Battle over Lemay Forest development could be heading to court
The battle over the Lemay Forest could be heading to court as the developer who owns the land is threatening the city with legal action.
Tochal Developments wants to build an assisted living facility on the site, and says it is waiting on the city to proceed.
The developer accuses City of Winnipeg planners of stalling the application process.
“The next logical step if the city doesn't respond to processing our application is legal action,” said John Wintrup, a professional planner who represents the developer.
At the same time, the developer says it received low-ball offers to sell the land.
The company has said it will sell the forest for the right price, but has received offers from the Manitoba Habitat Conservancy (MHC) and Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) for less than half of what the land is worth.
Now, Tochal Developments has sent a letter to the City of Winnipeg threatening legal action.
It alleges the city's planning department is delaying its development application.
The letter says the developer has no intention of selling the property for such paltry sums, and will commence lawfully permitted pre-development activities shortly.
“Then we get an offer, a lowball offer, to purchase the land within five days, to accept it or not while the city is delaying our application for moving forward. This is all too coincidental for us,” Wintrup said.
Area residents have been pushing to keep the forest as is.
In January, the city started exploring options with other groups who may want to buy the property.
The MHC says its offer is based on an independent appraisal.
The organization has secured funding from the federal and provincial governments, but it expires at the end of the month.
"We tried to provide a fair and full value for the property and keep it for the residents of Winnipeg so yeah, I'm disappointed the offer was not accepted,” said MHC CEO Stephen Carlyle.
MMF president David Chartrand says if a purchase price can't be reached, he is willing to start legal action of his own to prevent any development, as he has concerns there could be a cemetery there from a former orphanage.
“St. Norbert is very historic to us as Métis, of course. This is where the Métis stood firm, prevented the invasion of what we called Upper Canada at the time,” he said.
The City of Winnipeg declined to comment on the matter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.