Highland Pointe approaches another milestone

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This article was published 23/07/2023 (806 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Last year’s historically wet spring may have slowed Highland Pointe’s roll, but the 400-acre development near the north perimeter is approaching another milestone.

Phase 2 of the project, where McPhillips Street meets the Perimeter, is expected to be complete by the end of summer. That’s nearly a year later than what developers originally planned, but a record 331.4 millimetres of rain last spring dampened timelines.

“Severe delays from the wet weather last year was the major (issue),” said Michael Carruthers, manager of land development for developer Ladco Company Limited. “There’s always issues like development approval processes and things like that but that’s standard practice. But major, unforeseen delays, I think the weather last year was particularly challenging.”

More than 250 homes in what’s expected to be a 2,000-lot community have been built. Phase 1, which broke ground in 2021, had 249 residential units, which were a mix of single-family and duplex builds, many of which are already occupied.

Phase 2 will bring another 250 single-family lots, 34 duplexes and 29 townhomes to the budding community. Highland Pointe, which Carruthers estimates will be finished in 2033, will also house 25 acres of multi-family builds and 12 acres of commercial development.

“We’re trying to provide a variety of housing. It’s not like the 1980s and ‘90s, our communities were almost exclusively single-family. So we’re trying to be inclusive and target a number of housing markets,” Carruthers said.

“Winnipeg grows incrementally. So it grows outwards as it follows sewer and water and land drainage. So this is incremental growth to the city of Winnipeg and it will be somewhat of a community on its own. It will have services, possibly schools. There is going to be multi-family sites, the first multi-family site is actually going to be under construction this summer with rentals and it will have 169 apartments.”

The first park has also been developed, a space that includes a play structure and a seating area. The community is expected to offer more than 35 acres of parkland.

That’s one of many features Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) is looking forward to seeing in the area.

“I’m very excited and optimistic about the Highland Pointe development,” she said. “It represents a forward-thinking vision for suburban growth in the northwest quadrant of Winnipeg, an area already vibrant with cultural diversity and a significant immigrant population. I’m particularly encouraged by the emphasis on active transportation and green spaces — essential elements for a sustainable, interconnected community.

“The intent to provide diverse housing options aligns with the unique needs of our multicultural community and the desire to build a sustainable neighbourhood,” she continued. “The beauty of diversity is that it brings different perspectives and ideas to the table, and accommodating various housing needs is an essential part of that. But as we all know, real estate development is a complex process. My primary responsibility is to ensure that this development delivers on its promises and truly caters to the community’s interests.”

Carruthers noted the next two phases are also being serviced while Ladco wraps up Phase 2 in the next couple of months. Phase 3 “will be another sizeable development, as well,” he said, with another 215 residential builds (single family, duplexes and townhouses) erected.

Phase 4 is expected to be complete by the end of 2024, which will make construction almost half complete. There are nine phases in total.

“This development is a key step forward for our area, marking a significant moment in the evolution of Winnipeg’s northwest,” said Coun. Sharma. “It signals growth, diversity, and opportunity. By introducing more housing, we’re addressing a critical demand, which could potentially have positive implications for housing affordability city-wide.

“Hopefully, this helps stabilize housing prices and increase affordability, while also boosting the local economy by creating job opportunities in the construction sector.”

jfreysam@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jfreysam