City probes Elmwood proposal championed by late councillor Schreyer

The dream of a late city councillor to provide food, homes and entertainment at two properties on Henderson Highway could become a reality.

Coun. Jason Schreyer, who represented Elmwood-East Kildonan, died suddenly in April. He had been working with the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corp. to create a central meeting space at 241 and 243 Henderson Hwy., which would feature an entertainment stage, food rescue operation, transitional housing and housing support services.

Council’s property and development committee directed city real estate staff to work with the renewal corporation to assemble the land, at least initially bringing it under city ownership, as an early step toward the project.

A key proponent of the proposal said it’s bittersweet to see it move forward after Schreyer’s death.

“The pieces are all fitting now and he’s not here to see it. I’m still reeling from the emotions because I can’t believe it is happening. This is his dream… and I hope that we can continue to fulfil the legacy, not only for Jason, but for the community that he loved,” said Leilani Esteban-Villarba, executive director of the Chalmers organization, her voice at times wavering with emotion. “All of these things will be happening because of him.”

Esteban-Villarba said the Chalmers/Elmwood area is a “food desert” that doesn’t have major grocery stores within easy walking or busing distance.

She said Schreyer had supported her organization’s bulk buying program that allows people to pay $10 to receive up to $30 in fresh fruit and vegetables, and he helped secure refrigerated containers that will support the future food rescue program.

Food rescue programs allow donations of unspoiled, surplus food that grocery stores, restaurants and/or farms would otherwise throw out, which are given to people in need.

Esteban-Villarba said her corporation leases the land at 243 Henderson, and has used it for community events, while 241 Henderson recently went up for sale.

“(The second site) was perfect for the food rescue storefront, for our housing team and for transitional housing and then a social enterprise, for those who were about to become homeless or were in need of employment skills,” she said.

Esteban-Villarba said the Chalmers corporation would provide services at the site, which would have about two to four transitional housing units. The tenants would gain work skills at the food rescue program, she said.

The final cost and timeline of the proposal are still being determined, while the plan calls for an existing building to be renovated to provide the housing units, said Esteban-Villarba.

Some programming would aim to help people avoid being evicted from their homes.

Coun. Russ Wyatt, who raised the motion for the city to assist the project, said he hopes acquiring the properties will ensure the facility becomes permanent. He believes it should be named after Jason Schreyer to honour the late councillor’s work.

“I think councillor Schreyer had a fantastic vision for the site…. His vision really was to help the old downtown Elmwood area come alive… and rejuvenate and make the community safer and healthier for everybody. I think it’s a vision well worth implementing now in his memory,” said Wyatt (Transcona).

City staff are expected to report back in September on how much the land would cost.

Coun. Evan Duncan, chairman of the property committee, said it’s too soon to say whether the city would buy the land, then sell or give it to the neighbourhood corporation to run, a method sometimes used to support housing projects.

“I think that the city’s going to do the due diligence to find out exactly what (the land) would cost, whether it’s the city or a neighbourhood organization or third party to (own it),” said Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood).

Duncan said he strongly supports the goal to provide food security in the area.

“Any opportunity to provide those types of, essentially, human rights to people is important,” he said.

Wyatt said he hopes the city moves quickly to assess the land, so it can include funding to acquire it in the next capital budget.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga