>> Rush-hour traffic doesn’t bother Joseph Ranseth, although it was a driv- ing force behind his decision to live downtown when he moved back to Winnipeg from Phoenix in 2011. A marketing strategist, Mr. Ranseth hasn’t commuted since he rented an apartment in the newly-revamped The Avenue building on Portage Avenue last year. And he says the move brought other spinoff benefits. “The biggest thing that I found with liv- ing downtown is my pace of life, con- trary to what most people would think, has actually slowed down,” he says. “In- stead of driving everywhere in a rush, I walk.” A country boy at heart, Mr. Ranseth grew up in Beausejour and he says there are elements of small-town life in his urban neighbourhood. He’s found that people who choose to live downtown tend to be invested in the community. And there’s a certain familiarity that comes with frequenting the same res- taurants and retailers. “I have the regular places that I go to and so I find that there’s a lot more of the traditional community. You see the regular faces, the regular people.” Downtown Winnipeg Biz Executive Director Stefano Grande says about 16,000 people live downtown and over the next three years, he expects up to 4,000 more people to move to the area as 1,500 to 2,000 more condo units be- come available. Mr. Grande says innovative policies have encouraged residential development. Rezoning allowed for condo conver- sions in Exchange District warehouses and the city and province created a $40 million fund, the Downtown Residen- tial Development Grant Program, that lets developers apply for up to $40,000 for each residential unit created down- town, with higher grants awarded to more affordable units. Mr. Grande says there’s a lingering perception that downtown has a high crime rate, but the fact is the crime rate has been declining for years.
Downtown Community Spotlight
<< Kristen (left) and Gail Walker say their move to the downtown has simplified their lives. (See story page 90)
Downtown Neighbourhoods:
East Exchange St. Boniface
Cont’d on page 88
Parade of Homes Spring 2013 87
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