City Hall: Portage Place deadline extended, sewage plant upgrade audited and public trash pickups studied

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This article was published 14/12/2023 (1013 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Council extends Portage Place deadline

City council will provide True North Real Estate Development six more months to determine if it will buy Portage Place to carry out a $650-million redevelopment plan.

Councillors voted Thursday to extend the window to June 30. The extension also requires provincial and federal government approval, since the three governments are shareholders in The Forks North Portage Partnership, which owns the land, parking and “air rights” (to build upwards) at the site.

TNRED confirmed federal approval has also been granted, while the company expects to hear from the province “soon.” A separate extension on the private purchase of the mall was also approved.

The decision comes two days after TNRED, the real estate arm of Winnipeg Jets owner True North Sports and Entertainment, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Southern Chiefs’ Organization to co-ordinate the proposed Portage Place transformation with SCO’s redevelopment of the former downtown Bay building.

If the deal is finalized, True North will pursue plans to replace the mall with a 15-storey health-care services tower, 16-storey residential building, a grocery store, community centres and office space for social agencies.

Auditor to review sewage plant upgrade

The city’s auditor will review the massive north end sewage treatment plant upgrade next year.

Council voted Thursday in favour of the 2024 audit plan, which includes the project.

The “limited scope engagement” on the $2.3-billion project aims to “provide assurance that the city’s resources are being used economically and efficiently,” according to an auditor’s report.

The upgrade is the most expensive infrastructure project in the city’s history.

St. Vital councillor Brian Mayes, chairman of water and waste, has said the size of the project warrants further review.

City to explore public trash pickups

The city will study options to have municipal staff provide some garbage collection in an attempt to help combat illegal dumping, while pursuing a report to cost out the effort first.

Council gave final approval Thursday to having civic staff provide garbage and recycling collection in a zone concentrated around downtown and the North End, roughly covering the Daniel McIntyre, Mynarski and Point Douglas wards, as well as the West Broadway neighbourhood, beginning in early 2027. However, the change will take effect only if council also approves funding to support it.

Currently, all garbage collection in those areas is contracted out.

Council also ordered a report on the cost to make the change, as well as how an in-house crew could help address bulky waste, illegal dumping, encampment cleanups and the city’s future curbside compost collection. That report is due back in about five months.