Activist ‘quite angry’ about likely demolition of seized Point Douglas homes

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This article was published 29/05/2023 (892 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A community activist is criticizing the province’s redevelopment plan for homes seized in Point Douglas, saying the government should rejig the plan so it creates housing for people more deeply in need.

The Manitoba Justice and Families departments recently announced a plan to sell six homes seized nearly two years ago as part of an illicit drug investigation in the neighbourhood to an Indigenous or non-profit organization for $1, which would then develop the properties into affordable, single-family homes for sale to low- or moderate-income families.

In order to purchase a redeveloped home from the social agency, a would-be owner would need to be a first-time homebuyer with dependents, with an annual income no more than about $85,000, and who can qualify for a mortgage.

The homes were seized under criminal property forfeiture legislation — such properties are typically sold around market value, then the money is turned over to police, victims services agencies or victims themselves.

But the province’s request for proposals said Manitoba Housing staff inspected the properties — three on Lisgar Avenue and three on Austin Street North — and determined each will likely require demolition.

“Again, all proponents are required to conduct their own due diligence regarding the condition of the six… properties,” the negotiated request for proposals reads.

“In the event that a proponent proposes demolition and rebuild, the Manitoba government may make funds available to help offset demolition costs.”

That isn’t sitting well with longtime Point Douglas activist Sel Burrows, who advocated for the province to donate the properties in the first place.

“I’m really quite angry,” Burrows said Monday. “It’s at several levels — I worked my butt off to get them to donate the houses for social housing.

“I was feeling really good about the concept of getting these houses donated, then when I read the detail in the request for proposals, I thought. ‘Just a minute, there’s something really seriously wrong here.’”

He said he thinks some of the houses — three or four — could be renovated and rented as social housing, if agencies were given cash seized as part of the illicit drug investigation.

“That option isn’t available; the only option is to sell them, and nobody’s going to buy them in the condition they’re in at the moment,” he said.

“To me, the hope that came with the initial announcement has just led to some real disappointment, that we’re not going to get six social housing units in North Point Douglas as a result of this proposal.”

Burrows said he thinks the province should rescind the RFP and rework the proposal.

Two Elmwood-area homes seized as part of the investigation have recently been sold, Burrows said, and he would have liked to see those properties included in the recent announcement, as well.

“Criminal Property Forfeiture has heard the concerns raised and are happy to respond constructively to those concerns,” a provincial Justice Department spokesperson said in an email.

The Justice spokesperson said one of those homes was earmarked for sale to pay off the mortgage, as well as property tax arrears and penalties, among other costs.

“Criminal Property Forfeiture is prepared to add the second home earmarked as a donation, in addition to the other six properties,” said the justice spokesperson.

erik.pindera@winnipegfreepress.com

Twitter: @erik_pindera