MMF plans to raze bowling alley to build seniors housing

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This article was published 15/08/2024 (389 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The first signs of demolition at a long-standing bowling alley — to create seniors’ housing — could appear this fall, if all follows the Manitoba Métis Federation’s plans.

The Métis government purchased Roxy Lanes roughly two years ago. It’s tabbed the land at 385 Henderson Highway for an affordable 55-plus Métis seniors facility.

The MMF is working on permitting and funding applications. It’s also studying remediation techniques for chimney swifts, an at-risk bird species currently living in the vacant building.

“Once those birds are safe and we’ve got all the permitting in place, things should move fairly smoothly,” said Will Goodon, the MMF’s minister of housing and property. “To get that first shovel in the ground this fall would be absolutely ideal.”

A 50- to 60-unit complex is blueprinted. Rooms will be tailored to seniors: electrical outlets will be placed where residents don’t need to bend and ovens and stoves will be separated, so people can slide a wheelchair under their stovetops to cook, Goodon detailed.

It’s similar to a facility the MMF is finishing in Selkirk. Goodon said he expects the 49-unit space to open this fall. Winnipeg’s Roxy Lanes complex is slated to be finished in late 2025 or early 2026.

“We’re going to be banging on a lot of doors,” Goodon said of funding.

He said he believes construction costs will reach $22 million for the new build. The MMF will seek grants from all levels of government and research financing options, he said.

Upwards of 80 seniors will fit in the proposed complex, Goodon continued. The MMF has used postal codes to find where Métis citizens are most densely populated. There was a need for housing in the Elmwood area, Goodon relayed: “We’re here to help Métis people.”

In 2022, city heritage groups pushed for Roxy Lanes to receive heritage status. If approved, the near-100-year-old building would be sheltered from complete demolition.

The city reviewed the case and decided against designating heritage status to the Henderson Highway site.

“I can live with that decision,” Coun. Jason Schreyer (Elmwood – East Kildonan) said Thursday. “I’m satisfied that we put it through the process and consideration of the department.

“I do look forward to a development with affordable housing here in my neighbourhood.”

He’s chair of the city’s historical buildings and resources committee. The Elmwood – East Kildonan ward rarely sees cases of historically significant properties, Schreyer commented.

Roxy Lanes isn’t set up for housing in its current state and revitalization would be “very cost ineffective” and not viable, Goodon said, adding it’s “totally understandable” if people are unhappy with the building’s removal.

Roxy opened as a theatre on Christmas Eve of 1929. It cost $150,000 and could seat more than 1,000 moviegoers, according to Heritage Winnipeg.

In 1960, the theatre converted to a 20-lane bowling alley. It was put up for sale in 2022 following an owner’s death and his wife’s decision to move on.

“I’m supportive of the housing, I’m just sad that the building couldn’t be repurposed for that use,” said Cindy Tugwell, Heritage Winnipeg’s executive director.

She pointed to Uptown Lofts, which transformed from bowling alley to apartment complex in 2020.

“We’d like to see the materials from the existing theatre be reused in some way,” Tugwell stated.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com