Assiniboia community committee approves ‘world-class’ development for Tuxedo

St. James-Assiniboia

Charleswood

Tuxedo

Fort Garry

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This article was published 15/01/2025 (551 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Assiniboia community committee of Winnipeg city council held its first meeting of 2025 on Jan. 7.

It was a lengthy day, and the committee discussed a number of large developments planned for the area.

The first hearing covered Winnipeg’s newest Costco Wholesale location — which, when completed, will be located at 4055, 4075 and 4077 Portage Ave., near Red River Exhibition Park and Assiniboia Downs. The building is currently under construction.

A subdivision and rezoning for the box store’s expansive parking lot was approved, meaning that two sections of land will be rezoned to have a final lot with the spaces needed for such a high-traffic business.

A hearing was also held a proposed subdivision and rezoning to make way for a “world-class” development at 669, 645, 655 and 639 Sterling Lyon Parkway. If completed, the project will contain 184 residential units in one seven-storey apartment building. The 12-acre property is currently home to four commercial buildings — which will be accommodated — parking, and some vacant land.

The plans were approved due to the location, its close proximity to an active transportation pathway, and the building’s sustainability, as it “exceeded current codes,” according to Coun. Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood).

“I also took note of the applicants mentioning the aging-in-place piece, and that being important to residents of my community who do not want to move to other parts of Winnipeg, but would rather age in place — whether that be in Charleswood, Tuxedo, or Westwood,” Duncan said.

No one was registered in opposition.

A final hearing was held on a variance for a two-lot development on Markham Road. Councillors approved the request to permit 92 and 133 parking spaces, respectively, instead of the originally recommended 177 and 221. The spaces will exist on a shared lot between the two proposed developments, which are both apartment buildings.

Resident Mike Ings, who registered in opposition, said that, because of a lack of parking on-site, many of the tenants would be forced to park on the street and, in doing so, would cause further traffic congestion in the area. Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) said that many people who may move into the apartment block would, in theory, not have cars due to the close proximity to Winnipeg’s rapid transit network.

“This is why we built rapid transit,” Lukes said. “So people would take transit more. City after city that puts apartment blocks beside rapid transit see more and more people not having cars.”

“History in the last five years has shown … that the parking ratio is lower than what is being proposed, and we are in a housing crisis and we need to provide housing,” Lukes added. “I know the neighbourhood isn’t keen on it, I understand that …(but) we built a transit corridor to support developments.”

The committee also recommended two separate traffic studies: one at Killarney Avenue and Pembina Highway, and another on Waverley Street, at its intersection with Kenaston Boulevard and Abinojii Mikanah. The latter aims to bring back recommendations on how the stretch of road can be improved, as it has been dangerous in the past.

Finally, Andrew Amy and Tiffany Evans were appointed to the board of directors of the St. James-Assiniboia Pioneer Association Inc. (Grant’s Old Mill) for two-year terms.