City of Winnipeg considering 'partial or full demolition' of Alexander Docks site

The City of Winnipeg wants to know how much of the historic Alexander Docks can be salvaged as it looks to redevelop the site. 

A request for proposals on the city's website is seeking a contractor for an engineering assessment that would identify parts of the current dock structure that can be used "with the objective of establishing a docking facility suitable for public use including for mooring recreational watercraft and launching canoes, kayaks and paddle-boards."

The contractor would also make recommendations "for the partial or full demolition" of the dock, which was built by the federal government in the 1920s.

Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), chair of the city's property committee, says the work is needed as part of a long-term plan to revitalize the historic landmark, in partnership with The Forks.

"The plan, as part of the downtown recovery strategy that was launched after the COVID-19 pandemic, set aside money for the Alexander Docks and really envisioned it as being that connected riverbank dock to our tourism centre all along the river," Rollins said in an interview.

The site has been fenced off since 2015 over concerns about structural safety.

"It's hardly a dock anymore and the riverbank condition, too, needs to be assessed," Rollins said.

In September, city council approved a deal with The Forks to lease the dock for $1 per year for 99 years.

The Forks will take the lead on coming up with a land-use plan, fundraising and developing the site.

"This study will provide an updated outlook as to the viability of the dock, and this will help inform future design directions," Zachary Peters, spokesperson for The Forks North Portage Partnership, wrote in an emailed statement.

The city's request for proposals is focused "solely on engineering aspects and will not include any stakeholder engagement or design work," Peters said.

The city's COVID-19 recovery strategy set aside $600,000 for the project.

Rollins says the city hopes that will attract funding from other parties.

"The talk of what our river and riverbanks mean is always a discussion in the downtown, amongst residents of mine and others that share the downtown riverbanks," she said. "It's part of the sense of pride of place that we have."

A 2017 report recommended maintaining the dock as a public space with a commemorative marker acknowledging reconciliation.

The dock became associated with the death of Tina Fontaine, after the 15-year-old girl's body was found in the Red River nearby in 2014.

The engineering assessment is expected to be completed by this spring.