Discouraged after failing to get provincial approval to build condos over the Assiniboine

If you ever dreamed of owning your own bridge over the Assiniboine River, you might just get a chance.

The developer behind a plan to build condominiums on an abandoned CN Rail bridge that connects Wolseley to River Heights has given up on the unusual project after five years.

In 2004, Alec Katz -- no relation to Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz -- received city zoning approvals to build 20 to 24 condos on the former rail bridge that crosses the Assiniboine immediately east of the St. James Bridge. The following year, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans followed suit with a water-quality approval.

But Katz was never able to get the provincial government to sign off on the plan, which required environmental approval from Manitoba Conservation, which owns the riverbed as well as the air rights above it.

"I made an application five years ago. They told me it would take 60 days," said Katz, a retired architect now living in B.C. "I wish I still had the stamina to do it, but I just turned 65. I wanted this to be a legacy. I wanted it as a swan song."

Katz claims the Manitoba government held up the environmental decision after area residents who tried and failed to derail the project at the municipal level complained to NDP MLAs Andrew Swan (Minto), Bonnie Korzeniowski (St. James) and Rob Altemeyer (Wolseley). Former Manitoba premier Gary Doer also disliked the project, the developer claims.

In 2006, when Katz began complaining of delays, Manitoba Conservation Minister Stan Struthers said the rail-bridge condos were being treated no differently than any other project.

"We're not going to put false obstacles in place. We're not going to prolong the process, but we do have a process to ensure this is safe for the environment," Struthers said at the time. "We need to assure Mr. Katz that this will proceed fairly."

On Thursday, a spokesman for the minister said Katz failed to submit development plans to the city. The province was waiting for him to do so, the spokesman said.

Katz now plans to offer the city the chance to purchase the bridge. If the city declines, he'll place it and slivers of land he owns on either side of the river up for sale in the hope somebody will find a creative use for the unique property.

"I don't care who does it anymore, but it should be done," said Katz, noting the project is a planner's dream, given the potential to convert a disused industrial site into infill housing or a mixed-use commercial development.

"Everyone thinks it's ugly, but I think it's beautiful. Everyone focuses on the bridge, but the fact is, the land runs from Academy (Road) to the right of way to Wolseley (Avenue)," Katz said.

River Heights Coun. John Orlikow, whose ward includes the south side of the former rail bridge, said he'd like to see the span become a bike and pedestrian corridor or even a busway that could help alleviate some of the congestion on the St. James Bridge.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 30, 2009 A6