Developers have been chosen to build affordable housing on five City-owned properties.
Through the Housing Accelerator Fund's Land Enhancement Office, five sites were made available for sale or lease. Through direct engagement with a current leaseholder, 545 Watt Street was also made available.
“Through the Housing Accelerator Fund, we’re working with cities like Winnipeg to get shovels in the ground, and thousands of new homes built quickly for those who need them most. Increasing the supply of affordable and accessible housing for people is an important achievement that recognizes the needs of different communities,” said Ginette Lavack, Member of Parliament for St Boniface-St Vital in a news release. “Our government’s $122.4M commitment to Winnipeg under this agreement is increasing housing supply, reducing red tape, and helping build a stronger, more inclusive city for everyone who calls it home.”
"Winnipeg needs more housing, and we need it quickly,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham in a news release. “By making City-owned land available for these projects, we’re helping to speed up the construction of affordable and accessible homes in neighbourhoods across our city. This is a great example of how partnerships can deliver real results for Winnipeggers.”
“Using City-owned land to help meet housing needs, simply put, makes sense,” said Councillor Evan Duncan, Chairperson of the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development in a news release. “These partnerships are about more than building units — they’re about creating communities people can be proud to call home. This an excellent example of how the City can make building more affordable units quicker and easier across Winnipeg.”
The Land Enhancement Office was created by the City to support the development of affordable, supportive, and mixed-income housing on City-owned land.
696 new housing units, including 272 affordable units are expected. Construction is expected to start within one year.
The properties and developments include:
825 Taché Avenue
- Réseau Compassion Network will lead the development of an approximately 65-unit, mixed-income apartment building with on-site disability support services offered in partnership with CoHabit
- The development is an integrated apartment block that will offer support for up to 20 people with physical disabilities through a long-term land lease with the City
- Will offer approximately 65 fully accessible units, including at least 20 affordable units
- Development is subject to Council approval of subdivision/rezoning, with a public hearing planned for fall 2025
- The City will lead rezoning of some of the surrounding land to increase park space along the riverbank and within the neighbourhood, subject to Council approval
425 Osborne Street
- UWCRC 2.0 Inc. will lead the development of an approximately 140-unit, mixed-income/mixed-use building
- Will offer approximately 65 affordable units, including 42 deeply affordable units
- The City will explore including office space and a Customer Service Centre for Winnipeg Transit in the development, subject to funding and Council approval
1350 Pembina Highway
- Brokenhead Ojibway Nation will lead the development of an approximately 144-unit, mixed-income apartment building
- Will offer approximately 72 affordable units
- Nearby amenities include a supermarket, public school, recreation, and high-frequency transit service
565-569 Watt Street
- Futuremark Development will lead the development of an approximately 247-unit, mixed-income apartment complex
- Will offer approximately 74 affordable units
- Development is subject to Council approval of subdivision/rezoning, with a public hearing planned for fall 2025
545 Watt Street
- Current leaseholder Elmwood Community Resource Centre will develop a mixed-use neighbourhood hub complex
- Will offer approximately 100 residential units, including approximately 41 affordable units
- Will include drop-in space, offices for critical services, and expanded programming for counselling and child-minding
There were no viable expressions of interest for 795 William Avenue. The City is reconsidering the focus for this land.
The City said in a news release, "The City will continue to lead rezoning applications for these projects on behalf of development partners. Applications are anticipated to be presented to Council for approvals this fall."
The City's Land Enhancement Program is being funded by the Housing Accelerator Fund, a National Housing Strategy program launched in 2023 by the Government of Canada through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.