Signs have started to pop up on Roblin Boulevard in Charleswood, highlighting big plans for an empty lot near Assiniboine Park, which could include a Thermea-like spa. The property used to be home to a popular model train and Christmas lights display, and Paul Taylor, the owner of the land and the president of Arthur Atlas Properties and Development, is hoping to bring a new phase of life to it. He is looking at a proposed three-phase development that would feature a variety of businesses, an up to 85-unit 55-plus residential building with underground parking, and then a 15,000-square-foot Nordic spa similar to Thermea, which would include indoor and outdoor amenities, landscaping, and a green space. “It’s something popular. It’s something that Winnipeggers like. We live in a very cold city half the year, so if you can at least get some hot water in the middle of the cold weather, it’s a net positive,” said Taylor. Despite the elaborate plans, nothing official has been put in front of council yet, as Taylor said he has been working with the city to iron out details and make sure the proposal is complete before it hits a council agenda. Taylor hopes the paperwork will be done soon and it will be in front of city councillors by November. “We’ve been trying to work very collaboratively with planning as well as zoning, just so that we’re in alignment with what we want to see with the site,” he said. “We’ve had a number of meetings where we sat down, collaborated, and we made some amendments to our application where we know that we have planning support in what we’re doing. So we’ve gotten a little bit of homework, which we’re just finishing up literally as we speak, and then we’re going to be resubmitting because we’d like to get in front of council before the end of the year.” Area Coun. Evan Duncan said more can be discussed once an application is in front of council, but hearing about the initial plans, he knows there would be some barriers to the project. “The applicant’s aware of the barriers that are here,” said Duncan. “There’s a Winnipeg Airport Authority restrictions here. There’s water and sewer capacity issues with regard to the lift station here. There’s a report that he submitted that was very clear that there is not a desire for additional retail in this location and the adjacent properties do not reflect any of the proposal that I’m seeing out on Roblin Boulevard.” Duncan also notes the area is currently zoned as a single-family lot, making a spa, commercial businesses, and multi-family units not suitable. “There’s more consultation to be had if an application comes forward.” Taylor said those concerns are why he has been working with the city before an application gets filed, noting his intention is to have a project that “complements the surrounding community.” “Anything worth doing is never going to be easy and so I’m completely patient with that reality. I think that what we’re doing here is going to be a net benefit to the neighbourhood,” said Taylor. “I think it’ll be great for Winnipeg. I think it’s a legacy project and I think it really does justice to the land and the history of it.” Taylor said he has heard from Charleswood residents who have provided feedback, highlighting things they would like to see if the development is built. Around 133 people have left comments on Taylor’s website for the project and he said 73 per cent of those people have had positive engagement. If everything goes according to plan and the project clears the city council process, Taylor is hopeful shovels could be in the ground to start phase one of the project by spring of 2027.
