A long-planned development at The Forks has officially started construction. Officials from multiple levels of government and The Forks celebrated the start of construction on the Railside at The Forks development on Thursday. The plan is to develop surface parking lots in the area into a mixed-use neighborhood. “This is a creation of a brand-new urban village, one that strengthens a connection between the forks and the rest of Downtown,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said. The first phase of development will total 3.5 acres and include 350 residential units within nine apartment blocks, and one condo building. A daycare centre and coffee shops will also be part of the development. The Forks said the four to six-storey buildings will include a mix of housing options, including affordable housing units, arranged around courtyards and pedestrian-friendly alleyways. “Public spaces are not a nice-to-have; They are essential infrastructure, economically, socially and culturally. And Railside is grounded in that belief,” said The Forks’ president and CEO Sara Stasiuk. “At the end of the day, this project isn’t just about buildings; It’s about building community, creating space where people feel they belong, and designing public spaces that bring us all together, like The Forks has done for so many years,” said Bernadette Smith, Manitoba’s Housing Minister. The Forks said an archaeologist will be on hand throughout construction to ensure any discoveries are handled with cultural respect. The cost of the first phase of construction is expected to exceed $150 million, funded through public and private investment. Construction will continue through 2027. The final development of Railside at The Forks is set to contain 1,200 residential units. All three phases are expected to be finished in 2040.
