British newspaper pans Winnipeg low-income housing units over safety concerns

A small low-income rentalhousing complex near Central Park is drawing a lotof attention after being featured in a prominent British newspaper, which described the project as "a magnet for drinking and drug taking."

Both Manitoba Housing, and the architecture firm that designed Centre Village on Balmoral Street, plan to take another look at the complex but not in response tothe article in The Guardian.

Last month, Manitoba Housing took over the 25-unit complex which is home mostly tonewcomers and refugees fromCentreVenture,the city's arm's-length development agency.

Carolyn Ryan, Manitoba Housing'sexecutive director of portfolio management,saidit will begin a safety review of the property next week.

"We'll look at lighting, tree trimming, are there gates or fencing that might improve security on the project," she said.

Ryan added the review is typical for any propertyManitoba Housing takes over.

At least three residents at the complex told CBC they felt there should be a gate to keep non-residents out of an interior courtyard. Others said they felt comfortable living at Centre Village.

"I hear people at night. Used to hear them lots because this is my second year here," said Donna, a resident who did not want her last name used. "Some of them are drinking ... it's really loud. Really loud traffic."

Access problems

The city councilor for the area, Cindy Gilroy, saidher officehas not received any complaints about the complex.

Ryan said the public access to the courtyard is problematic, adding, "There is a parking lot right behind the building that I understand there's some not-so-great activity happening there. So maybe some more lighting or somesecurity cameras can help with that."

Ryan added that some problems in the three-tier unitswill be harder to address, including a lack of closet and eatingspace.

The idea for the complex originally came from the belief more home ownership in Central Park was needed,CentreVenture president Angela Mathieson said over the phone. While rent-to-own and co-operative models were initiallyexplored, she said low-income rental housing turned out to be the better fit.

Although the project never became a co-op,Mathieson said she believed the $3.7 million project is stilla success because it addresses a low-income rental crisis in Winnipeg.

Complex full

Ryan said the complex is fulland has addedaffordable housing and density to the neighbourhood.

The firm that designed Centre Village said residents have given mostly positive feedback on about 20 instances.

"The project that we've done, the Centre Village, was actually designed after a fairly extensive consultation with the community over a span of several years," said SasaRadulovic,founding partner of 5468796 Architecture,adding the firm did not want to design a "fortress"structure.

"I would suggest on a number of levels, it was a success," he said.

Radulovic said the firm plans to assess a number of projects, including Centre Village, this year.

Jino Distasio, director of the institute for urban studies at the University of Winnipeg, saidthe project can likely be improved with a few small tweaks.

"I just think there is probably a few smaller steps that could have been done to really just fine-tune how that project fit into the neighbourhood, how it fit on to that specificstreet and in that specific community."

Ryan said any changes to Centre Villagewould likely be done in the spring.