Tracing the development of East Kildonan
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This article was published 04/02/2022 (479 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The large-scale development of East Kildonan began in 1954, when an agreement was signed with the British American Land Development Company (which later became BACM in 1961 and was bought by Genstar in 1971).
Simkin Construction was given the contract for the local improvements with Tallman Gravel and Paving Supply given a major paving contract with other sub-contractors providing other work.
British American company was given all the municipally owned property in East Kildonan which, in 1954 consisted of nearly 40 per cent of all the land in East Kildonan. Individual lots were sold to builders who constructed private homes, apartments, business and industrial sites.
Development began in 1955 with construction of the sewers, water mains and street paving in the first phase between Munroe Avenue and Leighton Avenue from Roch to Raleigh streets. Home construction began in 1955 and continued until 1958 in this first phase, with over 900 new homes built during this period. A new commercial district was created along Watt Street between Helmsdale and Chelsea avenues and Neil Campbell School was constructed as part of the agreement.
In 1959, construction of new homes began in the area east of Gateway Street between Simpson Avenue and Montrose (Larsen) Avenue east to nearly Molson Street. This Morse Place district of East Kildonan had first been settled in the early 1900s but there were still many vacant lots in the area, with sewer and water service still lacking on streets with homes that had been built decades before.
The late 1950s to the early 1960s saw the construction of the Munroe Shopping Centre and the industrial area south of Kimberly Avenue to Munroe Avenue between Raleigh and Golspie streets. South of Munroe Avenue, some industrial plants dated back to the early 1910s but tje new construction resulted in an expansion of the area.
The development of the Pleasant Bay and the area north of the Rossmere Golf Course to Oakland Avenue (the East Kildonan/North Kildonan boundary), east to Raleigh occurred in the period between 1959 and 1962
The main development west of Henderson Highway mnorth of Leighton Avenue to the north end of Fraser’s Grove Parkm occurred from 1953 to the early 1960s.
The apartment blocks on the west side of Molson Street were built in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Development of the Valley Gardens district began in 1970.
Jim Smith is a community correspondent for Elmwood, East Kildonan and North Kildonan. Email him at jimsmith@mts.net
Jim Smith
Jim Smith is a community correspondent for Elmwood, East Kildonan and North Kildonan. Email him at jimsmith@mts.net