Thunder Bay’s Waterfront Development Plans Progressing Well
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Thunder Bay’s Waterfront

Thunder Bay’s Waterfront Development Plans Progressing Well

 

by Scott A. Sumner

www.thunderbaybusiness.ca
    Recently a public open house was held to provide an update on the progress of the new Prince Arthur’s Landing development. Things are progressing nicely according to Calvin Brook, Principal of Brook Architects whose firm is responsible for the look and design of the $66
million public component of the project. In addition to this is the private developer who will spend $65 million on two 52 unit condominium building as well as a 110 room hotel.
    “ It is about bringing people from across the world to Thunder Bay to see the natural beauty.  In terms of middle Canada I can’t think of a more spectacular setting. We want to expose a natural setting to the world,” said Calvin Brook. “ Today you have to cross 4 lanes of traffic
and a railway track to go from Red River Road to Prince Arthur’s Landing. Our plan will solve that problem and provide an inviting environment. We will renovate and restore the baggage building as well as construct other buildings and amenities. The buildings will be
tendered in January 2010 and it will be a three year build out process. The public phase is overlapped by the condominiums and hotel. I think it is critical to have an audience of those who live there and are visiting the hotel. It creates a resident market.”

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    “ The hotel and condominium represent 50% of the project. They will provide construction jobs as well as ongoing jobs. The residential, commercial and recreational component will give vibrancy”,noted Katherine Dugmore, Manager of the Waterfront Development. “ Things are
going along well. The hotel and condominiums will start in 2010. In 2010 you will see a big hole. They will  just require condominium and site plan approval to proceed. The development is uniquely compatible to the surroundings.”
    “ The public buildings will be about 7000 square feet in total. In terms of the 5 or 6 buildings they are not big in size but very small. The biggest is the water garden pavilion and baggage building renovation. A lot of the money is in site work. The developer would also like to renovate and develop the CN building. The capital of the public program is $66 million. The splash pad  will be 11,000 square feet in size.” said Brook.
    “ We have 50 projects in our office right now and I think this is by far the most exciting and it will be transformational. We have done waterfronts in Ontario and this is by far the most exciting. It has all the ingredients to transform the downtown. This is a wonderful setting
and it will give people a reason to come. We have a large local art component that will be very unique as well,” said Brook who has completed projects in Burlington, Windsor, Oakville, Oshawa, Mississauga  and cottage country. . “ We can accomplish it with $66 million. That is a healthy budget to do what we need and do quality work. The ice climbing areas will work well  with water trickling down every 2 or 3 days. This idea came from our public art committee. They
are hugely popular. Ice climbing is a local sport. We are hoping they will be stewards.”
      “ The view is so amazing  here. Our hope  is the project will have a spill over effect to Water street. In this area there are restrictions because of the railway activity. I do think on Water
Street there are a lot of parking lots that could be developed. This council will always be concerned about public access to the waterfront. We have had more public type of presentations like Lake Superior Place for future development. Council will probably limit future commercial developments.” said Katherine Dugmore.
Phase 1 $44 million and new marina $22 million . Council has funded $22
million and has applied for $36 million.



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