WINNIPEG — The head of True North Sports and Entertainment says an atmosphere of mistrust has forced him to put plans to develop two sites along Carlton Street on hold.
“You gotta say, enough stop. We’ve gotta stop and really reconsider whether we can do a project of that magnitude in this environment. So that’s what we’re gonna do.”
A visibly upset Mark Chipman made the comments at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
“To suggest it was done in backrooms, or private or secretively, not only is that offensive, that’s just flat out false,” said Chipman. He also said several members of the city’s administration were well aware of their plans.
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The True North chairman opened with a video of its proposed development. The rendering shows two buildings at the site of the former Carlton Inn, as well as on a lot across the street.
Chipman says Mayor Brian Bowman was shown the video following a Winnipeg Jets game in mid-November.
WATCH: True North Sports and Entertainment promo video for Winnipeg project
Mayor Bowman denied seeing the video in the past but during a phone interview with Global News late Wednesday afternoon admitted to seeing a video. “My understanding was that it was 225 Carlton in the video that I saw.”
The $400-million development at 220 Carlton and 225 Carlton included a hotel, residential building, and retail and restaurant.
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