Is the McMillan area turning into ‘condo city’?

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This article was published 26/02/2021 (2028 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hundreds of condominium and apartment units have risen in the McMillan area over the past few years. The quiet residential neighbourhood is rapidly changing.

Four recent condo and apartment developments have sprung up on McMillan Avenue in the last couple of years. Speculators continue with plans for additional complexes.

Dwell Design proposes a 22-unit apartment building to replace three century-old single-family dwellings at the corner of Stafford Street and McMillan. Ventura owns the McMillan condo complex. It has a four-storey, 26-unit apartment proposal to replace three existing properties at the corner of Grosvenor Avenue and Wentworth Street.

Both developers appealed variances at a Jan. 21 meeting of the appeal committee, which is comprised of councillors Matt Allard (St. Boniface), Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan), Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) and Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River), none of whom represent or live in the Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry ward.

Ventura’s appeal was approved with little or no opposition. The developer seems to have ongoing engagement with the community.

Dwell Design appealed a dozen variances. Six people supported the developer’s appeal, three of whom are real estate agents.

There were vehement arguments from a multitude of residents against the project. The committee heard 10 virtual presentations and a number of others submitted their objections in writing. In all, 68 nearby residents petitioned their opposition.

All residents who made presentations said they were not against development. Yet they raised many concerns, cited increased traffic and safety (the intersection at Stafford is already a blind corner), noise and reduced green space.

Michael Hollas, whose house will be closer to the apartment block than the Corydon Osborne plan allows, said, “I am completely gutted by the councillors’ decision and complete disregard for the facts and the residents’ concerns.”

He has lived on McMillan Avenue for 25 years and plans to move.

Kenton Larsen has lived on McMillan for 20 years. He says both the current and former ward councillors oppose the project. When asked if she registered her opposition to the project, Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Sherri Rollins replied, “Yes, I did.”

Former ward councillor Jenny Gerbasi wrote a letter expressing her opposition to the project, stating it did not meet the plan’s criteria.

Residents also say the apartment building is incompatible with the area. Jim Bugslag bluntly described Dwell Design’s building as “a cheap and ugly design.”

McMillan resident Sam Gerbasi does not want the existing houses demolished. He believes there is a huge market for older homes in the area.

“Century-old houses are the soul of Crescentwood,” he said.

Larsen said residents expressed frustration at not being allowed to speak at the standing committee meeting where rezoning and subdivision decisions are made.

“City planners speak and, in all but name, they advocate for the developer. My key takeaway was the Corydon Osborne plan is whatever a city planner says it is.”

At the January appeal meeting, Coun. Browaty led the charge as the committee ruled in favour of Dwell Design. Area resident Laura Lamont, who made a presentation, gave kudos to Deputy Mayor Chambers for listening to residents’ objections. His was the lone vote against the development.

Dwell Design got a rap on the knuckles for not consulting adequately with the community. There was no mention of the many concerns from residents and current and former ward councillors. The developer did not respond to questions.

According to a City spokesperson, the contested development next needs approval of a building permit to obtain a demolition permit to knock down three older homes. 

Those of us who live in the area are asking how we can put a stop to the over-development.

Armande Bourgeois Martine is a correspondent for Crescentwood. Reach her at 1martine789@gmail.com