A manager of a Winnipeg apartment complex says he has been ordered by the City of Winnipeg to clear up debris left by a homeless encampment on land behind his building, a move he calls unfair and unsafe for staff and residents.
Who, what and where
Marvin Sharp, chief executive officer of AML Properties, oversees the Pen-Eve apartment complex at 35 Balmoral Street, which backs onto the river. Sharp says the encampment on his property has been present for several years and that people are sheltering in an area beneath the building’s surface parking, which is scheduled for removal because the riverbank has been shifting.
Sharp described debris left behind, including clothing, consumer goods and needles, and said there have been multiple fires and repeated instances of people cutting through fencing the building installed to protect the site.
City order and the dispute
On July 17, Sharp said he received a compliance order from the city requiring him to clean the area himself. He told reporters he reacted with disbelief, saying he could not safely clear the site while the encampment remained.
“Literally I said, this is bulls–t. You, the city, are responsible for the encampments. I can’t go clean this up unless you deal with the encampments. It’s absolutely unsafe,”
Sharp also objected to language in the order that he says warned the city would undertake the cleanup and put the associated costs on his property tax bill if he did not comply. He called that potential outcome infuriating, arguing it effectively penalises property owners who are already spending on security and repairs.
Councillor response and local context
Sherri Rollins, councillor for the Fort Rouge–East Fort Garry ward, expressed agreement with Sharp, calling the directive “absolutely absurd” and characterising the city’s approach as a short-term fix to a longstanding problem.
“I want Winnipeggers to see this for what it is. An absolute Band-Aid on a gaping wound,”
Rollins said it is unreasonable for the city to place the burden on property owners who have already spent money on security, fencing and repairs. Her comments highlight a broader debate over how the city manages encampments, public safety and who bears the cost of cleanups on private property that borders public land.
- Location: Pen-Eve apartments, 35 Balmoral Street, Winnipeg
- Property manager: Marvin Sharp, CEO, AML Properties
- Councillor: Sherri Rollins, Fort Rouge–East Fort Garry ward
- Compliance order date: July 17
- Reported hazards: clothing, consumer goods, needles, fires, breached fencing
Local impact and questions for the city
The dispute raises practical concerns for residents and property owners along the river: who is responsible for addressing unsafe encampments that occupy private property; how cleanups are coordinated with outreach and shelter options for encampment residents; and how costs are allocated if the city enforces compliance against property owners.
For tenants and neighbours, the presence of hazardous debris and repeated fires can affect day-to-day safety and property security. For the property manager, the compliance order presents a dilemma: take on a potentially dangerous cleanup without assurance the encampment will be removed, or face the prospect of the city undertaking the work and charging the property owner.
As the situation develops, Winnipeggers in the affected neighbourhood and other riverfront properties will be watching for city responses that clarify enforcement policy, safety measures and any supports for people living in encampments.
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Site | Pen-Eve apartments, 35 Balmoral Street |
| Compliance order | Issued July 17; requires property manager to clean debris |
| Reported hazards | Needles, fires, torn fencing, belongings |
Requests for comment were made to city officials to explain the rationale behind issuing the compliance order and to outline how the city intends to address both the hazard and the encampment’s residents. Answers are expected to shape how similar situations are handled in other Winnipeg neighbourhoods that border public spaces.
This report focuses on the facts reported by the property manager and a local councillor and on the immediate implications for safety and responsibility at a riverside Winnipeg site.
