City, Granite Curling Club throwing rocks in dispute over proposed housing project

The relationship between a long-standing curling club and the City of Winnipeg has hit some rocks over a plan to build housing on a lot next door to the club.

The Granite Curling Club building, a designated heritage site constructed in 1912, sits on the bank of the Assiniboine River, west of the Osborne Street Bridge.

Earlier this month, notices went up around the building about a public hearing to subdivide and rezone a portion of a parking lot beside the club in order to build 111 units of housing, a portion of which would offer rent geared to income. 

Granite Curling Club board secretary Christian Pierce says the notice caught the club off guard.

"First of all, we're not against affordable housing by any means," Pierce said in a Tuesday interview.

"But there are concerns that the Granite has with losing the west parking lot that we've asked the city and the developer to address. And we don't feel like we've had those questions answered."

The city owns the building and the parking lot. It identified the lot as a possible location for affordable housing development last spring and opened discussions with the club about the plans.

In a letter sent to members, curling club president John Read said the city informed the club on Jan. 6 that it intended to terminate its long-term lease and replace it with a short-term lease agreement. 

The club executive then learned on Jan. 16 that the city had applied for the subdivision and rezoning. It fears the loss of parking will lead to a loss of members.

In the letter, Read called the plan an "existential" threat to the club's future.

"The Granite had previously been in talks with the city to purchase the property, or at the very least renegotiate our lease in contemplation of a future project, where the Granite is at the negotiation table and able to secure its future," Read wrote. 

Housing crisis

Funding for the project is coming from the federal housing accelerator fund.

The City of Winnipeg wants to work out a deal that supports the club while addressing housing needs, says its acting manager for the fund.

"It's a little bit unfortunate that they're using a fear of loss of some of their parking lot as a means to stop a long-term affordable housing development, when we're in the midst of a housing crisis," Richard Mahe told reporters.

The short-term use agreement proposed by the city would be a temporary measure, to be replaced by a new long-term lease, he said.

Sherri Rollins, the councillor for the area, questions the claim that the city has not been transparent about its plans.

The Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry councillor, who served as chair of the property and development committee until stepping down last week, said the news about the city's plans should not have come as a surprise to the curling club's executive.

"I sat down with the board and talked about the plans here, including … a line of revenue that they wouldn't otherwise have access to," Rollins said in an interview.

The city and the developer have proposed sharing revenue from the new building to pay for maintenance of the club.

There may also be parking available in the new development, and across the street, in the Canada Life parking lot.

But Granite's Pierce says the club needs a firm commitment.

"Until we actually have something in writing and a firm number … the Granite can't seriously consider that offer, because it's just talk."

The club has asked its members to sign a petition calling on the city to cancel a public hearing on the project and resume negotiations.

That hearing is scheduled to go ahead Feb. 6.

Lindsey McBain, chair of the steering committee for the Right to Housing Coalition, says the advocacy group supports the proposed housing development, because it addresses the need for housing among the lowest-income people living in the city.

"The market units in this new development will create revenue, a portion of which is going to form an annuity that would go to the curling club maintaining its viability over a very long period of time," McBain said in an interview.

"So to me … it seems like a win-win."

Granite Curling Club board questions plan to build housing on its parking lot

2 days ago

Duration 2:13

The relationship between a long-standing curling club and the City of Winnipeg has hit some rocks. The Granite Curling Club's board says their concerns need to be addressed before they will support a plan to build housing on a parking lot they currently use.