Province to rework plan for seized houses: Burrows

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This article was published 31/05/2023 (330 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A community advocate says the province is looking at reformulating its redevelopment plan for homes seized in Point Douglas, after government faced criticism the project wouldn’t help those most in need.

The province seized multiple homes in the Point Douglas and Elmwood areas through criminal property forfeiture legislation two years ago, as part of a Winnipeg police drug trafficking investigation.

Recently, the justice and families departments jointly announced a plan to sell six of the homes to an Indigenous or non-profit organization for $1 each, with the goal those agencies would develop the properties into affordable, single-family homes meant for sale to low-or-moderate incomes.

Long-time neighbourhood activist Sel Burrows, who had pushed justice officials to instead donate the properties to be used as affordable housing, had publicly criticized the province’s plan Monday.

On Wednesday, he said a justice official had told him the province plans to rework its request for proposal.

“(I feel) fantastic, absolutely fantastic — this was our goal from the beginning, and, obviously, the government was listening. Now we’ve got a really good chance to get some good social housing in North Point Douglas,” Burrows said.

A government spokesperson confirmed Thursday the province is in “ongoing communications” with community stakeholders. However, it has not yet made any specific changes to the RFP “as consultations are very much ongoing.”

“Our intent continues to be transforming the fruits of criminal enterprise into positive and tangible enhancements to public safety within the community of Point Douglas,” the spokesperson said.

The plan as-is requires the would-be owner of the redevelopments to be a first-time homebuyer, with dependents, an annual income of no more than about $85,000, and who can qualify for a mortgage.

Manitoba Housing staff indicated after inspections, the six homes would likely require demolition.

Burrows said the properties should have been slated for rental housing in the low-income area, rather than for purchase. He also argued some of the homes could be suitable for renovation.

Per his conversation with an official Wednesday, the reworked plan will solely include rental housing and will include another home seized in Elmwood, he added.

erik.pindera@winnipegfreepress.com

Twitter: @erik_pindera