City workers could staff former Canada Post office tower
City employees could one day fill the office tower connected to the downtown police station.
In 2009, the city agreed to buy the former Canada Post tower and warehouse on Graham Avenue for $29 million. Police work out of the warehouse and a portion of the office building.
The scandal-plagued police headquarters construction project ballooned in price, and is the subject of lawsuits.
On top of that, the city has struggled to find tenants for the tower. Of the 11 floors, six are currently vacant.
It was once valued at $18 million, but several repairs are required for the structure that opened in 1958.
An attempt to find a reuse for it in 2016 failed.
City Property Committee Chair Cindy Gilroy said there are also security issues to think about.
“I think the Winnipeg Police Service has indicated they want to make sure they know who the tenants are in the building and I think that's a security thing," said Gilroy.
Now the city has released a Request for Proposal seeking a $120,000 feasibility study to reoccupy the tower. The winning bidder would detail the condition of the building, the work needed to renovate it and bring it up to code, and how much it would cost.
"As the tower has been mostly vacant for a prolonged period, it is necessary to determine the extent of remedial work required throughout the building prior to occupancy and any new tenant..." states the RFP.
The RFP also says while tenants have not been finalized, it's expected employees from select city departments will be included in the mix.
As downtown continues to struggle with many still working from home full or part time, the city says this plan aligns with an April consultant's report recommending the city consider consolidating municipal properties by moving workers into the tower.
"I don't really want to see an empty space within our downtown, we're seeing those challenges downtown, this is an opportunity for us to, you know, get our staff there," said Gilroy
There are also financial reasons to fill the tower. The city says 2021 numbers show costs to operate the tower are exceeding revenues by $670,000. It says that figure does not include the value of space currently occupied by police and municipal accommodations staff.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.