‘We need a real plan’: Council set to vote on Granite Curling Club development

The Granite Curling Club versus the City of Winnipeg saga is about to heat up. CTV’s Jeff Keele reports.

The Granite Curling Club is hoping a plan before Winnipeg City Council hits the rocks.

Council is scheduled to vote Thursday on subdividing the Granite and a western parking lot used by curlers to make way for an 11-storey affordable housing development.

Club secretary Christian Pierce said the Granite is in favour of affordable housing, but losing the spots would put the club’s operations in jeopardy. He said assurances by the city to help them find parking elsewhere have not been to their satisfaction.

“They’re basically saying trust us. Well, with how the process has been going so far we can’t trust that,” said Pierce. “We need a real plan to make sure the Granite can actually survive.”

The Granite leases the property from the city. The club won a ruling at the municipal board, ordering the city to develop an adequate parking plan first. But internal legal advice said the city could go ahead despite the board’s ruling.

The city’s property committee chair Evan Duncan is hopeful council will vote in favour of the project. He promised they will hammer out a deal with the Granite to figure out a parking solution.

“Why would we want to lose an asset like the Granite?” said Duncan. “It doesn’t make sense for the City of Winnipeg. It doesn’t make sense for the curling community.”

But not everyone on council is comfortable with ignoring the municipal board decision. St. Vital Councillor Brian Mayes supports the housing project but is recusing himself from voting because the city didn’t get an outside legal opinion.

“I am worried about getting dragged into court,” said Mayes. “We’ve won some and we’ve lost some during my years here.”

While many curlers are worried about losing parking, there are some members like Daniel Leonard that don’t buy the club’s claims.

“The messaging that has come from the Granite has only been fearmongering about the development,” he said.

Leonard is with the Granite Members for Affordable Housing group. He believes the housing project could complement the curling rink.

“Having people close by, that might be able to see the Granite Curling Club as an opportunity to try a new sport, to get more connected to the neighbourhood, we see lots of benefits there,” said Leonard.