The company overseeing a new development in southeast Winnipeg is sharing more information about what Winnipeggers can expect once it’s complete. Avison Young is spearheading the creation of Dawson Crossing, which is expected to fill 119 acres of land bordered by Lagimodiere Boulevard, Fermor Avenue, Plessis Road, and Dawson Road South. “It’s a really unique site. It’s one of the last major mixed use sites in the city, at least in the southeast quadrant of the city,” said Todd Labelle, vice-president of Avison Young. Avison Young said plans for the proposed development, just north of Sage Creek, include more than 3,000 residential units, 250,000 sq. ft. of retail space, and around 12 acres of parkland. The commercial space is expected to attract big box stores and other retailers with plenty of room for medical clinics and other essential services. “The community will be dotted with two scenic lakes, complemented by expansive greenspaces, parks, and walking trails, providing residents and visitors with a pleasant, walkable environment,” a release from the organization said. Labelle said Dawson Crossing could also help address a housing shortfall in the city. “When you look at the vacancy rates in the city, and we’re starting to see that houses are being unaffordable for most younger people, we just need to get that supply up there,” he said. “Building one-off apartments up and down Main Streets are great, but having a nice, dense residential area like this is starting to be more and more common, and then is supported by all the retail that will come along with it, Avison Young also lauded the area for its proximity to the Trans-Canada Highway and suggests it could be the “gateway to cottage country and Ontario”. Labelle said servicing of the site is expected to be done in 2027, with some of the first buildings in the neighbourhood breaking ground soon afterwards.
