tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854734498362657333.post7086736779531453685..comments2024-03-18T14:23:35.602-05:00Comments on Observations, Reservations, Conversations: Portage Avenue Part 2John Dobbinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469872007840292315noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854734498362657333.post-60832535453454783682009-01-26T18:47:00.000-06:002009-01-26T18:47:00.000-06:00Don't forget the tremendous pressure there was on ...Don't forget the tremendous pressure there was on Axworthy to do something about the area. It was the local businesses that wanted him to something about north Portage. In 1980, Winnipeg was hit with some wounding losses with the closure of the Tribune, Swift's and Canada Packers. There were large gaps on north Portage with the only vitality really being seen on Kennedy with Benjamin's, StageWest Dinner Theatre and a few dress shops. <BR/><BR/>It was local businesses that wanted that mall.<BR/><BR/>My personal view is that Axworthy should had opened it up to a public consultation like he did with The Forks. The differences in how that developed are stark when contrasted to Portage Place.John Dobbinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16469872007840292315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854734498362657333.post-47940602970332129372009-01-22T22:00:00.000-06:002009-01-22T22:00:00.000-06:00Good little history. But the north side of Portage...Good little history. But the north side of Portage Avenue before Lloyd Axworthy wanted to make his name as the savior of Winnipeg was alive and grittily urban. Kennedy Street had massage parlors, Autumn Stone records, Benjamin's night club. Porn cinema across from Eaton's only matched what Eaton's in Montreal and Toronto faced on Ste Catherine's Street and Yonge Street, respectively. As a teenager the north side was the place to go, arcades, record stores, Dominion News. Sure the area could have been improved but on the back of the existing foundation of small, local businesses. Not a Cadillac Fairview mall. The best proposal for the arena was made in the early 1990s, the parking lots in front of the Convention Centre. Oh well. Winnipeg doesn't make more mistakes than other cities, it just has to live with them longer.Xtovalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881148347459072588noreply@blogger.com