This three-storey brick and stone block on Grosvenor Avenue in Winnipeg was constructed in 1928 by Sigmund Lobel and his son Mervyn Joseph Lobel at a cost of about $250,000. The construction plans were prepared by head carpenter Joseph P. Keegan, not a registered architect, which subsequently led to legal action by the Manitoba Association of Architects. Keegan was convicted and fined $50.
The building contained 41 apartments in its original configuration, and remains so today. Rental of apartments in the building was handled initially by Smith Agency Limited.
Ritz Apartments under construction (1928)
Source: Winnipeg Tribune, 28 July 1928, page 6.
Ritz Apartments (January 2021)
Source: George PennerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.87169, W97.16045
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Sigmund Lobel (1868-1950)
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1096/1928, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“16 apartment houses lined up for start,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 April 1928, page 5.
“Tenders wanted,” Manitoba Free Press, 24 April 1928, page 18.
“Big apartment block started on Grosvenor Street,” Manitoba Free Press, 28 April 1928, page 22.
“New construction work in Winnipeg,” Manitoba Free Press, 5 May 1928, page 54.
“Big block on Grosvenor,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 July 1928, page 6.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
“Non-association architect’s case in police court,” Winnipeg Tribune, 25 June 1929, page 5.
“Practised as architect, was not member of assn.,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 October 1929, page 3.
Find a Postal Code, Canada Post.
Preparation of this page was supported, in part, by the Gail Parvin Hammerquist Fund of the City of Winnipeg.
This page was prepared by George Penner, Nathan Kramer, Jordan Makichuk, and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 30 January 2024
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