Pacific Avenue property among 7 identified for affordable housing in Winnipeg

The City of Winnipeg is looking at combining three properties in the Centennial Neighbourhood to create affordable housing.

On Friday, the city released a report recommending combining the property at 395 Pacific Ave. with two other lots, one owned by Habitat for Humanity, the other belonging to the Manitoba Housing Renewal Corporation.

Before the properties can be merged, the property committee must approve the sale of 395 Pacific Ave. It will vote on the proposal at its meeting next Thursday.

The city is in discussions with the owners to buy combined lots for $3 and sell them to an affordable housing developer for $1.

It's one of seven city-owned properties which could soon be turned into affordable housing.

The properties are spread throughout the city in neighbourhoods including St. Boniface, West Alexander and West Broadway.

In September, city council delegated authority to the chief administrative officer to declare the following seven properties surplus:

• 825 Tache Ave.
• 795 William Ave.
• 395 Pacific Ave.
• 425 Osborne St.
• 1350 Pembina Hwy.
• 545-569 Watt St.
• 22 Granite Way

All seven of the properties were identified by the city's land enhancement office, which it created as part of its application to the Housing Accelerator Fund.

The federal government has committed $122 million to the city as part of the fund to speed up housing construction.

Mayor Scott Gillingham says the report on the 395 Pacific Ave. project shows the city is making progress on its goal.

"Adding the supply of housing at a market time like this at any price point ultimately has a cascading positive impact to make units more affordable," Gillingham told reporters.

Richard Mahé, the city's acting Housing Accelerator Fund Manager, said combining the three lots will make future projects more viable, because they can be at a larger scale.

"Each of us on our own would have a hard time developing our lands individually, given the size of our lots," he said.

The list also includes 22 Granite Way, where a 111-unit project is planned to go next to the Granite Curling Club. 

A hearing on that project is slated to go ahead at the property committee next Thursday.

It aims to have all projects completed by the end of 2026.