How the Point Douglas area could change with a new proposed city plan

A new development plan for the Point Douglas neighbourhood has been revealed.

Point Douglas could soon go from industrial yards to apartment buildings if a secondary plan focused on the area’s future is approved.

The Lord Selkirk-West Kildonan Community Committee is set to discuss a proposed bylaw next week that would ultimately be used to determine how the area is developed over the next 25 years.

The plan would move away from industrial uses and put an importance on more housing, which includes residential infills and apartment-style buildings.

Infill housing would be for areas in North Point Douglas, higher-rise mixed-use buildings would be in the area south of Sutherland Avenue and mid-rise mixed-use would be in between those two areas.

Coun. Ross Eadie’s ward of Mynarski includes North Point Douglas. He said this plan would help bring investments into the area.

“Private developers will know what they can and cannot do when you have a secondary plan. So this is about the longer-term future for neighbourhoods that are struggling right now,” said Eadie.

He noted, if approved, the secondary plan would grandfather in current lots, such as the industrial yards, but it would prevent them from expanding or new yards from coming into the area.

Sel Burrows, an advocate for the area, said he is in favour of the plan and feels the work put into it is “excellent.”

However, he notes there are issues that need to be addressed before anything can be done.

“The issues for the inner city are not planning issues. The issues for the inner city are things like the fact that the sewage system is so old and overworked that you can’t build the buildings that the secondary plan envisions,” said Burrows. “They won’t give you a building permit because the sewage system can’t handle a high-rise apartment block.”

Vacant homes and tattered empty lots are also a concern for Burrows, who said they sit there for years and nothing gets done with them.

“Just think if you own a house and the next door neighbour, vacant house is burned and it’s been sitting there, vacant, a burned-out husk for over a year, it doesn’t give you much hope for the value of your own house or the quality of life for your kids.”

Burrows feels the plan would do wonders for the area and really improve the quality of life for the people of Point Douglas.

But first, he wants to see actionable changes before this plan can take effect.

“They have to start immediately seizing this derelict housing and converting them back into livable, rentable housing. That’s number one. Number two, they have to look at, in North Point Douglas, upgrading the sewer system so we can have some nice developments happening in those areas.”

He also wants to see more recreational opportunities for youth living in the area, saying it would have a huge impact for families and would reduce crime.

“The money’s there. It just needs to be reallocated to where it’s really needed.”

The bylaw is expected to be discussed on Feb. 24.