Exchange District tower approved for 16 storeys despite heritage concerns

Winnipeg Free Press

14-07-2025

One of the buildings in a prominent housing project will soar above the Exchange District's normal height limit, after a city committee decided its promise of new and affordable homes outweighs heritage concerns.
On Monday, council's property and development committee granted an appeal to allow a 16-storey, 51-metre (168-foot) tower, as part of the second phase of the Market Lands project. The decision is final.
City planners recommended the project be capped to the standard height limit of 30 metres (100 feet) to help maintain the historic character of the area, which the developer appealed.
UWCRC 2.0 INC. Market Lands housing project 2025
UWCRC 2.0 INC.
On Monday, Winnipeg city council's property and development committee granted an appeal to allow a 16-storey, 51-metre (168-foot) tower, as part of the second phase of the Market Lands project.
'I hear what the historic buildings community is saying. I want to be respectful of that. But, at the end of the day, we don't have many opportunities, where essentially there's a greenfield site (where the former Public Safety Building was demolished) in the downtown area. I think we need to use it to its full potential,' said Coun. Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood), chairman of the committee.
During Monday's meeting, a heritage advocate said the height limit should be followed to protect historic structures around it.
'Visually, (this property) is absolutely a part of the (Exchange District) national historic site… The national historic site visually doesn't stop. There is no boundary that people can see,' said Cindy Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg.
While the Market Lands property, at 148-150 King St., is technically not part of that heritage site, it is close enough that development decisions should reflect that proximity, said Tugwell.
The proposed plan calls for two key buildings, including: the 16-storey tower with 148 residential units, amenity and commercial space; and a building that varies from four- to six-storeys with 126 residential units, amenity space, a daycare, offices and a rooftop green space.
Imposing the lower height limit would force the removal of dozens of housing units from the project, put its housing grants at risk and jeopardize its financing, a proponent said.
'This single (height) variance is critical to unlocking the affordable housing, community services and public realm benefits… The 100-foot cap on our tower removes six of the 16 storeys, which is approximately 60 apartments at a time when we need them most,' said Daneeka Abon, portfolio manager of design and construction for developer UWCRC 2.0 Inc.
Abon noted the housing units with market rents will help pay for those with reduced rents.
'Losing these homes would breach our funding agreements, including the city's housing accelerator fund capital grant incentive, and threatens the project's long-term viability,' she said.
The taller building will include 61 affordable units, with another 52 low-income units in the shorter structure. All of the affordable units will rent for no more than 59 per cent of the area's median market rate, with provincial support being sought to further reduce rents.
Greg Hasiuk, a partner with Number TEN Architectural Group, said seeking two 100-foot tall buildings instead was not a feasible alternative.
Hasiuk said the mixed heights of the two buildings 'allows us to sculpt the site to respond to its neighbours,' preventing excessive shadows and obstructed views. Expanding the smaller building to reach seven or more storeys would also create new costs due to the need to meet additional building code requirements, he said.
In a July 11 letter to the property and development committee, Mayor Scott Gillingham shared his support for the housing development at the full proposed height.
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'This project will produce a significant injection of affordable housing to the neighbourhood; and the new housing will result in much-needed social and additional commercial activity that will, in turn, support businesses,' wrote Gillingham.
In addition, the committee voted to uphold an order that the owner maintain, secure and clean up the former Vulcan Iron Works property, a Point Douglas site that has repeatedly been hit by fires since 2023. While an appeal of the order was partly denied, councillors added an amendment that would allow possible deadline extensions for the work, if needed.
The owner will be able to submit an alternative 24-hour security plan to the city, which could adjust requirements to conduct a round-the-clock 'fire watch.'
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Joyanne PursagaReporter
Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.
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