CentreVenture's new mandate is expected to focus on downtown housing with money – Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg's downtown development agency plans to inject public money amid a city council debate that would give CentreVenture a new mandate and more than half a million dollars to deliver much-needed housing.

The 2024 preliminary budget tabled Wednesday calls for the city to set aside operating funding for the Armory Corporation to focus on housing in Winnipeg's core.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said the initial operating budget for CentreVenture has been set at $600,000.

“They play a very important role in the revitalization of our downtown and I'm very excited about their mandate going forward,” Gillingham said.

The proposed mandate is expected to be discussed by councilors soon.

Federal cash provided to the city through the Housing Acceleration Fund is included in the city's 2024-2027 plan, but is not fully allocated pending further development and approval of the program budget, according to the spending plan.

CentreVenture did not return a Free press feedback request wednesday.

The budget also calls for increased spending on programming in downtown Winnipeg.

Downtown Winnipeg's BIZ will receive a $110,000 grant to cover Winnipeg transit shelters and downtown street cleaning costs.

Gillingham said the increased grant will be funded in part by a one percentage point increase in the city's hotel and motel room and short-term rental fees, which are currently five percent.

Revenue from the increase will fund a Winnipeg economic development grant and go into the city's designated marketing reserve fund to pay for future capital improvements to the Winnipeg Convention Centre, according to budget documents.

Housing taxes also support landscaping, trash collection, and public safety costs. Another $500,000 is being allocated to Winnipeg's special economic development marketing fund to attract more events and conferences to the city.

“They will play a vital role in the regeneration of our town center and I am very excited about their future mandate.”– Mayor Scott Gillingham

“The increased revenue will be used to invest in some of the initiatives that downtown businesses have been calling for,” Gillingham said.

“This city budget is not all about getting into the big pot. A lot of it is focused on investments specifically requested by downtown property owners and businesses.”

Manitoba Hotel Association president Michael Juss said the lodging tax hike comes as hoteliers face increased operating costs and are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Directing some of that funding to general revenues is also a concern, he said.

“Opening it up to tax-supported revenue has little direct connection to the original purpose of it when it was first introduced,” he said. “This is a far cry from the original intent of the housing tax.”

On Wednesday, Downtown BIZ Executive Director Keith Fenske expressed appreciation for the increased support, saying cleanup costs have outpaced operating grant revenue in recent years. Still, a renewed focus on downtown programming and a proposed new mandate for CentreVenture are key highlights of the budget, he said.

“It's very important,” Fenke said. “When we look at the transformation of our downtown, we know that we need to increase the population here. We know downtown development is difficult, but there is a real need and desire for more housing.”

Fenske said he's still waiting to see how much money will be allocated to downtown Winnipeg through the federal Housing Acceleration Fund, but he expects CentreVenture to play a key role in bringing together partners for housing, and that operating funding is the first step.

“CentreVenture really has the ability to advance projects that wouldn't have happened on its own,” he said.

“When we look at the transformation of our downtown, we know that we need to increase the population here. We know downtown development is difficult, but there is a real need and desire for more housing.”– Keith Fenske, Executive Director of Downtown BIZ

The preliminary budget includes a $500,000 grant for the new Downtown Arts Capital Fund to help major arts institutions and another $150,000 for the Downtown YMCA-YWCA's youth recreation programs.

“We often talk about youth violence downtown, and now we have a partnership for youth recreation programming,” Gillingham said.

Another $360,000 is for permanent and temporary restrooms throughout the city, including downtown. Municipal funding for the Downtown Public Safety Partnership will remain at $250,000 per year.

The city also plans to spend $4.3 million on downtown parks between 2026 and 2029.

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