Winnipeg | UofM | Southwood Circle

[WildCake]

Originally Posted by FactaNV

I think the utility and road construction is proceeding apace.

Yea I drove by the other day and it seemed to be humming along quite well. My gut feeling about this project is that once the first tower is in, it'll spur the rest of the development.

I'm looking forward to this project and I hope the U of M team holds strong to its standards. I'm sure they're bound to it to some extent given the neighbourhood plan they got done through the city, although I guess that can be amended.

I don't want it to look like what's going on in the Refinery District. Yes, there's a lot of multifamily, but there must be such low land costs that all these 4-6 story buildings developers are getting away with surface lots to cover their 1.5 spot/dwelling quota and it just feels so sparse and like a giant expanses of parking lots, rather than a dense TOD neighbourhood it was originally touted to be. Maybe it isn't quite built up to that point yet but that was my feeling driving through there.

[bomberjet]

IIRC, now that I've had lunch, there were a couple other proposals here in the works.

[ColdRain&Snow]

Originally Posted by WildCake

Yea I drove by the other day and it seemed to be humming along quite well. My gut feeling about this project is that once the first tower is in, it'll spur the rest of the development.

I'm looking forward to this project and I hope the U of M team holds strong to its standards. I'm sure they're bound to it to some extent given the neighbourhood plan they got done through the city, although I guess that can be amended.

I don't want it to look like what's going on in the Refinery District. Yes, there's a lot of multifamily, but there must be such low land costs that all these 4-6 story buildings developers are getting away with surface lots to cover their 1.5 spot/dwelling quota and it just feels so sparse and like a giant expanses of parking lots, rather than a dense TOD neighbourhood it was originally touted to be. Maybe it isn't quite built up to that point yet but that was my feeling driving through there.

The Refinery District (aka Bishop Heights) is definitely suburban in character. It's honestly really disappointing seeing the huge parking lots and barren roads going in right next to a Rapid Transit station. The development could have been so much nicer. The reality is that the large, non-local developers for that neighbourhood know that they can make a good profit off the suburban style development, so no reason to try something new. It's not worth their time to fight with the City over parking minimums, minimum-setbacks, etc. It takes a committed developer and architect to fight the City and make high-quality urban developments happen. Just look at all the challengers TrueViking just faced with his 6-story building going in on Marion St.

With all that being said, we're in the middle of a housing crisis so I'm still glad that multi-family buildings near Rapid Transit are getting built. But the development could have been so much better. Thankfully Southwood Circle is looking more promising.

[FactaNV]

Hey all, does anyone know if there's been any buildings announced for this project yet? I know they're pretty deep into utility work, will they be able to start on residences anytime soon?

[Biff]

First building, 23 storey - 358 units planned start in spring 2025.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by Biff

First building, 23 storey - 358 units planned start in spring 2025.

You gotta like that! Where'd the info come from Biff? Tha ks for the heads up.

[BAKGUY]

Originally Posted by Biff

First building, 23 storey - 358 units planned start in spring 2025.

Are u aware of any mock up or rendering on it yet?

[WinCitySparky]

I wonder if the recent steep national drop in student visas will affect construction of residential around the university.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by WinCitySparky

I wonder if the recent steep national drop in student visas will affect construction of residential around the university.

I can't see it affecting research universities like the U of M too much. Diploma mills will tank but the kids at the university are actually there to learn and will be allowed to do so before they approve SPs for kids studying hotel management.

[ColdRain&Snow]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manit...e%20per%20cent.


From the article:
"The number of international students enrolled at the University of Manitoba, the province's largest post-secondary institution, decreased seven per cent from 6,915 students in the fall term last year to 6,433 students this year, the university's preliminary fall enrolment report says.

The number of new international students decreased from 1,951 students to 1,366 students, the report says.

The U of M "is concerned to see an approximately 30 per cent drop in new international students and a seven per cent drop overall," a spokesperson said in an email Thursday.

"Even with positive growth in domestic enrolment, the international student drop can be expected to have a long-term impact on our institution.""

[WinCitySparky]

Thanks for that info CR&S.

It’s unfortunate but it seems they became over-reliant on a beneficial program they thought would never end.

[WildCake]

Originally Posted by WinCitySparky

I wonder if the recent steep national drop in student visas will affect construction of residential around the university.

It might impact the ARC/ALIGN buildings a bit given that their rental format is atypical and really geared towards uni students, but basically anything else in the area is a standard apartment/condo.

The U of M is being clear that the Southwood Circle development will be a neighbourhood geared towards everyone, not just students. Given our low vacancy rate and current immigration rates, I don't think there's short term concerns. The loss of 500 some international students sure stings the U of M's budget but I don't think it would be enough to sway developments away from Southwood or south Pembina in general.

[borkborkbork]

Originally Posted by WildCake

It might impact the ARC/ALIGN buildings a bit given that their rental format is atypical and really geared towards uni students, but basically anything else in the area is a standard apartment/condo.

The U of M is being clear that the Southwood Circle development will be a neighbourhood geared towards everyone, not just students. Given our low vacancy rate and current immigration rates, I don't think there's short term concerns. The loss of 500 some international students sure stings the U of M's budget but I don't think it would be enough to sway developments away from Southwood or south Pembina in general.

That area has amenities (ethnic markets, restaurants, etc.) that are probably there in part because there are lots of international students living there. But at this point rental vacancies are <2% citywide and the southwest is a popular area... so if you build housing in this area, it's going to get filled whether it's students or not.

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by WinCitySparky

Thanks for that info CR&S.

It’s unfortunate but it seems they became over-reliant on a beneficial program they thought would never end.

and not that I want to see people become un-employed but I know for a fact education institutions have very bloated Int'l student recruiting and teaching staff. so instead of raising domestic tuition, why are they not trimming the staff.

[EndIt]

Originally Posted by ColdRain&Snow

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manit...e%20per%20cent.


From the article:
"The number of international students enrolled at the University of Manitoba, the province's largest post-secondary institution, decreased seven per cent from 6,915 students in the fall term last year to 6,433 students this year, the university's preliminary fall enrolment report says.

The number of new international students decreased from 1,951 students to 1,366 students, the report says.

The U of M "is concerned to see an approximately 30 per cent drop in new international students and a seven per cent drop overall," a spokesperson said in an email Thursday.

"Even with positive growth in domestic enrolment, the international student drop can be expected to have a long-term impact on our institution.""

Yeah, bilking international students was the "solution" to declining provincial funding and frozen tuition. Now that the stream has slowed, it'll be interesting to see how Uni administration pivots. I hope they might get the message and cut administrative bloat, but knowing U of M, they'll try to get rid of tenured faculty and then hire 3 new vice-deputy-sub-provosts of student experience.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/PPD/Docum...-220587-VC.pdf

They have submitted a variance application to allow for larger than permitted construction signs. Presumably a positive sign that actual construction is not far off.

[bomberjet]

Have we seen any renders of the actual building(s) yet? There is potentially some tidbits in the banners being proposed at the link.

[ColdRain&Snow]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Have we seen any renders of the actual building(s) yet? There is potentially some tidbits in the banners being proposed at the link.

The banner is likely just an architect's conceptual rendering. I wouldn't put much weight on it.

[borkborkbork]

"All lots within Southwood will be available under a lease term of 99 years with a one time pre-payment of land rent that will approximate the freehold value of the land parcel. The land lease is renewable for condominiumized projects.

The land lease model is common for university campus developments and has a well established trading and track record for borrowing and selling at UBC, Simon Fraser and UCalgary. The Southwood model is based directly upon the UCalgary model."

interesting. does anyone know anything about these calgary or burnaby projects this is based on?

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by borkborkbork

interesting. does anyone know anything about these calgary or burnaby projects this is based on?

https://myuniversitydistrict.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/udistricty...BwcW12NGlidHo1

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6881552