Annual Report
Catalyst for Change – The Forks North Portage Partnership
The mission of The Forks North Portage Partnership (FNP) is to act as a catalyst, encouraging activities for people in downtown through public and private partnerships and revitalization strategies; and to work to ensure financial self sufficiency.
The role of our organization is unlike any other in downtown Winnipeg. While acting as a catalyst for change we are also a development company, a parking manager, a theatre operator and stewards of the most popular tourist destination in the province among many other things.
The past year, our city has seen important new developments in our downtown. Large projects like Manitoba Hydro are mostly complete and we are beginning to see the benefits of an additional 2,000 additional office workers in our downtown. Plans are well underway to revitalize Central Park for use by a strong community of new Canadians, the MTS Centre continues to attract a large number of acts and patrons and the University of Winnipeg is expanding with new facilities to meet community and University needs
In neighbouring areas, Main Street will become the new home for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and the United Way, and the Exchange District’s iconic Market Square is getting a facelift.
All of the developments, small or large, add to the rich fabric of our downtown. The Forks North Portage works alongside many of the dedicated organizations who will continue to shape the downtown.
North Portage
Mission –
North Portage - Shall be a centre of commerce, culture and living, integrated to form a diverse downtown community through a mixture of public uses including: residential, commercial and institutional, recreational, educational, and entertainment facilities.
We took over the management of our parking operation at the North Portage and Forks sites four years ago, creating FNP Parking. We control 2500 parking spaces with 1500 on the North Portage site and our gross revenues were up 6% last year to $4.5 million. Parking revenues were up throughout our downtown with the influx of the nearly 2000 Manitoba Hydro employees.
As our largest single revenue generator, parking is a large part of our overall operations. It also serves another important function. Parking is a catalyst for bringing people to our neighbourhoods. For example, through arrangements with IMAX Theatre, the Globe Cinema and Prairie Theatre Exchange we are able to offer free parking as an enticement to bring people to these venues.
FNP also formed its own in-house security team just over a year ago. We hired an experienced security manager to manage costs and increase overall effectiveness of our programs. Aside from cost savings achieved, creating our own security team has had other positive benefits: a bike patrol program in the North Portage neighbourhood has been implemented, a skatepark users group at The Forks brings together users to create a more secure environment and partnerships with the Winnipeg Police Service have garnered improved relationships.
The Forks North Portage Partnership is both owner and operator of IMAX Theatre in Portage Place. It continues to be a strong draw for students from all over the province, with over 35,000 attendees Walk up sales for the theatre have declined this year, and attendance is below our projections. We continue to evaluate our film choices against educational content and mass appeal and are looking at other measures to improve the financial performance of the theatre.
We are exploring the possibilities of a lighting and retail strategy in the area behind Portage Place known as The Promenade. After analyzing traffic flow and identifying opportunities for both retail development and public space enhancement, the preliminary design concept includes a large canopy of lights leading from the doors of Portage Place to Central Park, creating a beautiful connection to the surrounding neighbourhood. This project will enter the feasibility phase in 2010/2011.
FNP has played a role in the downtown weather protected walkway system by providing financial management services to the project. The expansion will connect the existing walkway system through to the Winnipeg Convention Centre with an overhead passage from CityPlace Mall to 330 St. Mary, above Hargrave Street, and in front of the Delta Hotel connecting to the existing links at the Convention Centre and 155 Carlton. The walkway expansion is being funded by the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement, CityPlace, the Delta Hotel, LaSalle Investment Management, and the City of Winnipeg.
We purchased 315 Portage Avenue, the Mitchell Copp building as a redevelopment site and continue to seek interesting mixed use ideas for the space. We also continue to explore possibilities for the development of the pad sites at the east and west end of Portage Place.
Working in partnership with Hostelling International, FNP acquired the Downtowner Hotel several years ago on Ellice. The facility has gone from 75 to 100 bedrooms and is targeting 18,000 room nights with students, backpackers and travelers from around the world. The LO Pub has been doing extremely well within the neighbourhood and the management has now taken over the LO Café as well.
Over the past year we continued to work closely with the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation, chaired by Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, by participating on the Board and Development Committee and providing feasibility analysis, financial management, and accounting services.
We are collaborating with CentreVenture on their vision to revitalize Central Park. The project, a combination of funding from the public and private sector, will bring the historic park back to the community. Much of the project is slated to be completed this fall and it is anticipated it will become the focal point of its community.
FNP is also actively involved in the Downtown BIZ, with members of our staff participating at both the board and committee levels. We support the BIZ’s initiatives in marketing our downtown and keeping it clean and safe.