Winnipeg Free Press
Monday, April 10th, 2006
By Mary Agnes Welch
WINNIPEGGERS won't get a peek at plans for Kapyong Barracks until this fall, more than two years after soldiers abandoned the base. Bureaucratic delays have plagued the process of turning the old barracks land into what's expected to be an infill neighbourhood with condos, houses, shops and offices.
That has also stymied plans by three area community clubs to consolidate their operations into a regional community centre based out of Lipsett Hall on Kenaston Boulevard.
"We're in a holding pattern until Canada Lands puts out a call for submissions," said Byrnes Benoit, president of the River Heights community club. "We're stalled because Canada Lands is stalled."
Formal title to the 65-hectare parcel -- once occupied by soldiers from the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry -- hasn't yet been transferred from the Department of National Defence to Canada Lands, the Crown agency charged with redeveloping surplus federal properties. It's expected to take another few months, even though the federal government approved the sale nearly a year ago.
DND staff say the delay isn't unreasonable for such a complicated land transfer. The military has been working for six or seven years trying to hand off other surplus parcels to Canada Lands.
Adding to the complication is the fate of the more than 150 houses on the base, which won't be part of the land title transfer because the military has yet to decide if they are surplus to their needs.
The delays have frustrated city councillors, including Coun. Bill Clement, who are already eyeing part of the base to widen Kenaston Boulevard.
And, the city is facing a shortage of new housing lots and is rushing to bring on new parcels on the outskirts of south Winnipeg. That has prompted some impatience in the real estate community with the slow pace of progress at Kapyong, especially since the neighbourhood would be infill, not suburban sprawl.
Urban planners with Canada Lands are working on a skeleton plan that could be unveiled this fall during preliminary public meetings meant to brainstorm ideas for the base.
After that, a more concrete plan will be developed and submitted to the city for approval, launching another round of public consultations and rezoning hearings.
maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca