Chicago style loft condo in the heart of the Exchange District. This condo was designed by the prestigious design firm of Everett Design Associates for current owne . At 1810 SF this hip condo features 2 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms, incredible soaring ceilings, gorgeous exposed brick walls, and hardwood floors . Sleek modern, rich-grained cappuccino kitchen with high-end appliances and fabulous entertainment size island all feature granite counters. Very large and open great room area. Custom-designed master suite features loft doors. The building features convenient street-level secured entry with full access elevators and security monitors. Heated underground parking includes security surveillance and direct elevator access.

This is a fabulous executive suite wt 1253 sq ft of great finishes. This Waterfront executive condo includes hardwood flrs, gourmet maple & granite kit 2 beautiful baths. With expansive nine foot high ceilings, panoramic seven foot high windows, designer colour schemes and elegant touches , this suite is designed for carefree living. Concrete and steel construction provides quietness and privacy. Heated and secure parking, monitored security, are just some of the comforts of living at this suite. Comforts extend to the exterior space; an exclusively private and beautifully landscaped common courtyard featuring a fountain, trees and shrubs as well as flowers The deluxe master bedroom ensuite along with the huge walk-in closet in the master bedroom need to be seen to be appreciated. A nice large entry foyer along with a large in-suite laundry/storage room are also just one of the great extra features of this unit. Step outside to your oversized balcony wt bbq gas hookup and admire the Paddle Wheel cruise.

View this recently sold Bungalow or see all my home sales

Showings start July 12th, Offers July 20th after 5Pm. Fight suburban sameness, this suite takes you to new heights! Penthouse living in one of our city's coolest buildings, overlooking Exchange Cube Bandstand and the park. Live with other designers , artists and architects and discover what they have known all along. Truly amazing design and finish in this 2 bedroom plus den loft, stunning kitchen with concrete counters, loft bathrm, multi level master bedroom, roof top deck is possible, skip the rest and see the best loft in Winnipeg for under $280,000.00.

View this recently sold Two Storey Cabover or see all my home sales

View this recently sold Warehouse Conversion Condo or see all my home sales

View this recently sold Penthouse Condo or see all my home sales

This loft is located in the heart of Winnipeg’s East Exchange with theatres, restaurants, museums, retail, banking, the Forks, MTS Centre, Canwest Park, and Portage and Main – all within walking distance. Lofts on Bannatyne is one of Winnipeg’s finest hard loft conversion projects. This quiet & sunny unit with NE elevation boasts four oversized windows looking out to the theatre district. Back entrance to building provides easy access to the Centennial Concert Hall, MTC, Pantages Theatre, and the Warehouse Theatre without the need for a car or parking. Heated underground parking includes security surveillance and direct elevator access.This custom-designed unit is called the “Gallery” model as it features a 65-foot long halogenlit gallery, which functions as a hall and reception area, perfect for entertaining & displaying art. Interior décor includes 16-foot ceilings, sol d brick walls, Douglas Fir beams and ceiling, Italian tile, granite counters, hardwood floors, track and pendant halogen lighting. Designer kitchen features 13-foot granite countertop perfect for cooking, entertaining, and relaxing. Expresso-coloured hardwood cabinets & stainless steel Kitchen Aid appliances complete the kitchen design. Custom-designed walk-in closet in master suite features 185 sq ft of shelves, drawer stacks, and wardrobe hanging finished in maple veneer. Convenient street-level secured entry with full access elevators and security monitors.

Downtown Living Tour 2010

Another year, another great tour. This was my fourth year of helping head up the residential leg of the program and there have been real changes in the attitudes of the folks who participated in the tour.

This year has been filled with incredible changes in people's perceptions of what downtown living is all about.  In working with the Downtown Biz and CentreVentur, I suggested that this year we should try to feature current residents of the Exchange and ask if they would open their doors to the public.  283 Bannatyne came forward with welcoming arms.

Although we could not participate in the building's tour (we were across the street at 100 Princess), we really benefited from the afterglow of folks leaving 283 Bannatyne's finished suites.  Folks came to our building and looked at it as a canvass for their ideas.  This is very different from years past when folks would come through our unfinished warehouses and wonder what on earth we were attempting.

100 Princess had folks excited at the prospect that more quality residences had become available to them. 3 were sold on the day of the tour and many folks have contacted us about how they can find out more about this project. Because possession date will not be for a year, it is not for everyone.  But be certain that other product continues to come on the market in our downtown and I am always your key person to contact for all you real estate needs.

Last night my wife and I attended the Martha Wainright concert at the Pantages, she has a new album in which she has redone Edith Piaf's music.  It was incredible, but I digress. As usual, I ran into many Downtown Residents that talked to me about the tour.  They were really overjoyed with the opportunity to talk to folks about how great downtown living really is.

The photo you see above has been graciously provided to us by John Giavedoni, head of the RED.  Thank you John for keeping your lens up and documenting so much of the historic social changes we contunue to see in our beautiful downtown.

Today I was interviewed by Richard Cloutier on CJOB as a representative of this weekend's Downtown Living Tour.  5 years running and I continue to help out the city departments organize this event.  A great new feature this year is my new project at 100 Princess. I also have a resale at 181 bannatyne featured in the tour. 283 Bannatyne is opening its doors to show off how beautiful living downtown can be.

Hundreds of  of Winnipeggers will board shuttle buses for a tour of condos and apartment buildings, Stephano Grande said he wanted to showcase some affordable housing available in the area, in addition to the popular high-end condo developments cropping up in the Exchange. The event is presented by the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ and CentreVentre Development Corporation.

SS Monday June 28, offers Wed, July 7th, 2010 at 6:00. Everybody is looking for a home like this, now it is here. Priced very well and well maintained with a 49x282 treed lot Home shows great. Ideal for single person or couple or use as a revenue property , Close to St. Vital Park, St. Vital Center, minutes from U of M. Foundation appears to be block & wood

View this recently sold 2 Storey Home or see all my home sales

View this recently sold Condo or see all my home sales

A new Transcona project that is affordable, well built and very nice quality. This building is designed and built with folks who want convenience, quality and no worries in their next home. This is a 1 bedroom plus a den suite with a great 4' X 12" balcony. The building is located on a quiet street, but it is close to all amenities including Safeway, Bank, Liquor Store, Dentist, C-Store, Dollar Store, Video Store, Casino and Bus. maple cabinetry, air conditioning units, appliances and individually controlled heating in each suite.

One of a kind opportunity for Downtown loft living. Located across from U of W * Designed & built by one of Winnipeg's hottest design teams. High end and cutting edge design with absolute & complete attention to detail and professional craftsmanship . Features include soaring 24' ceilings, skylight, hardwood & ceramic flooring, designer kitchen with high gloss acrylic cabinetry, wrap around custom glass counter tops & top of the line appliances, notable lighting design throughout (thoughtful to living and looks), main flr stackable laundry centre, brilliant spa bathroom, large balcony, unique steel, glass & wood "floating" staircase, custom crafted loft doors, upper level FLOATING CUBE (2nd bedroom or den, private master bedroom with mind bending ensuite & walk-in closet space, and so much more.

Beautiful building and fantastic penthouse suite. Completely finished out to perfection. This suite is a corner end unit located in the heart of Osborne Village and overlooking the river and the entire half of the city . Everything is done in this suite in decorator colours and style. New engineered hardwood floors in a rich dark stain. New kitchen featuring plenty of cabinets, a painted back glass back-splash. stylish new light fixtures throughout. The eat-in-kitchen includes a dishwasher, fridge and stove. Ensuite and main bathroom have been completely remodeled and feature beautiful taps and cabinetry. The large master bedroom features a walk -in-closet and built in organizer. Heated under ground parking . Super location, walking distance to all shops, restaurants, and just walking distance to downtown.

View this recently sold Hard Loft Condo or see all my home sales

I began my day today in an interesting, but appropriate way. I was in attendance at Robert Enright's book launch Body Heat: The Story of Woodward's Redevelopment.  A story on how one of Canada’s most innovative mixed-use developments became a reality after many years of dormancy as a derelict department store!

Several years ago I visited Vancouver with my wife and family.  Being from a long line of Real Estate investors, we decided  before we visited Stanley Park, we all wanted to see what downtown Vancouver was working on.  It was at this time that we strolled into the show room for the exact development Robert Enright discusses in his book.

This mixed use development of approximately one million square feet contains market and non-market residences, a 1908 heritage building with retail, offices and a daycare centre and SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts. It also includes public spaces and urban parks. All of the 536 market condos sold in a day over three years ago while low-income families and single residents are moving into the 200 affordable rental apartments.

As one development promotional ad proudly states: Woodward’s champions ideals of heritage revival, sustainable design, mixed-use planning and contemporary culture. 

Mr. Enright’s thoughts on what our city can learn from the Woodward’s story is intriguing. I enjoyed the presentation by Robert Enright on this amazing, and  by world standards, housing mega-project. The costs, complexity and sheer will of the developers is astounding. The differing political/demographic/cultural groups that met and allowed this development is beyond my comprehension.

But what to make of it for Winnipeg? Its far to large, expensive and extreme for Winnipeg’s more frugal economic climate, but there was still much to provoke thought on how it relates to Winnipeg.

Probably the most important single thought I left with was how the development's brave, honest, and in the end, successful marketing did not run away from urban grit but instead it embraced it. In contrast, I, in Winnipeg, as the downtown specialist, am forced (the only true word to use) to down play this same grit. Vancouver marketing genius Rennie is bold in stating “live bold or go back to the suburbs” and using wording that states “not manufactured, homogenized, or Walt Disnified”, this development is where drugs change hands and the homeless roam the street. This approach in Winnipeg would gather attention but for all the bad reasons.

Winnipeggers, I agree with Rennie's view of city centres, "If you live downtown, any downtown in any big city in the world, crime, poverty and the whole urban bowl of spaghetti is the rule". And people love it. Paris, New York and all the great cities of the world have a virtual “circus” in their downtowns and the world loves them for it.

When will we arrive in our city's centre together. When will we understand a big open field of grass doesn’t make for a great city, but rather tight, lively interaction creates the human dynamic that makes life interesting. When will we grow up and leave our small town vision behind.

I don’t know but when I see how Vancouver breathes and lives, when I examine their often enlightened approach to social issues, their green obsession, their health obsession, I think we need to learn from them, accept our gritty downtown landscape and plant some seeds for growth.

I know, I know, the grass is always greener, and they have their problems, but listening to Mr. Enrights stories about the Woodward development, I left jealous of our West Coast fellow Canadians. And all I can think is, why doesn't all the fertilizer our politicians spread, make Winnipeg's proverbial grass a little greener?