Manitoba announces $1.8M in funding for construction of mixed-income housing

The Manitoba government says it’s giving $1.8 million to an affordable housing project in the Exchange District.

The funds, housing minister Bernadette Smith announced Thursday, will go toward the Market Lands, a mixed-use project being built at the former site of the Public Safety Building, Winnipeg’s police headquarters that was demolished in 2020.

At a press conference, Smith said the provincial funding is going one step further than just helping with ongoing construction.

“In addition to contributing toward capital costs, we will be providing an ongoing contribution to ensure that 48 of the 95 units are deeply affordable, rent-geared-to-income units,” Smith said.

On top of housing, the Market Lands is set to also feature a cultural hub, which has received funding from the federal government.

Winnipeg mayor Scott Gillingham said it’s exciting to see progress on the site, which is adjacent to City Hall.

The development, along with other projects underway — including high-profile developments slated for the former Hudson’s Bay Company building and at the site of Portage Place mall — will help to revitalize the city’s downtown, the mayor said.

“These projects all contribute toward two very important goals: building more housing units and transforming our downtown into a more dynamic, mixed-use set of neighbourhoods, with many more residents who live shop and work and play and stay in our downtown… 24 hours a day.”

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