City puts historic (but not heritage) home on sales block

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This article was published 02/01/2021 (1742 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg is seeking a buyer for a century-old North St. Boniface home its neighbours once sought to protect with a heritage designation.

The designation would have defended the home at 700 St. Jean Baptiste St. against demolition. However, the building didn’t meet city criteria for that level of protection because it has been significantly modified since its original construction, said Coun. Matt Allard.

Now, Allard hopes criteria the city set to select the home’s new owners will ensure its key elements remain in place.

“A project that finds a way to keep as much of the existing structure, in particular, the historical elements that still exist, (is ideal),” said Allard (St. Boniface). “To me, that would mean trying to find additional structures or renovating the building, while keeping the building intact.”

Evaluation criteria for purchase bids should help ensure the best building use for the community, he said.

The city’s request for proposal will base 20 per cent of each bid’s score on alignment with Our Winnipeg and North St. Boniface secondary plans. A further 10 per cent will be based on how an application addresses the “adaptive re-use” of the building.

“I would have liked to see a higher weighting on the adaptive re-use… but (this recognizes) the direction… in terms of community benefit,” said Allard.

The remaining points for purchase bids will be based on price, development plans, and past experience.

Built in 1906, the 2 1/2-storey structure was once home to Hormisdas Béliveau (1860-1938), who served as mayor of St. Boniface in 1918-19. The property was later converted into multiple tenant suites.

The city will accept bids for the property, which it acquired in a tax sale, until March 31.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga