U of Winnipeg development agency asks city for more storeys

The University of Winnipeg's arm's-length development agency is appealing a City of Winnipeg decision to limit the height of a residential tower planned for the former site of the Civic Centre Parkade.

According to a report published Tuesday, the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation will appear before city council's property committee on July 14 in an effort to increase the height of a King Street tower — one of four proposed buildings in a redevelopment project called the Market Lands.

The site in question sits between Red River College Polytech's downtown campus and city hall. Two buildings on the south side of the redevelopment are already under construction where Winnipeg's police headquarters used to stand.

Two more are planned for the north side, where the parkade used to be, including a 148-unit residential tower where roughly two-thirds of the suites would be rented out below median market rates.

The renewal corporation sought to build a 51-metre tower, but city planners restricted the height to 30 metres, proposing the developer add height to another tower to make up for the loss of proposed units.

In a report to city council's property committee, city planner Kurtis Kowalke called the proposal for a 51-metre tower "a design preference" rather than a requirement.

The renewal corporation argues the additional height is needed to ensure there is more affordable housing in Winnipeg.

"It's designed to meet the needs of communities typically underserved by the private housing market, including Indigenous peoples, newcomers, women with children and young people," Daneeka Abon, the corporation's portfolio manager, wrote in her appeal letter.

Last EPC meeting before summer break

In its final scheduled meeting before city hall's summer prorogation, council's executive policy committee voted Tuesday to reject a proposal to allow Winnipeg residents to opt out of the installation of new "smart" water meters that will transmit water usage data using radio waves.

EPC voted 4-2 to reject the proposal. Couns. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) and Vivian Santos (Point Douglas) wanted to offer a concession to Winnipeg residents who prove they have a medical reason to exempt themselves from being exposed to radio waves.

The committee also voted 5-1 to approve a plan to take nine months to conduct consultations about a divided bike lane on Wellington Crescent and design a permanent separation between bicycles and cars on the motorway.

Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood Coun. Evan Duncan voted against the motion, which dozens of Winnipeg cycling advocates opposed due to the time it will take to actually build the lane.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said Tuesday he wanted to ensure the city does not build something in haste and then be forced to dismantle it.

There have been calls for the bike lane since cyclist Rob Jenner, 61, was killed on Wellington Crescent just east of Academy Road in June 2024 as he was cycling to work. He was hit by a speeding motorist who lost control of his vehicle.