The company that owns the Winnipeg Jets now has city council’s blessing to consider buying the beleaguered Portage Place mall.

Council voted 15-1 Thursday to give True North Real Estate Development — a division of True North Sports and Entertainment — an option to purchase the mostly vacant 36-year-old downtown shopping centre.

The option would give the company “the right, but not the obligation” to buy the property and its parkade for at least $34.5 million through to Dec. 31, 2023. The Forks North Portage Partnership owns the land and parking at the site. Since that group includes the governments of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Canada, the province and feds must also sign off on the deal.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said the proposal holds promise to transform a large, prime property in the city’s core.

“We need significant investment in our downtown and we need it as soon as possible,” Gillingham told reporters.

The Forks has said separate talks are under way with Spruceland Mall Limited Partnership, which owns the mall itself.

If the purchase is finalized, True North Real Estate Development plans to transform the building into a “mixed-used community” with housing, services and programs that serve the area’s social and economic needs.

Only Coun. Ross Eadie voted against the proposal, suggesting more consultation is needed.

“There are better things that we could be recommending as a shareholder,” said Eadie (Mynarski).

By contrast, Coun. Cindy Gilroy said council must seriously consider the opportunity to improve a struggling property.

“This mall has been up for sale for years. There has been (almost) no interest,” said Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre).

The future of Portage Place was left up in the air two years ago, after Starlight Investments cancelled its $400 million mixed-use proposal for the site, which included 550 housing units, nearly 500,000 square feet of office and retail space, a grocery store and a 10,000-square-foot community space with public washrooms.

While True North Real Estate Development plans to ask government to help fund the project, Gillingham said he’s not aware of a specific municipal request yet.

The company would be required to maintain public access to skywalks and complete community consultations.

Some community advocates have called for an Indigenous-led reimagining of the site, suggesting the Portage Place property should include a community space open around the clock.

The decision was just one of several key final votes at Thursday’s council meeting.

Council also cast a final 15-1 vote to reject a settlement that would have provided less than half the amount the city alleges it overpaid for towing service.

The proposal had called for Tartan Towing to pay $15,000 monthly “to start,” and ultimately repay $446,250.40 within two years. A city report alleges the municipal government paid $1.1 million over six years for “invalid” tows.

Gillingham said there are many more answers, and a possible legal challenge, the city can pursue in the matter.

“I think we should never lose sight of the basic principle that if Winnipeggers are paying for a service, they should expect to get the service… I think the onus in this case… is on the contractor to explain why that service wasn’t provided,” he said.

Tartan could not be reached for comment.

In an email, city spokesman Adam Campbell said next steps are now being considered following the council decision. In a previous statement, Campbell said the city has not accused the towing company of deliberately overcharging.

Eadie cast the sole vote in favour of the settlement, suggesting it offered the best way to move forward.

By contrast, St. Norbert-Seine River councillor Markus Chambers said it’s important the city “go for every dollar” it could possibly reclaim.

A third key final vote approved a new name for Bishop Grandin Boulevard.

Council voted unanimously to rename multiple Winnipeg routes that were named after Bishop Vital-Justin Grandin (1829-1902), due to his legacy as a key supporter of residential schools.

The vote means Bishop Grandin Boulevard will become Abinojii Mikanah, which translates to “children’s road.” Meanwhile, Grandin Street will be known as Taapweewin Way and Bishop Grandin Trail will be renamed Awasisak Meskanow.

“In my view, if we’re going to be serious about reconciliation, then we have to take some steps at times that maybe seem to be disruptive and a big change to many people within our community. I think the renaming of Bishop Grandin Boulevard to Abinojii Mikanah, Children’s Road, is a big change… we take matters of reconciliation very seriously,” said Gillingham.

It’s not immediately clear when the name will be officially replaced.

“It’ll be a while. The next step will be… to have a report back on the full costs of proceeding with the name change and then that will be referred to the (next) budget process,” said Gillingham.

While Coun. Jeff Browaty previously voted against the renaming, he supported it at council. Browaty (North Kildonan) told the Free Press he remains concerned that changing the name of a main thoroughfare could prove confusing, costly and complicate directions for emergency medical trips.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Joyanne loves to tell the stories of this city, especially when politics is involved. Joyanne became the city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press in early 2020.

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