Winnipeg’s Market Lands could eventually play host to new roads and walkways that better connect parts of downtown.

That’s one idea from the first public engagement report on redeveloping the lands, which include the now-vacant Public Safety Building and shuttered Civic Parkade on Princess Street.

CentreVenture Development Corporation, which led the consultations, found public support to better connect parts of the Exchange District in particular.

“We’d like to take a look at those options and see (if there would) be a way of improving the circulation through the site, either through roads or through pedestrian corridors that could be quite different from what you see today,” said CentreVenture Development Corporation CEO Angela Mathieson.

Mathieson noted routes could improve between Winnipeg’s Chinatown and the rest of the Exchange District, for example, which has lagged behind the reinvestment seen elsewhere.

Mathieson noted three months of consultations with more than 300 people drew plenty of ideas on how to use the land, which also included a public market and safe parking.

“We think that there has to be a parking solution. In terms of the downtown, we know that parking in the Exchange District has the most acute (shortage),” said Mathieson.

CentreVenture says the list of ideas will now guide a redevelopment site plan that will head for council consideration. The next report is expected at the December meeting of council’s property and development committee.

Successful ideas will be limited by a caveat that requires the southern third of the lands to have a public use, which dates back to when the property was first donated to the city in 1875. That portion of land will likely require public investment, while CentreVenture plans to work with the private sector to develop the rest.

The Civic Parkade closed in 2012 due to structural concerns, while the PSB closed in June after police moved into their new headquarters on Smith Street. The city expects to begin construction on the redevelopment in 2019.

Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry), chair of the property and development committee, agreed a lengthy planning period is needed to allow plenty of public consultation on how best to use the site.

“Vision and (dialogue) always take a lot of time. Let’s do it right,” said Orlikow.

jpursaga@postmedia.com

Twitter: @pursagawpgsun