Housing Accelerator Fund next step: Malls & Corridors
The City of Winnipeg has released its proposal for updates to the zoning by-law, with its first priority being malls and corridors.
Background
The City of Winnipeg has acquired $122 million in Federal Housing Accelerator Funding to create 14,000 housing units 3 years. To accomplish this, Winnipeg is proposing changes to the Winnipeg Zoning By-law. These amendments include the following:
- As-of-right residential development at mall sites and along commercial corridors
- Four units of up to four storeys in height permitted as-of-right within 800 metres walking distance of high-frequency transit corridors
- Up to four dwelling units per residential lot permitted as-of-right city-wide
Zoning by-law proposal
The first amendment being focused on is regarding mall sites and along commercial corridors. The City has released an explainer document that details the proposals, as well as the Implementation Process. Malls and Corridors are ideal locations for infill residential development. However, Mall Sites are currently zoned either Commercial Corridor “C3” or Commercial Regional “C4.” These zones currently do not permit multi-family dwelling.
Highlights & Priorities
- Increase density
- Ensure that development increases the number of housing units and provides for the greatest possible density appropriate for different levels of development sites
- Decrease parking minimums
- Accommodate more permitted uses
- These Residential and Residential-Related uses are subject to minimum density requirements and would include:
- Live-work dwellings
- Multi-family dwellings
- Single-family detached dwellings
- Two-family dwellings
- Assisted living facilities
- Care homes
- Dormitories
- Single room occupancy
- These Residential and Residential-Related uses are subject to minimum density requirements and would include:
- Enhance pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure
- Safe and accessible pathways and routes
- Increase amount of required bicycle parking
- Create civic spaces (parks, plazas, community gardens, greenways, and more)
Timeline
- Finalizing New Malls & Corridor Rules
- Round 1 Open Houses: October 2024
- October 7 – Canad Inns (Club Regent), 1415 Regent Ave. W.
- October 8 – Canad Inns (Garden City), 2100 McPhillips St.
- October 9 – Canad Inns (Polo Park), 1405 St. Matthews Ave.
- October 10 – Canad Inns (Fort Garry), 1824 Pembina Hwy.
- Public Hearing: November 2024
- Round 1 Open Houses: October 2024
- Finalizing New 4 Units and 4 Storey Rules
- Round 2 Open Houses: January 2025
- Public Hearing: March 2025
What can you do?
To let the City know you support the updated by-laws to improve housing availability and affordability, you can:
- Attend one (or more!) of the open houses
- Write your Councillor in support
- Start preparing your comments (in-person, online, or written) in favour of these by-law updates for the public hearing in November
- Share this post
- Follow YIMBY Winnipeg on our socials to keep up to date
