Project Description
Solara Flats is centrally located in Downtown Winnipeg and will be home to a socially-inclusive mixed-income, mixed-use, 21-storey high-rise. Developed in partnership with Lotus Holdings Winnipeg, the project will be part of the growing vibrant neighbourhood on Colony Street and will neighbor UWCRC 2.0 Inc.’s existing Muse Flats (opened 2020) and UWCRC’s Downtown Commons (opened 2016) buildings. The $77 million project will house 214 apartment units with four commercial spaces on the ground floor. The apartments will range from studio to two-bedroom units. This innovative project is designed feature net zero ready, with near net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Of the 214 new units at Solara Flats, 86 will be set aside for affordable housing including 38 studio and 48 one-bedroom apartments. Just over 20 per cent of all suites will be barrier-free or barrier-free-adaptable, with fully accessible common areas, including an outdoor greenspace terrace, gym, lounge and laundry facilities. Affordable rent levels will be 59-69% of CMHC Median Market Rent for the neighbourhood. In addition, 30 percent of suites will be barrier-free or barrier-free ready.
The project has confirmed $200,000 through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and $150,000 in development funding through the CMHC. The project has received $2.73 million under the Manitoba Works Capital Incentive program. Through Affordable Housing Now, the City of Winnipeg is also providing tax increment financing to the 308 Colony project for up to $5 million over 25 years, as well as a capital grant of $250,000. The City of Winnipeg also contributed a grant of $21,600 through its Housing Rehabilitation Investment Reserve. The project has also received an additional grant of $577,000 from Efficiency Manitoba toward the installation of an innovative heating system, as well as $150,000 from Government of Manitoba’s Conservation & Climate Fund.
Developer: UWCRC 2.0 Inc. and Lotus Holdings Winnipeg
Project Management: UWCRC 2.0 Inc.
Architect: Cibinel Architecture Ltd.
Engineer: Epp Siepman Engineering Inc.
Landscape Architect: HTFC Planning and Design
Construction Manager: Bockstael Construction Ltd.
Anticipated construction start date: Summer 2023
Anticipated completion date: Winter 2025
2023, UWCRC 2.0 Inc.. All Rights Reserved. This project was carried out with assistance from the Green Municipal Fund, a Fund financed by the Government of Canada and administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Notwithstanding this support, the views expressed are the personal views of the authors, and the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities and the Government of Canada accept no responsibility for them.
