Winnipeg | 22 Granite Way | 12F | In Development

[neutroniks]

Originally Posted by bon_vivant

Could this be the first case of NIMPLism? (not in my parking lot) I don't buy the parking argument, either. If they have such a rich cultural history, and if their members are oh so invested in the longevity of the club, then they should continue to support it even with less parking. Taking this stance sheds a very negative light on the club. I don't know about these people... They also wanted to kick the Beer Can out and do their own thing when they saw how popular it was.

Exactly, if this is the case, then isn't the Beer Can effectively taking up all that parking? They only care about making money off of it, otherwise they would've never even mentioned the revenue sharing lol

[optimusREIM]

The parking thing is clearly just laziness manifest. Didn’t someone say Canada life had offered the club free parking across the street???

[ColdRain&Snow]

Originally Posted by Mr Tall Forehead

Is this clueless asshole actually asking for revenue sharing from the development??

I thought the issue was lack of parking…

The Curling Club doesn't even own the parking lot, the City owns the parking lot. They're asking for revenue from a property they don't own.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

Originally Posted by ColdRain&Snow

The Curling Club doesn't even own the parking lot, the City owns the parking lot. They're asking for revenue from a property they don't own.

I would also like to receive revenue from parking lots I don't own...wouldn't we all.

The Municipal Board would be setting an awful precedent if they veto the development because of this lame objection.

[FactaNV]

An easy solution would be to have the granite pitch in some money to lease some space from Canada Life in their mega lot.

[Winnipeg Grump]

One of Gillingham's policy advisors posted this to his feed last night with the backgrounder:
* the club sold their building and land to the city in 1975
* the city owns the parking lot
* the proposal is a city initiative

It's baffling why there is any sense that the club has a say in this and that the board is even contemplating shutting this down.

[rebl]

So let's suppose Canada Life is opposed to offering parking on their lot. I'm seeing a ton of green space along the river side if the curling club. I think it would be pretty straight-forward to build a lot for 45 cars. I wonder if this is the plan and they just want the city (or someone else) to pay for it.

[WildCake]

Originally Posted by rebl

So let's suppose Canada Life is opposed to offering parking on their lot. I'm seeing a ton of green space along the river side if the curling club. I think it would be pretty straight-forward to build a lot for 45 cars. I wonder if this is the plan and they just want the city (or someone else) to pay for it.

The city doesn't need more parking lots Downtown. Much less riverfront green space to be destroyed for the automobile. Compared to other river cities (Minneapolis, Chicago), Winnipeg has given away a ton of it's riverfront properties to private ownership. Most of it is SFH, and the city now has a clause where redevelopments of these lots means the city takes the riverfront slice, but it'll take a long time to piecemeal meaningful segments to create recreation paths.

The closest we're getting is probably the stretch of St Mary's south of River road to Henteleff park where most lots now have been bought and rebuilt into multi-families.

Yes, there already is a public path in front of the Granite, but do we really need to wedge a parking lot there?

Even if Canada Life holds onto its parking and doesn't allow off-hours parking, people can find alternate locations. Park and ride the bus from an existing lot, or just freaking walk. Most people don't realize they probably walk more on their shop in a Walmart than it would be to park a bit further than they're used to and walk to the rink.

[Wpg_Guy]

Proposed housing project would put curling club on thin ice: Granite lawyer
By: Joyanne Pursaga
Posted: Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025

A hotly debated affordable housing project slated for the Granite Curling Club’s parking lot is under the microscope once again.

On Tuesday, the provincially appointed Manitoba Municipal Board began hearing the application to create an 111-unit residential building on the city-owned land at 22 Granite Way, which would include 56 suites that have affordable rents for 99 years.

The curling club, which was established in 1880, says it would lose more than half its parking stalls if the project goes forward, rendering it no longer viable.

During the hearing, the club’s lawyer pushed city officials to provide more information on how a parking agreement could be reached to address the concerns, should the project be built.

“That is absolutely a critical issue for this board to determine, by making its recommendation to council, as to whether this bylaw should proceed to second reading or whether it should be rejected,” said James Mercury.

If the development goes ahead as planned, the club expects to see its 80 total parking spots reduced to 35, which it says would lead to losing too many members to continue.

When city council approved the housing project, it directed staff to work with the curling club to create “an adequate parking plan” that sustains its operations.

During the hearing, city officials called it premature to note future parking options before a final decision on the project is made.

“Having those discussions would be futile, it would be going in circles. We need the answers to the zoning before those discussions can proceed in a fruitful and meaningful way,” said Kalyn Bomback, the city’s lawyer.

Mercury also questioned why the city moved the project forward quickly without more public consultation.

“This process has moved at lightning speed,” he said.

In a public written submission, professional planner John Wintrup argues the city’s process to approve a rezoning application for the project fell short, lacking expert information on floodproofing, riverbank stabilization and building (fire) code impacts.

“The city cannot simply decide ad hoc not to adhere to their own policies,” Wintrup wrote.

He declined an interview Tuesday, noting he expects to speak at the hearing.

The city’s downtown planner, however, told the hearing such impacts would be dealt with through permits, not the rezoning process. Daniel Iskierski also deemed the project a strong fit with city goals and policies, since it would replace surface parking spaces with affordable homes.

A developer leading the housing project on the city’s behalf said there is ample demand for the affordable homes it would create.

“We know there’s a national housing crisis, we know that that’s true of the City of Winnipeg. And we know in the West Broadway neighbourhood, in particular, there’s a real demand for affordable and market rental housing,” said Jeremy Read, chief executive officer of the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation and UWCRC 2.0 Inc.

Read said the lack of a final decision on the project has delayed progress since council approved it six months ago, including a missed deadline to apply for $8.5 million of funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

During the hearing, city officials noted the curling club property would also require municipal approval to continue some of its own parking operations, since it leases some stalls to raise revenue.

The curling club has said the city has long been aware of that practice.

Housing advocates have also signed up to urge the board to recommend that the project proceed.

“It would be … a travesty for the city to keep its prime city-owned land permanently in the state of being in an impervious surface parking lot, especially when we have such housing need,” said Dylon Martin, a spokesman for Yes in My Back Yard Winnipeg, in an interview.

Martin said the project would meet city goals to boost housing, develop the downtown and reduce poverty.

Following the hearing, the municipal board will submit a report with recommendations to city council within 60 days.

A board document notes city council will cast the final vote on its recommendations. However, it also notes “council must not pass a proposed zoning bylaw that has been referred to the Municipal Board unless the proposed bylaw conforms to the recommendations that the board has made.”

That clause has led many city officials and politicians to deem the board’s recommendations mandatory.

The hearing at the Norwood Community Centre will continue Wednesday.

Winnipeg Free Press

[Mr Tall Forehead]

Of course Winnipeg’s favourite ambulance chasing planner for hire speaks out against the proposal…

[WinCitySparky]

I think I fucking hate John Wintrup

[The Jabroni]

Oh the drama...

[trueviking]

i went and watched some of this yesterday. It blew me away. I thought it would be like at city hall where people go up and complain, but it was more like a courtroom. Both sides have expensive lawyers representing them. Witnesses are called up, they take the 'do you swear to tell the whole truth...." oath....the defence cross examines....everything is submitted into evidence....it was wild...like a John Grisham movie from the 90's...i was expecting the planner to stand up and yell...."you want the truth about parking?!....you cant handle the truth!"....they really need to get rid of this board

I can't imagine what it costs a developer to go through this process. Lawyers are expensive....never mind the five month delay it causes even if you win.

I wonder what the Granite is paying.

[trueviking]

the whole discussion has become about the building, which may or may not ever happen...its a hypothetical....This is about rezoning only. I hope they don't lose sight of that. There are future stages where any proposed development is debated.

[trueviking]

In a public written submission, professional planner John Wintrup argues the city’s process to approve a rezoning application for the project fell short, lacking expert information on floodproofing, riverbank stabilization and building (fire) code impacts.

“The city cannot simply decide ad hoc not to adhere to their own policies,” Wintrup wrote.


This is wild too....he was the chief planner at the city....he knows these are not requirements for a rezoning....if a building ever happens on the site, all of those issues will be dealt with during the development and building permit stages...you need a design first....this is about rezoning only....it could very easily be rezoned and remain a parking lot....or maybe a nice house for the Mayor.....why would you have to submit building code information for a rezoning?

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by trueviking

i went and watched some of this yesterday. It blew me away. I thought it would be like at city hall where people go up and complain, but it was more like a courtroom. Both sides have expensive lawyers representing them. Witnesses are called up, they take the 'do you swear to tell the whole truth...." oath....the defence cross examines....everything is submitted into evidence....it was wild...like a John Grisham movie from the 90's...i was expecting the planner to stand up and yell...."you want the truth about parking?!....you cant handle the truth!"....they really need to get rid of this board

I can't imagine what it costs a developer to go through this process. Lawyers are expensive....never mind the five month delay it causes even if you win.

I wonder what the Granite is paying.

A fragile business threatened by parking lot development they do not own but TONS of $$ for expensive lawyers. Sure. Poor little Granite. I respect them being able to function and survive but we are a growing city in need of housing and they have no jurisdiction on that lot. Walk a block then if you go there. People walk a long way in a Costco lot,Walmart lot.....etc..

[trueviking]

the trial ended on wednesday....six days of hearings...now they get 60 days to deliberate and issue a sentence......unbelievable.

I wonder how the members of the Granite feel about the club spending tens of thousands of dollars on lawyer fees.

[neutroniks]

Probably could have just used the same amount of money to cut a deal with Canada Life for a section of their parking lot nearest to the Granite.

[trueviking]

So. The Municipal Board thinks a tenant with a month to month lease in a city owned property should have the final say on what the city can do with its own property.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manit...uate-9.6979385

[Wpg_Guy]

Municipal board sides with Granite Curling Club over parking
Dispute must be ironed out before housing development can proceed
By: Kevin Rollason
Posted: 4:31 PM CST Friday, Nov. 14, 2025

The Manitoba Municipal Board has ruled the city must work with the Granite Curling Club to come up with an “adequate” parking plan before a proposal for an affordable-housing building next door is approved.

In a 48-page decision released Friday, the board said it accepts that parking is needed to keep the club afloat; it understands the city wants to create housing on the curling club’s west parking lot to ease the housing crisis.

The board said it encourages the City of Winnipeg and the club to work together “to find accessible, adequate and ongoing parking” to replace any spots that would be lost to construction of the 111-unit building, which is to be constructed on municipal-owned land.

The curling club had argued if the development were to proceed, it would lose 45 of its 80 parking spots and would no longer be a financially viable enterprise.

“The Granite is pleased with the municipal board’s decision that no development can proceed on its west parking lot without the Granite’s express approval,” said Christian Pierce, secretary of the club’s board. “It supports the Granite Curling Club’s operations. The recommendation validates the club’s position to be on an equal footing in this.”

Pierce said the club has always been willing to work with city officials.

A spokesman for the city would only confirm the municipal board decision had been received and is under review.

A spokesman for Mayor Scott Gillingham confirmed the report had been received but, because the city was busy releasing its budget Friday, there would be no comment.

Jeremy Read, chief executive officer of the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corp. 2.0 Inc., which was tapped by the city to develop the land, said he couildn’t comment because “we’ve just heard the decision has been delivered and we haven’t had a chance to review it.”

Earlier this year, when city council green-lit the building, it directed civic staff to meet with curling club reps to create “an adequate parking plan.”

The city suspended meetings after the matter was referred to the municipal board.

Fifty-six of the 111 units in the building would be earmarked as affordable units, including 30 that would be rent-geared-to-income. The developer has said some units could rent for as low as $285 a month.

Construction could have started in the summer, but the project was put on hold until the board’s decision.

The curling club has said it doesn’t oppose construction of affordable housing, but it has to think about its future.

“We’ve been stewards of the building for 120 years,” Pierce said. “I don’t think the city wants to run it itself.”

“What gets lost in this is how the Granite Curling Club would keep it running for another 120 years. For the development to go forward, there has to be a permanent parking solution. If we lost the parking, we would be in trouble.”

Winnipeg Free Press
Municipal board decision