Downtown Winnipeg is about to change.
With the acquisition of Portage Place Mall, True North Real Estate Development has unveiled plans for one of the most ambitious redevelopment projects in our city’s history. The 6.4 acre site is set to become a community-focused campus anchored by multi-family and affordable housing, a state-of-the-art Healthcare Centre of Excellence, Indigenous-led housing initiatives, retail shops, and public spaces.
To give our members a closer look at this vision, we connected with Jim Ludlow, President of True North Real Estate Development, for a Q&A on what this redevelopment means for Winnipeg’s business community, and his perspective as one of the leaders driving it forward.
And for those who want to go deeper, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with Jim face-to-face at our September Luncheon on Friday, September 26, where he’ll share a full update.
The Chamber: Portage Place is one of the most significant redevelopments projects in our city’s history. As a born and raised Winnipegger, what excites you the most about the finished project?
Jim Ludlow: Every city has a central meeting place – for entertainment, for commerce; to meet each other and to greet guests. Redeveloping Portage Place is a key step to strengthening Winnipeg’s meeting place. It means reinvigorating a love for downtown that was so strong when I was young, and is part of setting up that affection for next generations.
Affordable housing, Indigenous-led initiatives, and healthcare are all central to this project. Why is it important to anchor around these priorities?
Each of these aspects of the redevelopment of Portage Place meets pivotal needs in our community. The demand for affordable housing is obviously a priority for every community in the country. The opportunity to partner with Indigenous organizations to set new standards for economic reconciliation is not only an honour to take part in, but a standard our company believes in to its core. Having much needed and cutting edge health care facilities centrally located is a benefit to all Winnipeggers from every neighbourhood in the city.
There are clear, direct impacts this project will have on Winnipeggers living, working, and playing downtown. But how do you see this affecting our broader community?
No matter where you live in Winnipeg, it is important to have a centrally located neighbourhood that everyone can access, be proud of, see a concert, performance, or a game, and allow visitors to come and say, “Hey, this city is cool, it has a vibe.”
You’ve had a monumental career spanning law, venture capital, and sports (Go Moose, go Jets!), before transitioning to your role as president for True North Real Estate Development in 2014. What was the most important lesson you learned in a previous role that’s helped you succeed in this one?
Think ahead. Plan carefully. Allow your staff to be creative and help in that planning process. And if your decisions work for the community, they likely work for the company. That’s more than one lesson!
How has your work on True North Square shaped the way your approaching the redevelopment of Portage Place?
Partnerships are critical – working with highly skilled companies such as A49 and PCL Construction gives us a tremendous advantage in design and execution. Our team learned a lot about how attention to detail can keep a project on focus.
What opportunities do you see emerging from this project for fellow Winnipeg Chamber members?
Don’t just think about Portage Place! Add the conversion of the former Hudson Bay building by Southern Chiefs Organization into Wehwehneh Bagahkinagohn and the completion of the Sutton Place Hotel by Northlands Corporation along with Portage Place and you have over a billion dollars of investments in just one part of the downtown coming on stream over the next four years. I hope Chamber members and business groups everywhere are eying those as a package and saying, “Where can my organization or company weigh in to that energy?”
We understand you’ve also volunteered your time on the boards of Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Winnipeg Art Gallery, and the Walker Theatre Performance Arts Group Inc. As someone who’s been deeply involved across our arts, sports, and business sectors, the sectors that arguably do a lot to represent what Winnipeg is, how do you think this project will affect our city’s identity?
One of the key factors is people. Hundreds of new residents, staff, customers, and visitors will join thousands of Winnipeggers who already visit or live downtown. That will add more vibrancy, health, and safety to the city centre. And that vitality means a boost in pride for everyone.
If you could share one message with Winnipeg’s business leaders on downtown revitalization and their role in it, what would you say?
It says on the banners we put on the building after we purchased it: “Love Your Downtown!” But beyond this message, get involved. Look for ways to leverage these investments. Be creative. Harness this energy to make more of it.
Come harness the energy and connect directly with Jim at our September Luncheon on Friday, September 26. You’ll hear more about Portage Place, what it means for your business, and enjoy networking with Winnipeg’s business and community leaders.
