Redevelopment Threatening Canada's "Pyramids on the Prairies"?

Recent developments in Winnipeg's historic warehouse district are coming under scrutiny after the district was places on an "Endangered Places" list.

1 minute read

August 13, 2010, 10:00 AM PDT

By Michael Dudley


Winnipeg's exchange District, which boasts North America's largest intact collection of historic warehouses, was declared a National Historic Site in 1997. Now the Heritage Canada Foundation is warning that the District is under threat from redevelopment.

"[Winnipeg's] warehouse district -- including the Exchange District National Historic Site -- is in danger of being paved into parkades and overtaken by new buildings. That's the warning from the national non-profit organization Heritage Canada Foundation, which placed the warehouse district in its sixth annual Top Ten Endangered Places list on Wednesday."

The Foundations singled out for criticism the decision by the CentreVenture redevelopment agency to permit the demolition of a vacant building to make way for the new headquarters of the regional health authority. The article goes on:

"But Ross McGowan, executive director of CentreVenture, the city's property development agency, calls the foundation's list 'irresponsible and inaccurate.' The Main Street buildings demolished for construction of a new Winnipeg Regional Health Authority clinic and offices were vacant for 20 years, he said. 'Anyone, including Heritage Canada Foundation, could have purchased them for $1 and no one ever did.'"

Thursday, August 12, 2010 in Winnipeg Free Press

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

Rendering of white three-story single-stair building in Austin, Texas with staircase in the middle.

Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway

Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.

30 minutes ago - Building Design & Construction

MARTA bus with Atlanta skyline in background

Atlanta Bus System Redesign Will Nearly Triple Access

MARTA's Next Gen Bus Network will retool over 100 bus routes, expand frequent service.

1 hour ago - Mass Transit

Tall modern condo buildings on both sides of CN Tower rising in middle.

Toronto Condo Sales Drop 75%

In two of Canada’s most expensive cities, more condos were built than ever — and sales are plummeting.

2 hours ago - Financial Post