I was warned by some that this “Homebuilder” gang builds mainly ritzy homes in glitzy neighbourhoods. Whether the homes are cookie-cutter or custom styles, the construction firms favor big subdivisions. People around here said, “No way they care about renovation of older homes in the core area.”
People warned me, those guys will go where the money is. It’s just business to them. If it’s more profitable to build outside the city limits, that’s exactly where they’re going to build.
“Beware,” they told me, “if any of them show up in your neighbourhood.”
Prophets of doom warned me of sinister plots to demolish whole blocks of affordable inner city housing. Then suddenly groups like the Homebuilders would appear with plans for outrageously expensive condos.
One community worker told me, “Look out for those guys. The sound of demolitions is music to their ears. They’re out to make a fast buck. They’ll sap renovation funds with over-priced infill projects and they don’t give a rip about people in this community.”
For inner-city activists, groups like the Homebuilders are suspect from the start. Not because of the fact that they build homes, but more because of the way they build.
Their overhead demands a certain profit on the bottom line of their projects. Deadlines and schedules inspire a preference for new construction. It’s neater and more predictable than dealing with the intangibles of renovating the hundred year old homes in our neighbourhood.
These are some of the practical reasons that non-profits are spearheading the hardest work of renovating older homes in older, devalued communities.
To be honest, I shared some of the perspective of the conspiracy theorists. And then I met some of the builders at meetings. I saw Guy Hobman and Joe Bova at community meetings. They were on the board of the Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corporation. They talked lots about housing for people in our community.
Before my first meeting with them, I half expected to see hints of horns protruding from their heads. These were supposedly two of the beasts seeking to devour our neighbourhood. I felt a little guilty shaking their hands. Like I was deceiving them by not telling them all our suspicions. Like I was betraying the community by even talking to them.
As we talked, however, I saw and heard real people who were concerned about some of the same things I cared about. And more than issues, we were able to talk about people. Turns out they each had friends living in the neighbourhood, and appreciated what local individuals and groups were doing to protect the area. We started sharing ideas about ways to clean up – not destroy – the community.
About a year ago, I had lunch at a local burger joint with George Fraser, the director of the Manitoba Homebuilders. He wanted to see some of the old buildings being renovated in our neighbourhood. Visibly impressed with the quality of our work and our passion for the community, he asked if there was anything the Manitoba Homebuilders could do to help us.
We shared concerns about some onerous requirements of the building code which make it tougher for anyone to renovate homes in our area. We shared concerns about keeping trades-people working and developing more skilled trades-people to pick up the pace of building Winnipeg’s communities. Recently the Homebuilders partnered with the Manitoba Renovation Contractor’s Association.
Last Friday, I attended a quiet little graduation in an industrial building on Roseberry. Friends and family applauded as graduates were acknowledged. About 20 students received their Level one carpentry papers from the Manitoba Renovation Contractors Training Institute.
This was no easy course of study. There were tough lessons in books and in the workshop. Then, as part of their training, these students hit the streets of the West End. Nothing clean or easy about this part of their training. Adjusting plans on the fly. Dealing with the many surprises in hundred year old framing and foundations.
They tackled the task with enthusiasm. The students and their trainers, Lindsay and Pat, helped us with some excellent work in seven buildings we’re renovating in the neighbourhood. From an 800 square foot house to a three story derelict apartment building, they worked hard to help our community.
Then, one of the students phoned me with concern for a missing tenant in one of our buildings. That’s pretty cool! It’s great to see concern for more than concrete and carpentry.
Thanks to everyone involved! We can’t pretend to do this work on our own, and we sure appreciate your help!
I’ve learned that this revitalization stuff is about more than building homes and renovating buildings. It’s also about building of new relationships and demolition of old stereotypes.
That’s real revitalization!
Rev. Harry Lehotsky
514 Maryland Street
Winnipeg, Mb R3G 1M5
(204) 775-4929
lehotsky@escape.ca