LONGBOAT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND GROUPE GERMAIN HOSPITALITY TO DEVELOP A 200,000 SQ. FT., 20-STOREY MIXED-USE TOWER THAT WILL BE HOME TO ALT HOTEL AND WINNIPEG'S STANTEC OFFICE
CentreVenture Development Corporation announced the details today of a major real estate development project in the heart of the Sports Hospitality Entertainment District. Located on Portage Avenue, this important project will be jointly developed by Longboat Development Corporation and Groupe Germain Hospitality. The building, covering 200,000 square feet over 20 storeys, will house the province's first ALT Hotel and the headquarters of Stantec's Winnipeg office, a Canadian based professional consulting company. This is the first private investment in several decades in this part of the city, and will significantly contribute to the revitalization.
"Downtown Winnipeg's historic comeback as an exciting destination for Manitoba families and visitors alike is in full swing," said Premier Selinger. "This major private investment next to the home of the reborn Winnipeg Jets demonstrates the kind of private-sector confidence that results when governments, agencies and community partners work together toward a shared vision of renewal."
"I am proud, as Mayor of Winnipeg, that the City has created the climate that attracts major private investment critical to revitalizing our city's downtown," said Mayor Sam Katz. "This key location, as a rejuvenated hospitality and commercial development, is a catalyst to returning Portage Avenue to the vibrant hub it once was and I commend CentreVenture for their dedication to ensuring this development became a reality."
Stantec will provide full architecture and engineering services to design the mixed-use tower. As an anchor tenant, Stantec will bring over 250 employees to the new Stantec Building when it opens in 2013. The project includes restoration and reuse of the Mitchell-Copp building's historic façade. It will form an important part of the new development's character and serve as the main entrance to the office component. The 200,000 square feet project will incorporate a new 20-storey tower where Groupe Germain Inc. will operate their ALT Hotel brand with 154 rooms on the upper 12 floors. The main floor will be retail and restaurant space, and offices on floors two to six, with Stantec occupying over half the available area.
"Getting control of the former A & B Sound building was critical to our ability to advance the Portage Avenue Strategy", said Ross McGowan, President & CEO of CentreVenture. "In colloboration with the Forks North Portage Partnership, we were able to consolidate this site with the Mitchell-Copp building. The assembly of the two properties created a site large enough for a significant development and we are ecstatic that Longboat Development Corporation (LDC) stepped to the plate with a redevelopment plan. We believe the confidence LDC and ALT Hotels have in the downtown is just the tip of the iceberg and we will see increasing private sector investment in the downtown as a result of this bold development statement".
"We are great believers in the rejuvenation of Winnipeg's downtown and the vision CentreVenture is creating for the SHED district in particular," according to Jeoff Chipman, President & CEO of The Stevenson Group, which includes Longboat Development Corp. "We realize that Portage Avenue is the 'face' of our downtown and a major initiative for this project is to focus an entire new, vibrant level of activity to the corner of Portage and Donald. Longboat has invested substantial time and effort on the project and we will continue to push forward to bring the building image unveiled here today to reality. We're confident this can be the all-important first step in the creation of the SHED district."
Yes Winnipeg! working with ANIM (Manitoba's bilingual Trade Agency) facilitated the connection between CentreVenture and the Quebec-based Groupe Germain Hospitality. The ALT brand is a refreshing alternative hotel experience, developed by the Germain family, pioneers of the Boutique-hotel concept in Canada. This leading-edge company attracts business and leisure travelers combining comfort and innovation with a unique pricing strategy. In short, ALT means a unique alternative to conventional hotels, at an accessible price - with easy access to transportation, services, businesses, and recreation.
"We're thrilled to be taking part in this important project in Winnipeg. It is a perfect fit for the development strategy of our ALT Hotel banner in Canada. We have met people in Winnipeg whose drive and enthusiasm are contagious. The project we're participating in will definitely make this part of the city a lively neighbourhood," said Jean-Yves Germain, co-president of Groupe Germain Hospitality.
"We're thrilled to be taking part in this important project in Winnipeg. It is a perfect fit for the development strategy of our ALT Hotel banner in Canada. We have met people in Winnipeg whose drive and enthusiasm are contagious. The project we're participating in will definitely make this part of the city a lively neighbourhood," said Jean-Yves Germain, co-president of Groupe Germain Hospitality.
CentreVenture Development Corporation was created in June 1999 as an arms-length agency of the City of Winnipeg. CentreVenture's mandate is to stimulate downtown revitalization by creating an environment for private sector businesses and government to work together and to promote the downtown to investors, businesses and residents. CentreVenture serves as an advocate and a leader for downtown in promoting development by identifying opportunities, creating partnerships, forming innovative improvement strategies, providing information and by serving as an accessible conduit to support initiatives.
About Groupe Germain Hospitality
A family-owned Quebec company, Groupe Germain owns and operates five Le Germain Boutique-hotels - in Quebec City, Montreal, two in Toronto and Calgary - as well as two "no-frills-chic" ALT Hotels in Montreal's Quartier DIX30 and Quebec City. A third ALT property is currently under construction at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Groupe Germain is renowned for the impeccable hospitality and style it brings to its Boutique-hotels.
Media Contacts
Ross McGowan
President & CEO
CentreVenture Development Corporation
mcgowan@centreventure.com
T 204.954.7733
Catherine Verdone
Groupe Germain Hospitality, National Marketing Director
cverdone@hotelboutique.com
T 514.954.4414 extension 223