Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Friends near full control of fort site

THE Friends of Upper Fort Garry are one more step closer to taking over Winnipeg's birthplace.

On Monday, city council's downtown development committee signed off on a report that states the volunteer group has satisfied all the conditions the city laid out April 2008, when the Friends were given a crack at creating a heritage park on surplus city land north of Assiniboine Avenue, between Main Street and Fort Street, where Upper Fort Garry stood in the 19th century.

The report states the Friends have raised $10.3 million toward the $12.5 million they say they need to build a heritage park at the site. In November, the Friends concluded a deal to purchase Fort Street's Grain Exchange Curling Club, which also stands on part of the former fort's footprint.

Pending approval from executive policy committee May 20 and council as a whole May 27, the Friends may acquire the land for $1 as soon as June 1.

They will have until 2014 to complete the park, which will be transferred to provincial jurisdiction. The Grain Exchange Curling Club, a city office building at 100 Main St. and surface parking lots at the south end of the site will all be dismantled.

A separate council vote will be required to transfer Upper Fort Garry gate to the Friends because of issues pertaining to an old land title.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 5, 2009 B1

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