Dylon Martin

Federal funding fuels affordable housing

A few large-scale, mixed-income, non-market-housing projects have gone up in West Broadway in recent years. These include West Broadway Commons, completed in 2020, and a project now under development for 2SLGBTQ+ seniors housing at 545 Broadway. These projects became a reality thanks to the federal government’s focus on funding affordable housing in recent years.

Issues to keep tabs on in 2023

Heading into 2023, there are a lot of relevant matters to consider for West Broadway and Winnipeg. These include persistent issues with housing affordability, transit, and active transportation.

Better snow-clearing in the 2023-24 forecast

Relative to Winnipeg as a whole, West Broadway has a high share of people whose main mode of commuting is public transit, walking, or cycling. As such, many neighbourhood residents will recall last winter’s above-average snowfall and the strain it put on users of our sidewalks. The city plans to be better equipped for winters like last one in the near future.

Let’s implement the Transit Master Plan now

The one single thing Winnipeg can do to realistically improve transit soon is implement the Transit Master Plan, pronto, with conventional buses.

Kildonan Library issue recalls Cornish debate

On May 26, Winnipeg city council officially nixed a plan to move the West Kildonan Library from a city-owned building in a walkable location on Jefferson Avenue to a rental space at Garden City mall. This move was celebrated by many, including the Friends of West Kildonan Library coalition. For Dennis Bayomi, who grew up in West Broadway but now lives in Westwood, it was reminiscent of a similar debate decades ago.

Busy year for West Broadway Community Organization

The West Broadway Community Organization (WBCO) held its annual general meeting on June 16. This year’s AGM included major changes for the organization, including the election of a few new board members and the introduction of the new executive director.

Greg MacPherson, the former executive director for the WBCO, facilitated the meeting. MacPherson stepped down as ED near the end of 2021 after serving in the role for 11 years. Ella Rockar filled the role until Patrick Krawec was selected as the new ED. MacPherson was also elected to the board at this AGM.

The last year was very eventful for the organization. The WBCO continued dealing with ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As well, it grew its housing department, launched the Deer Spirit Garden, expanded programming at the Good Food Club, and opened offices at Crossways in Common.

MacPherson commended Rockar’s work building up the WBCO housing department, including tenant support initiatives.

The nuances of redevelopment

A new redevelopment on Spence Street exemplifies the complex nature of neighbourhood change in West Broadway.

The proposed project will combine two lots at 145 and 149 Spence St. to build an 18-unit apartment complex, designed as connected townhouse segments. The proposal includes a landscaped front yard with shrubs and trees, 15 secure indoor bike parking spaces, four visitor bike parking spots outside, and 15 automobile parking spaces at the rear.

The redevelopment will replace a two-family dwelling and a 12-unit rooming house. As part of the City of Winnipeg’s density bonus pilot program, the project is allowed four “bonus” units over the 14 currently on the sites, in exchange for providing four affordable units. Manitoba Housing has agreed to monitor the affordable unit component.

A supporting letter from the West Broadway Community Organization noted that the builders did meaningful community consultations. It added that the loss of rooming house units was unfortunate.

Election issues to keep in mind this fall

On Oct. 26 of this year Winnipeggers will head to the polls to elect their city council and a new mayor. There are many key civic issues that affect West Broadway, including pedestrian safety, transit, housing affordability, and sidewalk snow clearing.

West Broadway is in the northwestern part of Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry ward, which is currenlty represented by Coun. Sherri Rollins, who is likely to run again.

In the mayoral race, social enterprise expert Shaun Loney and River Heights-Fort Garry councillor John Orlikow have announced that they are running. St. James councillor Scott Gillingham says it is “very likely” that he will run for mayor while Coun. Kevin Klein (Charleswood - Tuxedo - Westwood) and St. Norbert - Seine River councillor Markus Chambers are both considering mayoral runs.

Although the civic election is still nearly seven months away, it is important for West Broadway residents to consider issues to bring up to politicians during campaign season. The city’s snow clearing priorities can leave many sidewalks inaccessibly icy during the winter, often resulting in swampy conditions during the spring melt. While this may be ‘out-of-sight, out-of-mind’ during a September-October campaign, it’s important for residents to bring this up during the election. There may be some action on the issue, as Rollins and Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) put forward a motion on March 24 to upgrade snow-clearing on sidewalks near transit routes.

Go Dutch with plain bicycles

Dutch bicycles are a new trend in Winnipeg cycling and their introduction is being spearheaded by a social enterprise located in West Broadway.

Some people have found these bikes, with their upright riding positions, very comfortable and more suited to a casual style of riding.

West End resident Janis Thiessen ordered a Dutch bicycle through the Plain Bicycle project two years ago.

“It’s comfortable and has been great to bike downtown. I’ve used it to go to The Forks and take my dog to the park” Thiessen said.

Will 2022 herald a ‘new normal’?

Another year has come and gone. City, provincial, and national policymakers and institutions are still steering through turbulent times and a public health crisis. Nobody is sure when we will return to normal or exactly what 2022 will bring.

This year marks a milestone for Winnipeg, however, as Jan. 4 was the 50th anniversary of the amalgamation of old Winnipeg and its surrounding suburbs. There are many policies under development and changes set for West Broadway and Winnipeg in 2022.

Locally, the West Broadway Community Organization (WBCO) is going through changes. Greg MacPherson, after 10 years of working with the WBCO, has left the organization. Ella Rockar is the new executive director while Ailene Deller is now the director for the organization’s Good Food Club.

The WBCO will continue to be a meaningful part of the neighbourhood, with its Good Food Club, various housing initiatives and many other programs.

It’s winter and sidewalks are an issue

Winnipeg is well into winter, with snowfall and persistent below zero weather. For many pedestrians, this means icy and inaccessible sidewalks.

“They’re some of the worst I’ve ever seen”, said West Broadway resident Brian Pincott.

Pincott moved to West Broadway about three years ago and has previously lived in Calgary and Nova Scotia. He has also travelled to many Canadian cities in his past role as a member of the board of directors of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities.

Snowed-in sidewalks have profound impacts on quality of life, Pincott says.

Cyclists enjoyed banner season in 2021

My personal cycling season has ended now. It has been an interesting year to be a cyclist in West Broadway and there’s a lot to look forward to next year.

A profound change has been the construction of separated bikeways along Granite Way, Balmoral Street, Young Street, and Westminster Avenue. This means there is now a virtually continuous bicycle network from West Broadway to the East Exchange.

The pathway from West Broadway, with crossings in between, can take one to the Assiniboine Avenue bikeway and then the riverside paths at The Forks. While the build-up of this cycling network has been gradual, it is beginning to look and feel real.

West Broadway is a neighbourhood with a relatively high share of cyclists for Winnipeg. According to the 2016 census, almost nine perc ent of neighbourhood residents’ primary method of commuting to work was by bike. This was about five times the rate of Winnipeg overall. A greater share of neighbourhood residents likely cycle to work occasionally or recreationally.

Winter is coming – what about the homeless?

Homelessness is a significant issue in West Broadway and Winnipeg. With cold winter weather approaching, protection from the elements and shelter will be a major issue for those without housing.

There is no exact estimate of the homeless population in West Broadway. The 2018 Winnipeg Street Census estimated over 1,500 persons experiencing homeless in Winnipeg while the Homeless Hub considers there to be 135,000 persons at risk of homelessness in Winnipeg.

The Homeless Hub further estimates there to be 7,600 hidden homeless people — those without permanent accommodations who have to resort to temporary measures such as couch surfing.

The West Broadway Community Organization’s 2021-2026 Housing Plan notes that community members and local service agencies have identified a sizable unhoused population in the neighbourhood. This includes the hidden homeless, those in shelters, as well as residents of homeless camps.

West Broadway gets new housing plan

The West Broadway Community Organization released a new neighbourhood housing plan over the summer. It stresses the need for more quality, affordable housing in the community for low-income residents.

The WBCO developed the plan through extensive consultation with community members and an analytical review between February 2020 and February 2021. Public outreach included surveys, focus groups, and interviews.

Feedback showed that people appreciate the West Broadway neighbourhood for its central location, people, and services. A look at data also highlighted the unique context of the community. West Broadway is three times as dense as Winnipeg overall, has older housing stock, and has a greater share of renters. Residents are more likely to use non-car means of transportation, such as walking, biking, and public transit. Nearly half the neighbourhood population is low-income.

Some noticeable long-term trends are eroding housing affordability, however. Land values, house sale prices, and property values rose in West Broadway amidst a Winnipeg-wide housing shortage. This attracted investment in the neighbourhood in the form of renovations of existing housing and the construction of new builds.

Relaxed restrictions bring cautious hope

While hopeful for a return to normal, many West Broadway residents are still making sure to follow COVID prevention practices like wearing masks indoors.

On Aug. 7, the province scaled back some public health orders a month earlier than planned. Under the new approach, guidelines play a larger role instead of restrictions, a decision based on meeting vaccination targets ahead of schedule.  

A big change is shifting from indoor mask mandates to strongly recommending them. This now puts the onus on individuals to decide if they are going to wear masks and businesses if they are going to mandate them.

Reaction to the new guidelines, particularly to the voluntary mask recommendation, was mixed among West Broadway residents I contacted. Most are opting to continue wearing masks indoors and some are skeptical of a voluntary as opposed to mandated indoor mask policy.

COVID-19 and vaccination in West Broadway

Winnipeg, and the rest of Manitoba, seems to be over the height of the third wave of COVID-19. For West Broadway residents and others, this hopefully means everyday life increasingly returns to normal as we near 2022.  

On May 22, there had been 3,362 new cases in Manitoba over the past seven days, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. By July 19, that figure had fallen to 286.

This figure is well above the numbers we hit in our small first wave in spring 2020. It also pales in comparison to Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, both of which recorded seven-day case counts in the low single digits as of July 19.

On July 20, the Government of Manitoba recorded 909 active cases in Manitoba. In the Downtown Winnipeg Health District, which includes West Broadway, there were 36 active cases per 100,000 residents. This put it above every other Winnipeg health district except Inkster, with 49 active cases per 100,000 residents.

Big tax changes for renters

Tax time is now in the rearview mirror. It can be a scramble to get all the paper and receipts ready for the deadline, but filing is important. Many benefits, such as the Climate Action Incentive credit for carbon pricing and the Canada Child Benefit, depend on tax filings.

Tenants in West Broadway and across Manitoba can expect to see some big changes come tax time next year. These changes spring from Bill 71.

This provincial legislation reduces the education property tax, with a 25 per cent rebate on the pre-credit (gross) education taxes paid, for landlords and other owners of residential and farm properties. Alongside this, the $700 education property tax credit goes down 25 per cent to $525 for property owners and renters. Owners get rebate cheques this summer. Based on an example tax bill used by Manitoba Finance, an owner who owed $1,700 in school taxes would save $250 on their bill because of these changes.

For renters, the situation is more complicated.

How will infill guidelines affect West Broadway?

New homes in mature communities like West Broadway are a big topic and have been for some time.

In December 2016, Winnipeg City Council’s property and development committee directed the city’s civil service to begin work on a strategy for infill - that is, new homes in old neighbourhoods. After a long consultation process which has happened sporadically, council may finally end up voting on infill guidelines this year.  

West Broadway is one of the neighbourhoods to be covered by the new guidelines. According to building permit data from the city, 412 housing units have beencreated in the neighbourhood since 2010 while 34 were lost. This amounts to a net rate of increase of about 34 per year.

Walking in West Broadway, particularly along  Sherbrook and Maryland streets, one can see a few new mixed-use and multifamily residential buildings.               

Riding out the pandemic in West Broadway

It has been over a year since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and deep changes came to work, life, and leisure. From personal experience, this pandemic led to challenges around activity, socializing, entertainment, and maintaining a separation of work and home life.

Living in West Broadway can be a unique experience in Winnipeg. There are many more multi-family building residents in the neighbourhood, often with smaller private amenities, such as floor space and yards, than in more suburban areas. In return, there are many benefits in terms of nearby shared commercial and public amenities like stores, restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, and riverside green space.

The need for physical distancing and restrictions on indoor dining has reduced access to many of these neighbourhood amenities. At the start of the pandemic, I cut down on the number of visits I made to local stores dramatically and I am certain neighbours did so, too.

I have been lucky to be able to work at home for much of the past 12 months. This has its upside, the biggest being personal and public safety through less risk of catching and transmitting SARS-CoV-2. Time spent on commutes and getting ready for work is also down to nearly nothing. However, I look forward to spending more time working outside the home once the pandemic ends. Work and home life blurring together can be mentally tiring after a while. Before the pandemic, I made a habit of often bicycling to work in the spring, summer, and fall. This has stopped with less reason to go out and my overall activity has declined.

Major city plans for Winnipeg neighbourhoods

The City of Winnipeg is currently in the final stages of developing major, city-wide plans. These include OurWinnipeg 2045, a 25-year development plan for everything the city does, and the related Complete Communities direction strategy. Complete Communities is a plan which will guide land-use, growth, and development in the city. These plans will govern the way neighbourhoods such as West Broadway change and grow over the next two decades.

From 1971 to 2019, the built-up area of Winnipeg has increased by 92 per cent while our population has only grown 37 per cent over the same period. The built-up area includes housing, stores and other developments to support the city’s growth. Between 1971 and 2016, the population of Winnipeg’s old neighbourhoods declined by 82,000 persons. This occurred due to a mix of smaller family sizes and people buying larger, single family houses taking up much more land in new suburban neighbourhoods.

This pattern of growth has had major consequences for Winnipeg. From 1971 to 2016, Winnipeg’s length of linear water pipes grew 131 per cent. This is over four times the city’s population growth in the same period and, obviously, puts a on strain on the city’s budget and services. The city estimated that there would be a $6.9 billion infrastructure deficit, spending needed for new and existing infrastructure, from 2018 to 2027. This results from a mix of needing to service much more land-per-person and a decade long property tax freeze n the 2000s.

The OurWinnipeg plan and Complete Communities aims to encourage more sustainable growth to address challenges like these. Key to this is the concept of a complete community, where people can live, work, and play in the same compact neighbourhood. With its mix of homes, workplaces, restaurants, shops and greenspace, West Broadway may be the epitome of a complete community in Winnipeg.

Pandemic challenges West Broadway businesses

More and more businesses have set up shop in West Broadway in recent years, helping it develop its unique, mixed-use characteristics. However, following the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many are unsure of what 2021 holds in store.

Sarah Atnikov is executive director of the West Broadway BIZ. BIZ groups in Winnipeg help neighbourhood business communities with marketing initiatives, sponsoring events, improving physical amenities and advocacy. There are currently 16 BIZ groups in Winnipeg representing different neighbourhoods, including downtown and Transcona. Geographically, the West Broadway BIZ is smaller but Atnikov notes that there are over 100 businesses in the neighbourhood.

Over the past decade, more businesses have opened in West Broadway.

“The Sherbrook Street strip, in particular, has seen lots of activity,” Atnikov said.

Winter cycling in West Broadway

West Broadway has a large number of people who commute by bike. Some residents may have noticed cyclists continuing to ride into early December, or they may have biked themselves this month.

Matt Morison has mostly lived in and around West Broadway for the last decade. He has cycled, including in the winter, for the past 10 years.

“It’s great exercise, it can be a lot of fun and it’s nice to try and avoid any sort of fossil-fuel combustion”, Morison said.

He found it fairly easy to run everyday errands by bike in West Broadway before the COVID-19 pandemic.

West Broadway Tenants organize for their rights

Renters in West Broadway face challenges with landlords and housing affordability. Dealing with the Residential Tenancies Branch isn’t always easy or helpful so, to stand up for their rights, some renters are organizing the West Broadway Tenants Committee (WBTC).

Les Scott has been a tenant in and around the West Broadway neighbourhood for the past 30 years. He volunteered with the WBTC one year ago, motivated by concern over issues tenants experience.

“The process of working with the (RTB) is a complicated issue and it’s stacked against tenants,” Scott said.

He believes the good the WBTC does includes bringing together tenants to fight for their rights. The committee is working with a non-profit legal advocate to oppose above-guideline rent increases, Scott adds.