Housing Plan 2011

North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan

2011-2016

Point Douglas Residents Committee

Acknowledgements

Funded by:Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative361 Hargrave Street

Winnipeg, MB R3B 2K2

Tel: (204) 940-3070

Fax: (204) 940-3077

Email: [email protected]


Project Management:

Point Douglas Residents Committee5 Beaconsfield Street

Winnipeg, MB R2W 3M1

Tel: (204) 927-3827

Fax: (204) 415-0305


www.pointdouglas.ca

North End Community Renewal Corporation509 Selkirk Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R2W 2M6

Tel: (204) 927-2343

Contact: Dale Harik, Housing Program Supervisor


Group Facilitation and Housing Plan preparation by:

Scatliff+Miller+MurrayLandscape Architects and Planners

Thank you to the following people for their contributions:

The residents of North Point DouglasPDRC Housing Committee members:

Tyson Cormack, Adrian Stoness, Khalin McGiffen, Roanna Hepburn, Ivan Fleming, Heather Geddie, Chris McCarville, and Dale Harik.

PDRC Board

Roanna Hepburn, Tyson Cormack, Elaine Bishop, Karin Streu, Michelle Bruce, Gerald Brown, Ivan Fleming, Leah Decter, Martin Landy, and Phillip Cramer.

Special Thanks to:

Adrian Stoness for the Housing Inventory

North Point Douglas Women’s CentreHeather Geddie for her hard work and commitment to improving housing in Point Douglas


2011-2016

Disclaimer

This report was prepared by Scatliff+Miller+Murray Inc. (SMM) for the Point Douglas Residents Committee (PDRC). The disclosure of any information contained in this report is the sole responsibility of the client, the Point Douglas Residents Committee. The materials in this report reflect SMM’s best judgment in light of the information available to it at the time of preparation. Any use which a third party makes of this report, or any reliance on or decisions to be made based on it, are the responsibility of such third parties. SMM accepts no responsibility for damages, if any, suffered by a third party as a result of decisions made or actions based on this report.

All images, unless otherwise noted, are by SMM.

Table of Contents

PART 1| Introduction

1.1 North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2003-2008.............................41.2 Neighbourhood Housing Plan Update 2011: Objectives and Process................10

PART 2| Profile of North Point Douglas

2.1 History and Character...................................................................................................142.2 Neighbourhood Demographics....................................................................................162.3 Neighbourhood Housing Characteristics...................................................................252.4 Point Douglas Community Survey 2008..................................................................312.5 Planning Implications....................................................................................................33

PART 3| Maps

3.1 Location Map.................................................................................................................373.2 Zoning Map....................................................................................................................383.3 Park Facilities Map........................................................................................................393.4 Housing Type Map........................................................................................................403.5 Housing Conditions Map.............................................................................................413.6 Housing Ownership Map.............................................................................................42

PART 4| Community Involvement

4.1 Community Consultation Events...............................................................................45 4.1.1 Stakeholder Consultation Sessions...........................................................45 4.2.2 Public Open House.......................................................................................484.2 Community Consultation Results...............................................................................49 4.2.1 Stakeholder Consultation Sessions Results............................................49 4.2.2 Public Open House Results..........................................................................504.3 Doing Things Right and Doing the Right Things....................................................51

PART 5| Progress to Date

5.1 Community Accomplishments.....................................................................................555.2 Towards Effective Implementation.............................................................................60

PART 6| 2011-2016 Neighbourhood Plan.................................................................63

Appendices

Appendix A - Sources of Information..............................................................................71 Appendix B - Questionnaire...............................................................................................75

PART 1 | INTRODUCTION

3

The North Point Douglas neighbourhood of Winnipeg is situated on a peninsula of the Red River, bounded on the south by the CP Rail line, east at Main Street and north at Redwood Avenue.

The area has a vibrant history, first populated by First Nations people, then by Europeans who around 1815 established Fort Douglas as their first major settlement in Winnipeg. With industrial progress later that century came other changes;

Introduction

Introduction

warehouses and wholesalers were established and working class families were attracted to the neighbourhood. Many small businesses and ethnic specialty shops were established, reflecting the area’s makeup of immigrants of Ukrainian, Polish, German, Jewish, and Scandinavian descent.

When the depression began, many people exited from North Point Douglas. This

trend continued during the period of 1945 to 1950, as living in the suburbs became more popular.

Over the next four decades, North Point Douglas saw a change in both demographics and landscape. Over time, homeowners migrated away from the area and the number of tenants increased. Once the dominant ethnic group, the number of Ukrainian residents decreased while the number of Aboriginal residents increased.

North Point Douglas is now a mixed residential neighbourhood with a riverfront park, commercial activity concentrated primarily on Main Street, with industrial businesses along Sutherland Avenue. Working with all three levels of government, non-profits and other agencies, people in the community have come together to address renewal and rebuild the area into a vibrant, desirable place to live and raise a family.

Map showing the boundaries of the North Point Douglas neighbourhood


2003-2008

Welcome Home, Euclid Ave.

NORTH POINT DOUGLAS HOUSING PLAN4

A review and update of the Housing Plan is required to help the community achieve its housing goals.

1.1 North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2003 – 2008

In the year 2000, the City of Winnipeg released the Neighbourhood Designation Report which classified North Point Douglas (along with thirteen other neighbourhoods) as a Major Improvement Area, defined as an older area that has experienced significant decline to the point where housing and neighbourhood infrastructure require complete renewal. Seven indicators are used to gauge these conditions over time: housing conditions, average age of houses, selling price of houses, rental vs. owner occupied homes, poverty rate, unemployment rate and crime rate.

Recognizing that an adequate supply of safe, affordable housing is a key component of neighbourhood revitalization, and is linked to a greater likelihood of positive socio-economic outcomes for individuals and households1, both the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg launched housing-related initiatives designed to assist areas like North Point Douglas. In 2002, the City of Winnipeg’s Housing Steering Committee designated North Point Douglas as a Housing Improvement Zone. This designation made the neighbourhood eligible for priority funding for housing improvements. However, in order to access this funding, a neighbourhood housing plan was required.

To that end, in September 2002, the Province of Manitoba Neighbourhoods Alive! program and the City of Winnipeg, in partnership, awarded the North End Community Renewal Corporation (NECRC) a grant to develop a housing plan for North Point Douglas. The objective of this project was to prepare a plan for housing renewal with input from a broad range of neighbourhood stakeholders. NECRC worked closely with the Point Douglas Residents’ Committee and many other community groups and individuals, guided by these principles:

maximum participation by community residents; • no-one excluded because of race, income level, gender, sexual orientation, or disability

respect for multiple viewpoints regarding a vision • for housing in North Point Douglas

The North Point Douglas Housing Plan 2003-2008.

5Introduction

consensus-driven decision making using a • community economic development approach

The resulting North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2003-2008 identified five strategic directions for housing renewal:

1. Fix up Owner-Occupied Housing

2. Improve and Maintain Rental Properties

3. Clean up the Neighbourhood

4. Promote Home Ownership Opportunities and Diverse Housing Choice

5. Improve Safety

A thirty-three point action plan was created to support these priorities. The action plan relayed how each initiative was tied to the broader vision, its rationale, how success would be measured, identified possible partners, and set timelines. The Point Douglas Residents Committee (PDRC) was charged with overseeing the plan, and decided at the time that successful implementation was based on three factors: 1) building effective community partnerships and tapping into expertise in the public, private and non profit sectors; 2) undertaking regular plan evaluation and review; and, although NECRC was identified as having a lead role, 3) hiring a Housing Coordinator.

Since 2003, a number of factors have influenced the housing environment in North Point Douglas, many drawing on initiatives found in the plan. Public and private foundation funding supports exterior fix up grants, infill housing, a Tenant-Landlord Cooperation (TLC) Program, a Housing Training Initiative (HTI) and staff resources at NECRC dedicated specifically to facilitating housing programs.

The City of Winnipeg has maintained its Housing Improvement Zone designation for North End neighbourhoods, which acts as a mechanism to funnel funding through the community-based North End Housing Network for housing development projects. This translates into $160,000 per year dedicated specifically to North Point Douglas, typically supporting fix-up grants, emergency home repair, salaries for NECRC housing staff, the city’s portion of the infill development program,


PDRC’s operating costs and special projects such as the Point community newsletter.

In 2008, the City of Winnipeg passed the Neighbourhood Livability by-law that streamlined seventeen existing bylaws covering neighbourhood order into one package and merged enforcement officers into one team. Filing a complaint under this by-law is now simply a call to 311. The Neighbourhood Livability by-law along with the provincial Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, has been cited as a tool the Point Douglas community has often used to demand action from officials with authority to “force landlords to improve their properties, evict problem tenants and shut down centres of criminal activity.”2 Regular community audits ensure that overflowing dumpsters, and other nuisance problems are reported to 311.

As well, the PDRC continues to implement other grassroots activities such as applying for Urban Green Team funds to hire summer students to assist with lawn care and community gardens. PDRC has recently engaged a full time executive director who is working toward allocating more time to housing issues; however, the committee feels access to funding to support a housing program staff person full time is the best way to ensure full implementation of the 2011 - 2016 Housing Plan.

The North Point Douglas Women’s Centre plays a role as an advocate for housing issues in the area, working mainly with renters. As a voice to defend access to affordable, good, safe rental housing for North Point Douglas, the Women’s Centre has held annual workshops on tenants rights, engaged in advocacy on behalf of tenants’ issues with landlords, has helped people find housing, and has often provided a place for homeless people to spend their day.

Section 5.0 of this report provides a summary of “Progress to Date” with respect to the thirty-three initiatives found in the 2003 – 2008 Housing Plan, indicating those that will be brought forward to become part of the updated plan.

7

While grassroots housing plans are typically not afforded legal standing as a planning directive, the North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan could serve as a background study or document that would contribute to future decision-making processes related to neighbourhood planning. Section 6.0 of this plan describes the PDRC’s Priority #2, to Promote Diverse Housing Choice and its three supporting initiatives; this priority in particular fits with the OurWinnipeg Complete Communities Direction Strategy, an official plan by the City of Winnipeg that provides vision and direction for development over the next twenty-five years.

In 2010, the Province of Manitoba commissioned the Neighbourhoods Alive! Community Outcomes Evaluation report to determine the impact of NA! funding. Evaluation findings point to improvements such as a decrease in derelict buildings, improved tenant-landlord relations, and renovations and rehabilitation of housing stock attributable at least in part to NA! investment. However these neighbourhoods are still facing issues related to safety, economic hardship and lack of affordable housing.

The report notes that direct “cause and effect” linkages are difficult to ascertain when attempting to measure the relationship between NA! programs and socio-economic improvements. Housing choice and tenure are affected by interest rates, market conditions, and other economic factors beyond the community’s control. Referring to recent trends in Winnipeg’s real estate market, the report notes in particular the average housing price in the North End has outstripped the rest of the city over the past decade.3 As well, Manitoba’s success in attracting immigrants, who typically seek rental housing prior to purchasing a home, has helped to create a steady demand for rental housing. Winnipeg’s rental vacancy rates have been hovering around 1% for the past few years (the rental market is considered balanced when the vacancy rate is 3%) and these tight conditions are expected to continue.4

Introduction


Therefore, a combination of low vacancy rates city-wide and gentrification in older neighbourhoods provides a new set of challenges for North Point Douglas as the community prepares its next five year plan. Rentals can be difficult to find, and home ownership is more expensive than ever, in a neighbourhood that continues to house people who are at greater risk of being in what the Province of Manitoba refers to as a core housing need group. Families or individuals who spend more than thirty percent of their incomes on housing are considered to be in core housing need.5

The NA! outcomes evaluation report identifies the Point Douglas Residents’ Committee as a community strength. The organization has been building its capacity to inform and educate people on housing issues, empowers people to take action and has worked hard over the years to stay current on community needs.

In 2008, PDRC contracted the services of Point research Inc., a locally run survey initiative, to carry out a comprehensive survey of the community. 952 residents were interviewed on a variety of topics, including housing. The survey results reinforce the variety of information sources used to prepare this plan and highlights can be found in Section 2.0 of this document.

The PDRC is entering into a new housing renewal planning horizon. The 2011-2016 planning process enabled the group to assess the successes and challenges of the prior plan, brought to light new issues, and enabled the group to reflect on its internal capacity and refine its strategic priorities.

9Introduction

The updated 2011-2016 plan, however, carries forward the community’s original vision from 2003:

Our vision for North Point Douglas is a neighbourhood that works together to create a safe, clean and stable environment for all who have chosen to live and work here. A revitalized North Point Douglas will:

offer good quality, well maintained, affordable • housing choices for a diverse population

see landlords working cooperatively with the • community

offer safe and attractive streets which • encourage interaction and participation between neighbours

offer a physical environment which • encourages children to play together, individuals and families to thrive, and the sense of neighbourhood pride to grow

offers a variety of programs and activities for • youth and family

The following paragraphs outline the process for updating the plan, undertaken in the late fall of 2010 and into early 2011. The sections that follow in this document include: an updated neighbourhood profile including a history of the neighbourhood, findings from community consultation events and questionnaire results, progress on the thirty-three initiatives identified in the prior plan, and finally the updated 2011 - 2016 housing plan priorities and initiatives.


1.2 Neighbourhood Housing Plan Update 2011: Objectives and Process

In Fall 2010, the PDRC, with the assistance of NECRC, retained the services of Scatliff+Miller+Murray, a planning and landscape architecture firm, to undertake a review and update of the existing North Point Douglas Housing Plan 2003-2008. The objectives of the project were to:

Update the community profile with current • statistics, tables and maps;

Review the 33 initiatives put forward in the • previous plan and reporting on whether or not (or to what degree) the PDRC’s stated goals had been met; and

Conduct consultation in the community in order to • reaffirm support for the plan’s vision and intent, and to identify any new initiatives to be included in the updated plan.

The project was organized into three stages of work: 1) Information Gathering and Review Existing Plan Outcomes; 2) Community Consultation; and 3) Report Preparation. The project was overseen by the PDRC volunteer Housing Committee, who provided valuable input throughout. The PDRC and NECRC provided staffing assistance through the work of their Executive Director and Housing Program Supervisor, respectively, in support of the project. Three consultation events targeting key stakeholder groups (housing owners, renters, non-profit agencies and businesses) were held in November 2010 and a survey was distributed at the North Point Douglas Women’s Centre holiday dinner, garnering 100 responses. The consultation findings, review of housing plan progress to date and the key considerations drawn from the community profile update all helped the consultant team, along with the PDRC, formulate updated priorities for the next five year planning horizon. Those results were featured at a community open house in January 2011 for further feedback. The final North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2011 - 2016 was endorsed at the PDRC Annual General Meeting on June 26, 2011.

PART 2 | PROFILE OF NORTH POINT DOUGLAS

13Profile of North Point Douglas

Profile of North Point DouglasNorth Point Douglas was in a cycle of decline when the PDRC was developing the housing plan in 2002/2003. Certain community characteristics were present at that time:

the median selling price for homes was dropping • and housing stock was aging and deteriorating

62% of households were rented as compared to • 38% owned, almost the converse when compared to Winnipeg as a whole

crime, unemployment and poverty rates were • markedly higher than in the average Winnipeg neighbourhood

By comparing indicators related to neighbourhood demographics and housing characteristics from the earlier planning time frame to the present day, the consultant team and PDRC were able to identify how the area has changed, and the planning implications of these changes, for the next five year planning horizon. For example, there have been several improvements in housing conditions in North Point Douglas since that time:

between 2000 - 2010 the average selling price of • homes has increased from $15,620 to $106,767

the percentage of owner-occupied dwellings has • had a small increase, from 38% to 42%

$1.1 million has been invested in the area through • the exterior fix-up grants program ($576,526 in grants has leveraged $524,482 contributed by property owners)

This community profile provides a brief history of North Point Douglas along with present-day insight into the people and families who live there and certain neighbourhood characteristics, such as housing conditions. Significant changes since the last housing plan was created are noted. These findings are drawn from a variety of sources such as Statistics Canada, as well as the Point Douglas Residents’ Committee Survey undertaken in 2008. A complete list of sources of information can be found in Appendix A.


2.1 History and Character

North Point Douglas is a quiet peninsula in the embrace of the Red River in North Winnipeg, just north of the CP Rail line above Higgins Avenue and east of Main Street. Redwood Avenue forms the neighbourhood’s northern boundary.

The area has a vibrant history, initially populated by First Nations people who were conveniently located near their famous gathering point at the Forks, then by Europeans who around 1815 established Fort Douglas as their first major settlement in Winnipeg. Since then many changes have occurred in the character of the neighbourhood.

When Scottish settlers moved into the area around 1815, it was an excellent site for farming and transportation. In the decade around Winnipeg’s incorporation (1873), prosperous families became attracted to the area and moved in. Some of the large prominent homes built during this time remain as a reminder of that time of development. Barber House on Euclid Ave, was constructed in 1862 by E.L. Barber, a prosperous merchant and realtor who laid out many of the streets in the peninsula. In Spring 2011, Barber House was rebuilt as a seniors’ gathering place.

Between 1883 and 1896, Canadian Pacific Railway laid down tracks that separated North and South Point Douglas. With industrial progress came other changes. No longer a farming area, warehouses and wholesalers were established. Businesses such as Ogilvie Milling and Vulcan Iron Works moved into the neighbourhood, attracting working class families to Point Douglas.

Because the lots in the area were originally divided for farming, there was a hasty subdivision of land to accommodate the increasing number of people to the area. While settlers from Britain and from eastern Canada came for the available land, the majority of immigrants were of Ukrainian, Polish, German, Jewish, and Scandinavian descent. Many small businesses and ethnic specialty shops were established. Though it was a time of development, it was also a time when North Point Douglas acquired a poor reputation due to the industrial smoke and noise. When the depression began, many people exited from North Point Douglas. Young people


moved because there was no work. Shopkeepers closed because there was no business. Wealthy families migrated elsewhere. Homes began to look run down from a lack of money and the grime from the factories.

During the period of 1945 to 1950, repairs and improvements were done. Unfortunately, it was also a time when the number of cars increased, and there was a trend towards living in the suburbs. With the beginning of a new period, the flood in 1950 did not help. Though the Red River was the attraction for the early settlers in the area, it damaged 400 homes in North Point Douglas.

Over the next four decades, North Point Douglas has seen a change in demographics and landscape. With the Neighbourhood Improvement Program (NIP) many residents in the area worked together to improve the neighbourhood. Large warehouse businesses were forced out and replaced with parks and open spaces. Over time, homeowners migrated away from the area and the decreasing property values fostered an increased trend towards revenue properties. Once the dominant ethnic group, the number of Ukrainian residents decreased while the number of Aboriginal residents increased.

What was once an agricultural base that used the Red River for transportation, North Point Douglas is now meeting the 21st century as a mixed residential neighbourhood with a riverfront park. The community has come together to address renewal and rebuild its capacity as a vibrant, desirable place to live and raise a family.

Note: Information in section 2.1 History and Character is taken from the North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan: 2003 - 2008.6


2.2 Neighbourhood Demographics

Population

The population in North Point Douglas was on a downward trend over the thirty-five years between the Census periods 1971 and 2006. Figure 1 indicates 4,210 people lived in the area in 1971, and 2,225 in 2006; representing a 47% decrease in population. Adjacent neighbourhoods (St. John’s Park, William Whyte. Lord Selkirk Park, and South Point Douglas) also experienced a similar decline over the same time frame.

Comparing the recorded population of 2001 and 2006, however, indicates the historic steep decline is starting to level off. North Point Douglas experienced a slight decline (1.5% reduction) in population and during this same time period the surrounding neighbourhoods of St. John’s Park, William Whyte, Lord Selkirk Park, and South Point Douglas have all seen a population increase. This could indicate the beginning of a more positive population trend in this area of Winnipeg.

North Point Douglas Population Trend (Statistics Canada Data)

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Figure 1: North Point Douglas Population Trend


Population by Age

The earlier housing plan noted that the only significant difference in age categories between North Point Douglas and the City of Winnipeg average was a greater presence of children between the ages of 0 and 14 years. In 1996, they represented 26% of the North Point Douglas neighbourhood population versus 20.2% for the rest of the City of Winnipeg. The 2006 census indicates this difference has been minimized with 19.3% of the North Point Douglas population and 17.7% of the City of Winnipeg population being children under the age of 14.

2006 Age Structure (Statistics Canada Data)

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North Point Douglas Age Structure (1996 - 2006) (Statistics Canada Data)

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As Figure 3 illustrates, the 2006 census indicates the population of North Point Douglas has a trend line and age distribution that is similar to the rest of Winnipeg.

Figure 2: North Point Douglas Age Structure

Figure 3: North Point Douglas vs City of Winnipeg Age Structure


Population by Marital Status

Figures 4 illustrates the population by marital status (2006 Census Data). People who are single (never married,) account for 51% of the North Point Douglas population, while this same group accounts for 36% of the Winnipeg population. Married couples represent 22% of the North Point Douglas population and 47% of the Winnipeg population, and those separated and /or divorced account for 19% in North Point Douglas and 11% throughout Winnipeg.

Overall, the percentage share for each of the Marital Status categories has not changed significantly between the 2001 and the 2006 Canada Census, highlighting that this concentration of single people remains in North Point Douglas. The earlier housing plan noted this figure may be attributed to the number of single-room occupancy (SRO) housing units available in the area.

Population by Marital Status (2006)(Statistics Canada Data)

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Figure 4: North Point Douglas vs City of Winnipeg Marital Status


Household Size and Families by Type

Referring back to the 1996 Canada Census, the data illustrates that the average number of people living in a dwelling declined slightly from 2.4 persons per dwelling unit in 1996 to 2.3 persons per dwelling unit in 2006. The Winnipeg average is 2.4 persons per household.

Generally speaking, household size in Canada has been decreasing over the past few decades. It should be noted that even with no population growth, a decrease in average household size will result in an increased need for additional housing to accommodate the local population.

Of the total households in North Point Douglas, 39.2% are one-person households. This is higher than the 2006 Winnipeg average of 31.5%.

Figure 5 illustrates the population by family type. Of the families with children, 45.1% have 1 child; 37.8% have 2 children and 17.1% have 3 or more children.

Family By Type (2006) (Statistics Canada Data)

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Figure 5: North Point Douglas Family By Type


Since 1996 the number of lone parents, especially single mothers, has increased dramatically from 30.3% to 50.4% of all families in North Point Douglas. This is significantly higher than the 2006 Winnipeg average of 19.5%.

Understanding the typical marital status, household size and family composition characteristics in North Point Douglas helps when considering the types of housing needed in the community. It is worth noting that the data provided on family types does not tell us anything about the numbers of multi-generational families living together. (The Point Douglas Community Survey in 2008 identified 32 respondents raising grandchildren). Therefore, with household size slightly smaller in North Point Douglas, and a preponderance of single people and lone-parent households, the availability of smaller housing options (rental or owner occupied) and single-room apartments is important.

City of Winnipeg Family By Type (2006)

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Figure 6: City of Winnipeg Family By Type


Community Ethnicity

The concentration of Aboriginal people in North Point Douglas is significantly higher than in the City of Winnipeg overall. The 2006 Canada Census states 760 of the approximately 2,225 residents in the area identify as Aboriginal, representing 34.2% of the neighbourhood population (this number was 36.1% in the year 2001), compared with 10.2% of the population of Winnipeg. Aboriginal people represent about 15.5% of the Manitoba population.

In 2006, 8.8% of the North Point Douglas population identified as visible minorities (this number was 12.3% in the year 2001), compared to the Winnipeg’s average of 16.3%. The main groups are Filipino (3.6%), Southeast Asian (2.5%), Latin American (1.3%) and Black (0.9%). Data on other ethnic groups such as Ukrainians, Poles, and other Europeans is not available. However, the predominant languages spoken in North Point Douglas (other than English) are: Ukrainian (9%), Polish (5.8%), Tagalog (Filipino) (4.9%), and Russian (3.1%).

The combined percentage of Aboriginal people and the visible minority population in the North Point Douglas neighbourhood declined from 48.4% in 2001 to 43% in 2006, representing a drop of 5.4 percentage points. It is unclear why this decline has taken place, however, in comparison to the Winnipeg numbers, it is still safe to conclude that Aboriginal people and visible minorities remain a strong presence in North Point Douglas.

Employment and Income

Statistics Canada indicates that the average family income (2005) in North Point Douglas is $34,584 compared to the Winnipeg average of $75,644, and has an unemployment rate of 10.5% compared to the Winnipeg average of 5.2%. When compared to the surrounding neighbourhoods (St. John’s Park: $75,187; William Whyte: $36,356; and Lord Selkirk Park: $26,501), with the exception of St. John’s Park, North Point Douglas is similar in terms of having an average family income much lower than the Winnipeg Average. In addition, when compared to the surrounding neighbourhoods (St. John’s Park 4.9%; William Whyte 14.1%; Lord Selkirk Park 18.7%; and South Point Douglas 23.1%), with the


exception of St. John’s Park, North Point Douglas also appears to be similar in terms of having an unemployment rate that is much higher than the Winnipeg average.

As noted earlier in this section, with household size slightly smaller in North Point Douglas, and a preponderance of single people and lone-parent households, the availability of smaller housing options (rental or owner occupied) and single-room apartments is an important consideration. Household income is another key factor when considering community housing needs. While there is no data available on income for one-person households, the 2006 census indicates that the average income for a lone parent family in North Point Douglas is $23,286 (female) and $29,693 (male). As well, the average family income in North Point Douglas is $34,584, less than half the Winnipeg average of $75,644.

The North Point Douglas Housing Plan 2003-2008 reported that between the years 1971 to 1996 unemployment rates increased dramatically from 12% in 1971 (Winnipeg average rate = 5%), to 26.4% in 1996 (Winnipeg average rate = 8.2%). Since that time, unemployment rates in the area have improved, with North Point Douglas at a rate of 10.5% and the City of Winnipeg at a rate of 5.2% in the year 2006. While unemployment rates are not as alarmingly high as they were in the mid-90s, they are still higher than the Winnipeg average and in terms of housing considerations point to a need for affordable housing in the area.


Unemployment Rate Trend (1971-2006) (Statistics Canada Data)

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Furthermore, Manitoba Housing has identified that individuals or families in the core housing need group spend more than thirty percent of their household income on shelter7 which is over the threshold of affordability. Therefore, given all these considerations, it is reasonable to conclude that the supply of affordable housing is an important issue in North Point Douglas.

Income by Census Family Structure (Average) (2006 Statistics Canada Data)

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Figure 7: North Point Douglas vs City of Winnipeg Income By Census Family Structure

Figure 8: North Point Douglas vs City of Winnipeg Unemployment Rate Trend


Neighbourhood Crime

In 2008, the Point Douglas Community Survey, described in more detail in Section 2.4, identified crime as the number one issue for the PDRC to address. However, quantifying criminal activity can be problematic. The City of Winnipeg CrimeStat report is an online tool that categorizes crimes reported to the Winnipeg Police Service by type, year, and even by neighbourhood. CrimeStat commenced in 2009, therefore Figure 9 provides crime statistics for the North Point Douglas neighbourhood only for the years 2009 and 2010. These statistics may not represent the full picture, because crimes are not always reported to the police. There are a variety of reasons why someone may not report a crime; minor nuisances are perceived to be a low police priority or a more serious crime may invoke fear of retaliation.

A grassroots response to crime in the area is POWERLINE, a community-based group that established a hotline where concerned citizens can make an anonymous phone call to report suspicious activities or problem houses. POWERLINE takes the reported information and forwards it on to the Public Safety Investigations Branch of Manitoba Justice which has the authority to enforce the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, and holds property owners responsible for activities happening on their property. In a case where an anonymous phone call does not fall under Manitoba Justice’s jurisdiction,

North Point Douglas Crime (Winnipeg CrimeStat Data)

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ehicl

e (Atte

mpt Only

)

Type of Crime

Num

ber

20092010

Figure 9: North Point Douglas Crime


POWERLINE forwards reported information onto other appropriate authorities, such as the Winnipeg Police. POWERLINE has been widely credited with having a positive impact on criminal activity in the neighbourhood.

These statistics in Figure 9 provide a snapshot of the type and number of crimes that have occurred in North Point Douglas during the years 2009 and 2010 as reported to police. With the ease of availability of obtaining these statistics from the City of Winnipeg website, the PDRC can review crime statistics yearly to identify trends and issues. A discussion of crime is incomplete, however, without tracking grassroots efforts such as POWERLINE.

Type of Dwelling

North Point DouglasType of Dwelling (2006) (Statistics Canada Data)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Single DetachedHouse

Semi-DetachedHouse

Row Housing Apartment(Detached

Duplex)

Apartment (5 ormore storeys)

Apartment (lessthan 5 storeys)

Type of Housing

Num

ber

Figure 10 quantifies the types of dwelling units found in the North Point Douglas neighbourhood in 2006. The categories are Single Detached Houses, Semi-Detached Houses (two units attached beside each other with a common wall); Row Housing; Apartment, Detached Duplex (two units one on top of the other); Apartment, five or more storeys; and, Apartment, less than five storeys.

The majority of housing in North Point Douglas comprises single detached houses, which account for 57% of all dwelling units. The second largest dwelling category is apartments with five or more storeys (16%) followed by apartments with less than five storeys (13%) semi-detached houses (7%), apartment - detached duplexes (6%), and row housing (1%).

2.3 Neighbourhood Housing Characteristics

Figure 10: North Point Douglas Type Of Dwelling


Dwelling Tenure

Figure 11 illustrates that since 1996 the percentage of owned dwelling units is increasing. In 1996 there were approximately 960 dwelling units in North Point Douglas. Of these, 61.5% were rented and 38.5% were owned. In 2006, of approximately 950 dwelling units in North Point Douglas, 58.4% are rented and 41.6% are owned.

While the slight increase in home ownership can be seen as an improvement in the housing conditions in the neighbourhood, the supply of rentals in North Point Douglas is important given the concentration of single people, lone-parent households and slightly smaller household size. Furthermore, Winnipeg in general is grappling with very low vacancy rates city-wide. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported in 2010 that the rental vacancy rate in Winnipeg is amongst the lowest in Canada at 1.0%8 and this trend is expected to continue. It is reasonable to conclude that the challenges posed by low vacancy rates affecting rental availability are keenly felt in an area such as North Point Douglas where rentals comprise the majority of the housing supply.

North Point DouglasDwelling Tenure (1996 - 2006)


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1996 2001 2006

Year

Perc

enta

ge

OwnedRented

Figure 11: North Point Douglas Dwelling Tenure


Dwelling Age

The 2006 Statistics Canada data indicates that a significant proportion (57.8%) of the housing stock in North Point Douglas was built before 1946. With such a significant proportion of the area’s houses over sixty years old, North Point Douglas is an aging neighbourhood. Figure 12 illustrates the number of dwellings built within a specific construction period. Dwelling age is correlated to dwelling condition, described in the next paragraph.

North Point DouglasDwelling Age (Period of Construction)

(2006 Statistics Canada Data)

555

130

4075

3010

90

20 100

100

200

300

400

500

600

Before1946

1946 to1960

1961 to1970

1971 to1980

1981 to1985

1986 to1990

1991 to1995

1996 to2000

2001 to2006

Year of Construction

Num

ber

Between 1996 and 2006 the percentage of dwellings in North Point Douglas in need of regular maintenance decreased from 62% in 1996 (Winnipeg = 62.4%) to 47.6% in 2006 (Winnipeg = 62%). The percentage of dwellings in North Point Douglas in need of major repairs has increased from 12.5% in 1996 (Winnipeg = 8.9%) to 20.4% in 2006 (Winnipeg = 8.5%).

Dwelling Condition

North Point DouglasDwelling Conditions (1996-2006)


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

1996 2001 2006Year

Perc

enta

ge

In need of regularmaintenance onlyIn need of minor repairs

In need of major repairs

Figure 13: North Point Douglas Dwelling Condition

Figure 12: North Point Douglas Dwelling Age


This decrease in dwellings needing only regular maintenance and increase in dwellings requiring major repairs reflects that North Point Douglas is one of Winnipeg’s oldest neighbourhoods where income levels are lower than the city average. Older homes often require more extensive repair and upkeep than newer homes. As well, as stated earlier, the majority of housing in North Point Douglas is not owner-occupied; the Point Douglas Community Survey indicated that absentee landlords can present challenges when addressing the upkeep and maintenance of what is largely aging housing stock.

Average Selling Price

Between 2000 and 2010 the average selling price of homes in North Point Douglas has increased dramatically from $15,620 in the year 2000, to $106,767 in 2010. During this same period, the number of homes sold per year has also increased from only five sales in 2000 to twenty-one sales in 2010. Since 2000, the number of homes sold in North Point Douglas has risen, peaking in 2007 and once again is on an upward trend.

North Point DouglasAverage Sold Price 2000-2010

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year

Pric

e

price

City of WinnipegDwelling Condition (2006) (Statistics Canada Data)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Perc

enta

ge

In need of regular maintenanceonlyIn need of minor repairs

In need of major repairs

Figure 14: City of Winnipeg Dwelling Condition

Figure 15: North Point Douglas Average Sold Price

29

This eight-fold increase in average selling price, coupled with the rise in the number of homes sold each year, likely indicates that North Point Douglas is becoming a desirable neighbourhood in which to purchase a home as it is relatively quite affordable in comparison to most other Winnipeg neighbourhoods. On the downside, for example, increased selling prices may reduce the opportunity for those with lower incomes currently renting in North Point Douglas, to purchase a home.

North Point DouglasNumber of Homes Sold Per Year

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year

Num

ber o

f Hom

es

homes

Exterior Housing Conditions

In the year 2002, as part of developing the North Point Douglas Housing Plan 2003-2008, the PDRC completed an assessment of exterior housing conditions within the neighbourhood. The criteria used to complete the evaluation was developed using the CMHC Housing Inspection Standards. After developing an assessment checklist, it was tested and adjusted to improve consistency in reporting. This assessment was only completed for detached homes, and did not include multi-family housing (apartments) or commercial buildings.

The assessment divided homes into four categories: (1) Good; (2) Fair; (3) Poor; (4) Very Poor, which also included placarded and boarded homes. Placarded homes refer to those homes that have been placarded by the Health Department. Boarded homes are those that have either been boarded up voluntarily by the property owner, or closed by the City of Winnipeg for reasons other than Health Orders.

Profile of North Point Douglas

Figure 16: North Point Douglas Number Of Homes Sold Per Year


In order to evaluate progress in housing conditions from 2002 to the present day, during the fall of 2010 the PDRC completed a new assessment of North Point Douglas using the same criteria used in the earlier 2002 assessment. The results of the 2010 assessment are presented as follows.

Housing Grant Activity

As part of the North Point Douglas Housing Plan 2003-2008, the PDRC established a number of initiatives aimed at improving the exterior condition of homes, both owned and rental units, throughout the neighbourhood. The outcome of those initiatives was the establishment of an exterior fix-up grants program, administered by NECRC. In total, just over $1.1 million ($576,526 in grants + $524,482 contributed by property owners) has been invested in North Point Douglas between the years 2002 and 2010. The grants are funded primarily through the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative (WHHI) and private foundations.

North Point Douglas Housing Grants (2002-2010)(North End Community Renewal Corporation Data)

$-$10,000$20,000$30,000$40,000$50,000$60,000$70,000$80,000$90,000

$100,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Year

Value of Grants

Value of OwnerContributions

Figure 17: North Point Douglas Dwelling Conditions (PDRC)

Figure 18: North Point Douglas Housing Grants

31

2.4 Point Douglas Community Survey 2008

An initiative of the PDRC, the Point Douglas Community Survey 2008 gathered information from interviews with 952 people in the neighbourhood to hear first-hand the needs and concerns of residents. This information was shared with governments and non-profit organizations involved in mapping the future of the community, so it was important to consider when updating this housing plan. Highlights from the community survey are:

More than half of the respondents think Point • Douglas is a nice quiet neighbourhood, with friendly people and good neighbours, with scenic beauty of being located beside the river (548 responses)

The top community concerns are drugs, crime, • gangs, safety, alcohol abuse and violence (709 responses)

The top housing-specific concerns are:

Run-down houses (25 responses)•

Slum landlords (22 responses)•

Boarded-up houses (17 responses)•

Bad neighbours / tenants (15 responses)•

Homelessness / lack of affordable housing (15 • responses)

Problem rental properties (9 responses)•

Participants in the Point Douglas Community Survey ranked housing the #2 issue for the PDRC to work on (crime being #1). Some of the highlights related to the housing questions are:

About 70% of the respondents identified • themselves as renters vs. about 30% identified themselves as home owners

About 40% of the respondents are feeling more • positive about the neighbourhood compared to the year prior



About 50% of the respondents have a positive • / very positive opinion of the work of the Point Douglas Residents’ Committee

About 60% of the respondents would like to see • apartments built in the area

About 70% of the respondents are aware of • programs to help people improve and maintain their properties

About 80% of the respondents think their housing • is affordable

About 70% of the respondents are satisfied with • their housing conditions

About 34% of the respondents would like to receive • more information about their rights as a tenant

About 25% of the respondents stated their • household income is less than $15,000 per year

About 20% of the respondents said their landlord • does not make repairs in a timely manner

33

2.5 Planning Implications

The PDRC considered the statistical information presented, and drew these main conclusions:

The slight increase in home ownership, a • neighbourhood population trend that is no longer in significant decline, improvements to the unemployment rate and a major increase the average selling price of homes are all positive indicators that the state of the neighbourhood is improving; as well, working together, volunteer groups, non-profits, governments and individuals have helped to improve safety and fix up the appearance of the neighbourhood. Continuing community activities and partnerships will build on these successes going forward.

With a high proportion of one-person and lone • parent households, and a low average income in the area, many groups may find obtaining affordable housing options challenging; housing prices are increasing and the rental vacancy rate for Winnipeg remains very low. Therefore, there will be a need to maintain and improve the conditions of existing affordable housing, and to identify new opportunities for additional affordable housing options. Housing affordability and housing choice are challenges to address going forward.

The substantial number of dwellings needing • major repair, and the decline of dwellings needing regular maintenance only can be attributed to the fact that North Point Douglas is one of Winnipeg’s oldest neighbourhoods. These older dwellings typically require more repairs and upgrading than newer homes, however lower family incomes in North Point Douglas present a barrier to home maintenance, repair, and upgrading. Therefore, supplemental funds, beyond the existing grant programs for basic exterior upgrades, will be needed to help NPD families overcome any financial barrier for expensive home repairs and upgrading. As well, working with landlords to help ensure acceptable aesthetic standards for rental units will also be necessary.


PART 3 | MAPS

37Maps

This section provides six maps that illustrate information related to housing in the North Point Douglas neighbourhood.

3.1 Location Map

The location map illustrates the boundaries of the North Point Douglas Housing Plan area over an air photo of the neighbourhood. Street names, community parks, and significant neighbourhood facilities (e.g. Norquay Community Centre), are identified to provide geographical references.

Maps


3.2 Zoning Map

The zoning map illustrates the current zoning (i.e. residential, commercial, etc.) of property in North Point Douglas, and the distribution of permitted land uses throughout the neighbourhood.

Commercial

Industrial

Parks

Two Family Residential

Multi Family Residential

North Point DouglasZoning Parcels

0 75 150 225 300 375

Meters

MAIN

ST

CPR MAINLINE

MAIN

STPOINT DOUGLAS AV

POINT DOUGLAS AV

AUST

INST

N

MAPL

EST

N SUTHERLAND AV

ARGY

LEST

N

POINT DOUGLAS AV DISRAE

LIFR

SUTHERLAND AV

SUTHERLAND AV

RINAV

MAIN

ST

JARVIS AV

EUCLID AV

STELLA AV

MAIN

ST

JARVIS AV

MEAD

EST

N

JARVISAV

AUST

INST

N

EUCLIDAV

MAPL

EST

N HALLET

ST

EUCLIDAV

BARBERST

DISRAELIST

PRINCE EDWARDST

GROVEST

REXAV PRINCE EDWARD

ST

LUSTEDAV

AUST

INST

N

LORNEAV

LISGARAV

BEACONSFIELDST

GRANVILLE

ST

HALLET

ST

GROVEST

ROVERAV

ROVERAV

MAIN

ST

SELKIRK AV

PRITCHARD AV

SELKIRKAV

MANITOBA AV

MAGNUSAV

BURROWSAV

ALFREDAV

ABERDEENAV

REDWOODAV

GOME

ZST

POINT DOUGLAS AV

ANNA

BELL

AST

GOME

ZST

N SUTHERLAND AV

GLAD

STON

EST

POINT DOUGLAS AV

MCFA

RLAN

EST

N

SYND

ICAT

EST

STEP

HENS

ST

ROVER AV

POINT DOUGLAS AV

SUTHERLAND AV

ANGU

SST

HIGG

INS

AV

ROVER AV

RUTH

ERFO

RDST

BARBERST

ROVERAV

ANNA

BELL

AST

ROVERAV

M1M1

M1

M1

C1C1

M1

C2

C2

R2

RMF-LR2

C2

C2

C2

C2

R2

PR1

R2

R2

R2

R2

R2C1

R2

R2

R2 C1

R2

C1

R2

R2

R2

R2

R2

R2

R2R2

R2

R2R2

R2

RMF-M

R2R2

PR2

R2R2

R2

R2

R2

R2

R2

R2

R2

R2

R2R2

R2

PR2

PR2

C2 R2

M1

C2 M1

R2 R2

R2PR1

C2

R2

R2

R2

RMF-L

R2

R2

R2

R2

R2

C2

R2

C2

PR1

R2

PR1

RMF-M

R2

R2

R2PR1

C2

RMF-L

C1

RMF-L PR1

M1

M1

M1 M1

R2

R2PR1 C2

M1

M1M1

M1

R2

R2R2

R2R2

R2R2

M2

M1

R2 C2 M1R2

R2PR1

PR1

M1

M1

PR1

R2C2

R2

PR1

R2R2

PR1

PR1

C2R2

PR1

PR1

PR1

PR1 PR1

PR1

39

3.3 Parks Facilities Map

The park facilities map illustrates the location of public outdoor recreation spaces available to local residents, including: tennis courts, basketball courts, spray pads, baseball diamonds, athletic fields, parks and open space, and natural areas.

North Point DouglasPark Facilities

POINT DOUGLAS

POINT DOUGLAS

POINT DOUGLAS AV

ARG

YLE

STN

MAP

LEST

N

JARVIS AV

MAI

NST

EUCLID AV

AUST

INST

N

SUTHERLAND AV

MEA

DE

STN

JARVIS AV

EUCLID

AV

REXAV

HALLET

ST

DISRAE

LIFR

GO

MEZ

STN

GLA

DST

ON

EST

ANN

ABEL

LAST

PRINCE EDWARDST

DISRAELIST

GROVE

ST

PRINCE EDWARD

ST

BARBER

ST

ROVERAV

LUSTEDAV

LORNEAV

BEACONSFIELD

ST

GRANVILLE

ST

LISGARAV

SELKIRKAV

MANITOBA AV

PRITCHARD AV

MAGNUSAV

BURROWSAV

ALFREDAV

ABERDEENAV

ROVERAV ROVER

AV

SUTHERLAND AV

MC

FAR

LAN

EST

N

SYN

DIC

ATE

ST

STEP

HEN

SST

ANG

US

ST

ROVER

ROVER AV

RU

THER

FOR

DST

HIG

GIN

SAV

ROVERAV

0 75 150 225 300 375

Meters

TRAFFIC SIGNALS

Tennis Court

Spray Pad

Outdoor Pool

Basketball Court

Baseball Diamond

Parks & Open Space

Natural Areas

Winnipeg Parkway System

Boat Ramp

School Property

PEDESTRIAN CORRIDORS

Playground

Athletic Field

Maps


3.4 Housing Type Map

The housing type map illustrates the location of the various types of housing found throughout the neighbourhood, including: single family homes, duplexes, duplex conversions, side by sides, triplexes, and apartments.

41

3.5 Housing Conditions Map

The housing conditions map illustrates the current exterior housing condition as assessed through a visual evaluation completed by the Point Douglas Residents Committee in December of 2010 and January of 2011.

Maps


North Point DouglasOwnership

POINT DOUGLAS

MAIN

ST

STELA AV

EUCLID AV

POINT DOUGLAS

ARGY

LEST

POINT DOUGLAS AV

DISRAELI

FRGO

MEZ

STN

GLAD

STON

EST

MAPL

EST

N

SUTHERLAND AV

MEAD

EST

N

JARVIS AV

ARGY

LEST

N

JARVIS AV

EUCLIDAV

AUST

INST

N

LUSTEDAV

REXAV

HALLETST

GRANVILLEST

ROVERAV

DISRAELIST

PRINCE EDWARDST BARBER

ST

GROVEST

PRINCE EDWARDST

ROVERAV

ROVERAV

LORNEAV

LISGARAV

SELKIRKAV

BEACONSFIELDST

PRITCHARD AV

MANITOBA AV

MAGNUSAV

BURROWSAV

ALFREDAV

ABERDEENAV

NTST

CFAR

LANE

ST

ANNA

BELL

AST

SUTHERLAND AV

SYND

ICAT

EST

ANGU

SST

STEP

HENS

ST ROVER AV

RUTH

ERFO

RDST

HIGG

INS

AV

MCFA

RLAN

EST

N

ROVERAV

ROVER

Owner Occupied Dwellings

0 75 150 225 300 375

Meters

3.6 Housing Ownership Map

The housing ownership map illustrates which dwellings are currently owned and occupied by the property owner. Properties not identified on the map as “owner occupied” are either non-residential buildings (e.g. schools, churches, commercial or industrial operations), vacant land, parks and open space, or rental housing.

Maps

PART 4 | COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

45

Community InvolvementThe housing plan update was undertaken over a six month period between September 2010 and February 2011. In order to gain a better understanding of the predominant housing issues in North Point Douglas and potential strategies to address those issues, community consultation was conducted throughout the project time-frame. This included meeting with the project steering committee, PDRC’s Housing Committee, made up of volunteers and staff from PDRC and NECRC, and engaging neighbourhood stakeholders. This section describes the findings gained from involving the community in the process.

4.1 Community Consultation Events

Throughout the course of updating the housing plan two main rounds of public consultation were completed. The first round involved collecting information and input from neighbourhood stakeholders by conducting facilitated consultation sessions, and the second round involved reporting back the first round results to the neighbourhood at a public open house.

4.1.1 Stakeholder Consultation Sessions

During the month of November 2010 three stakeholder consultation sessions were organized. The purpose of these consultation sessions was to: (1) re-affirm support for the overall vision and goals of the existing plan, and; (2) identify any new initiatives to support the original vision, as well as any new issues that have arisen since the first plan was developed. The three sessions targeted specific stakeholder groups, as directed by the PDRC:

(1) Business and Agencies (November 1st, 2010)

9:00 am – 12:00 noon at the William Norrie Centre (485 Selkirk Avenue)

(2) Renters (November 8th, 2010)

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Immaculate Conception Parish (181 Austin Street)

Community Involvement


(3) Property Owners (November 15th, 2010)

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Immaculate Conception Parish (181 Austin Street)

The events were advertised by emailing stakeholders and delivering flyers to homes, businesses and agencies throughout the neighbourhood. The total attendance for all three events combined was 47 people. It should be noted that about four people did attend more than one event. In addition, participation by businesses and renters at these scheduled events was low. In order to obtain sufficient input from these two groups, additional focused consultation with these groups was conducted by distributing questionnaires (identical to the ones presented at the three events – found in Appendix B) at an unrelated community event held in December. These efforts garnered an additional 70 completed questionnaires - 67 from renters and 3 from businesses. As well, phone interviews were conducted with an additional six businesses.

Each stakeholder consultation session was about two hours in duration, and included the following activities:

Presentation on the Project:

A brief PowerPoint presentation was given to participants to:

Welcome them to the event;•

Introduce the consultant team;•

Outline the project scope, purpose, and • timeline;

Describe the objectives of the consultation • event;

Confirm the original vision of the PDRC related • to its housing plan;

Explain how the PDRC is going to use the • information we gather through the various methods described below in deciding on its priorities and initiatives for the next five year planning time-frame of its housing plan.

47Community Involvement

Dollar Ranking Previous Strategies:

Each person was given $100 (in $10 increments) in play money and was asked to rank the importance of fifteen strategies (pulled largely from the existing housing plan) by deciding how much of their $100 they would spend on each strategy.

By providing ten bills to be applied to fifteen strategies we were effectively limiting people to select ten at the most. However, participants were encouraged to spend the majority of their $100 on the strategy most important to them. For example, there was nothing preventing someone from placing $70 of their $100 on one strategy.

The result of this exercise was to develop a new Top Five list. During the consultation process that helped to create the North Point Douglas Housing Plan 2003-2008, a similar Top Five list was developed. The 2010 consultation exercise allowed us to compare the present and past Top Five list to see if any neighbourhood priorities had changed.

Comment Wall:

Participants were provided a wall of paper and aerial photos of the neighbourhood, where they could write down any comments related to housing in North Point Douglas. The purpose of the comment wall was to provide people with an opportunity to freely express through words or illustrations their comments on:

Ideas for new initiatives;•

Wants and wishes for the neighbourhood;•

Things they don’t like about the • neighbourhood;

Barriers or challenges to overcome;•

Problem properties; and•

Questions•


Questionnaire:

Participants were also provided with a questionnaire to complete. A copy of the questionnaire can be found in Appendix B. These questions are similar to a questionnaire that was provided during consultation for the development of the North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2003-2008. The purpose of using similar questions was to compare the results and identify if priorities, issues, challenges and concerns had changed over time.

4.1.2 Public Open House

The second round of consultation included a public open house that was held on January 18th, 2011 between the hours of 4:00pm and 7:00pm at the St. Andrews Ukrainian Catholic Church (160 Euclid Avenue). The purpose of this open house was more informational than consultative in nature; the intent was to provide a report back to the public on the project progress. The information provided at the open house included:

Research findings from updating the community • profile;

Results of the previous consultation events; •

A report card on accomplishments from the • North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2003-2008; and

Proposed priorities and activities for the new • housing plan

Information was presented on a series of eighteen display boards. Members of the PDRC and the consulting team were in attendance to answer questions and engage in discussion about the plan.

49

4.2 Community Consultation Results

4.2.1 Stakeholder Consultation Sessions Results

The results from the stakeholder consultation sessions, and the additional consultation with renters and businesses, are summarized as follows:

47 people attended the stakeholder consultation • sessions

101 questionnaires were completed (by participants • at the consultation sessions and by additional renters and business participants at a later date)

89% of respondents felt that North Point Douglas • has improved over the past five years

The most important issues identified by respondents who completed the questionnaire are:

Healthy, safe and clean living conditions (31% of • responses)

Safety in the neighbourhood (28% of responses)•

Landlord responsibility and accountability (11% of • responses)

Boarded-up houses / derelict property (11% of • responses)

Appearance of houses in the area / more • renovations to houses in area (9% of responses)

Through the dollar ranking exercise, participants were asked to rank the strategies from the previous North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2003-2008. The top five strategies were:

1. Improve and Maintain Rental Properties

2. Promote Home Ownership and Diverse Housing Choice

3. Fix Up Owner Occupied Housing

4. Improve Safety in the Neighbourhood

5. Foster Community Interaction and Activity



4.2.2 Public Open House Results

The results from the public open house are summarized as follows.

A total of 42 people attended the open house.•

A total of 15 questionnaires were completed and • handed in. The results of the questionnaire are as follows.

When asked what percentage of the homes in North Point Douglas should be rental, the responses were categorized as follows:

2 people suggested over 50% (answers ranged • from 65% - 70%)4 people suggested at 50% • 8 people suggested under 50% (answers ranged • from 20% - 48%)

When asked to provide their level of support for the direction of the updated plan, and/or, any other comments, the responses were as follows:

3 comments supporting the new plan were • received;1 person suggested that paid staff is required to • move the plan forward;2 people commented on addressing crime, both • doing more to curb the drug situation that is present, and looking at other program examples to handle crime;1 person requested to provide landlords with • more funds to upgrade / repair their rental units; and3 people noted specific properties to look at • redeveloping.

51

4.3 Doing Things Right and Doing the Right Things

The PDRC Housing Committee considered the information from all of the sources described in this document and drew these main conclusions:

Doing Things Right

working together, volunteer groups, non-profits, • governments and individuals have created many positive changes, helping to improve safety and fix up housing in the neighbourhood

continuing • community activities and partnerships will build on successes going forward

Doing the Right Things

Winnipeg’s strong real estate market means • housing prices have increased

a lack of new rental units has contributed to very • low vacancy rates city-wide

people living alone, people living in single-parent • families and Aboriginal families make up significant parts of the neighbourhood population and are more likely to face challenges with respect to affordable housing

the condition of the housing stock in the area, • which is predominantly rental, has deteriorated due to its age presenting challenges to tenants related to quality, health, cleanliness and safety

housing affordability• and housing choice are challenges to address going forward



Based on these conclusions, and in light of its capacity as a volunteer group, the PDRC Housing Committee has decided to focus its time and energy on three strategic priorities for the North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan over the next five years:

1. Improve and Maintain Housing Stock

2. Promote Diverse Housing Choice (home ownership, rentals, co-ops, special needs housing, etc)

3. Foster Community Interaction and Activity

The accompanying initiatives to support these priorities can be found in Section 6.0 of this document, forming the basis of the North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2011 – 2016.

PART 5 | PROGRESS TO DATE

This section provides a report card on the initiatives found in the North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2003-2008.

5.1 Community Accomplishments

The following tables illustrate the accomplishments of the North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2003-2008. The check marks indicate that the initiative has been completed, and the notes specify whether or not that initiative will be continued in 2011-2016 Housing Plan.

Priority #1: Fix Up Owner Occupied HousingInitiative Completed Notes Encourage the exterior renovation of fifty homes per year

Continuing

Develop a list of home improvement contractors who will work in NPD

Continuing

Develop an agreement with a building supply company who will provide a discount on building materials for homeowners in NPD

Continuing

Organize an Urban Green Team fix-up and paint crew to assist property owners who have physical limitations (e.g. elderly, limited mobility) with renovations

Continuing

Progress to Date 55

Progress To Date

Develop an information package for homeowners on renovation grant programs and resources

Continuing

Hold information sessions each spring on building by-laws and regulations

Continuing

Offer a home repair and maintenance workshop for NPD residents each year

Continuing

Lobby city to reimburse permit fees and dumping fees for homeowners who build or renovate

No progress to date; not identified as a priority going forward

Lobby provincial and federal governments to raise the personal income ceiling for people to qualify for home repair grants

No progress to date; not identified as a priority going forward


Priority #2: Improve and Maintain Rental PropertiesInitiative Completed NotesProvide fix-up grants for five to eight fix-ups per year

Continuing

Develop and maintain a Housing Registry

Continuing

Research how other neighborhoods have implemented TLC programs

No longer required; program is in place

Develop and promote TLC program to landlords and tenants

Continuing but more resources may be required

Publicly recognize landlords that participate in the TLC program


Identify landlords not in compliance and work with the City to enforce standards


Offer bi-annual workshop for tenants on rights, responsibilities, and resources

Continuing

Progress to Date 57

Priority #3: Clean Up the NeighborhoodInitiative Completed NotesOrganize a spring neighborhood clean-up

Not a priority of the Housing Committee*

Graffiti removal Not a priority for Housing Committee*

Create an inventory and monitor vacant lots

Continuing

*While not a priority of the Housing Committee, the PDRC takes an active role in these activities. Litter removal can be done by the Urban Green Team program through the PDRC / NECRC. The City of Winnipeg provides graffiti removal services and the spring clean-up is organized by the PDRC’s Environment Committee.


Priority #4: Promote Home Ownership and Diverse Housing ChoiceInitiative Completed Notes Collaborate with the North End Housing Network to advance housing initiatives

Continuing

Encourage the renovation or re-develop of seven to ten properties per year.

Continuing

Support partners in obtaining grants from various levels of government to continue housing renewal, renovations and infill development

Continuing

Ongoing discussions on Barber house site

SISTARS Daycare and Community Hub project

Hold an information session on home ownership

Not identified as a priority going forward

Offer a home repair and maintenance workshop for NPD residents each year.

Continuing

Promote North Point Douglas to realtors

Not a priority going forward

Lobby provincial and federal governments to create tax incentives for home ownership

Not a priority going forward

Progress to Date 59

Priority #5: Improve Safety in the NeighborhoodInitiative Completed NotesConduct a Safety Audit of NPD

Not a priority for Housing Committee*

Work with North End Safety Coordinator


Create an inventory and monitoring of boarded and placarded properties

Continuing

Lobby the City to increase community police presence


* Since the 2003-2008 plan was developed, the POWERLINE program was established. This program has been publicly recognized as an effective means to demand action from officials with authority to “force landlords to improve their properties, evict problem tenants and shut down centres of criminal activity.”9 Regular community monitoring ensures that overflowing dumpsters, graffiti and other nuisance problems are reported.

5.2 Towards Effective Implementation

Securing funding for a Housing Plan Coordinator was identified as an objective of the North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2003-2008. This initiative did not take place. The North End Community Renewal Corporation housing program staff has played a lead role in the housing progress to date. The PDRC will continue to seek funding to support hiring staff dedicated to implementing the Neighbourhood Housing Plan, and existing staff will increase their focus on housing issues.


PART 6 | 2011 - 2016 Neighbourhood Housing Plan

63

2011 - 2016 Neighbourhood Housing Plan

2011 - 2016 Neighbourhood Housing Plan

Vision

Our vision for North Point Douglas is a neighbourhood that works together to create a safe, clean and stable environment for all who have chosen to live and work here. A revitalized North Point Douglas will:

offer good quality, well maintained, affordable • housing choices for a diverse population

see landlords working cooperatively with the • community

offer safe and attractive streets which encourage • interaction and participation between neighbours

offer a physical environment which encourages • children to play together, individuals and families to thrive, and the sense of neighbourhood pride to grow

offers a variety of programs and activities for youth • and family

Priorities

To help us achieve our vision for housing in the North Point Douglas neighbourhood, the Point Douglas Residents’ Committee will focus its efforts on these priorities over the next five years:

improve and maintain housing stock•

promote diverse housing choice•

foster community interaction and activity related to • housing

The tables on the following pages outline the specific initiatives and their supporting objectives, rationale, timelines, measurables, partners and probable costs that will support these priorities.

Neighbourhood Housing Advocacy Positions

In addition to the priorities and initiatives listed in the tables, advocacy on housing-related issues is an ongoing and important function of the PDRC and its housing sub-committee.


The sub-committee created a list advocacy positions (see bullets below) that will be put forward during opportunities that volunteers and staff may have during housing-related discussions with elected officials, government representatives, private sector individuals, non-profit groups or any other decision-makers that may affect development in North Point Douglas, as well as the media.The Point Douglas Residents’ Committee believes that:

the City of Winnipeg needs to dedicate more resources to • enforcement of the Neighbourhood Livability By-law;

government and other funders need to dedicate more • resources to the Tenant-Landlord Cooperation program;

gentrification is an issue in North Point Douglas and new • development should not be at the expense of people who already live in the neighbourhood;

new development should have a look and feel that fits • within existing neighbourhood surroundings;

there is an urgent need for safe, clean, good quality rental • apartments in the neighbourhood,

public, private and non-profit developers need to consider • housing options beyond single-family detached homes in order to serve a diversity of neighbourhood needs.

Risk

The Point Douglas Resident’s Committee, along with its Housing sub-committee (that has taken ownership of this plan) is a volunteer-based organization with one staff person. As the following tables indicate, the PDRC is reliant on the time and efforts of volunteers to fully implement this plan. Along with the PDRC Executive Director, staff time from NECRC and the North Point Douglas Women’s Centre is essential to undertake these activities as well; these organizations are non-profit and operate with lean resources. As noted in the previous section, PDRC is interested in expanding its staff resources to include a person dedicated to housing. This plan was developed, however, bearing in mind the existing capacity of the PDRC and its partners. It is worth noting that a healthy supply of energetic volunteers will assist PDRC to act on these initiatives. On a positive note, the North Point Douglas Neighbourhood is known city-wide for its activist and committed volunteers who work hard to improve neighbourhood conditions; the North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan is in dedicated and capable hands.

North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2011 - 2016 Initiatives Priority #1: Improve and Maintain

Housing Stock

Initiative Objective / Rationale Timeline Who? Measurables Partners Probable Costs

1 Work with City of Winnipeg to enforce Neighbourhood Livability By-law standards

Promote pride in community appearance, perceptions of safety and protect property values, use existing legislation to improve housing stock

Ongoing PDRC, NECRC

Calls to 311; responses to calls; reduced number of vacant and boarded buildings; number of properties brought into compliance

NECRC, City of Winnipeg, Power Line

PDRC Volunteer and Staff Time NECRC Staff Time

2 Continue to do Community Audits

Promote pride in community appearance, perceptions of safety and protect property values

Ongoing PDRC, NECRC

Calls to 311; responses to calls; reduced number of vacant and boarded buildings; number of properties brought into compliance

NECRC, Educational Institutions (summer students)


3 Support Housing Improvements (Fix Up Grants)

Provide financial assistance to individuals undertaking exterior home improvements in NPD

Ongoing PDRC, NECRC

Total number of applications, number of successful applications, amount of grants, amount of private contributions

NECRC, Province of Manitoba, City of Winnipeg, Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative (WHHI)


4

Update, Maintain and Promote Information Package on Available Resources (fix up grants, building supply line of credit, list of home improvement contractors who have done work in the North End)

Provide support to residents undertaking renovations

Yearly NECRC

Number of requests for the info package, number of grant applications

NECRC, NPD Women’s Centre

NECRC Staff Time PDRC Volunteer and Staff Time (to distribute information packages)

5 Continue to Support Tenant-Landlord Cooperation (TLC) Program

Encourage landlord accountability, improve housing conditions and provide support to tenants

Ongoing PDRC, NECRC

Number of landlords signing up for program; number of tenants receiving assistance; number of rental properties receiving certification; number of volunteers; number of inspections; value of funds returned to landlords and tenants

NECRC, PDRC, NPD Women’s Centre, Funders (non profit and public)

PDRC Staff and Volunteer Time, NECRC Staff Time

6 Continue to Upkeep Housing Registry

Identify contact info for landlords of rental property, build relationships with rental property landlords, identify rental vacancies

Monthly Community Volunteer

Registry is kept up-to-date; calls from landlords re: matching tenants to properties

NECRC Volunteer Time

7 Apply to summer student funding programs such as the Urban Green Team to hire students to complete exterior housing improvement activities for elderly/disabled and other beautification activities

Provide support to residents undertaking renovations; improve neighbourhood condition and aesthetics

Seasonal PDRC

Successful funding application; track crew activities; number of properties affective

Province of Manitoba - Urban Green Team

PDRC Staff and Volunteer time, Green Team wages

North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2011 - 2016 Initiatives Priority #2: Promote Diverse

Housing Choice


8

Work with the North End Housing Network to Improve Housing Options (apartments, cooperatives, pocket suites, quality rooming houses, etc serving a diversity in age, gender, family size and culture)

Ensure NPD community is represented in the Network

Ongoing PDRC, NECRC

Maintain or increase in funding into NPD for housing projects and programs

North End Housing Network members, NPD Women’s Centre

NECRC Staff Time, PDRC Staff and Volunteer Time

9 Support North End Housing Network Partners in Obtaining Grants to continue Housing Renewal, Renovations and Infill Development

Obtain financial incentives for home repair, renovations, and new construction in the NPD community

Case-by-Case, Ongoing

PDRC, NECRC

Maintain or increase in funding into NPD for housing projects and programs

North End Housing Network, NPD Women’s Centre, public, private and non-profit developers


10 Identify Potential Sites for Mixed-Use / Multi-family development

Improve housing options for NPD residents

2012 PDRC, NECRC

List of sites created and provided to potential developers or government

City of Winnipeg PP&D


North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2011 - 2016 Initiatives Priority #3: Foster Community

Interaction and Activity Related to Housing


11

Organize Information Sessions on housing topics such as:

- Tenants Rights and Responsibilities

- Building By-law Regulations - Home Repair and Maintenance - Home Repair and Maintenance for

Women

Build awareness, provide encouragement, education and support to local residents; housing-related skill development for homeowners and tenants

Yearly NECRC, PDRC

Number of attendees, number of sessions held

NECRC, City of Winnipeg, NPD Women’s Centre, Province of MB (Residential Tenancies Branch)

PDRC Staff Time, NECRC Staff Time (through the Housing Training Initiative, TLC), Women’s Centre Staff Time, Venue rental, and other associated event costs

12 Develop a Community Tool Lending Program and Property Repair Skills Bank

Provide support to residents undertaking renovations

Start in 2013 PDRC

Number of residents using tool program, number of people volunteering for skills bank, number of completed projects

Ross House Museum, others TBD

PDRC Staff and Volunteer time, storage space

13 Develop a Street Captain program

Improve communication and broaden linkages between NPD residents and PDRC Housing Committee

Start in 2012 PDRC

Program framework is developed; Number of street captains established; Number of interactions with people in the community; Number of projects completed (e.g. tree banding)

NECRC, Power Line, NPD Women’s Centre, Community Volunteers, Others TBD

Volunteer time, PDRC Staff Time

71

Appendix A| Sources of Information

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Research Highlight, “Overview of the Current State of Knowledge on Societal Outcomes of Housing”, Socio-economic Series 10-001, January 2010.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, “Rental Market Report - Canada Highlights”, Spring 2010.

City of Winnipeg CrimeStat Report

EKOS Research, Neighbourhoods Alive! Community Outcomes Evaluation Report, September 2010.

Manitoba Housing Renewal Corporation, HomeWorks! A Housing Strategy and Policy Framework for Manitoba, June 2009. (4,5)

North End Community Renewal Corporation, Housing Coordination Funding, Report to the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative, March 2010

North End Community Renewal Corporation, Housing Development Work Plan 2009 – 2010

North End Community Renewal Corporation, The North End Tenant - Landlord Cooperation Program, Report to the Winnipeg Foundation, 2009

North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan 2003 - 2008

North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Housing Plan, “History and Character.” 2003 - 2008

Point Research, Point Douglas Community Survey 2008

Statistics Canada, 1996 Census Data – North Point Douglas Neighbourhood Profile



Winnipeg Free Press, “Crime Can be Beaten”, March 13, 2010, page A18.

Sources of Information1

3

4, 5, 7

2, 9

6

8

75

Appendix B| Questionnaire

North Point Douglas Housing Plan Stakeholder Consultation Sessions

November, 2010 Questionnaire

Please complete this questionnaire and leave it in the drop-box. It will take approximately 10 minutes. The North Point Douglas Resident’s Committee will use this information as we update our Five Year Housing Plan. We appreciate your participation today and value your input.

1. How did you hear about this event (please check all that apply)?

Poster in the area / on a bulletin board

Flyer in the mail

From a friend or neighbour

From a community organization

Email invitation

Other (please specify):___________________________

2. Are you (check all that apply):

Home Owner in North Point Douglas

Renter in North Point Douglas

Landlord in North Point Douglas

Business Owner / Operator in North Point Douglas

Employee at a Business in North Point Douglas

Employee at a Community Organization or Social Service Provider that

serves North Point Douglas

Volunteer at a Community Organization or Social Service Provider that

serves North Point Douglas

Other (please specify): ________________________

3. If you live in North Point Douglas: what street do you live on?

________________________________________________

4. If you live in North Point Douglas: how long have you lived here?

Less than 6 months

6 months to 1 year

1 - 4 years

5 - 9 years

10 - 14 years

15 - 19 years

More than 20 years

I live here now, but I am planning to move out of the neighbourhood within the next 6 months

5. What do you like most about North Point Douglas?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

6. Is there anything that you would like to change in North Point Douglas?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

7. Do you feel that over the past five years North Point Douglas has changed for the better?

Yes

No

Why?____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

8. If you had to pick only one important issue for the North Point Douglas Resident’s Committee to address, which one is the most important to you? (please check only one)

Healthy, safe and clean living conditions

Boarded-up houses / derelict property

Care and appearance of park / green space

More people owning homes

Appearance of houses in the area / more renovations to houses in the area

Landlord responsibility and accountability

Care and appearance of vacant lots

Concerns about availability of neighbourhood amenities like stores or other businesses

Safety in the neighbourhood

8. What type of housing do you think we need more of in North Point Douglas?

Owner occupied homes

Houses for rent

Apartments for rent

Special Housing (e.g. seniors,

disabled, students)

Temporary Housing (e.g. emergency shelters)

Condominiums

Housing for single people

Housing for small families

Housing for large families

Housing for extended families

9. What are the things that would make you think that housing in this area has improved?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

10. Can you think of any new ideas or activities that should be considered?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

11. Additional Comments:

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

You may send your Questionnaire directly to Scatliff+Miller+Murray by fax at 927-3443 or email [email protected] by Monday, November 22, 2010.

Thank you!

Housing Plan 2011

Documents

Transcript of Housing Plan 2011