Residents hope for a new vision for Point Douglas – Winnipeg Free Press

One of Winnipeg's oldest neighborhoods is poised to take a fresh look at its future.

Point Douglas residents will be consulted over the next few months to help create a neighborhood plan that will guide the development.

The leader of a local residents' group hopes it will help add homes and services while reducing industrial production in the area and preserving its character.

“We want to see most of the industry (use) there… We're very focused on the environment, diversity, service, maintaining housing stock. We don't want to see a whole bunch of four-plexes come in,” said Kathryn Flynn, chairwoman of the Point Douglas Residents Committee.

While Flynn wants more homes, he urged the city to avoid building large buildings on the smallest lots because “edge-to-edge” construction removes many mature trees and green spaces.

On his wish list is a new park and green space that would “price” current residents out of their homes.

“We want to keep the character of the neighborhood … It's beautiful and we have some great heritage homes,” he said.

The neighborhood plan includes new rules about where buildings can be built and what they will look like, which will be approved by a supplementary plan law. The city says it will help ensure a variety of housing options, that new homes are compatible with existing homes, that parks and amenities are within walking distance of homes, and that the neighborhood is developed as a walkable, bikeable and transit-oriented community.

For example, the city can set maximum heights and minimum buffer zones for certain buildings, and determine the type and scale of residential development, said James Platt, a senior planner with the City of Winnipeg.

Platt said it will help the area prepare for the big changes that are already coming.

“The timing of this plan is very good, (a) future bus rapid transit route along Sutherland Avenue is also being planned with the federal government (providing funding for Winnipeg) in connection with accelerated housing development,” he said.

The planner said the vast majority of South Point Douglas is zoned for industrial use. If residents, developers and council commit to a similar transition to residential and commercial space, part of its long-term transformation could eventually be similar to the transformation of Waterfront Drive.

“It could really transform Point Douglas, like Waterfront Drive … (but) it's not going to happen overnight,” Platt said.

The city's current regulations don't allow new housing in certain parts of Point Douglas, which the supplemental plan could change, he said.

“The reason for this is that we have enough capacity: roads, sewage, water, drainage (to support development). (It's also) to ensure that we have regulations in place to ensure that this happens …,” Platt said.

Point Douglas Coun. Vivian Santos, whose ward includes South Point Douglas, said she hopes the plan will help the city add thousands of new housing units to the area.

“A lot of land in South Point Douglas is vacant and underutilized … That's a great density goal for Winnipeg,” Santos said.

He said the changes could make it easier to convert industrial properties into housing, artist spaces and mixed-use commercial/residential buildings. Currently, such changes require expensive variance applications because the area is not zoned to allow much of the construction, which has prevented some old warehouses from being converted into residences, Santos said.

“The only way to convert a lot of this industrial land into residential or mixed-use is through an additional plan,” he said.

The councilor hopes that shifting more land from industrial areas to residential areas will reduce the number of vacant properties that could be targeted for illegal dumping and burning.

“Residents are tired of Point Douglas being known as a dumping ground and we really need to revitalize the neighborhood … It's going to change the landscape, the area and just beautify the area,” Santos said.

He also hopes to see more green space and expand active transportation.

Myungarsky district. Ross Eadie, whose ward is North Point Douglas, says many residents want to reduce the industrial space. Eadie also said he is interested in increasing the supply of apartment buildings, which he hopes will make housing more affordable in the area.

City staff expect the council to present a second plan for consideration in the first quarter of 2025.

A consultant will be paid $400,000 to develop the detailed plan, which will be paid for by the Canada Community Building Fund (federal gas tax dollars).

[email protected]

X: @joyanne_pursaga

Joyanna Pursaga
Reporter

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Joyanne loves to tell the stories of this city, especially when politics are involved. Joyanna became a city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press in early 2020.

Read full bio

Our newsroom depends on the readership that fuels our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on our readership to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.