Plans approved for affordable housing
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The East Kildonan-Transcona community committee met on June 22 to weigh in on a range of plans and community concerns.
Plans for two affordable housing developments were approved. The first, at 99 Transcona Blvd., is a 25-unit affordable housing project for veterans, and 565 Watt St., a 241 unit affordable apartment building, though the committee asked the lighting to be considered for the Watt Street development and that it be designed to complement a neighbouring development at 545 Watt St.
A public hearing was held for a variance application for 565 Watt St. to allow for smaller front and side yards for the new development, along with 145 parking spaces, and 12 accessory guest parking spaces nearby. The application was approved. Nobody registered in opposition to the application.
File photo
Plans for 565 Watt St., a 241 unit affordable apartment building, were approved by the East Kildonan-Transcona community committee on June 22.
“I think this housing is going to be a big asset to the community and I’m looking forward to seeing it take shape,” Coun. Emma Durand-Wood (Elmwood-East Kildonan) said in support.
Plans for an 89-unit multi-family development on Plessis Road came before the committee again, with members raising questions about the site’s existing natural habitat — the field is currently home to various birds and wildlife. The committee, which approved the plans, viewed the development as inevitable, but called for measures to minimize disturbance to the area’s wildlife during its construction.
Later on in the meeting, committee was presented a revised plan for a new eight-unit apartment building at 621 Pandora Ave. W. The updated proposal had a taller building compared to the one presented back in September 2025.
Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) recommended to replace shrubs with trees in some parts of the site plans.
“Garbage blows and gets into the shrubs, and it will be better to have trees,” said Wyatt during the meeting.
The committee flagged the change as a potential concern for neighbouring residents on the sun and shade. Administration had previously recommended against the project in 2025, but indicated their willingness to approve the current version.
The committee then also considered a proposal for the 485 Grassie Blvd., using the item as an opportunity to raise wider concerns about the road itself, noting that Grassie does not have consistent sidewalks between Lagimodière and Plessis and called for the street to be widened for the traffic. They also requested that the intersection of Grassie and Plessis be prioritized for winter sanding.
The committee described the corner as dangerously icy due to a lack of windbreak — meaning no trees, buildings, or other structures nearby to block wind, which accelerates ice formation on the road surface.
The group also looked into the other development proposals — members supported the plans on Reenders Drive, noting the site had long been anticipated for development.
The committee also welcomed a park development agreement for Summerlea Central Park.
Further into the meeting, the committee approved a $112,500 community incentive grant to the École Springfield Heights school parent advisory council to help cover the cost of a new play structure, overruling a recommendation against it from Winnipeg Public Service. Its funding will come from the North Kildonan ward allocation.
Another public hearing was held, which had been laid over from the June 1 meeting, dealt with changes to the Transcona West Secondary Plan, to allow for low-rise apartment buildings along corridor roads in response to the City’s Housing Accelerator Fund Agreement with the federal government to increase local housing starts in an attempt address the nationwide shortage. The original bylaw was adopted in 2008, and has led to the development of much of West Transcona, north of Regent Avenue, between Plessis Road in the east and Lagimodiere Boulevard in the west.