The Forks and Portage Place are two legacies of an ambitious multimillion-dollar deal between the three levels of government that transformed downtown Winnipeg in the 1980s — and now the City of Winnipeg is seeking another agreement to spur development and inject life into the area.
The recommendation to strike a new Core Area Initiative is included in a report that accompanies the city’s new downtown planning document, CentrePlan 2050.
Former federal government cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy, who was instrumental in bringing about the first agreement, said the city is on the mark by pursuing a similar deal.
“I’m glad to see it,” said the former Liberal heavyweight about the recommendation, which is to be discussed at next month’s property and development committee of city council.
“Probably this is an absolute best time to ask,” Axworthy said. “The city’s ready for a renewal and a refreshment.”
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILE A view of downtown Winnipeg from the roof of 7 Evergreen Place.
The Winnipeg Core Area Initiative, launched in 1981, resulted in $196 million being spent on the area over a decade and resulted in the construction of Portage Place, a nearby apartment complex, and the original studies that culminated in the development of The Forks.
Under CentrePlan 2050, the city would also encourage the construction of new housing downtown by waiving and reimbursing downtown residential development fees of up to $2.25 million a year for three years. It would make downtown friendlier for pedestrians and cyclists, add trees and parks, and encourage additional festivals and concerts.
Mayor Scott Gillingham called the 136-page report, which is based on more than a year of public consultation and work, visionary.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Mayor Scott Gillingham called CentrePlan 2050 report visionary.
“It lays out the type of downtown that we want to aspire to build over the next 25 to 30 years. It’s a plan which looks at the kind of downtown we want to develop and redevelop, one that’s vibrant, and greener, that has more people living downtown as residents, one that attracts more investment, more entertainment.”
Officially, the new revitalization plan includes the area bordered by the Red River to the east, the Assiniboine River to the south, parts of the neighbourhoods of West Broadway, Centennial and Alexander to the west, and the CP Rail lines to the north.
Axworthy suggested the city tackle the issue of relocating the CP Rail tracks at the north of downtown.
“I would make a pitch for something else, also dear to my heart: to address the issue of railway relocation.
“This is a terrific opportunity to change the face of Winnipeg.”
“I would make a pitch for something else, also dear to my heart: to address the issue of railway relocation.”–Lloyd Axworthy
The report suggests ways to spur downtown housing and other developments, including $6.75 million to waive and reimburse residential development fees for projects downtown, $1.5 million for the construction and design drawings to revamp the Graham Avenue bus mall, up to $250,000 to support the development and implementation of a community-focused plan for Thunderbird House on Main Street, and $46,000 to help the Main Street Project and Siloam Mission organize neighbourhood cleanups.
It sets a target of building 12,500 units between 2025 and 2050 and includes plans to work with the provincial government to redevelop Crown corporation-owned surface parking lots into residential development, while the city looks at the feasibility of converting vacant buildings into affordable housing.
Gillingham said a key component is helping marginalized people downtown.
“The City of Winnipeg, in partnership with the province and our agencies, have to ensure we are addressing the needs of people,” he said.
“We can’t let unwell people threaten the safety of residents, visitors and employees and business downtown… too often people are struggling and part of that struggle, at times, can lead to safety concerns for other people.”
The plan, which would be reviewed every five years, would be based on five principles: create great urban neighbourhoods, re-envision streets to foster urban life, grow a greener downtown, create a lively downtown, and improve downtown governance and implementation.
One of the goals is to improve connectivity between downtown and nearby neighbourhoods, including for cyclists and pedestrians.
The report identifies the need for a “high-quality active transportation corridor” from McFadyen Park, on Assiniboine Avenue, through to Central Park as part of the Portage Place mall redevelopment, as well as connecting it to Fort Rouge Park through the construction of a cycling and pedestrian bridge across the Assiniboine River.
Both Patty Wiens and Marc Cohoe of Bike Winnipeg said they like what they see — as long as it is actually done.
“I am very excited and cautiously optimistic because we have seen things come up and then slide off because of budgets,” Wiens said.
Cohoe said he would like the city be even more ambitious by extending the bike route north to Red River College Polytechnic via Elgin Avenue.
“The wording here is good, but in some ways it is vague,” he said. “I’m very happy to see what’s here.”
The city, which has already decided to open Portage and Main to pedestrians, would prioritize foot traffic when planning and operating transportation infrastructure.
The city would also move to a greener downtown by encouraging new buildings to allocate space for trees, landscaping and green roofs, include green infrastructure such as rain gardens into street reconstruction projects.
Kate Fenske, CEO of the Downtown BIZ, said she’s “happy to see a plan that recognizes the importance of moving our downtown forward, a plan that focuses on people and growing the residential population, while also creating more green spaces.”
The plan is set to be discussed by city council at its July 18 meeting.
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Kevin Rollason
Reporter
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
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