THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay’s city council spent much of Monday looking to the city’s future, endorsing a plan meant to revitalize downtown Fort William, and hearing new details on a proposed waterfront science centre.
Councillors also approved a $5.7-million contract covering the bulk of 2023 road resurfacing projects, and in a close vote, opted to explore the possibility of selling off city-owned trailer park Hillcourt Estates.
Thunder Bay science centre pegged at $80 million
Science North released new details on its proposed Thunder Bay science centre in a presentation to city council on Monday.
The provincial agency’s vision for a 3,850-square metre building on the waterfront at Pool 6 is estimated to cost $80 million and draw 60,000 visitors a year.
Science North CEO Ashley Larose outlined a potential 2025 construction start and 2027 opening in her remarks to council.
Downtown Fort William renewal plan approved
Council unanimously endorsed a blueprint for renewal of the downtown Fort William area.
The plan proposes the city move more aggressively to develop vacant and underutilized land in the downtown, with a specific focus on building more housing in the area.
City and business leaders have expressed optimism the plan will set the stage for a revitalization of the south core as the Victoriaville mall is demolished over the next two years.
Specific recommendations like establishing a downtown community development corporation and luring a post-secondary campus to the area will be addressed in an implementation report in September.
Hillcourt Estates
Council voted to examine the possibility of selling off the city-owned Hillcourt Estates trailer park in the Neebing area.
The third-party managed property has become a consistent money-maker for the municipality since it stepped in to take it over in a tax sale in 1994.
However, some councillors argued the city shouldn’t be “in the landlord business” and should sell the park to the private sector.
Major road work contract approved
Council awarded a $5.7-million contract covering the bulk of the city’s 2023 road resurfacing work on Monday to Pioneer Construction.
The contract will see sections of Dawson Road and Arthur Street fully rehabilitated and numerous other streets repaved.
A $1.5 million chunk of the contract covering resurfacing along Memorial Avenue and a new traffic signal at the intersection with the Harbour Expressway was approved only conditionally.
The city will divert those funds to cover the rising costs of a $13 million reconstruction of core sections of Red River Road and Court Street, if it’s not successful in applications for federal and provincial grants for that project.
Patio program extended
The city will continue a patio program supporting patios on sidewalks and other city-owned lands, but will no longer waive certain charges for local businesses
The program, which has included waiving application fees and providing items like traffic barriers and planters to businesses free of charge, cost the city around $18,000 last year, city staff reported.
The city will no longer waive patio application fees and will begin leasing those items on a cost-recovery basis. However, it will continue waiving fees for the use of city sidewalks and parking spots.
The special patio program was started in 2020 as a COVID response. Staff said maintaining the program will support continued economic recovery.
The city processed 34 patio applications in total last year, a number that’s expected to dip in 2023 due to construction in the north core.
