Planning strategy guides growth along city's rivers

By: Aldo Santin

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/planning-strategy-guides-growth-along...

Winnipeg's future identity will be linked to its rivers.

A new report to city hall proposes a 20-year planning strategy to guide development along the Red and Assiniboine rivers.

An administrative report supporting the new strategy, Go To the Waterfront, proposes all development along the two rivers "acts as a magnet for new investment in housing, business and mixed-use development."

The proposal will need to be adopted by council, but the first step is its review at Monday's meeting of the downtown development, heritage and riverbank management committee.

Coun. Mike Pagtakhan, who chairs the committee, said as the city's waterfront properties begin a rebirth, such a strategy is needed to ensure development is consistent with the city's goals.

"It is a vision for Winnipeg's rivers," Pagtakhan (Point Douglas) said, adding the proposal is consistent with other planning documents that guide the city's growth.

The strategy focuses on development along 40 kilometres of riverbank connecting six neighbourhoods: Armstrong's Point and Wellington Crescent; Assiniboine Avenue and Osborne Village; St. Boniface and The Forks; Norwood and Riverview; Exchange District and north St. Boniface; Point Douglas, Archibald and Elmwood.

The plan was drawn up following a series of public consultations and involved participation of The Forks, Tourism Winnipeg, Economic Development Winnipeg, CentreVenture, Enterprise Riel, Rivers West and other organizations.

The document envisages development that links the six neighbourhoods through a series of riverfront pathway networks -- scenic drives, paths, sidewalks and pedestrian bridges, "to build and celebrate Winnipeg's identity as a river city."

A long-term goal is to extend the linkages to include the city's three regional parks: Kildonan Park, Assiniboine Park and St. Vital Park.

"The more that we can capitalize on our public waterfront, the more we can define our city as a real tourist attraction and for the benefit of our citizens," Pagtakhan said.

The administrative report says there is no cost associated with the strategy, but the city could incur expenses as it requires private developers and its own initiatives to conform to the strategy.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

*Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 16, 2013 B2*