City of Winnipeg OK's 16-storey tower on city-owned land across from city hall
U of W development wing can build King Street tower planners deemed too tall
The University of Winnipeg's arm's-length development agency has been granted permission to build a 16-storey residential building on city-owned land across the street from city hall.
City council's property committee voted unanimously Monday in favour of an appeal from the University of Winnipeg Renewal Corporation, which is in the planning stages to complete a redevelopment called the Market Lands, which encompasses an entire city block that used to house the Public Safety Building and the Civic Centre Parkade.
The site in question sits between Red River College Polytech's downtown campus on Princess Street and city hall, on King Street.
The non-profit developer, which is in the process of completing two buildings on the south side of the property, closer to William Avenue, plans to build two more on the north side, closer to James Avenue.
The city's planning department wanted to to limit the height of the taller of the two proposed buildings to 100 feet, or about 10 storeys. The developer appealed, arguing it needed the additional storeys to ensure it can build enough affordable housing units.
Roughly two-thirds of the suites in the proposed 148-unit residential tower are to be rented out below median market rates.
Property committee chair Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood) and Coun. Vivian Santos (Point Douglas) sided with University of Winnipeg Renewal Corporation. Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) was absent and did not vote on the appeal.
Duncan said in an interview he understood that city planners had their hands tied by official policy and could not recommend the taller tower height.
"I think that development has been pretty clearly prioritized by this council and mayor," Duncan said in an interview.
"So no criticism of the public service. They were being held within their policy. But it's not a great signal to potential residents and developers when there's a clear opportunity here, especially for affordable housing, and the public service was saying no."