Locals asked to weigh in on project

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This article was published 8/1/2018 (403 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Developers of a proposed seven storey residential complex at Pembina Highway and University Crescent are asking neighbours to get involved in the project before plans head to City Hall.

Nigel Furgus, of Paragon Design Build, and Joel Rodrigues, of JR Holdings, are behind a new 105-unit apartment complex proposed for 30 to 34 University Cres. The pair will be holding a community open house on Jan. 12 at the Richmond Kings site (666 Silverstone Ave.) of the South Winnipeg Community Centre from 4 to 7 p.m. to gather feedback from the public.

"People will have the ability to voice their thoughts and there will be cards there, and they can leave their questions and concerns and we can address them," Rodrigues said.

According to the developers, the proposed condo-style apartment building will have one level of underground parking with spots for 39 vehicles and 66 parking spots at grade. The property will be a 60-40 mix of one and two bedroom suites ranging in size from 600- to 1,000-square-feet.

"What we’re seeing, based on our research, is a growing demand from the university. We’re also seeing a need for housing in the area," Furgus said. "We’re hoping to add some solutions... to provide some high quality multifamily residences to give students, and executives and retirees an option.

"The one thing that we are focusing the building design on is community style living," he added. "We’ve included two rooftop terraces, which is kind of rare for a Winnipeg building, and it’s just to promote community style living."

The three plots of land where the project is slated to be built are zoned single family residential, back onto the Bishop Grandin Greenway to the north, and are currently occupied by three homes. The single-family neighbourhood of Agassiz is to the immediate east and to the southwest is Pembina Highway and a number of commercial properties.

The developers will be asking the city for a rezoning from R1 to RMF-L and variances to allow the building to be constructed on the most northerly part of the land.

According to Furgus, at seven storeys the building doesn’t "hover" over the neighbourhood and the siting pulls parking away from neighbouring homes.

"We’ve tried to keep the building in the most unobtrusive portion of the property," he said. "We want it to be the gateway into the university and give a marker into the Montcalm/Agassiz division, so we hope that the area residents recognize this as a value added building as opposed to something that’s being intrusive."

"We’re also taking three homes that aren’t in the best of shape and I think we’ll really bring a lot of value to that corner in terms of design, and even monetarily," Rodrigues added.

The proposal for 30 University Crescent is the latest addition to a growing list of projects coming into the area.

In June, developers held an open house for a 32-unit residential project at 105, 107 and 119 University Cres., plans for which were approved on Oct. 27 by Riel community committee. Plans to subdivide and rezone a plot of land at 2525 Pembina Hwy. were approved in February 2017, setting the stage for the development of a 197-unit apartment complex.

City councillor Janice Lukes (South Winnipeg-St.Norbert) said she’ll be in attendance at the open house to learn more about the proposed development.

"This is significant development being proposed for the University Crescent corridor — and I really encourage all residents to attend the open house," she said.

All variances, rezonings, subdivisions and building plans will have to be approved by Riel community committee before permits are issued.

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