Winnipeg | Osborne Village & Fort Rouge | Developments & Discussions

[trueviking]

I can’t figure out why Osborne Terraces can’t attract ground floor tenants. It seems like an even more attractive location being closer to confusion corner and the transit hub.

[WinCitySparky]

Price is obviously too high

[ColdRain&Snow]

Here is my updated list of businesses opening in Osborne Village. Let me know if I missed any!

Coming Soon:
-52 Roslyn Road (former A&W) – new cannabis store
-445 River Ave (former Subway) – new café and wine bar
-100 Osborne St (former G-Martini Bar) – new cocktail bar called The OR Junction Collective
-160 Osborne St (former Osborne Village Motor Hotel) – new Italian restaurant called Sottobraccio
-160 Osborne St (former Osborne Village Motor Hotel) – new café/bar called Sierra Café and Lounge
-166 Osborne St (former 92 Citi FM) – Dollar Tree
-194 Osborne St (former Wishes and Dreams) – new Mexican restaurant called Blue Donkey Cantina

Still Vacant:
-97 Osborne St (former Music Trader)
-437 Stradbrook Ave (former Tweed)
-197 Osborne St (new Osborne Terrace apartment building)
-481 River Ave (former Starbucks)

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by WinCitySparky

Price is obviously too high

Pretty sure that’s not the issue. $28/sf is in line with other buildings.

[trueviking]

What is the deal with music trader. It’s been a completed dental office for years that never opens.

[ColdRain&Snow]

Originally Posted by WinCitySparky

Price is obviously too high

The price was about the same as the Zu Apartments commercial rental units. I think the issue is that it's too close to confusion corner and there's a no-stopping zone in-front of that block of Osborne. Most of Osborne Village's population is closer to River @ Osborne rather than Confusion Corner. Confusion Corner is a bit of a dead zone to be honest. Yes there's lots of traffic but those people are just passing through and although Confusion Corner is a major transit hub, Winnipeg just doesn't have that many transit riders. I think that most of the business clientele in Osborne Village comes from people living in the neighbourhood along Roslyn Rd, River Ave, Stradbrook Ave, etc.

[ColdRain&Snow]

Originally Posted by trueviking

What is the deal with music trader. It’s been a completed dental office for years that never opens.

Yeah it's weird, no idea what's going on.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by trueviking

What is the deal with music trader. It’s been a completed dental office for years that never opens.

Money laundering?

[WpgRocksDude]

Originally Posted by trueviking

What is the deal with music trader. It’s been a completed dental office for years that never opens.

I've been told that the owner is a dentist that lives up north, and that there's some sort of tax loophole that makes it worthwhile to lease it but, not have it be operational. Something about it being "not vacant" and a "registered business", but no operations means no expenses. Not sure exactly how it works, but I hate seeing it be a waste of space in such a good location.

[WpgRocksDude]

Originally Posted by ColdRain&Snow

Here is my updated list of businesses opening in Osborne Village. Let me know if I missed any!

-481 River Ave (former Starbucks)

I have heard whispers of the former Starbucks potentially being leased to open as a shawarma spot, not sure how likely that is to happen though. Nothing set in stone yet.

[ColdRain&Snow]

Originally Posted by WpgRocksDude

I have heard whispers of the former Starbucks potentially being leased to open as a shawarma spot, not sure how likely that is to happen though. Nothing set in stone yet.

That would be nice.

[ColdRain&Snow]

Some photos from this weekend:

51 Roslyn Rd:



128 River Ave:

[Wpg_Guy]

Wellington Apartments
Location: 284 Wellington Crescent
Neighbourhood: McMillan - Fort Rouge - East Fort Garry Ward (City Centre Community Committee)
Developer: 10089833 MANITOBA LTD.
Architect: h5 Architecture
Status: In development - The Winnipeg Public Service (Urban Planning Division) is recommending rejection of the rezoning application (DAZ 208/2026)
Documents: Rezoning & Variance – May 29, 2026
Media:
Description: The developer is seeking to construct a new four-storey, 14-unit residential apartment building at 284 Wellington Crescent. The proposed structure, measuring approximately 44 feet in height, would be positioned with a 13-foot front yard setback to Wellington Crescent, a 4-foot east side yard setback to Cockburn Street North, an 8-foot west side yard setback, and a 4-foot rear yard setback to the lane. Key design features include a main entrance on the east façade, balconies on the north and south elevations, and exterior cladding consisting of stucco, metal, and concrete. Site plans indicate vehicle access from the rear lane, a total of six trees, and only four parking stalls, including one accessible stall and one visitor stall. The development represents a move toward higher-density infill housing in the established Wellington Crescent neighbourhood.
Permits:

[WayneShuster]

Not a fan of that design at all, especially for Wellington Crescent. Another boring bland grey/white/black looking box. Ugh.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

Wellington Apartments
Location: 284 Wellington Crescent

The City Administration Recommends Rejection

The Winnipeg Public Service (Urban Planning Division) is recommending rejection of the rezoning application (DAZ 208/2026) for 284 Wellington Crescent primarily because the proposed four-storey, 14-unit apartment building is inconsistent with the Corydon-Osborne Secondary Plan and its associated Planned Development Overlay (PDO).

Main Reasons for Rejection:

Conflict with the Secondary Plan:
The site is designated Medium Density Residential in the Corydon-Osborne Secondary Plan. While the plan allows up to 4-storey buildings on corner sites for medium multi-family development, it directs that density should be limited to approximately 1 dwelling unit per 800 sq ft of lot area (consistent with RMF-M or existing R2 zoning). The proposal seeks RMF-L zoning, which would allow significantly higher density.

Excessive Density:
The lot is only ~4,495 sq ft. The 14-unit proposal results in roughly 1 unit per 321 sq ft — far exceeding the density limits set out in the Secondary Plan and PDO for this area. The PDO does not support densities beyond the medium-density range on this site.

Policy Inconsistency:
Although Complete Communities 2.0 generally supports intensification and mid-rise housing in Established Neighbourhoods, the more specific Corydon-Osborne Secondary Plan takes precedence. The proposal does not align with the detailed local policy framework for the area.

In short, city planners acknowledge that some multi-family development is appropriate on this corner lot, but they view the scale and density of this specific 14-unit project as too intensive for the established policy direction. They therefore recommend the rezoning to “RMF-L” be rejected.

The City Centre Community Committee, at its meeting on May 29, 2026, may choose to overturn the Public Service’s recommendation to reject the application. If the Committee does not concur with the recommendation, the matter will advance through the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development and the Executive Policy Committee before proceeding to City Council for a final vote.

[WayneShuster]

Haha okay. I wish the City would reject it for lack of quality aesthetics

[trueviking]

I do hate losing the big beautiful houses.

That design looks similar to one that went up around the corner last year.

[optimusREIM]

Originally Posted by WayneShuster

Haha okay. I wish the City would reject it for lack of quality aesthetics

Amen. I don't mind the level of density, I do mind the design. Architects will poo poo me for saying this, but something in the style of the building it would replace would be great, because that would be beautiful and timeless. I find that most contemporary designs are unfortunately not timeless.

[asher__jo]

It might not adhere perfectly to the plan, but RMF-L on the opposite side of Wellington from said proposal suggests that this could project compliments the neighbourhood.

[ColdRain&Snow]

The size/density of the building is totally fine, I just wished they picked some nicer cladding materials. Some brick or some Tyndall Stone would go a long way.