Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 30, 1995, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press Homes Section Philip Anwyl 6977017 b1 july 1995 the Brotchie Yard required extensive landscaping and its by Aldo Santin staff reporter when Harry and Doneta Brotchie moved to a new development along the red River in East they wanted a View of the River that would complement their new Peter who lives several kilo metres upstream in fort just wanted to make sure his new House didst fall into the River like the last one we ended up with a natural so to Markesteyn we built the new House a lot closer to the some of Winnipeg most breathtaking views Are of the Homes that line its like some of these unique Lyde signed Homes Are barely visible through the thick Brush and Trees that line the but other like the Are noted for their detailed landscaping that Fea Ture multiple terraced finely Mani cured swimming pools and and pathways that Lead to a Dock at the Rivers choosing the extent of development on riverfront property depends largely on preference and professional landscape architects say sometimes the Only restraint on developing riverfront land is Money and some people can spend Between and putting in gaze bos and says Ross of Mcgowan design group really there is no limit to what you can natural Beauty landscape architect Cynthia Cohlmeyer said she encourages her clients to adapt their desires to the Rivers natural the River is not some evil thing that destroys says i Tell my clients that they should approach the Nat ural surroundings of the River land and use it to their the Brotchie hired Mcgowan to design their backyard about four years when they bought that it was unfinished land and it lacked a View of the River from the Over the course of a the Riverbank was graded and then stabilized with the placement of Large Limestone boulders at the Waters a pathway of interlining blocks leads to a new a Golf pro at Harbour View Golf said he later added a Gazebo that matched the style of his my advice to anyone wanting to develop their property is to first higher a professional landscape Brotchie they will give you an Overall plan and you decide How much of it you want to the provinces chief medical says when he rebuilt his finances dictated that he largely leave the property along the Rivers Edge his new on Crescent would eventually win architectural awards for its Markesteyn says he opted to essentially restore the Rivers the land that once dropped off like a Steep Cliff behind his original Home was graded but Markesteyn says he rejected advice to Jeff Debooy free press full without a plan before embarking on a riverfront landscape Here Are some and facts from property owners and professional Check with and in what an it the authority will require a get for technical report and a proper site development in fees fora landscape Archi to for a 5 simple project and could climb As High As Rule of thumb says expect the professionals fee to 10 per cent of the value the vol nature will claim about one foot of riverfront land per protecting land from erosion with d re wrap and Limestone boulders can Post about per foot of exposure will determine the Type of for Southern expo sures along the Assiniboine l Froen in this Calls for sturdy 4 Oak Trees and wild owners is Lush Green grass run the risk of losing the Lawn As it collapses into the j Northern exposures along the t Are very Shady and wet and dogwoods grow Peter and Jane Markesteyn opted for a natural look for their River Marc free press protect the land from further erosion by Lin ing it with Large Limestone its extremely we have 170 feet of land along the River and it would have Cost tens of thousands of we could not afford Markesteyn says he was sur prised to see that the Large Wil Low Trees that collapsed with the land grew his rear Yard now is dotted with the Large but Markesteyn says that without the extra Protection for the Rivers he will lose about 30 pm of land to erosion every Mcgowan says that anyone buying River front property should get a Geo technical report which will reveal the stability of the within the boundaries of the City of win any development within 100 metres of a River must first be submitted to the civic Rivers and streams Geo technical report who specializes in Commer Cial says anyone planning to a Dock or Gazebo or install a swim Ming Pool will need a Geo technical landscaping plans should also take into consideration ice High water Levels during the Spring and the lower Levels in the who was involved in the development of the boat Basin and Plaza at the says she decries property owners whose first instinct is to take a Bulldozer and strip the land Bare Down to the Waters its arrogance that we can create a land she the River is More Power Ful than we Pohlmeyer says she recommends that residents explore their property and the adjoin ing River for a Long time before initiating landscape the Assiniboine and red Rivers Are among North americas largest Bird Foi Birds depend on natural growth along the Riverbank for Protection and Cohlmeyer says Brush and thistles can be cleared to give homeowners a View but walkways and docks have to be so lab people often see a picture in a Magazine arts hats what they want in their backyard but Rivers have a landscape of their people should leave it if there doing any there should be As Little intrusion As ;