Care home, social services facility going up on vacant Spence Street lot
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A care home and social services facility will soon fill an empty lot in West Broadway where fire destroyed a vacant house last year.
Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corp. is behind the project on Spence Street just south of Broadway.
The project was approved at a civic appeal committee hearing in June. The conditional-use permit allows construction of a care facility that exceeds six beds.
Architectural renderings made available to the City of Winnipeg Appeals Committee show the proposed development for the West Broadway lot. (City of Winnipeg)
The province had “nothing further to add to any information that may have already been made publicly available about these properties,” a spokesman said.
Cho Venevongsa, owner of nearby Wasabi restaurant, said he didn’t know anything about plans for the site, which he had tried to develop for years.
“I sold the lots,” Venevongsa said. “It was a numbered company. I don’t know who they are.”
About five years ago, Venevongsa bought a two-family house and a neighbouring 12-unit rooming house on Spence Street. He planned to demolish both buildings, join the lots and build an 18-unit apartment building that would include some affordable suites.
The city agreed to rezone the properties into a large residential lot in December 2022.
During the two years the house was vacant, Venevongsa said he was worried it could fall victim to arson or accidental fire because thieves and squatters repeatedly broke in.
That finally happened early last year. While Venevongsa was waiting for the city to finalize his demolition permit for the buildings, the house was destroyed by a fire, something the restaurant owner said could delay his plans.
Venevongsa subsequently sold the property.
Coun. Sherri Rollins, who represents the area, said she has had several meetings through the years about plans for the property and she is glad it will finally be developed.
The two buildings in the 100 block of Spence Street after a fire in February 2024. Both buildings were later demolished. (Mike Deal / Free Press files)
“I am always happy when things go up on vacant lots,” said Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry).
“(The province is) addressing various areas of the housing gap in Winnipeg. It’s important because we really don’t want vacant and derelict properties.”
Coun. Evan Duncan, chair of the civic property and development committee, agreed.
“It is great news any time we can see development in an area that has been stagnant and vacant,” said Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood).
“And, if it is some aspect of supportive housing, I am in favour of it.”
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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