Century-old school in Winnipeg knocked down to make way for housing development

Jeff Keele reports on the large housing development that could be built on the site of the former Chapman School.

A 111-year-old school in Charleswood has been knocked down by the wrecking ball, paving the way for a new housing development.

Plans at the former Chapman School property include a six-storey, 60-unit condo building on the edge of Roblin Boulevard. Behind that structure – four, one-storey townhouse-style buildings with 20 units. There will also be 123 parking stalls.

The development comes as the city deals with a housing shortage.

Coun. Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood) said a lot of the units have already been spoken for.

“We’ll see new builds here, some nice bungalows in the back that go onto the river, then a building that can support some multi-family.”

CTV News Winnipeg knocked on several doors in the neighbourhood. Many aren’t happy about the development, but they did not want to be interviewed. They say the project will impact their quiet area and lead to a loss of green space.

Doyle Dueck has lived across from the site for 25 years. He worries a little bit about what’s coming.

“You kind of hope that it’s nothing huge in front of your house and changes the value of your home or change the traffic that comes through here,” he said.

Still, change is inevitable, he said,

“We knew something was coming, but you know, always think maybe next year, year after you know? You have to worry about that,” he said.

“But time moves on and we have to kind of, I guess, embrace it, and hopefully it’s better for the community.”

Change began here when Chapman School was closed in 2016 because of low attendance and the building’s deteriorating condition.

“It was becoming derelict and a detriment to the community and the values around here,” Duncan said.

The property was eventually sold to a developer.

Cindy Tugwell from Heritage Winnipeg advocated for a different path.

“The perfect option is to have reused the school in some way to incorporate it into the condo development,” she said. “I think Heritage Winnipeg’s bigger concern is how much green space is going to be left.”

The plans show trees and shrubs as part of the landscaping on the edges of the property.

Coun. Duncan said the developer has made a commitment to leave a portion in the back of the site as green space. Duncan also heard concerns from community members about the removal of a play structure. He said that may be something that could be addressed in the future.

Duncan and members of the Assiniboia Community Committee are set to vote on the plans March 19.