There's a lot of residential development going on in Winnipeg...downtown.
Work is under way on several major residential developments along Waterfront Drive, and two more are to start in the spring.
Diane Bampton of CentreVenture says she understands from developers that interest in living downtown is high.
She says there is a high interest from people for an urbane environment, whether it's along the river, or in a loft condo such as the conversions that are taking place in some turn-of-the-20th-century buildings on Princess Street.
She adds there are several other smaller projects throughout the downtown area.
Bampton says there are already more than 13,000 people living downtown, and interest in downtown living is a North America wide phenomenon.
Meanwhile, Rudy Friesen of Friesen Tokar Architects says the downtown area is becoming the new "upscale" place to live.
His company is building "The Strand", a six storey condo unit, and has no trouble getting half a dozen calls a week about it, mainly from professional people, such as people who are being relocated to Winnipeg from larger cities.
Friesen says there is also interest in establishing things like coffee shops and grocery stores in the Waterfront Drive area to serve the residents.
CJOB's Nelson Williams reporting.