Affordable housing coming to Sherbrook Street

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This article was published 10/11/2020 (1813 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg’s City Centre community committee heard delegations last week on a variance application for the empty lot at 198 Sherbrook Street, an area known as a long-time community garden site.

The committee’s unanimous approval of an affordable housing project by Alston Properties in West Broadway means a five-storey residential building will be built on the site. Though there was some opposition from community gardeners appealing the project, many people lauded the decision to forge ahead with much-needed affordable housing in the area.

Sherri Rollins, the Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry city councillor who represents the ward, is one of those celebrating the decision.

“The affordable housing project at 198 Sherbrook is reason to celebrate. In the words of one West Broadway neighbour, ‘We don’t need more studies on housing and poverty, we need the resources’. West Broadway is a community that believes in the right to housing,” Rollins said.

“I’m grateful to the developer for being so sensitive to the neighbourhood. The building folds right into the fabric of Sherbrook, unobtrusively playing with what has always been there, even partnering with it to create larger sidewalk and pedestrian space and finally, echoing that up and through almost every balcony. In the case of 198 Sherbrook affordable will also be beautiful. The design echoes the public space angles on the street, and on every balcony,” Rollins said.

Sara Atnikov, executive director of West Broadway BIZ is equally pleased with the decision to move ahead with the building project, designed by architect Tom Monteyne.

“This type of development — mixed use with commercial on the main floor and affordable housing above — is just the kind of development we love to see for our neighbourhood. We’re pleased to hear it’s going forward and can’t wait to see it come together,” Atnikov said.

West Broadway is one of Winnipeg’s oldest neighbourhoods and houses numerous community service organizations providing important programs and services in the community. Sherbrook Street, the heart of West Broadway for many, is home to a culturally diverse population, strong community engagement, and a variety of eateries and businesses. Residents in the area, many of them renters on a low income, often struggle to find adequate and safe shelter.

West Broadway residents have for a long time identified the need for affordable housing as a priority concern for the neighbourhood. Many will welcome the building of a five-storey complex.

“198 Sherbrook is a win for the West Broadway neighbourhood and another win for partners like West Broadway Community Organization and the West Broadway BIZ who have been strong advocates for housing. This 28-unit mixed use building is all affordable housing some 10 per cent below median market rent, and impressively, six units (will be) 30 per cent below market rent,” Rollins added.