Southwood Circle plans revealed

The long-awaited development plan for the former site of Southwood Golf and Country Club, near the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry campus, was revealed at a ceremonial groundbreaking on the site last week.

Southwood Circle is the name of the new mixed-use neighbourhood constructed on the former golf course, which was purchased 15 years ago by the University of Manitoba. UM Properties, a limited partnership controlled by a U of M trust, is the general partner and independent land development company which holds the 113-acre site and which will lease parcels of land to third-party developers.

All developers will be required to build in accordance with UM Properties design guidelines, a Southwood Circle press release stated. The first call for proposals was issued this past summer and construction of the first phase is expected to begin in 2024. The full project will be completed in four phases over the next 20 years.

The $6-billion development will include 21 acres of parkland, nine acres of which will be riverfront land. Plans call for 12-million square feet of development, more than 11,000 residential units, housing up to 20,000 people, and 300,000 feet of commercial retail space. There will be approximately 10 kilometres of new active transportation pathways, 2.5 kilometres of new roadways and plans call for the preservation of the 5,000 trees on the property, with two trees to be planted for every one that is removed.

The permanent home of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, which is currently located on the U of M campus, will be located on Southwood lands granted to the NCTR by the University of Manitoba.

For more information on the project, visit southwoodcircle.com