Heritage designation process for old St. B police station inches forward

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This article was published 23/09/2021 (1632 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg will explore a possible heritage designation for the former St. Boniface police station, despite its owner’s objections.

On Wednesday, council’s property and development committee cast a tied vote on an appeal aimed to prevent 227 Provencher Blvd. from being nominated for the city’s list of historical resources.

Under city rules, the tied vote on granting the appeal equates to a loss, so the nomination process will continue.

Winnipeg heritage planner Rina Ricci told the committee the building reflects a key period in city history.

“The building was constructed in the early 1960s and it represents the expansion of civic services in St. Boniface. It’s an excellent example of the brutalist style of architecture,” said Ricci.

After a detailed review, a more precise heritage designation, which could detail specific building elements to be protected, will be subjected to additional city hall votes. That means the designation itself can still be appealed again.

The building’s owner said, if applied, it would greatly increase the price of his effort to convert the building into a medical centre.

“The addition of a heritage designation for 227 Provencher will significantly escalate the expenses of its renovation” via additional time and labour, Marc Frechette told the committee.

He also expects it could complicate his site’s potential to collaborate with, and possibly connect to, Manitoba Possible’s inclusive “abilities village” at 219 Provencher Blvd. and 212 Dumoulin St. That concept aims to offer employment, training, social enterprises and housing for people with disabilities.

If 227 Provencher Blvd. is added to the city’s list of historical resources, the designation would protect it against demolition.

Frechette said he believes it’s not needed: “I’m not about to demolish the building. It’s a beautiful, gorgeous building.”

Couns. Janice Lukes and Kevin Klein voted to support the appeal. Lukes stressed the city should ensure the project moves forward to support Manitoba Possible.

“I really feel that the abilities community is… finding a home here now in St. B, and I want to contribute to that home,” said Lukes.

Couns. Vivian Santos and Cindy Gilroy voted against the appeal.

Gilroy, committee chairwoman, said she believes the city can protect the building without putting the medical centre project at risk.

“Just because we list something as historical, that doesn’t mean that other wonderful things can’t be made within that space. If we allow this to go on to the next step in the process, we’d be able to underline better what we can preserve, how can we work with the owner to make sure that they’re fulfilling what they’d like to see in the space,” Gilroy told the Free Press.

She said grants could also help the owner cover added construction costs, should any arise.

Gilroy said Winnipeg must continue to preserve this building and others, which help make the city a unique destination. “The delay (to determine heritage status) is always a concern but I think the preservation outweighs that.”

The historical resources committee is expected to make a more specific heritage recommendation for the building within the next year.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga