A proposed 10-storey highrise on an empty south Osborne lot will move forward despite concerns from residents about the impact the building will have on nearby parking and traffic.
The city-owned lot at 425 Osborne St., which previously served as a gas station but has long sat vacant, will be developed into a mixed-use residential building with 131 units, 39 of which would be affordable, along with additional office space for the adjacent Winnipeg Transit garage and the Transit customer service centre across the street, along with a two-level parkade for tenants and Transit employees.
The property is being developed by the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corp. 2.0, and designed by Prairie Architects Inc.
Wayne Glowacki/Free Press files
The Winnipeg Transit Fort Rouge Garage on Osborne South. A proposed 10-storey mixed-use residential tower is moving forward next door, despite concerns of some local residents.
At a meeting held by city council’s appeal committee Wednesday, several residents said while they supported the idea of more housing in the Lord Roberts neighbourhood, they had lingering concerns about the impact the development will have on the already-busy area.
Dana Sweity has lived in the community for 17 years. Woodward Avenue, adjacent to the lot, is already choked with traffic jams, she said, and a large apartment complex will make things worse.
“We only have one way out of this dead-end street, the back lanes are kind of just a loop, a circle, and putting 131 suites, with who knows how many people in this area, with cars, are they going to be opening another way out of this area?” she said.
“It’s a concern for us. Getting into traffic is a concern, Osborne is obviously a very bustling place.”
Moira Jones, who chairs the tenant council at the 55-plus Riverbend Plaza building at 400 Osborne St., said parking is “already at a premium in our area.”
“Adding this level of density without adequate parking will place additional pressures on our surrounding streets, and affect not only residents, but our valued local businesses,” she said.
The developers have received a number of variances for the site, allowing them to bypass the bylaw that restricts building height to 23 metres (75 feet), and continue with the planned 38.5-metre (126 feet) building. Variances have also allowed the developer to add more vehicle parking spots and bike spaces at 421 Osborne St.
Damien Fenez, a principal architect with Prairie Architects, said the size of the building and number of units ensures it stays financially viable; with 30 per cent of all units classified as being affordable and generating less rent revenue, more market-rate units are needed.
While tenants will enter the parking structure via Woodward, Transit employees will have access from the Osborne Street campus.
He noted the property will have more parking than required by the city between the building and parkade combined: 64 spots, rather than 59, and 70 bike stalls, rather than 66.
“Overall, we believe our proposal offers a well-conceived approach that complements the existing community and delivers additional housing choices,” he said.
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The committee voted unanimously to deny the appeals and allow the development to continue as planned, citing the need for affordable housing in the area.
Area councillor Sherri Rollins said she has continued to advocate for resident-only parking spots in her ward as a way to address shortages.
She called the development an “exciting prospect,” noting its proximity to a Winnipeg Transit blue line station makes it an attractive location for residents seeking transportation options.
“Affordable housing is also needed, and this is an exciting project with a long-time vacant property that is on South Osborne,” she said. “South Osborne is the right place for it.”
malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca
Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg’s North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak.
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