Around city hall: archives building cost up, land exchange for affordable housing

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This article was published 04/07/2025 (270 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City archives building price up again

The cost to restore a vacant heritage building to house the City of Winnipeg’s irreplaceable archives looks set to rise again.

On Friday, council’s property and development committee voted in favour of a construction contract that will require the city to spend another $3.5 million on the project, pending a final city council vote.

The city originally expected to pay $12.7 million to renovate the Carnegie Library, at 380 William Ave., to house the archives, before the tab jumped to $19.3 million earlier this year. The latest hike would increase the budget to roughly $22.8 million and require about $16 million of debt.

“This increase is due to market conditions, like higher costs for materials and/or labour in the marketplace because of things such as increased demand and competition from other local construction projects,” a city report states.

The report notes city staff are seeking funding from private partnerships, as well as the federal and provincial governments to offset the cost, though none has been secured yet.

Land exchange to help create affordable homes

A city committee has approved a unique land exchange that will designate 10 serviced lots for affordable housing.

On Friday, council’s property and development committee cast a final vote to approve the proposal. Qualico will acquire 14.5 acres of raw, unserviced city land and give the city 10 serviced lots to transfer to Habitat for Humanity to develop in Sage Creek and Waverley West. Qualico will also pay the city about $111,000.

Habitat for Humanity expects to create a duplex on each set of two connected lots, with about 1,100 square feet of space and three bedrooms per living unit.