West End Continues to Suffer Drugs and Crime

The police surge in the center of the city seems to have the unintended consequences which is driving the problem into the West End. Businesses and residents have indicated that there is has been greatly increased drug use and criminal activity in their area. News stories seem to confirm the activity. And even those just passing through will notice the influx of people and drug activity plainly visible.

In the days after the July long weekend the numbers have really increased for those out on the streets. Drugs are ever present as are the needles and other sharp material. The vulnerability of businesses, churches, schools and cars is palpable. A door locked does not represent safety. Walking to your home, car, place of worship, restaurant could be perilous despite how short the distance. 

Some business people indicated they were adding security features or patrolling themselves but almost all were crying for sustained police presence. As of June, we have increased police numbers in keeping with our increased population but we are still below the national ratio for police. Those running for council or mayor could make a case more police on the street. Those asking for defunding of police could be asked how they would handle the problems the city is facing now. Perhaps they have better answers. Living a socialist life doesn't always end addictions and mental health issues as demonstrated by the Soviet Union or present day China where reports say young are using mind numbing drugs. And the toxicity of the drugs now make it seem impossible that even with food and shelter security, some people are not going to have the mental health or addictions control to to avoid self harm and harming others.

It is no wonder why the West End is begging for some relief. To support using drugs every day requires money and that means anything that is not cemented to the ground is taken and sold. A vacant house will be stripped down and a fire set to stay warm resulting in another tooth knocked out on the street. Whatever sympathies people have can't stand the constant pressure of fear and loss. As it gets colder, we could see an acceleration and loss of life seems inevitable and, in fact, is already happening. A more aggressive stance for criminal behaviour comes with that. There is zero tolerance for violence or, at least, should be. Chronic repeat offenders have to be dealt with. Just as repeated drug and alcohol driver who won't control their actions, they have to serve time because even loss of license or car sometimes doesn't work.

The numerous councillors and MLAs still holidaying is galling. Do something and stop saying a long term plan is being debated. You don't have that amount of time. If something happens in a school, you won't have anywhere to hide. And it will. Kids navigating the bodies, needles and possible assault will be hard to ignore. School starts soon. We can't let this get worse.

West End Cultural Centre Programming Saved

In 1987, an old church was turned into the West End Cultural Centre by Winnipeg Folk Fest creator Mitch Podolok and Ava Kobrinsky. The building had been home to a few church groups and just prior to the takeover was the Portuguese Cultural Centre. From the start it was a non-profit performance space and perhaps every music act in Canada and beyond as likely stopped to perform there. Built in 1909, it still looks like a church. Renovations in 2009 to the south expanded the size of the performance space stage to 900 square feet, added a green room and other improvements for about $3.5 million. A lobby and additional meeting/performing spaces were also created for a total of 16,000 square feet.

A bar and rentals have helped fund operations, some of which are offered free to groups in the community. Alcohol sales are way down and this is affecting every hospitality-based building. Legion halls and veterans associations have had to close if bar sales were their main source of revenue. And so it goes with non-profits.

In the case of the WECC, the issue of heating and cooling from their ancient HVAC system has been setting them back for years in the thousands. It can put organizations in a lot of debt. Just ask the Manitoba Theatre for Young People that just retired $1.5 million in debt with a capital campaign that raised $9 million. It also created a $1 million endowment.

At least three arts groups have closed because of money woes in the last little while. The heavy reliance on government funding is not enough enough. Even the WECC says it likely needs corporate support. The 380 seat performance center has been more innovative in how they book events but the music industry has really been hurting in recent years and a hall can't really get by with only several booked dates a month. 

The big arts groups in Winnipeg were slow compared to American arts groups. The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre hasn't revealed their endowment recently citing privacy rules but they do receive $1 million a year from the investments. That would at least be $20 to $40 million in an endowment. It is thought that the endowment is probably close to the $30 million mark. The younger Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis is thought to have $70 million U.S. in their endowment. That is just under a whopping $100 million in Canadian.

The Winnipeg Art Gallery also has a multimillion endowment that follows their $65 million expansion. They add to theirs by selling part of their collection when they have quite a lot of an artist's works. Some arts groups also make money from value added services such as schools and seminars that come in addition to the main product they sell whether that is music, art or entertainment. Even private businesses such as McNally Robinson have value added with their restaurant and their classes.

The West End Cultural Centre has to do more than book talent as a rental hall and make money from the diminishing returns of a bar. They seem to have the right idea about seeking out support but it has to be more than a one-off of $50,000 for a budget shortfall. The response of getting $70,000 is wonderful but the WECC needs to assess its needs now and into future. It should possibly look at a capital projects upgrade where sponsors can be involved. This requires priorities as well as vision. It cannot be periodic support. It may be an annual donation request or bequests for those who pass away to include in their wills. 

It is hard running a not for profit at the best of times. The need for volunteers, consistent use by the community and a steady stream of booking dates is hard enough to organize never mind thinking about mid to long term planning. It is promising that so many rushed to help support the WECC when they needed it but the next 30 years may require millions of upgrades and the time to think about it is now.

Violence In Osborne Village and Business Closures

Osborne Village isn't the only neighbourhood experiencing violence but it is the one with the highest density population in the city and the one mostly likely to see business flee and residents next. Already Unique Bunny and Starbucks have cited crime for closing. On a weekend a few weeks ago around 9 PM, a man was found unconscious after an attack right near Shopper's Drug Mart. It was dusk when many people were still out and about.

A series of violent incidents and closures have left Osborne residents nervous. All of this is happening with street patrols present. However, the patrols are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of incidents and how widespread they are. It appears the Village is the recipient of these type of outbursts fairly frequently. But then again the entire city seems to having a steep rise in all sort crime.

It was a particularly bad weekend of fires, many arsons that kept police and fire on the go. Some valuable long term businesses that local residents use were either lost or threatened by fire. It was a weekend of endless sirens. In one case, a long term convenience store was a total loss. In another, a discount store was almost lost. Were they both arsons? At the moment they are being investigated.

The main reason given for the violence is the hardcore drugs, poverty and homelessness that has blown up all across North America in the aftermath of the pandemic. Some of this was becoming a problem even before 2020 but is has been compounded by adjustments to the economy everyone is making in terms of working from home and the slow scaling up of many businesses such as restaurants that are still not back to capacity.

It is very easy to squeeze the toothpaste out the bottle but a lot harder to get it back in. This is the pandemic aftermath of people still working from home, others who retired early, inflation that still hasn't let go and economic uncertainty. Mental issues abound. Some people are adrift which has led to addictions problems and chronic unemployment and lack of housing.

Osborne Village was called one of top neighbourhoods in Canada in the not to distant past and it could be again except security has to be raised for that to happen. Affordability in the area has dropped as small apartment units have disappeared in favour of luxury units and condos. Winnipeg is just a shade under what Edmonton's housing costs are and that is not good considering the wages are much lower here than there. The result is a lot of people cannot afford homes.

There are strong correlations on affordability and homelessness, poverty and addictions. All three levels of government have made a commitment to all sorts of housing going up this year but it a long process of gearing up. Approvals take forever, interest rates have affected budgets and supply chains are still struggling. Meanwhile, a number of people have fallen off any support system. The province is paying for overtime for police units to deal with the surge in crime.

The commercial strip along Osborne is getting a mix of new residential and commercial units. However, hundreds of residents in proximity to the latest attack shows that some people are not stopped by that. The drugs out on the street leave many in such a zoned out way that impulse control is lost. In other words, no shop or residence can afford to not keep doors locked and monitored. Step out of your place and you could be vulnerable. Even in your home, you might be vulnerable since arsons are everywhere.

The permanent closure of Starbucks for safety reasons is terrible. While not specifically stated, the open doors of their business as well as their washrooms meant staff felt and were facing increasing issues with security. Businesses like pharmacies and groceries with open doors are facing massive shoplifting issues that have only accelerated this past year. Not just here but everywhere. Big stores are reducing the amount of entrances to their business. Many stores are getting rid of self-checkouts and identifying it as problem area. 

Small businesses often require a knock on the door to get in. They never had self checkouts but layouts of stores not keep better sightlines. And no public washrooms. It is likely only increased security, changes in society and a more full court press on crime will help reduce the violence and property loss. The move by liquor stores to go to ID only entrance was able to stop the epidemic of violence and loss of goods inside. The cannabis stores never had to go through this because they had security built into their initial unveiling. A Safeway is not likely to ask for IDs. But it is entirely possible they set up more secure areas as they do with pharmacies. Stores in Britain and the U.S. are using bodycams for security. This could prove useful for identifying violent events and the people responsible.

The slow walking of actually approving housing developments puts pressures all along the system. It really can't take ten years to approve housing. Today's housing projects are likely the affordable housing 20 years down the road. The longer it takes to approve, the longer people have to wait. Meanwhile in that ten years houses are being lost simply due to age in some cases. It is worth mentioning this because the Osborne area has had people living on the riverbanks or various areas nearby the last few years. For many decades some of the most affordable housing was in the area. For Osborne to be safe or anywhere in the city for that matter, it can't have homeless desperately living through winters. Add to that struggling with medical, mental and addictions issues and you have communities that area struggling.

Unlike previous recessions, post-pandemic around the world has changed much about how we organize ourselves, work and look to have a civil society. Osborne Village will recover but much has to change. However, we are likely to see more store, restaurant and office closures before a handle is gotten on decline which is being seen here and many other places.

Sherbrook Inn and Vendor Closed

The announcement that Sherbook Inn had closed their vendor and lounge in the last weeks has been met by stony silence from the owners. The pawnshop and other businesses located in the building have as much information as the public does. The Tallest Poppy closed sometime ago.

The hotel sits in an area that has seen some spark of business but for decades, it has been the proximity to violence and perhaps even the source of problems in the area. It remains a question of whether parts of the neighbourhood are the problem or the hotel is the problem. Perhaps they feed off each other.

In the 1990s the area was suffering over a good part of the west end. Arson was a major problem as was rooming house murders. The hotel itself was scene of a murder back then and the reputation was a rough one. Since then we have seen part of Sherbrook and Maryland have new housing built, assisted living by the hospital and some new restaurants and shops.

The last few years have seen a return of arsons and nearby there were four people killed in a shooting. In another recent murder, the victim's truck was found in the hotel parking lot. The possible killer died after a police interaction. Drugs and alcohol have always played havoc in Manitoba. The harder drugs are hurting the entire continent. 

The province has been very slow on supporting rehab programs and supportive housing. Mental health supports have been just as challenging. The one thing that people in the West End all seem to agree on is that the Sherbrook Hotel has been scary and despite the efforts of some in the community to put wrestling in and Tallest Poppy, it has gotten worse, not better. 

The Free Press article ripping Sherbrook was one of utter contempt and disgust. The big question is: Will this compel the owners to sell? And if they sold, would it be another hotel operator to own it? At this point, the building may not be worth anything whereas the land might be. There is potential to turn this site into something that might enhance retail on Sherbook as well as provide housing. There have already been a few hosing projects along Sherbrook as well as Maryland that show developers are interesting in investing.

One thing for certain is that each block of an area has to be part of the solution to a vital neighbourhood. If the hotel is a no go zone then whatever success you have near the hotel or across from it is blunted by the feeling of danger.  A hotel by itself doesn't have to be a bad thing. The Osborne Village had at times been a vital part of the business and culture of the area. It remains to be seen whether its demolition and what is coming will contribute to a real street life presence on Osborne. Perhaps with some of the developments down the street, we might see Osborne be reborn again. But the rent for commercial and residential people has to be more sensible.

The backlash against high costs has hit even McDonald's which has taken hits for $3 hash browns in the U.S. The company has declared they will be looking at the affordability issue. This was major news worldwide as the CEO said the complaints have the company looking at this issue. This can be said of so many industries where they have kept increasing prices.

It is always somewhat amazing sometimes that commercial space goes unrented for so long. One of those reasons often is that some owners refuse to sell or bring down the price or subdivide. It will be interesting to see if the owners of the hotel will sell it as a hotel or for the land. Or maybe the wait goes on forever as we sometimes see. 

As with the 1990s, Wolsely is on the edge on either a slide downward or a turn for the better. In the past, a revival of property values, people investing in property and security, a downturn in crime helped west of Maryland become a favoured community to own a house and some businesses thrived. The hotel closure and something new happening on the land might help change things extending down Sherbrook and spread to surrounding streets.

At the moment no one knows what's happening. It can be a slow burn of empty properties just siting and doing nothing. Even on major roads like Portage Avenue it is surprising how many places remain idle year after year. Former hotels have been converted at the Clarion and now the Balmoral for medical visits from the north. By all appearances they seem to be a practical solution for a need that is growing with an aging population. In Minneapolis, some older hotels have been converted for local income housing for those who have been homeless.

The mayor and the premier have both said they want faster solutions to the housing crisis in our region. An old hotel on Sherbrook might be what is needed.

Manitoba Esports Presents - Canadian Esports Championship Series CECS Live!

Coming back for a second year but a new location, Manitoba Esports Presents - The Canadian Championship Series CECS Live! It will be the at the West End Cultural Centre on Ellice March 18 and 19, 2023. It will open at 11 AM Saturday and be a best of five Valorant series. It ends on Sunday with the championship game.

Sponsored by Encore Global, Shaw Spotlight and Red Bull and our artist and food vendors, CECS is the largest online and Large Area Network event in Manitoba and one of the biggest in Canada.

Tickets are available at manitobaesports.com and at the door starting at $15. Last event saw a lot of kids watching and playing Rocket League and other games on Switch.

Many volunteers will be present to assist players and young people both inside and outside the building and many parents will be present as usual.

Expect that the West End Cultural Centre to be a go to place in the future for computer and console gaming.
 

Drop in Dance Winnipeg Open

The former location of Loewen Piano House on north Portage had sat empty for a while very close to Rae And Jerry's at 1381 Portage. This area has always been a vital commercial area marked by music stores such as St. John's and Quest as well as dog, cat and fish shops and pizza restaurants sitting side by side. It was sad to see Loewen close. The days of boutique family piano stores in the vein of J.J.H McLean seem to be on the wane.

I had seen the windows papered over some time ago and new something was coming but last night while driving to a meeting, the lights were blazing and the sign stood out as Drop In Dance. And inside a busy hive of people in studio beyond in silhouette. On a very cold February with an army of snow clearing equipment on the streets, people were dropping in and dancing.

The concept of this business is in its name. It is a place that people can drop in for classes or renting the studio for dance. And clearly people in Winnipeg love to dance. There are dance schools throughout the city and performances and competitions constantly. Many of these schools and studios are in the suburbs. It would seem that a drop in studio is just perfect for Portage Avenue being on a major route with bus service, parking and residential neighbourhoods in proximity.

On a dark and cold night in the city, Drop In Dance radiated warmth and activity. And what more could want want for Portage Avenue?

Winnipeg Fire and Winter Cold

Winnipeg emergency services in deadly winters cold is a pretty miserable task. And a deadly one as well. Over the years Winnipeg firefighters have been hurt or killed trying to do their jobs. In recent weeks we have seen several residential apartment hit by fire and in some cases the damage looks greater than the structure can withstand. The heavy ice on a burnt out building is something to behold.

And so it was in 1987 when the Young United Church kitty corner to Broadway and Sherbrook Street burned down a few days after Christmas services on December 27. Most of the church was destroyed save for one tower which remains to this day.

In the 1980s many of the residential buildings in this areas had been converted to rooming houses. It was a tough area and on the verge of collapse as crime and arson plagued the area. Violence was common. Young United served this community as poverty and despair looked to move further west into Wolsely and down Sherbrook and Maryland towards Misericordia Hospital.

Alcohol was a huge factor but ritalin mixed with other things became a problem as a street drug. Police were up and down Furby and Young Street near the church not to mention ambulances and fire trucks. It was not difficult to see the entire city at the cusp of failure as the 1980 recession dragged.

In this time money was poured in from the Core Area Inititative, The Forks was just about to kick off as well as North Portage with Portage Place, Investors Group etc. Still, it was easy to feel like it was putting one finger in a dike only to have something else happen and not being able to stop the flood.

I walked past Young United Church regularly from 1983 to 1988 and again in the 1990s. If you missed the Academy bus, it was possible to walk from the The Bay and into River Heights before the next one came. Many times I just walked back from University of Winnipeg to home as a matter of course.

The church was a beautiful building. A few churches in the area were like that though. You just took it for granted. When I started back to school in January in my final year at U of W, the icy remains of the church looked incredible. However, the loss of the church itself struck me even though it was never one I attended.

One tower was preserved and the re-built but there was no way to restore the glory of the old building. I miss it. The above picture is from 1966. As you can see there has been a Shell station on the corner for decades. The top picture from 1987 shows gas was 39.9 cent a litre.

At least there were no human fatalities in the fire at Young United. In so many other cases in winter fires, firefighters and citizens have lost their lives.

Academy Manor

Academy Manor Free Press picture



Rooftop deck of Academy Manor



Academy Manor.

Prior to the construction of the 14 unit condo at 85 Academy Road stood a few houses just west of the Lutheran church. Number 75 and 87 Academy Road were like a number of houses on the north side facing Kelvin High School and St. Mary's Academy that were not nearly as posh as the ones behind them on Wellington Crescent. In fact, many of the houses were falling apart and some were soon regarded as undesirable. Eventually, the two houses above became derelict.

It was a concern to me that this might be an early indication of how River Heights might look if houses continued to fall into disrepair to the detriment of the neighbourhood as a whole. It wasn't an idle thought. Many neighbourhoods in the city have declined as residents have found other areas the flavour of the times. River Heights itself benefited from that migration as people moved from the Osborne Village, the West End, the North End and other places.

It was not beyond the possibility that River Heights and Crescentwood was seeing a decline that would slowly spread out beyond Academy Road. In recent years, however, that fear has subsided. Renovations seem to mark every street throughout River Heights and Crescentwood. Wellington Crescent has seen completion demolitions and new house construction. Some of those houses have not been without controversy. In fact, some of the houses such as the one where Izzy Asper's house was torn down are large for any type of neighbourhood you might have put it in. Thankfully, not every one of the new or renovated houses tosses aside the scale or the aesthetic of what is locally known as The Crescent.

Elsewhere in River Heights and Crecentwood have been renovations top to bottom in terms of revitalizing the housing stock and the character of a single family residence has been mostly maintained for the neighbourhood maintained.

Academy Road continues to have a few dozen homes from the Maryland and Sherbook bridges to Kenaston. Because of the traffic along the road, it has been harder to maintain the attractiveness for families living along it, especially closer to the bridge. The houses from Kelvin High School to the corner of Wellington and Academy have suffered over the years as mentioned.

This certainly had to be noticed by city council so when businessman Prakash Gowder bought 75 and 87 Academy Road and proposed a condo project, they likely jumped on it.

After years of work, controversy and lawsuits, the condo is being marketed to the public. The size of the project is what will strike people as the drive past. The units range from 1000 to 1000 square feet and the structure is four stories tall. I'm certain some of the people on Wellington Crescent must have dubious feelings about a property that looks down on them. Still, the alternative might have been a derelict house torn down and a empty field looking back on to Academy.

The prices of the condos are $400,000 to $1.5 million. It will be interesting to see if this will be attractive to buyers looking for unique properties in River Heights.

Expect to see some other houses along Academy if this project finds success.

I am not overly offended by the design but the possibility is that houses on the south-side of Wellington Crescent may also convert to condos as a response would not surprise. It is something to think about when the scale of condo projects gives pause to those buying houses close by.



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