Manitoba Habitat Conservancy makes $5.25M offer to buy Lemay Forest
Tochal Development lawyer tells conservancy to 'stop playing games,' doesn't believe offer is legitimate
A charitable conservation organization has made a $5.25-million offer to buy a parcel of land in south Winnipeg that's been the focus of a contentious development proposal — but those representing the developer say the offer is too low and has been made "solely for public relations purposes," according to emails obtained by CBC.
The Manitoba Habitat Conservancy told CBC in a statement Friday that an offer was finalized Thursday and "presented to the owner for their consideration" to purchase and conserve roughly nine hectares (about 23 acres) of land in St Norbert commonly known as the Lemay Forest.
The property, which is between Lemay Avenue and the Red River, south of the Perimeter Highway, is owned by Tochal Development Group, which has proposed building a 2,500-unit, 5,000-bed assisted-living facility on the land between Lemay Avenue and the Red River, south of the Perimeter Highway.
That proposal was rejected by city council in September, but in October, the city gave Tochal permission to clear the trees, ending a cease-and-desist order.
The developer has appealed the decision on the assisted-living facility, and is going to the Manitoba Municipal Board for a hearing in early February.
In the meantime, Tochal cut down trees and created an access road for vehicles and equipment just before Christmas, prompting the grassroots organization Coalition to Save Lemay Forest to set up a blockade outside its access area.
John Wintrup, a planner representing the property owner, said they heard about the Manitoba Habitat Conservancy's latest offer through the media, when Winnipeg South member of Parliament Terry Duguid made a stop at the blockade.
"We don't even know if [the conservancy is] authorized to make this offer," Wintrup told CBC on Friday.
"Their board hasn't even legitimized this offer, so we don't know who's behind it or how much money really is there, and we find it somewhat questionable that's being done in the manner they're rolling it out in."
A Thursday email from Kevin Toyne, a lawyer representing Tochal, told the conservancy's real estate agent that it needs to "stop playing games" if it's serious about making offers to buy the land.
The conservancy's offer is valid until the end of day on Jan. 9 and subject to approval from its board by March 21, says a Thursday email from its real estate agent, a copy of which was provided to CBC.
Wintrup says that raises red flags.
"Would any Winnipegger sell their house if a purchaser came along [and said], 'So, you know, I'm not actually authorized to purchase your land or your house, but give me like four months, then I'll come back to you. But you've got to agree at this price," he said.
There are also conditions attached to the proposal, including "no further tree cutting or vegetation clearing" on the roughly nine hectares (about 23 acres) of land, according to the agent's email.
Louise May, a St. Norbert resident and part of the Coalition to Save Lemay Forest, said she was pleased to hear about the offer.
"That's a win-win if that goes through," she said.
But she also alleged that what's happened isn't an oversight by city council, but "maliciously pairing and favouring the developers over the natural ecosystem, over the wellness of the people."
Not 1st offer from MHC
A similar unsolicited offer to buy the land on behalf of the Manitoba Habitat Conservancy was made last March.
A March 2024 email from the conservancy's real estate agent said that it had "cash in hand" and was "ready to write [Tochal] a cheque."
In an email to CBC, a conservancy spokesperson said work to purchase Lemay Forest has been ongoing since last March, and that a new offer has been made to Tochal.
But one Winnipeg real estate broker, who has no connection with the proposed purchase, doesn't believe it's feasible that such an offer could be paid immediately.
Bob Antymniuk said he thinks it would likely take "a number of months" for the conservancy and its partners to accrue the funds needed to buy the property.
"It's not really an offer. It's just, they're reaching out to try and do something without any capital behind what they're trying to do," he said.
Last year, Markus Chambers, the city councillor for St. Norbert-Seine River, said $3.1 million in federal and provincial funding had been allocated to the conservancy (which was previously called the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation) to purchase a different plot of privately owned land, but when an agreement couldn't be reached to buy that property, the funds were reallocated to a potential purchase of Lemay Forest.
The province confirmed in an emailed statement Friday it has contributed $1.5 million through an agreement with the conservancy.
Anymniuk also said just because the forest has been left undeveloped by the owner for years doesn't mean area residents have the right to treat the area like public property.
"They don't want it to change, and they're taking away an opportunity for someone that owns that land to do something with it that it's got full rights to do," Anymniuk said.
WATCH | Manitoba judge orders protesters outside Lemay Forest to stop blocking entrance:
But he also believes the $5.25-million price tag is too low.
And Wintrup maintains the land isn't for sale, despite the conservancy's offer.
"We are moving on," he said. "Even if you say yes to development or you say no to development, the trees are coming down."
Tochal filed documentation to get an injunction to have the blockade removed so the developer can access the land and continue tree cutting. Court proceedings will take place Monday.
Corrections
- An earlier version of this story identified the organization as the Manitoba Heritage Conservancy. While it was originally called the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, it is now known as the Manitoba Habitat Conservancy.Jan 04, 2025 12:41 PM EST
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With files from Mike Arsenault