Site of former cop shop to be transformed into housing

Plans to transform a vacant former police station on prime Pembina Highway land into a mixed-use building with 150 housing units are moving forward, as the city pursues infrastructure upgrades to support those homes and many others.

Winnipeg Police Service moved out of the building at 1350 Pembina Hwy. in 2013 and relocated to a new West District station. In 2025, the city sought developers to create housing at the site.

“I’m delighted that it’s moving forward. It’s been vacant, derelict land of the city’s making … for over a decade … (Future) residents will have access to so many amenities that we know and love in Fort Garry, the local supermarket, Vincent Massey public school right behind it, the (city) library right beside it and transit right in front. So, it’s really ideal,” said Coun. Sherri Rollins, whose Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry ward includes the site.

The seven-storey building would include many floor-to-ceiling windows facing Pembina Highway, balconies, ground-floor commercial space, 107 parking stalls and a dedicated bike-parking entrance.

Plans call for up to 40 per cent of the housing units to have affordable rents, which would be set at less than 80 per cent of the area’s median market rate.

“It’s an area that really needed to be upgraded and enhanced to contribute better to the beautiful neighbourhood that essentially lines Pembina,” said Rollins.

In a report, city staff recommend the approval of the proposal, noting large windows, an “active” ground floor commercial area and second-storey balconies should make the site appealing.

“For us, this project really kind of checks all the boxes. It transforms underutilized city land into approximately … 150 homes,” said Richard Mahé, the city’s land enhancement administrator.

To support the project, Mahé said the city plans to create a new back lane that creates a safer access point to the school that abuts the property, which should be completed before students return in the fall.

The city will add sewage capacity in the area, which will support this proposed building as well as additional large-scale housing projects near the site, said Mahé.

“It’s going to unlock about two kilometres of Pembina Highway for denser development that otherwise would not be able to happen,” he said.

The developer, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, could not be reached for comment.

Mahé said the partnership with that community is another benefit of the project.

“That really advances reconciliation while addressing Winnipeg’s housing needs,” he said.

Freedhome Developments, which applied for variances to support the project, declined an interview request, suggesting it planned to share a written statement later.

The city centre community committee will consider a variance for the project on Tuesday, which calls for smaller yard and parking stalls than are typically allowed by city rules.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga