Farther south and outside the Perimeter Highway, that is.
"It's old homestead land that I purchased 15 years ago," says Darlene Dolinski, who runs Copall Equestrian Centre on a one-mile-deep lot set in mature trees at 4180 Waverley St. "In total, there's about 700 acres of land that could be developed, but no one has mentioned it because we're (four kilometres) outside the Perimeter Highway. For whatever reason, this is a forgotten piece of land."
For her part, Dolinski says she is prepared to move her equestrian facility to make way for a housing development -- provided the terms are right.
"It's a gorgeous setting with the La Salle River, all kinds of wildlife and thick groves of mature forest. If I ever sell, I will fight to protect the forest -- I was horrified to see them remove a good deal of the trees in Waverley West," she says. "This could be a very unique corner of Winnipeg, provided that the natural features of the area are kept intact -- and the design is creative."
Dolinski's adviser and friend, Dick Ritchie of Finalco Realty Canada Limited, says the initial response from city planners has been one-dimensional.
"They're taking the position that there's only one way to do it -- 50-foot lots, with traditional services, just as in the city," he says. "We're saying, let's think outside the box on this one, because the land could lend itself to something really different, and special."
That's exactly the mindset, says Dolinski.
"I envision a beautiful area that has front yards that look like Linden Woods, with larger, agricultural back yards that would be large enough to keep animals like horses, goats and sheep in," she says. "Then, you could have access to greenspace, parks and ponds out back, places where you could ride your horse and go canoeing. I think there would be a lot of people who would be in favour of such a development."
Ritchie says that as things stand now, it's unlikely that Dolinski will be able to realize that vision anytime soon.
"Things take time to happen when you're dealing with any level of government," he says. "So it will probably be 10 years before the city will start to look seriously at that area. That being the case, it's unlikely that a developer will buy the land. Who could blame them? It wouldn't pay to hold on to the land for that long."
That's a sad, but true, commentary on the present situation, adds Dolinski.
"I've spoken to developers, but they say their hands are tied," she says. "It seems the different levels of government don't want a lot of development going on outside the Perimeter. If they change their minds, I would be prepared to move."
A former builder, Ritchie says it would make sense to develop the area now rather than later. Making additional lots available would provide another option for consumers, while at the same time alleviating the high demand for lots in the city's southwest sector.
"Naturally, time will take care of this situation," Ritchie says. "But if it takes five or 10 years for things to happen, what will lots cost then? Hopefully, everyone involved will see the area's potential and move sooner, rather than later."
