Regina’s executive committee endorses moves to help inner city

Mayor Chad Bachynski says the efforts of a social enterprise that’s helping keep property maintained is an example of the action that’s needed to revitalize Regina’s inner city.

On Wednesday, Regina’s executive committee unanimously endorsed a plan to transfer a vacant lot at Sixth Avenue and Retallack Street in North Central to Growing Young Movers, a non-profit that provides programming to youths in the area.

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Last year, the organization formed a social enterprise called the Building Futures Collective, which employs young people to help maintain property held in the City of Regina’s land bank. It’s now proposing a building on that lot to serve as a hub for its growing activities.

If Regina City Council gives the plan final approval, this lot at Sixth Avenue and Retallack Street will become home to the Building Futures Collective. (Geoff Smith/980 CJME)

If city council gives the plan final approval, the lot, which is currently owned by the province, will be transferred to the group for one dollar.

A $300,000 grant from the Housing Accelerator Fund would help pay for construction, and the property would be given a five-year tax exemption.

“The things that they’re doing already is really tackling the issues that I’m hearing directly,” Bachynski said, pointing to the group’s efforts to clean up graffiti and garbage.

“That look and feel of your community and that pride in community, that’s what Growing Young Movers is really all about.”

Affordable Housing Lands Policy updated

Committee members also approved changes to the Affordable Housing Lands Policy on Wednesday.

Those changes will now make for-profit builders eligible to buy or lease city-owned land, and will also allow adjacent property owners to buy so-called “side-lots” for $500.

Bachynski said he was impressed by the success of a similar program in Detroit.

“I’ve specifically talked to residents in North Central who have expressed interest in leveraging if we had that ability to create another green space, even a block green space, something where they would take it on and maintain,” he said.

“It’s a space for kids to go and play soccer and do something, kind of a mini park space. So I’ve heard examples of where community is willing to step in and take these types of projects on, and that only helps us as a city create those vibrant spaces for our community.”

The side-lot program, originally proposed just for North Central, was expanded to include Heritage as well. Administration said land in Heritage is experiencing some demand, though, and prices are rising.

Committee recommends next step towards acquiring land for Saskatchewan Drive project

A lot that the city says it needs for its Saskatchewan Drive corridor project will be designated as needed for a municipal purpose if the motion is approved by city council.

The land at 2704 Saskatchewan Drive, near Angus Street, was identified by Regina’s administration as a requirement as the city works to expand and widen the street.

The designation gives the city the legal authority to expropriate the land if negotiations with the owner fail to produce a deal.

“I think this has been a long, long negotiation, a long-standing item that’s been worked on,” Bachynski said. “It’s a project that’s been many, many years in the making, and so I have full faith that administration is going through all of the due diligence and ensuring that we’re we’re negotiating and working to a resolution there.”

The report said negotiations with property owners along the corridor began in 2022, and additional funding was approved in 2023.