Supreme Court ends legal saga over Fulton Grove project in Parker Lands

Jeff Keele reports on the supreme court’s decision on the Parker Lands development and what comes next.

The legal battle over the Parker Lands development is over.

“We’ve been dealing with this for several years. It’s behind us,” said Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham.

The project was first planned in 2013.

In 2023, a judge ordered the city to pay $5 million to Gem Equities, the developer. The court found two city planners purposely stalled the development.

But the Manitoba Court of Appeal overturned that decision, and on Thursday, a request to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was denied.

Gillingham believes this is a vindication for the city and a win for taxpayers.

“Whenever we can win a court case and get costs, that’s the taxpayers recovering or getting some of their money back.”

Gem Equities owner Andrew Marquess said while he is disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision, he is grateful for the court system, saying without it, this project wouldn’t be moving forward.

In 2018, a judge ordered a public hearing on the development to be held and later found the city in contempt.

“This wasn’t about a legal battle, it wasn’t about winning an award from the city, it was about getting housing built,” said Marquess.

That housing will include 1,900 units on 47 acres, with a mixture of apartments, condos, townhouses, and single-family homes.

“A community that’s located close to rapid transit that would appeal to all walks of Winnipeggers.”

Now that court is adjourned, Gillingham said the city’s focus is on helping turn the piles of dirt on the empty property into homes.

“I want to see these properties developed. It’s a time where we need housing in the City of Winnipeg,” said Gillingham.

Marquess said some housing construction could begin in the summer and fall this year, with some people moving in as early as the spring of 2027.