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Winnipeg Free Press
14-07-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Exchange District tower approved for 16 storeys despite heritage concerns
One of the buildings in a prominent housing project will soar above the Exchange District's normal height limit, after a city committee decided its promise of new and affordable homes outweighs heritage concerns. On Monday, council's property and development committee granted an appeal to allow a 16-storey, 51-metre (168-foot) tower, as part of the second phase of the Market Lands project. The decision is final. City planners recommended the project be capped to the standard height limit of 30 metres (100 feet) to help maintain the historic character of the area, which the developer appealed. UWCRC 2.0 INC. Market Lands housing project 2025 UWCRC 2.0 INC. On Monday, Winnipeg city council's property and development committee granted an appeal to allow a 16-storey, 51-metre (168-foot) tower, as part of the second phase of the Market Lands project. 'I hear what the historic buildings community is saying. I want to be respectful of that. But, at the end of the day, we don't have many opportunities, where essentially there's a greenfield site (where the former Public Safety Building was demolished) in the downtown area. I think we need to use it to its full potential,' said Coun. Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood), chairman of the committee. During Monday's meeting, a heritage advocate said the height limit should be followed to protect historic structures around it. 'Visually, (this property) is absolutely a part of the (Exchange District) national historic site… The national historic site visually doesn't stop. There is no boundary that people can see,' said Cindy Tugwell, executive director of Heritage Winnipeg. While the Market Lands property, at 148-150 King St., is technically not part of that heritage site, it is close enough that development decisions should reflect that proximity, said Tugwell. The proposed plan calls for two key buildings, including: the 16-storey tower with 148 residential units, amenity and commercial space; and a building that varies from four- to six-storeys with 126 residential units, amenity space, a daycare, offices and a rooftop green space. Imposing the lower height limit would force the removal of dozens of housing units from the project, put its housing grants at risk and jeopardize its financing, a proponent said. 'This single (height) variance is critical to unlocking the affordable housing, community services and public realm benefits… The 100-foot cap on our tower removes six of the 16 storeys, which is approximately 60 apartments at a time when we need them most,' said Daneeka Abon, portfolio manager of design and construction for developer UWCRC 2.0 Inc. Abon noted the housing units with market rents will help pay for those with reduced rents. 'Losing these homes would breach our funding agreements, including the city's housing accelerator fund capital grant incentive, and threatens the project's long-term viability,' she said. The taller building will include 61 affordable units, with another 52 low-income units in the shorter structure. All of the affordable units will rent for no more than 59 per cent of the area's median market rate, with provincial support being sought to further reduce rents. Greg Hasiuk, a partner with Number TEN Architectural Group, said seeking two 100-foot tall buildings instead was not a feasible alternative. Hasiuk said the mixed heights of the two buildings 'allows us to sculpt the site to respond to its neighbours,' preventing excessive shadows and obstructed views. Expanding the smaller building to reach seven or more storeys would also create new costs due to the need to meet additional building code requirements, he said. In a July 11 letter to the property and development committee, Mayor Scott Gillingham shared his support for the housing development at the full proposed height. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'This project will produce a significant injection of affordable housing to the neighbourhood; and the new housing will result in much-needed social and additional commercial activity that will, in turn, support businesses,' wrote Gillingham. In addition, the committee voted to uphold an order that the owner maintain, secure and clean up the former Vulcan Iron Works property, a Point Douglas site that has repeatedly been hit by fires since 2023. While an appeal of the order was partly denied, councillors added an amendment that would allow possible deadline extensions for the work, if needed. The owner will be able to submit an alternative 24-hour security plan to the city, which could adjust requirements to conduct a round-the-clock 'fire watch.' X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne PursagaReporter Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne. Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. 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Yahoo
31-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Muscatine Assistant Fire Chief retires April 1
Muscatine Assistant Fire Chief Mike Hartman made a deliberate decision to retire from active duty with the Muscatine Fire Department on April 1, 2025. It was part of a plan to get the last laugh on his way out the door and start his next adventure with a smile. 'I told people that by retiring on April Fool's Day, I can come back a few days later and say, 'Just kidding, I want my job back',' Hartman said. 'Probably won't be as funny since everyone knows that I was thinking of doing it.' The department is hosting a retirement celebration on Tuesday, April 1 from 12 – 2 p.m. in the firefighters' dayroom upstairs in the Public Safety Building, 312 E, Fifth Street in Muscatine. Hartman has worked for the Muscatine Fire Department for over 30 years and is looking forward to his next phase as the Camp Director of Camp Loud Thunder, the Scout Camp for the Illowa Council. 'One of the proudest moments of my life is when I got the call that I was being hired as a Muscatine firefighter,' Hartman said. He started with the Muscatine Fire Department on November 21, 1994 and was promoted to Fire Lieutenant on December 7, 1999, and then to Fire Captain on March 7, 2005. The Assistant Fire Chief position was created during a department reorganization, and he assumed that role on January 7, 2013. Shift commanders performed the duties of assistant chief before then, but the department realized that the position needed a dedicated 40-hour-per-week staff member instead of relying on overworked shift commanders. 'I was fortunate enough to see Mike's talent early on and promoted him to Assistant Fire Chief in 2013,' said Fire Chief Jerry Ewers. 'Mike has been our city's Fire Marshal for over 12 years, keeping our community safe.' 'During my career I would always ask myself how can I have a bigger impact as a fire professional,' Hartman said. 'I never lost sight of where I came from with every promotion I received.' He's a firm believer in preventing fires, not just fighting them. 'The fire we prevent is the most effective way to protect ourselves and the citizens from harm,' he said. His inspiration came from Mike Kruse, the only Muscatine firefighter to die in the line of duty. 'I worked with Mike and he was also a big proponent of fire prevention,' Hartman said. 'One of the reasons we put such an emphasis on firefighter training and fire prevention education is to honor him.' Hartman carried a picture of Kruse when he participated in the inaugural stair climb at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., after the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, as well as a picture of Michael Fiore, a New York firefighter from Rescue 5 who lost his life responding to the terrorist attack on Sept. 11. Hartman visited Rescue 5 while attending the first class of the National Fire Academy after Sept. 11. 'It was amazing to visit and stay at Rescue 5, to see the pictures of those who lost their lives, and the history of the station,' Hartman said. Hartman helped develop the fire investigation program and the training of the fire investigation team, which Hartman says is probably the best investigation team in the state. He also worked to develop the HAZMAT team in Muscatine in November 1996 after then Fire Chief Steve Dalbey gave his approval to create the team and develop the training program. The Muscatine HAZMAT team is now designated as a Regional HAZMAT team that provides services to Muscatine, Louisa, Henry, Washington and Keokuk counties. 'We worked to develop and train in the areas of hazardous material handling, confined space rescue, high angle rope rescue, trench rescue, and clandestine lab clean up,' Hartman said. 'His earlier accomplishments are really tied back to creating our first HazMat team, which now is a designated HazMat team for Iowa covering five counties in Southeast Iowa,' Ewers said. 'This is really something to be proud of, along with furthering and elevating our fire investigation program for the department. I wish Mike well in his retirement and want to thank him for his service to our department and our community.' Hartman has a long history of working with the Boy Scouts of America and local Scouts and is looking forward to his new position as Camp Director at Camp Loud Thunder. 'I am truly excited to provide the leadership and mentoring to current scouts similar to what I received since I was a youth,' he said. 'There is no better organization for strong character development in today's youth than the Scouts. I look forward to spending time with these youth and my staff, and to emphasize the principles of scouting.' Hartman, an Eagle Scout, watched with pride as his youngest daughter entered the inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
