Affordable housing developer wanted for former police-HQ site near city hall

CentreVentureis looking for a developer to build affordable housing as part of the redevelopment of Winnipeg's former police headquarters near city hall.

"We're now bringing together the partnerships and the financing required to make the Market Lands a reality," said Angela Mathieson, CEO of downtown development agency CentreVenture, which is trying to market the former Public Safety Building and Civic Centre Parkade.

The agency is now acceptingexpressions of interest [EOI]from non-profit housing developers interested in the project, to be built on the southern parcel of the site, adjacent William Avenue.

The 2.4-acre site is currently occupied by thePublic Safety Building and adjoining parkade, which areslated for demolition.

The area will be divided into north and south sectionswith the latter parcel developed first, according to CentreVenture.

The plan for the southern section calls for 100 apartment units and around 1,100 square metresof ground floor space dedicated fora "cultural hub" developed withWinnipeg's creative community.

"This EOI is seeking a partner who shares the vision of making this important site a welcoming andinclusive place with housing options for all incomes," saidMathieson.

The 0.8-acre southern parcel will also includea one-storey public market building, approximately 650 square metres, to house permanent and temporary local vendorsand apublic plaza.

Construction is slated tobeginin 2020.

Construction on the northern parcel will begin shortly afterwards.

That section is set aside formixed-use development, including scenarios for multiple buildings to house multi-family residential, office, retail and parking spaces. Applications for development will be sought from private contractors next year.

The city expects to spend$10.7 million todemolish the aging complexes and prepare the entire site forredevelopment.

The Public Safety Building closed in 2016 after the Winnipeg Police Service moved into its new$214-million headquarters on Graham Avenue. The six-storey building was deemed too costly to redevelop.

The parkade was shuttered in 2012 because ofstructural issues and nearly a decade of deferred maintenance.

The southernmost portion of the block must be reserved for some form of public use, based on an 1875 caveat placed on the land by its donor.