IKEA proposal draws lukewarm reception from Tuxedo residents

Like many Winnipeggers, Frank and Leanne MacLean were excited when they heard about retail giant IKEA’s plans to open an outlet in the city’s south end.

The couple wasn’t quite so excited about the company’s plans after learning more details at an open house held March 11 at J.B. Mitchell School in River Heights.

What concerns the MacLeans most about the developer’s plans is how close the proposed 1.5-million-square-foot commercial project will be located to their Park Place East home.

They say that the MMM Group Ltd.’s decision to develop next to the CN Main Line will result in a substantial increase in noise in the neighbourhood as the sound from passing trains will be reflected and amplified by the row of buildings along Wilkes Avenue.

“Our backyards border right on the CN line and if they end up buying the Wilkes property then our property will be roughly about 100 feet from the fence line,” Frank MacLean said.

Of particular concern to the MacLeans and many of their neighbours is the additional commercial development planned in Phase 2 of the Tuxedo Yards Redevelopment between Wilkes Avenue and Sterling Lyon Parkway.

“When we purchased our homes on Park Place we were all aware of the trains and accepted a certain level of noise generated by them. We did not, however, accept an increase in the level of noise generated by the sound of the trains reflecting off the large buildings,” Leanne MacLean said.

Residents at last week’s open house said they were frustrated by the amount of time they were given to respond to the developer’s plans. The plans were made public March 5 and were scheduled to be heard by members of the city’s executive policy committee March 18.

“We had less than a week to try and inform everyone on the street what was happening. Several people had no idea about any retail, including the IKEA, let alone how close they were going to be to our homes,” Leanne said in an email.

“The general feeling is that the developers used a surprise attack strategy to push this forward before any of the residents had a chance to speak up.”

The MacLeans have been circulating a petition in the neighbourhood since they heard of the development plans and have also proposed some solutions to the adverse affects of the development.

“We just want (the developers) to stop for second and think whether they build it further away from our building, maybe we could put up a wall to block the sound,” Frank said.

The MacLeans said the addition of a wall would minimize the effects of the extra noise generated by not only trains, but also the sounds of day-to-day operations at the businesses.

Another solution might be to decrease the speed that trains are allowed to travel when passing through the area, the MacLeans said. That would help minimize the noise the trains would generate.

Some residents have already relayed their concerns to Charleswood-Tuxedo city councillor Bill Clement.

Clement said the residents’ concerns will be addressed in due course.

“Before (any retailer) can take out a building permit on the land they have to present a complete plan to community committee so that it is approved in a way that it will at least recognize or answer some of the questions that are being asked by the residents,” Clement said.