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To Downtown Winnipeg BIZ CEO Kate Fenske, Friday’s announcement of a Health-Care Centre of Excellence to anchor the redevelopment of Portage Place mall is the realization of a dream come true in the renewal of the city’s downtown.
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“When I think about the transformation that we’ve talked about and that’s happening in our downtown, this is really showing the true partnership and collaboration that we’ve been talking about for a number of years,” said Fenske, following the announcement of the 300,000-sq.-ft, 12-storey Health-Care Centre of Excellence. “We’re realizing this isn’t a dream anymore. This is becoming a reality. There are so many partners coming together to ensure that our downtown is strong moving forward.
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“I think what is really exciting is the commitments from all levels of government, looking at SCO, private sector, province, federal government, the municipality. Everyone is seeing downtown as important. We can’t leave it to chance and let’s put our investment where we’re talking about in terms of the reality and vision of what we want moving forward.”
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In addition to the Health-Care Centre of Excellence, a 15-storey housing tower will anchor the west pad of the Portage Place redevelopment, providing a physical and symbolic connection to SCO’s Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn project in the former Hudson’s Bay Company Building by way of the skywalk bridge connecting the two developments. The housing tower is planned to include affordable and accessible, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.
“Today is a fantastic announcement for the city and the province,” added federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, MP for St. Boniface – St. Vital, who represented the federal government at Friday’s event. “We’re all Winnipeggers so we know the history of Portage Place and the downtown. We know it needs a shot in the arm.
“There are some health and safety issues downtown. There’s some revitalization issues, housing issues and this is part of the solution It’s not the be all and end all but it’s a significant part.”
gdawkins@postmedia.com
X: @SunGlenDawkins
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