The owner of a vacant historic hotel in Winnipeg’s Exchange District has shifted his focus to constructing a new apartment building on the adjacent parking lot.
Immigration lawyer Kenneth Zaifman has owned the St. Charles Hotel since 2005. In 2008, the City of Winnipeg rejected his request to demolish the building to make way for a boutique hotel.
Zaifman announced in December 2022 he planned to turn the St. Charles into affordable housing, but faced challenges with rising construction costs and the complication of renovating a heritage building, which requires him to maintain the property’s facade.
Now, Zaifman has submitted plans for a new building on the parking lot beside the St. Charles Hotel at 38 Albert St.
“Structurally [the St. Charles Hotel is] an existing property that was built over 100 years ago, so there are some challenges with including a multi-family [building] in that property,” he said in an interview.
“With 38 Albert, it’s a parking lot and the challenges are less acute … and the approvals are easier to obtain, and that’s why we’re moving on that property first and then we’ll continue to look at what’s the best use for the St. Charles.”
Developed in partnership with real estate consultant Daniel Serhal, Zaifman’s current plan calls for a new 10-storey, 120-unit structure to rise on the parking lot between the St. Charles and the neighbouring Royal Albert Arms Hotel.
The new building will have a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.
Zaifman says the building’s design is meant to fit with the character of the surrounding Exchange District properties.
Once the city approves the plans, Zaifman plans to apply to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation for funding to make units in the building affordable.
He believes the addition of housing in the Exchange District will have a positive impact on the community.
“We’re turning a parking lot into a multi-family unit. It should attract more people, more activity, enhance the viability and vibrancy of the Exchange District, which is what everyone wants to see,” he said.
One advocate for Winnipeg’s heritage buildings expressed concerns about Zaifman’s plans, and the implications for the future of the St. Charles Hotel.
“I have huge trepidation that he’s going to build this massive infill for housing when he hasn’t been able to deal with the hotel for over 15 years,” said Cindy Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg.
Tugwell pointed out that Zaifman has not secured funding for his new project.
“I really don’t have a lot of faith that this is going to come into fruition. But moreover, I’m concerned still [about] what’s going to happen to the hotel. How is this going to fit into the larger plan?”
Tugwell also worried that the construction on the Albert Street property could damage the structure of the St. Charles Hotel.
Zaifman dismissed Tugwell’s concerns, saying the St. Charles Hotel is structurally sound, and he expressed confidence that construction on the new building could start as early as this year.
“We’re not necessarily abandoning St. Charles, but our focus is getting this approval [for 38 Albert St.] and then we turn our minds to the St. Charles.”