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Ten years after the main level of a century-old Exchange District building was restored to its former glory, plans have begun to develop the rest of the structure — preferably into something that will serve Winnipeg’s arts community.
   
On Feb. 9, the first of two public meetings was held at the Millennium Centre to solicit ideas on potential uses for the building, described as "one of Canada’s finest architectural treasures." Located at 389 Main St., the structure was built in 1911 and was home to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce until 1969. Vacant for three decades, its first-floor space was eventually renovated and reopened in 2002 as a rental hall.
   
The opulent, 6,000-square-foot space — complete with marble walls and floor, a U-shaped, marble counter at which tellers once worked, ornately carved pillars and a massive, stained-glass dome inset into the ceiling 52 feet above the floor — is managed by Storm Catering on behalf of 389 Main Street Heritage Corporation, the non-profit organization that’s owned the building since 2000.
   
About 50 people attended last week’s meeting, which began with an hour-long tour of the building’s labyrinth of decaying rooms and hallways. Facilitating the consultation was Randy Joynt, executive director of Artspace, a not-for-profit arts-service organization approached by 389 Main Street Heritage Corporation to help develop a vision for the Millennium Centre.
   
Joynt said the past year has seen "a renewed interest and a new momentum" from the registered charity’s board of directors to begin development of the building’s other floors. With no mandate to turn a profit, Joynt said the hope is to transform the Millennium Centre into a space (or spaces) that could be used by Winnipeg’s arts community on a cost-recovery basis. This bucks a local trend, which has seen other heritage buildings in the area purchased by those who want to turn them into boutique hotels or parkades.
   
Joynt said bringing the structure back up to code will require major repairs to plumbing, heating and elevators, and will cost at least $3 million.
   
Ideas floated by those at the meeting included using it as a national or international gallery space, creating studio spaces for local artists, developing a multi-use performance venue, building affordable housing and/or accommodations for visiting artists, and establishing a weekly farmers’ market.
   
Artspace’s report for the Millennium Centre for 389 Main Street Heritage Corporation will contain recommendations informed by public input. Joynt said there’s "a will to see this done quickly" but acknowledged any development would be a multi-year process.