‘Innovative and inclusive’ approach to transform five Winnipeg properties into 700 housing units

Bryce Nelson knows how difficult it is for people with disabilities to live independently in Winnipeg.

Nelson has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and lives with his parents. Living at home gives him the freedom to be active in his community while having disability supports — a quality of life not afforded to some of his friends who struggle to find housing that is both accessible and integrated with their communities.

“I want to move out eventually, but I don’t know what I would do and who would assist me if I moved out,” the 36-year-old said Monday.

He hopes new accessible housing in store for St. Boniface will change that.

A plot of land at 825 Taché Ave. is one of five properties put up for sale or lease in March, the city announced Monday.

Four developers were found through the Housing Accelerator Fund’s office for land enhancement, and one site, at 545 Watt St., was made available by the Elmwood Community Resource Centre, which holds the lease.

“Through the land enhancement office, we’re turning underused city land like this into housing that serves the needs of our community,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said at the Taché site Monday.

All told, the developments will add almost 700 units to the housing landscape, including 270 affordable suites.

“(This is) the kind of innovative and inclusive approach we want to see across the city,” the mayor said.

“These are homes for families, they’re opportunities for seniors to age in place, they’re supports for people with disabilities, they’re places where our community will grow together and grow stronger.”

The St. Boniface apartment block will be developed by Réseau Compassion Network and CoHabit, which seeks to provide accessible options to people with disabilities. Out of 65 units, around 20 will be designated as affordable.

Réseau Compassion Network chief executive officer Daniel Lussier said they stepped forward to develop the property to fill a “significant gap” in housing for people with disabilities who don’t meet the eligibility criteria for provincial disability services and need more support than basic home care.

“We started to dream about building such a place, an intentional, accessible, affordable and inclusive living environment where people with physical disabilities could create natural and meaningful connections that would alleviate loneliness and isolation and support their overall well-being,” Lussier said, adding the city’s approach has made a difference.

“I can attest that (new developments) just don’t happen without that type of dedication and commitment.”

After the city announced it was seeking buyers for the former Pembina Highway police station who would be willing to build affordable housing in May, Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation saw it as an opportunity to alleviate long wait-lists for housing for its 2,300 members, most of whom live in Winnipeg.

“We have about 700 members that live on reserve, and we have about 200 houses on reserve,” Wendell Sinclair Jr., a Brokenhead councillor, said.

The First Nation wants to build a mixed-income apartment at 1350 Pembina Hwy., with 144 units, about half of which would be designated as affordable. Sinclair said the housing will be available to Brokenhead members as well as the public.

“A lot of our people live in poverty within the city of Winnipeg, and to be able to provide affordable rental units for our members and for the general public, I think that’s huge,” he said. “That helps with their everyday life and their ability to live in a safe and clean environment.”

The 545 Watt St. site will be home to a “mixed-use neighbourhood hub complex,” and will include 100 or so units and a drop-in space with counselling and other programming, said a news release from the city.

The University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corp. 2.0 Inc. will develop an approximately 140-unit mixed-use building at 425 Osborne St., with most being deemed affordable. The city is also considering including office space and a Winnipeg Transit service centre in the building, subject to council approval.

At 565-569 Watt St., Futuremark Development plans to construct an approximately 247-unit apartment block that will include 74 affordable units.

Another property listed through the land enhancement office, 795 William Ave., received no viable expressions of interest. The city said it’s “reconsidering the focus for this land.”

Applications for rezoning and development are expected to be presented to council this fall and must be approved before construction can begin.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca