Neighbourhood Character and Integrity: A letter from Waterfront Resident Edith Friesen

I am writing to voice my objection to plans for a 24-storey high-rise on top of the historic James Avenue Pumping Station on Waterfront Drive that were unveiled at an open house on August 6, 2013. While the proposed high-rise may save some parts of the heritage building and create more density, such an imposing building will (1) destroy the whole aesthetic of the neighbourhood, and (2) exacerbate the parking problems.  

The proposed skyscraper, which will protrude well above its built environment and change the overall skyline, disrespects the neighbourhood context. It does not fit into the aesthetic of this community. Its radical height does not relate well to the lower-profile buildings nearby or to the riverbank across the street. Such an over-powering building will stick out like a sore thumb, literally. A dominant, flashy skyscraper, like the proposed building, belongs in the heart of downtown, along with the other high-rises. It does not belong in the Waterfront neighbourhood. 

In 2005, the Historic Buildings Committee rejected a proposed 8-storey building on this site, in part, because it was deemed too dense and not modest enough in size and scale.

The current proposal also does not take this neighbourhood's parking problem into account. Anyone who lives here will tell you this is a serious issue. Why let the proposal go ahead before this issue has been figured out? 

I sympathize with the desire to save the historic Pumping Station, I fully support greater downtown density, and I understand the difficulty in making the numbers work for a developer of this property. However, a 24-storey high-rise, or anything more than 8 storeys, is totally WRONG for this site and this neighbourhood.

I speak as a resident who has lived in the Waterfront neighbourhood for seven years. Please remember that while this skyscraper may look showy on paper, such a two-dimensional representation, devoid of context and lived experience, can be deceptive. 

Before this proposal goes any further, I invite you to stand with me, on the corner of Waterfront and James, and imagine that you live in this community. Look at the tallest nearby building and multiply that by 3 times. Then imagine a 24-storey skyscraper looming above you, towering over the buildings in this neighbourhood, monopolizing the skyline.

Please say NO to this ill-conceived proposal; say YES to neighbourhood character and integrity.

Sincerely,

Edith Friesen

Resident of Waterfront Drive

Note: This letter was sent on Saturday, August 31, 2013 to Ross McGowan of CentreVenture; Mayor Sam Katz and City Councillors Mike Pagtakhan and Jenny Gerbasi; Cindy Tugwell of Heritage Winnipeg; Braden Smith, Lee Caldwell, and Kurtis Kowalke in the City of Winnipeg's Planning, Property, and Development Department; and John Giavedoni of the Exchange District Residents Association (R:ED)