Developer ‘anxiously’ awaits judge’s decision on Granite Curling Club construction

The developer of a hotly debated project that would add 110 housing units to the Granite Curling Club’s parking lot has begun investigative work at the site while awaiting a judge’s decision on construction.

While some digging took place at the city-owned property last week, its developer said construction has yet to begin.

“I would call (the digging so far) investigative site work. It’s not preparing in any way for construction, other than to ensure that the reports that are required for any site have been completed,” said Jeremy Read, chief executive officer of UWCRC 2.0 Inc.

A heritage resources impact assessment will determine if the site has archeological significance. That work will check for everything from fossils to unmarked graves, said Read.

“You want to ensure that this is not a sacred site,” he said.

Preliminary findings did not locate items that are expected to stall construction, Read said.

The legal challenge could affect the timeline of construction, and Read said acting before it is resolved could create a risk for the project.

“The land is subdivided, zoning is in place, the permitting has occurred. At this point, I would say we are anxiously awaiting the decision,” said Read.

The curling club is suing the city over its decision to reject a Municipal Board direction that required the project to develop an “adequate” parking plan that satisfies the club’s needs. The club initially feared it could lose 45 of its 80 parking stalls due to the new homes, which it argues would leave it no longer financially viable.

The project’s price has grown over time to reach $44 million, up from $40 million about 18 months ago, due to construction inflation, interest charges and tariffs, said Read.

“Time is money,” he said.

The developer said the project would take about two years to build and provide urgently needed affordable homes. Out of 110 housing units, 56 will be affordable. Of those units, 30 would have monthly fees geared to residents’ income and 26 would charge about 69 per cent or less of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation median market rent for the area.

“(Some) are well below the province’s affordable housing guideline cutoff. For a single bedroom (apartment), you could be paying $285 per month,” said Read.

Some members of the curling club remain concerned about when construction could start.

“We’ve asked the city to confirm that they won’t commence construction until the court releases the decision and they haven’t agreed to wait,” said Christian Pierce, secretary of the club’s board.

While the city has publicly released a parking plan for the site, Pierce said a formal one has not been sent to the club. He said key details about the size of parking spots and whether any will be offered during the two years of construction have not been shared by the city.

“No solution’s been offered in the construction period. Within two years, if we’re losing members year over year, we’re already in a difficult spot,” said Pierce.

The club fears that could lead it to lose out on major national curling events, which require daytime parking.

The club has already received some parking complaints from daytime league members since the lot was blocked off last week, he said.

The curling club is now operating on a short-term use agreement, since it has not reached a new long-term lease for its city-owned property.

In a written statement, the city confirmed construction has not commenced on the project at 30 Granite Way and suggested the development should benefit the club.

“The housing development will support the preservation of the Granite Curling Club building as a historical city asset, with annual funding to help maintain the building,” wrote city spokesman Adam Campbell.

The city has publicly shared a proposal for a parking plan at the site, which the club doesn’t deem a formal agreement.

To create 70 dedicated parking spots, that plan would replace a boulevard at North Granite Way with 15 parking spaces, convert a vehicle approach into 11 more stalls, preserve 20 spaces at the existing west parking lot and offer 24 stalls at the east parking lot.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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