Then plant some trees and leave it as such.

I sure hate to be a member of that ill fated golf club. I will bet, that the club will declare bankrupcty with in 5 years of moving to a new golf course.

I think the PG Golf Club is already bankrupt, or close to it. In addition they cannot complete or move to the new course until they receive some money for the old one, which hasnt happened yet, as far as I know.

I dont beleive they did any work on the new course last year, and it now seems that it could be another year before anything is done.

That is unless the City advances them the $15 Million dollars, for the property. I cant see that happening, so it looks like it may be curtains for the PGGCC.

Another car dealership. Maybe the Federal Government will provide the money. Thats all we seem to have in this nity grity town.
Cheers

Retired Be specific. Car dealerships or Federal governnment or money? Pick one. Remember what yer English teacher taught you? Our town isn't nity. It has been called a "gritty little mill town". Judging by all the nice and beautiful one ton trucks around town I believe you are right on both counts. Money is the same as credit? Right?

Interesting that Millburn was quoted early in December, by the Citizen, as saying the previoulsy planned, mid fall, public consultation would not happen until February....now it is by year end and another 12 month delay.

Seems to be a lot of red tape - I wonder how many developers from out of town are fed up with dealing with the City?

Will the City make the developers jump through all the hoops just to give them the go-ahead, make the plan look pretty and after the permits are issued just ignore the plan (kind of like the promised Condos Mr. Major promised downtown)?

If an Auto Mall were to be approved, what would happen with the abandoned dealerships?

Turn the abandoned dealerships into homeless shelters. After rezoning of course.

The City officials are now more than two years behind the Neighbourhood Plan schedule that they presented in 2007. Didn't they say in the Fall of 2007,that their plan would be ready in only 4 months? Also the City officials are being less than honest when they declare that they have had no indication of any demand for an auto mall. A number of recent planning models and Traffic Impact Studies have been presented to the City regarding this very matter.

Let's make it entirely green and then charge the long suffering taxpayers.

I'll bet that the golf course wished they would have sold the land when they first started getting offers, as it seemed like they started drawing out the process while they looked for better and better deals. Now they are dead in the water. Like Palopu said, they can't develop the new course until the current one sells and they likely can't sell the current course until the economy improves and a developer comes up with a viable plan for the lands that is approved by the city. That could take years more, LOL.

To add to their dilema, any redevelopment on that parcel of land would be big enough and "political" enough, that it would attract major attention and interest from the public. The last plan was open for public input and based on what I recall, the City received allot of feedback that the people of PG DID NOT want an Automall on that site and I'm sure that was one of the reasons why it was removed from the plan. I sure as heck wouldn't want to see an Auto Mall there. I actually can't think of a worse use of land for that site, short of a giant pawn shop perhaps.

Maybe the little fish at the golf course should refocus their attention and instead of trying to try to sell the land to a local developer, get a big fish on board who has deeper pockets and the experience to do a proper redevlopment of such a parcel of land. One gets the sense that this entire project is trying to be kept within the realm of the "old boys club" and that the scope of the project is so over the head of that group that they are drowning in their own inexperience on such matters.

The only good thing about said golf course is that the beetle killed trees are falling down by themselves. No need for any logging. A sign saying "Free Firewood" would be a blessing too. What a town! What a city council! What a joke!

The interesting thing about the golf course land is that it is now running competition with the Smart Growth on the Ground plans for downtown. That plan basically pushes for considerable growth in residential units in the downtown, especially in the Winnipeg-Vancouver corridor and north of 7th avenue between Quebec and Dominion.

That study also considers a low growth rate for PG in the next 20 to 25 years.

In a growing City, or a City willing to let its downtown struggle for another 25+ years or until there is a 2%+/annum growth rate sustained over at least 2 decades, one does not commence with a development such as is proposed for the Golf Course lands. That property, if developed along “smart growth” principles should be as self sustaining as possible with local workplace opportunities for those living there, local recreation/entertainment opportunities as well as local shopping opportunities, all designed to minimize driving requirements. The site should also be infused with a transit system which will link it to other similar PODS of more densely populated and more self sufficient developments. Such a development also needs a mixture of housing based on a demographic which addresses a large range of economic and demographic needs.

It will be interesting to see what the City will do with this. So far, their tactic of sitting on their behind, whether intentional or not, is probably the best approach since they cannot grow downtown housing, golf course housing, and the other suburban housing that they have approved in the past tow years.

Just off the top of the head estimate? 20,000 to 30,000 additional people here will start to use up the land that is ready for development now and can be ready in 5 years if push came to shove and they would relocate 20,000 refugees form some other place here.

"So far, their tactic of sitting on their behind, whether intentional or not, is probably the best approach since they cannot grow downtown housing, golf course housing, and the other suburban housing that they have approved in the past tow years"

I would agree. I'd also throw retail and commercial into that mix as well. We already have enough capacity in the current layout of the city to allow for material growth (and a subsequent increase in density), without having to make another huge chunk of land available. If that parcel of land does become available (which is really up in the air now IMHO), I think we should hold off on developing it until that "wow" project comes up, even if it's 10-15 years down the road. The proper development of that land could have a HUGE positive impact on the city and tying it up for decades with something as lame and shortsighted as relocated car lots and spec homes would be a catastrophic mistake in regards to the future development of the city.

A car lot much less a dealership would be a travesty for this city in that location. That property is PG's future hope IMO.

Its central to the downtown, the university, the recreation sites, and transportation infrastructure of the city. It is PG's town center as yet undeveloped and has far far more potential to take PG to another level, than any downtown plans I've heard of or could conceive. Its best that property is left alone until the right development comes along.

I think when it is developed it should be all done by a single developer as one large integrated project. Its focus should be the urban high density lifestyle that PG is lacking. It is far enough from the pulp mills (air pollution), and high enough from the river (underground parking) that it has a chance to succeed where the downtown never will.

I would envision medical staff and university students and temporary professional residents finding a home in that location considering its proximity to those types of institutions. I think in this way it would enable the university to another level, help retain professionals in this city, build a center of success to carry future downtown revitalization, and if planned right could fit well into a new high-tech center in the North.

Time will tell....

Harbinger, sorry for my bad spelling. At my age spelling isnt that important, its more about ideas and its for you to decide if those are valid aswell.

However I am gratefull that you did choose to coment on the token of widom that I have left with you. And a prosperous New year too you.
Cheers

Harbinger, sorry for my bad spelling. At my age spelling isnt that important, its more about ideas and its for you to decide if those are valid aswell.

However I am gratefull that you did choose to coment on the token of widom that I have left with you. And a prosperous New year too you.
Cheers

No problem, Retired. If that is all ya have to worry about, yer laffing. Too bad youth is wasted on the young. I need all the wisdom I can get.

I am not meaning to single out 'retired', but one thing he and many others fail to realize is, if your spelling and grammar are bad, it undermines whatever 'idea' you're trying to get across. But go ahead and keep telling us it doesn't matter.

I agree with your post completely Eagleone.

How about another pub or beer and wine store on the golf course site? I understand we have a shortage of them in PG.