A new housing development is up for discussion for the crumbling parking lot behind the Sherbrook Inn in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighbourhood. A public hearing is scheduled at City Hall to consider a proposal that would see the Sherbrook Inn and the hotel’s parking lot subdivided. If approved, the decision would make way for an 86-unit multi-family building with businesses on the ground floor. The proposal also includes 44 parking stalls, as well as 14 stalls for the hotel, the plan coming as new owners took over the property last year. David McKeigan helps out behind the hotel’s bar, has lived in the neighbourhood for 40 years and welcomes the development. “Sherbrook Street has been doing very well with progress, a lot of new businesses, a little bit of life just keeps things moving in the right direction,” McKeigan said. Nearby, Walz On In Barber Shop owner Walter Spooner hopes this could lead to more foot traffic on the Sherbrook strip. “It probably would be good for the neighbourhood like it would bring everyone more business,” Spooner said, adding he hopes the units are priced appropriately and consistently. “What I’m trying to say is cheap condo, or just affordable apartments, maybe just the same across the board,” he said. The development proposal says the project will have eight affordable units and an additional 25 per cent will meet federal affordable standards. The public hearing is set for Sept. 29.
