NOTES ON Summerlea

Summerlea is a new area in Winnipeg in the very East side of the Transcona area. It was developed by Genstar Communities beginning in 2020 and early possession dates starting in mid 2021.  Today, the area continues to develop with new construction options still being offered by many of the builders.  Because of strict architectural controls within the area, the homes do command a premium for Transcona.  The developer described the design of the area to feature pedestrian-friendly streets that are interconnected by green spaces.  Better yet, this community sits along the Transcona Trail which provides ample opportunity to explore the area of Transcona even further.  The approximate boundaries for the area are the Perimeter Highway to the East, the aforementioned Transcona Trail to the South, Gunn Road to the North, and (currently) farmers fields and the CN rail line to the West. Summerlea is about 10 kilometers to the downtown core, and approximately 18 kilometers from the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.

Real Estate Trends

The homes within Summerlea  are all newer – with the most recent possession dates beginning in 2021 (construction began in the area in 2020). You will be hard pressed to find bungalow floor plans within the area – the majority of the construction are two-storey homes with double attached garage.  This lends to the more narrow (often less than 40’ wide) lots.  While these lots are narrower, furthering that communal feel, what you will find is that they are often quite deep (lots are often more than 120’ deep – a fairly typical lot size in Winnipeg is around 50’ x 100’).  As development continues and the area continues to expand, there is some speculation that other floor plans may come available.

There were five major builders within the Summerlea area. ALL of them are willing to work with buyers agents - and it is in your best interest to have your own representation when entering into a new build contract.  The builders within the area include A&S homes, Broadview Homes (a division of Qualico Developments), Daytona Homes, Randall Homes and Ventura Custom Homes.  into the 2000’s within the area, we started to see more cabovers and two-storeys floor plans.  You will notice a different aesthetic to the neighbourhood, with the developer stating the architectural character is to be that of the trendy Farmhouse Style whereby clean lines, subdued colours, modern materials, and contemporary design can be combined for an appealing and cohesive look.  In addition to these architectural guidelines, the front drive lots had a minimum square footage for bungalows of 1200 square feet (hence why there are very few of these options given the more narrow lots), or 1500 square foot for a two-storey or split-level.  On the laned lots (lots with back lane access, not front-drive access), these minimums are smaller – the minimum bungalow size is 1000 square feet while the minimum size for a two-storey or split level is 1350 square feet.

There have been very few resale opportunities within the area, given the newness of these builds.  Sale prices within the area for a two-storey currently begin around $500,000 and go upwards to $600,000+.  As the area continues to develop there will be additional options that represent more affordable pricing including some plans for townhouse or semi-detached style homes as well as condominiums.

Schools and Services

Summerlea is located within the River East Transcona School Division. There are no schools within the boundaries of the area, however just past the Transcona Trail lies Harold Hatcher Elementary school, which is walking distance to this great community.  There are also a variety of French Immersion, German Bilingual, and Ukranian Bilingual available to students within the area.

If you live in Summerlea, your child will likely be put in the following tracks for schooling:

English Programming:

• Kindergarten to Grade 5 at Harold Hatcher School
• Grades 6 to 8 at Arthur Day Middle School
• Grades 9 to 12 at Murdoch MacKay Collegiate

French Immersion:

• Kindergarten to Grade 3 at Ecole Margaret-Underhill
• Grades 4 to 8 at Ecole Regent Park
• Grades 9 to 12 at College Pierre-Elliott Trudeau Collegiate

German Bilingual:

• Kindergarten to Grade 5 at Donwood School
• Grades 6 to 8 at Chief Peguis Middle School

Ukranian Bilingual

• Kindergarten to Grade 5 at Prince Edward School
• Grades 6 to 8 at Chief Peguis Middle School

There is no library within the immediate area.  However, Transcona Library at 1 Transcona Boulevard is a close drive down Gunn Road.

Shopping

At the time of writing, Summerlea is made up entirely of residential homes and there was no shopping within the immediate borders.  However, developer plans show that there will be further commercial and shopping opportunities within the borders of this community. 

Summerlea is also close to great shopping options along Regent Avenue or along Henderson Highway with a quick drive.  Kildonan Place Shopping Centre, with more than 100 stores and services available is a popular destination for those living in the area.  It is the largest enclosed shopping centre in the northeast quadrant of the city. The centre is anchored by major stores such as Winners, Shoppers Drug Mart, and many more well-known brands.  Surrounding the Kildonan Place Mall, there are a number of large retail outlets including; Costco, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Superstore, Walmart, among others.

Entertainment and Recreation

This is a popular neighbourhood if you are looking to get outdoors! First, it offers the communal walking paths and future plans for man-made lakes as well as a large green space at the center of the community. 

Summerlea also offers easy access to the Transcona Trail which is a multi-use asphalt path that is 6.7 kilometers in length and used by walkers, runners and cyclists. It follows a variety of hydro lines along the Manitoba Hydro right of way. It starts at Regent Avenue and runs to the East Perimeter.  It has a variety of points of interest along the path which include Rotary Tall Grass Prairie Nature Park, the Train Park, the Off-leash dog area, The Transcona Trail Park, and the Transcona Community Bio Reserve.

Another popular attraction near the area is Club Regent Casino. Located at 1425 Regent Avenue West. It is one of two casinos in the city, both are owned and operated by the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation. Connected to the casino is the Canad Inns Club Regent Hotel. The casino contains a McDonald’s restaurant, as well as a concert stage, on which regular comedy, and musical performances are scheduled.  Definitely worth a visit!

For other amenities within the area, we highly recommend you check out our Transcona page for additional information.

Popular Bus Routes

46: Transcona Express (Transcona to Downtown)

47: Transcona to Pembina

48: McMeans Express to Downtown

89: North Transcona to Kildonan Place

90: North Transcona to Whellams Lane

January 2022