Around city hall: Waters Urban Village, city council candidate, John Blumberg lease, parkae repairs

Louise May to run in St. Norbert- Seine River A key protester against a controversial development at Lemay Forest, who is a longtime farm business owner, hopes to become the [...]

Around city hall: Waters Urban Village, city council candidate, John Blumberg lease, parkae repairs To continue reading, please subscribe: Digital Subscription One year of digital access for only $205* - Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com - Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper - Access News Break, our award-winning app - Play interactive puzzles To continue reading, please subscribe: Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional $1 for the first 4 weeks* Louise May to run in St. Norbert- Seine River

A key protester against a controversial development at Lemay Forest, who is a longtime farm business owner, hopes to become the next city councillor for St. Norbert-Seine River. Louise May registered Friday to compete for the chance to represent the ward. “It’s something that I’ve thought about ever since I ran in 2010 and lost to (former St. Norbert Coun.)

Justin Swandel. I’ve been very involved in many different aspects of the community ... I just thought this was a good time for me to step up to the plate.”

If elected, May plans to work on a tree protection bylaw, help create nature corridors and further Winnipeg’s curbside compost collection plan. She would also push the city to restore its rainy day fund and increase spending on arts and culture and sustainable transportation. May, a lifelong resident of St. Norbert, owns Aurora Farm.

As a member of the Coalition to Save Lemay Forest, she fought to stop a proposed development of the site. Last year, she was found in contempt of court for using her body to prevent a developer from accessing the property. The Manitoba government eventually expropriated the land and plans to turn it into a provincial park.

Coun. Markus Chambers has announced he will not seek re-election in the ward. Election Day is Oct. 28.

Council approves Waters Urban Village City council has approved a major development that will add nearly 3,000 homes and ample commercial space at a mostly vacant industrial park. The Waters Urban Village project will turn 110 acres (44.5 hectares) of employment and industrial land at 1390 and 1470 Dugald Rd. in the St. Boniface Industrial Park into 2,946 residential units, a commercial town centre, a central park and six business park buildings.

In an economic analysis, the city predicts the development would earn the city about $80 million more through property taxes and other revenue than it costs to support over 75 years, plus a further boost in utility revenue. St. Boniface residential tower moves ahead A hotly debated six-storey residential tower in St. Boniface has passed its final round of city hall approvals. On Thursday, city council cast a final vote to approve the proposal to add more than 100 housing units.

Supporters suggested the plan will meet city goals to create more dense housing, while opponents urged the city to scale back its size. Some critics also raised concerns about the property’s past, as part of the site overlaps with a former St. Boniface industrial residential school. Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Chief Gordon Bluesky spoke in support of the project, however, stating concerns about that legacy were properly addressed and the plan would provide much-needed housing.

Council approves skywalk support The city will provide up to $3 million to support a link between a new hotel, the downtown skywalk system and the convention centre, as long as the province pays the same amount. On Thursday, city council approved the funding. The connection is meant to support construction of the 352-room, $140-million Sutton Place Hotel at 220 Carlton St., which the city says will be completed in late 2028.

City creates vacancy to vitality reserve A new reserve fund will use vacant building fines to ramp up enforcement and help owners maintain their properties. City council approved a new vacancy to vitality reserve on Thursday. The money will pay for more staff to enforce fines and collect payments, including a new legal position to help the municipal government take the title of some properties without compensation.

A city report estimates the city could devote about $890,000 of revenue to support the enforcement in 2027. Red River Ex secure long-term lease of John Blumberg The Red River Exhibition Association will manage the John Blumberg Sports Complex. City council approved a long-term lease for the 4500 Portage Ave. facility Thursday.

It will last 50 years, along with the option of three additional 10-year renewal terms. The non-profit association plans to pursue capital funding for a major redevelopment of the complex, potentially repairing and replacing playing fields, adding facilities for sports, such as lacrosse and pickleball, and constructing amenities, including a restaurant and retail space. Millennium Library parkade repairs scaled back Only the highest priority repairs will be completed at the Millennium Library Parkade, as the city opts to scale down renovations to stay on budget.

On Thursday, city council approved that plan, after learning the first round of work would cost an estimated $22.6 million, up from the previous estimate of $14.4 million. The overall project was expected to cost $55 million in 2021 and include restoring a concrete slab, updating lighting and replacing the parkade’s air-handler unit. The city will no longer replace the air handler, even though the parkade could close if it fails.

The city could consider selling the parkade after the most critical repairs are completed. City approves shortened free youth bus ride program Winnipeg Transit will let youth ride buses for free for seven months but says more funding would be needed to extend that timeline. The Manitoba government has committed $10 million for a year of that service but the city says the actual cost to provide it for 12 months to youth aged 11 to 17 and high school students aged 18 to 21 would be $16.5 million.

Transit plans to offer the free rides from September to March 2027. While it estimates 60,000 youth meet the age requirement and attend school, Transit will initially cap the program at just 30,000 passes, assuming a 50 per cent uptake. City to get new soccer pitch

The city has accepted a donation, and found additional funds, to build a new artificial turf soccer pitch at Burton Cummings Community Centre. The pitch will include fencing, lighting and player benches. Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart charity will provide $400,000 for the project, while Coun.

Vivian Santos (Point Douglas) and Mayor Scott Gillingham will provide a combined $150,000. The province is considering an $80,000 contribution. Construction timelines are still being determined.

Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.

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