development benefits our city far more -- financially, culturally and aesthetically -- than a stand-alone heritage park ever could. Ideally, the two could be developed together, which I think offers the best of both proposals. As for the Friends website, I've seen it and linked to it several times already. As you can see for yourself, there's absolutely no detail regarding their plans for the park, just a few architectural drawings. Based on the drawings and comments in the media, it seems their plan is based on work done by Heritage Winnipeg a few years ago, As I point out above, the HW plan was costed out at $2.6 million. The Friends haven't offered any explanation for the massive cost increase. As for my questions being "immature", well I guess that's your opinion. I obviously disagree. Personally, I think it demonstrates immaturity as a city if we can't question the decisions of our business and community leaders on matters such as this. Sorry Larry, but you’re wrong across the board.

I was born here, and I live here out of choice. If I didn’t want to be here, I’d move. Of course that doesn’t mean I can’t see plenty of areas where we could improve.

I also have a healthy respect for our city’s heritage. If you read through some of my other posts, you’ll see I’m a big advocate for the Exchange District in particular. However, I recognize we have to strike a balance between the past and the future if we hope to build on the modest progress our city has made in recent years.

I have no problem with building a heritage park to recognize Upper Fort Garry, but I disagree strongly with the Friends’ position that such a project can’t co-exist with an apartment complex. To put it bluntly, I think downtown residential development benefits our city far more — financially, culturally and aesthetically — than a stand-alone heritage park ever could. Ideally, the two could be developed together, which I think offers the best of both proposals.

As for the Friends website, I’ve seen it and linked to it several times already. As you can see for yourself, there’s absolutely no detail regarding their plans for the park, just a few architectural drawings. Based on the drawings and comments in the media, it seems their plan is based on work done by Heritage Winnipeg a few years ago, As I point out above, the HW plan was costed out at $2.6 million. The Friends haven’t offered any explanation for the massive cost increase.

As for my questions being “immature”, well I guess that’s your opinion. I obviously disagree. Personally, I think it demonstrates immaturity as a city if we can’t question the decisions of our business and community leaders on matters such as this.

]]> By: Larry H http://policyfrog.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/five-questions-for-the-friends-of-upper-fort-garry/#comment-340 Larry H Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:26:13 +0000 http://policyfrog.wordpress.com/?p=216#comment-340 First of all, I would guess your not a Winnipeger by birth. My second guess is you would rather be somewhere else other then Winnipeg. But those of us that were born here have a very fond attachment to this city and its heritage. I for one believe that our history should be preserved, not only for ourselves, but also future generations. The five questions are what I find to be immature in nature. If you took the time to research what you see as a problem, you might learn something of value. I would first suggest you visit the following website to start with and view it all. http://www.upperfortgarry.com/plans_for_upper_fort_garry/ But thats as far as I go. It was your parents responsibility to see to your education, not me. I am and always will be a PROUD WINNIPEGER and I love history. Larry H. First of all, I would guess your not a Winnipeger by birth. My second guess is you would rather be somewhere else other then Winnipeg. But those of us that were born here have a very fond attachment to this city and its heritage. I for one believe that our history should be preserved, not only for ourselves, but also future generations.
The five questions are what I find to be immature in nature. If you took the time to research what you see as a problem, you might learn something of value. I would first suggest you visit the following website to start with and view it all. http://www.upperfortgarry.com/plans_for_upper_fort_garry/
But thats as far as I go. It was your parents responsibility to see to your education, not me.
I am and always will be a PROUD WINNIPEGER and I love history.
Larry H.

]]> By: cherenkov http://policyfrog.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/five-questions-for-the-friends-of-upper-fort-garry/#comment-307 cherenkov Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:57:02 +0000 http://policyfrog.wordpress.com/?p=216#comment-307 Good questions. "World class" is a catch phrase that resonates with Winnipeggers because of our inferiority complex. I suspect that your suspicion that it's just marketing bunk is correct. Good questions. “World class” is a catch phrase that resonates with Winnipeggers because of our inferiority complex. I suspect that your suspicion that it’s just marketing bunk is correct.

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