Armstrong’s Point in for heritage designation

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This article was published 03/03/2015 (4254 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A world-famous author lived there and a library was built thanks to American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

But what really makes Armstrong’s Point one of the city’s unique places is not one or two historic buildings, but the sum of its parts.

That’s why the city’s downtown development committee has agreed to use Armstrong’s Point, located behind distinctive gates east of the Misericordia Health Centre, as a test case for creating heritage conservation districts.

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“It’s major,” said Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, a member of the committee and a longtime heritage advocate. “This is the first time we’ve ever created one — other cities have them.”

She said the city will create a heritage conservation district plan using Armstrong’s Point as the example.

“The idea is to recognize the heritage value there and preserve the character. If there’s change or a new development it will be done in a way to recognize the existing character.”

Gerbasi said other neighbourhoods, including Point Douglas and Crescentwood, could receive similar designations in future.

Coun. Brian Mayes, chairman of the committee, said he is pleased an Armstrong Point resident told him they don’t intend to control the colour of doors into houses.

“You can’t control everything but we’re trying to preserve where we have historical character,” he said. “Ninety per cent in the area are in favour of having the district designated. They said we need to preserve the area.”

According to a city report, the 22-hectare area is located on a peninsula granted by the Hudson’s Bay Company to Capt. Joseph Hill in 1848. Hill later sold the property for $28,000 to a syndicate with plans to sell properties to Winnipeg’s elite.

The first houses built there in the 1880s were Victorian, but most houses were constructed between 1910 and 1920. The distinctive gates were built at the area’s three entrances in 1911.

Today there are 106 houses, a library, school, private club, 13 duplex-triplex conversions, a care home and two public parks.

Two notable buildings in the area are the Cornish Library and Ralph Connor House, the pen name for Rev. Charles Gordon, who was famous early in the last century for his bestselling novels including The Man from Glengarry.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca