The Winnipeg Free Press

A century-old downtown bank building has been bought for the bargain price of $170,000 by an architectural firm trying to help revitalize a bleak stretch of Main Street. Bridgman Collaborative Architecture, which purchased the old Dominion Bank building at Main and Higgins Avenue, is just one of three businesses eyeing and buying property on the North Main strip. Just up the street, the Neon Factory sign shop is set to move into new digs from its current location on Princess Street. And on the other side of Higgins, another vacant piece of property is being considered by the Median Credit Union, currently located on Broadway. "All over Winnipeg are these magnificent jewels that are in danger, obviously," said architect Wins Bridgman of the 100-year-old bank building his firm bought in late 2006. "When you open them up and begin to do even the minimal amount of work... you have a magnificent building, an unbelievable building." The Dominion Bank building, across the street from Thunderbird House, was last occupied by an engineering firm a few years ago.