Residents oppose demolition of historic house

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This article was published 19/02/2020 (2225 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The former home of Manitoba’s longest-serving premier is slated for demolition to make way for a modern apartment complex in Osborne Village, over the objections of its current residents.

The residence at 604 Stradbrook Ave. once belonged to premier John Bracken, who held the role from 1922 to 1943. It’s now expected to be torn down, along with one house on each side, so the property owners can build a 32-unit apartment complex.

The City of Winnipeg’s board of adjustment approved the plan at a meeting Wednesday evening, with one member voting in opposition.

Bracken’s former home doesn’t have an official heritage designation. The current residents of the rental property said they plan to seek heritage status and appeal the board’s decision.

“You have an architectural gem on your hands, with political significance,” Jane Hilder told the board. “This has not been addressed whatsoever, and I hope it’s going to be.”

Jonathan Watts, Hilder’s boyfriend and one of three people who live at the home known as “Brackenhouse,” was among six opponents of the development plan who urged the board to reconsider Wednesday. He said he was concerned about “cookie-cutter design” replacing a character home.

“It’s a shame to just knock it down, which feels like a lateral move — it’s just other residential units going in its place, and they’re also knocking down a bunch of the trees. Big, beautiful old trees,” Watts said after the meeting.

However, the 112-year-old home wasn’t on the radar for a heritage designation, said Heritage Winnipeg executive director Cindy Tugwell.

“It was never on the inventory, so it had never been earmarked to be looked at — surprisingly,” she said Wednesday. “I was quite surprised given who (lived there), the longest-serving premier.”

Residents said a plaque that identified the 3,175-square-foot structure as Bracken’s former residence went missing Oct. 30, a couple of days before they received an eviction notice.

The plaque had been affixed to Ashley Hoeppner’s mailbox, which she said was also stolen. Now, she faces the prospect of finding new housing, even though she said her lease was to be in effect until October. Trying to find a comparable rental has been difficult, she said.

“We live there because it’s a beautiful, affordable home,” Hoeppner said, saying she also plans to appeal the board’s decision.

Two neighbouring houses, at 602 and 606 Stradbrook Ave., are also set to be razed as part of the proposed development.

Two families own all three structures (two duplexes and a triplex); they want to consolidate, according to representatives Ken Pankratz and Sean O’Neil, who spoke to the board on the owners’ behalf.

Only one of the houses (606) has been flagged as having historical significance, due to its masonry (Tyndall stone).

O’Neil noted the plan for the proposed apartment complex comes at a time when rental vacancy rates in the city are fairly low. He said notice of a Nov. 5, 2019, public consultation meeting was mailed to residents in the area, and representatives door-knocked in the neighbourhood.

The residents of 604 Stradbrook Ave. countered they didn’t receive any such notice. Karen Shanski, architect of the proposed apartment building, said it will include a fenced dog run, parking garage, and will make use of Tyndall stone on its facade. An arborist study has been done to protect as many elms on the property as possible, she said.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay