THUNDER BAY — Crews and equipment are being brought on site to start construction of the shell for a 109-unit housing project on the grounds of the Thunder Bay Country Club.
The developer, Di Gregorio Developments, had signalled last fall it intended to proceed this year with the next stage of the long-delayed project.
Another developer began work in 2012 on what was initially planned to be a condominium, but it never advanced beyond the foundation.
But Silvio Di Gregorio, president of the company that took ownership of the property in 2022, said Monday his firm has now decided an apartment building is a more feasible option.
"It will have to be apartments, only because even if the numbers come back in line a bit, nobody will buy the condos. I mean, we're going to be looking at $600 a square foot in cost. And nobody's going to give you $600,000 for a 1,000-square-foot condo in Thunder Bay."
Di Gregorio said the complete shell for the six-storey building, including the elevators, will be erected but work on the interior won't proceed immediately after.
"We have to put the shell, the roof, the windows in, close it in so it's watertight. Then we'll look at re-pricing the drywall, the mechanical, the electrical, the plumbing, all of that. Hopefully the prices have come back into line because right now they're out of line. Obviously, we will bring it to fruition. There's no doubt about that. It's just a matter of when it's feasible."
He said the completion of the new Thunder Bay Correctional Complex next year might make it easier to get tradespeople to finish the project.
"Hopefully, next year, if the numbers come down, otherwise we might have to look at bringing trades in from out of town. I mean, we're hoping that the local trades, with the jail getting close to completion, there might be some capacity and the numbers come down."
Di Gregorio emphasized his company is awarding contracts for the project to Thunder Bay firms.
"We've managed to award all the contracts for everything to local companies, which for us is important. Everything that is being done so far, with the exception of the supply of the elevators, because of course there's nobody here. The steel, the precast, the roof, the trusses, the stairs, everything that's going up will be performed by local people so far. We'd like to continue that. We're strong believers in supporting the local economy."
