Group backs out of buying heritage buildings
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/03/2023 (961 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
An “abilities village” is no longer in the works for two city heritage properties.
Manitoba Possible’s proposal to buy the former St. Boniface City Hall (at 219 Provencher Blvd.) and the former St. Boniface Fire Hall (at 212 Dumoulin St.) to create an inclusive, accessible campus for folks with disabilities was approved by council’s property and development committee in 2021.
The city was to receive $10,000 in return.
WAYNE GLOWACKI/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
The St. Boniface City Hall building at 219 Provencher Blvd.
The concept aimed to offer employment, training, social enterprises and housing at the properties.
This week, Manitoba Possible, formerly the society for Manitobans with Disabilities, announced it is withdrawing from negotiations with the city on the sale.
“Since the project was submitted to the city in 2021, construction costs have risen dramatically and interest rates have also seen significant increases. Unfortunately, the original project is no longer feasible as originally presented,” said Dana Erickson, chief executive officer of Manitoba Possible, in a press release.
In its early days, the project sparked objections from the Société de la francophonie manitobaine, which urged the city to reverse the sale of 219 Provencher and ensure public access to the site.
Manitoba Possible then promised to work with the society on that goal.
SFM and Manitoba Possible say the two groups are still “actively engaged in discussions with other interested partners to develop a project that would meet both their common and distinct needs,” while the city still owns the site.
In an emailed statement, the City of Winnipeg said it’s disappointed the sale won’t proceed.
“We recognize the importance of these properties to the community and we did have very encouraging discussions with the bidder on plans for a campus development that created a strong model of accessibility and integration with the St. Boniface neighbourhood,” the statement said.
“The public service will report back to council in the coming months with options to proceed and seek council’s direction.”
joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca
Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.
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Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.
Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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History
Updated on Friday, March 31, 2023 4:00 PM CDT: Adds final copy