Roseau River members to get first dibs on affordable units near U of M

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This article was published 22/11/2024 (341 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation members will have the first opportunity to live in affordable units in a new apartment complex near the University of Manitoba.

Members will have first dibs on the 38 affordable units in the 95-unit building. Rents in such units at 939 Chancellor Dr. will be below 70 per cent of the median market rent.

The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Winnipeg is $1,427, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.’s January rental report states.

Funding for the building, dubbed the Chancellor, includes $32.2 million from Ottawa through the affordable housing fund, $3.5 million from Roseau River and $2.8 million in tax rebates from the City of Winnipeg.

“The transition of moving off reserve is really challenging,” Coun. Janice Lukes said at the building’s official announcement Friday. “This destination is going to be incredible for the people moving here.”

The seven-storey building, built by Paragon Design Build and Bockstael Construction, will feature one- to three-bedroom suites. It will have a mix of heated underground and surface parking, and an outdoor common patio space. Most units will have a balcony.

The units were built with university students in mind.

“The transition of moving off reserve and into the city to attend university is a challenging experience for so many, so a new apartment building located next to the University of Manitoba, supported by Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation, is, and is going to be … very important to help these students ease the transition,” Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid said at the media event.

Josephine Hartin, the chairperson of the Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation trust, called the project “exciting.”

“I’m sure I speak for every single parent and grandparent (who) only wants to have their family safe and to have a home for them that is new and affordable,” she said.

Bockstael Construction has been involved in $600 million worth of affordable housing projects over the last seven years, co-president Dan Bockstael said.

Paragon has several other projects on its docket, including ones at 670 McMillan Ave., 333 Wardlaw Ave. and 2140 Portage Ave.

Construction at the Chancellor began this summer and is expected to be completed within 18 months.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca