A civic committee has recommended the city approve a plan by Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg to build 18 new homes on the former Sir Sam Steele School site.

Habitat presented its development plans for the Nairn Avenue and Chester Street site at a meeting of the East Kildonan-Transcona community committee on April 24. The plan must still be approved by city council as a whole.

The plan calls for the construction of 18 additional homes similar to the 32 homes already built on adjoining property.

Linda Peters, vice-president of program delivery, and Ron Dacombe, project manager for construction for Habitat Winnipeg, presented the plans to area councillors.

Peters said construction of the new houses will meet the requirements of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, similar to other Habitat homes.

"They’re very efficient and modest homes, but they’re very good. They all exceed Power Smart Gold," she said.

"The site we’re looking at is a combination of single families and side-by-side homes."

Area resident Joe Melnick appeared before the committee to express his support for the proposal.

"I want to know how long it will take to get this monstrosity out of there because I’m tired of looking at it," said Melnick, who lives directly across from the school.

"I am fully supportive of the project. I really like the houses that went up so far. They’re not all the same and it is a nice development, there’s nothing wrong with it."

Dacombe said demolition of the school has begun, but crews are taking their time to keep as much of the brick from the school intact as they can.

"We’re doing demolition in a slow fashion to reclaim brick off the front of the building. It’s a slow progress right now, but it’s intentional," Dacombe said.

"Ultimately we want to create the opportunity for 18 families to have a home."

Coun. Thomas Steen (Elmwood-East Kildonan) presented a motion to approve the development, which will now go to the city’s standing policy committee on property and development for consideration.

"This building has been sitting there for many years, and residents didn’t want commercial activity. It’s a good fit and a good organization doing the work," Steen said.

"It’s great to go to a ceremony and see these families get keys to their homes. It’s making our community better."

Steen made a second motion to have Figaro Park, which is located near the school site on Hebert Avenue, renamed Sir Sam Steele Park to ensure the name continues to have a presence in the area.

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