Wardlaw site rezoned for apartment building

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This article was published 16/04/2021 (1947 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Plans for a new multi-use apartment building with three commercial units on the main floor on Wardlaw Avenue were revealed at the April 12 City Centre community committee meeting.

In attendance were Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry), Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort-Rouge East Fort Garry) and Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre).

The councillors agreed to rezone the land at 349 Wardlaw Ave. from commercial to mixed-use residential in order for applicant Pedro Chagas from Chagas Architect + Development to build a four-storey, 24-unit apartment building on the site with commercial units on the main floor.

“This will be a nice building for the neighbourhood with a touch of vibrant colour,” Chagas said at the virtual meeting. “During the public engagement sessions, the most-asked question was from people interested in when it will be open. There are many who want to get their name on the list to rent.”

Rollins noted the proposed building is sensitive to the pedestrian environment at Scott and Wardlaw.

“Scott is a beautiful street and I would emphasize Scott Street more so than Wardlaw on this particular project. Both are beautiful streets and both are really important to the pedestrian environment. The sidewalk use is evident in the glazing, the addition and maintenance of the commercial, as well as residential,” she said.

She noted she has been working with the Rainbow Resource Centre — located across the street from the proposed building — on accessible, senior-friendly housing for LGBTQ2S+ people.

“The building will also be close to Rapid Transit, be bike supportive and will get ride of a surface parking lot,” Rollins said, noting this is the third surface parking lot to be removed recently in Osborne Village.

The councillors also approved an application for Land Dedication Reserve funds in the amount of $6,000, from the River Heights-Fort Garry ward allocation to assist the city’s public works department with the installation of low flashing amber beacons at a pedestrian crossing at Linden Meadows School.

“This location already had the electrical there, so I’m told the cost was lower,” Orlikow said about the installation of the flashing lights on Lindenwood Drive at Princemere.

The councillors also approved three per capita grants for:

• $750 to the Winnipeg School Division for a project to recognize the 150- year anniversary of Winnipeg School Division history, including the publication cost of a Winnipeg School Division 150 Book;

• $300 to the River Osborne Community Garden;

• $200 to the Armstrong’s Point Association to assist with the cost of purchasing ten copies of Armstrong’s Point: A History by Randy Rostecki, to give a copy of this book to new residents who have moved to Armstrong’s Point neighbourhood from other cities in Canada.

To read the minutes of the April 12 meeting, see bit.ly/3gd4B0q