Downtown Selkirk to get makeover

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This article was published 17/03/2022 (916 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE City of Selkirk will spruce up the downtown section of Eveline Street.

Selkirk CAO Duane Nicol said medians will be installed at intersections to make them safer, sidewalks will be widened, a cycling path will be added, and trees will be planted. An underground storm water management system will be added.

The $7.2-million project is a key part of the revitalization of downtown Selkirk, Nicol said, adding the area has needed an upgrade for almost 30 years.

“I’m extremely excited to see this happen… We know that businesses in the area, the residential developments are really excited to see this happen to bring more foot traffic and people into the downtown area,” he said. “We want to build a place that people want to be and spend time in after five o’clock in the evening.”

Nicol said like many cities, Selkirk is trying to increase downtown density.

“It brings vibrancy to the community, and it makes the streetscape safer because you get more eyeballs on the street,” he said.

The plan is off to a quick start: three residential developments slated to begin on Eveline Street in the next two years.

“A big part of that is their knowledge that we are investing in ourselves and in our downtown area,” he said.

Construction will involve seven blocks from Eaton Avenue to Selkirk Park. The target date for completion is Sept. 30.

“It’s a very aggressive timeline,” Nicol said. “Everything has to go quite well.”

Selkirk will pay the full cost after it was denied a grant under the federal Building Canada Fund.

call for safe spaces funds clears hurdle

A request that the City of Winnipeg extend funding for safe spaces that serve vulnerable Winnipeggers is moving forward.

On Wednesday, council’s executive policy committee approved a call to refer funding for Velma’s House (a Ka Ni Kanichihk program) and the Spence Neighbourhood Association’s West End 24-Hour Safe Space for Youth to the 2024 to 2027 budget process.

If approved by the full council, the city will provide $62,500 to extend both programs until March 31, 2024 and another $937,500 to support operations from April 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2027.

Current city grants for the organizations expire on Dec. 31, 2023.

— staff