City council takes 'first step' towards potential sale of Portage Place Mall
Winnipeg's city council has voted on moving forward with the potential sale of Portage Place Mall to True North.
"It's the first step," Mayor Scott Gillingham told council Thursday. "Portage Place Mall right now is really an underperforming piece of property in our downtown, and it is key to the health of our downtown."
The mall, built in 1987, was opened with the goal of attracting more people downtown. In the decades since, more and more empty storefronts scatter the mall as larger tenants such as an IMAX Theatre left.
Earlier in March, a report to the city revealed the ownership group of the Winnipeg Jets was interested in buying the mall.
On Thursday all but one councillor, Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski), voted in favour of approving an option agreement term sheet for the sale of Winnipeg's downtown mall to True North Real Estate Development.
"There are better things we could be recommending as a shareholder," Eadie told his fellow council members. He said wants to see affordable housing in whatever new development will replace Portage Place, which would include rent geared to income.
"What should happen is we, as one of the shareholders, and the other two shareholders should be engaging with the not-for-profit groups," he said. "The private sector is only offering us medium-market rents, which are quite high."
Gillingham told council this is not a vote as a shareholder to sell the property; rather this is just a step in the process.
"I'm frankly excited to see what True North will bring forward," he said.
Gillingham said included in the agreement term sheet voted on by council Thursday is a requirement for True North to do extensive public consultation. The mayor said he is looking forward to seeing the concepts and ideas brought forward through this process.
The report says North Portage Development Corporation is looking to sell the land for Portage Place and is seeking approval from the city, province and federal governments.
The provincial and federal governments have already signed off on this.
If that is all approved, True North would also need to reach a separate sale with Spruceland Mall Limited Partnership, which owns the mall building.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.