Developers chosen for Winnipeg's five upcoming housing projects
The City of Winnipeg has taken a significant step forward in addressing its urgent housing needs by announcing five new affordable housing projects. These projects, part of the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund, aim to create almost 700 new housing units, with over 270 designated as affordable.
The selected sites and developers are as follows:
- 825 Taché Avenue: Réseau Compassion Network. This project will consist of approximately 65 units, with at least 20 being accessible and designed to support people with physical disabilities.
- 425 Osborne Street: UWCRC 2.0 Inc. The proposed development will house around 140 units, with 65 being deeply affordable. The project is exploring the possibility of including an office and a Winnipeg Transit Customer Service Centre.
- 1350 Pembina Hwy.: Brokenhead Ojibway Nation. This mixed-income apartment complex will accommodate around 144 units, with 72 being affordable.
- Two sites on Watt Street: Futuremark Development and Elmwood Community Resource Centre. These sites will host around 247 units, with 74 being affordable.
The Taché Avenue project notably includes 65 fully accessible units, supported by CoHabit.
The Mayor of Winnipeg, Scott Gillingham, stated that the city needs more housing and needs it quickly. He added that making city-owned land available for these projects helps speed up the construction of affordable and accessible homes in various neighbourhoods across Winnipeg.
Unfortunately, the city did not receive any viable interest in a sixth site, located on William Avenue. The city will find another use for this land.
These projects are expected to start construction within a year, likely in 2026. This package represents a significant expansion of Winnipeg’s affordable housing stock via city-owned land and federal housing funding. The projects are seen as a great example of how partnerships can deliver real results for Winnipeggers.
In light of the announced affordable housing projects, these ventures are expected to seek funding from various sources, including finance and investment for real-estate development. The partnerships formed between the City of Winnipeg, developers, and federal funding agencies in this initiative demonstrate the intersection of politics, business, and real-estate, aiming to address the city's urgent housing needs.
