Downtown Winnipeg has seen a surge in housing over the past decade.
In 2025, more than 1,000 new housing units were approved, and according to the City’s Planning, Property & Development department, that is nearly double the strongest pre-pandemic years and the highest total in at least 15 years.
“This is a clear sign that confidence is returning downtown and our focus on housing is working,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham. “We’re seeing real momentum with cranes in the sky, projects moving forward, and more people choosing to build and live in the heart of our city.”
City staff say older permit data is hard to compare to, but they believe 2025 could be the strongest year in the city’s history.
“We’ve been focused on removing bottlenecks and making it easier to build housing downtown, and this data shows that work is paying off,” said Councillor Evan Duncan, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development. “When we speed up approvals and reduce red tape, we make it easier for projects to move from idea to construction.”
Some of the major projects that have led to the surge include DSM at Donald Street and St. Mary Avenue (160 units), Shanghai Residence at 232 King Street (54 units) and Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn at 450 Portage Avenue (373 units).
“We’re building Winnipeg, and that includes building up our downtown,” said Gillingham. “More residents bring more feet on the street, more safety, more investment, and a stronger future for our entire city.”
CentureVenture is reinforcing the importance of keeping housing downtown with its new strategic plan, which builds on this momentum by providing a roadmap to double downtown’s population.
This year, several projects will continue to help the surge, including the St. Charles Hotel, Maw’s Garage and the Sanford Building, the Alloway Building and the Garry Block, which will add nearly 300 additional residential units downtown
