'Renaissance' waterfront plan approved.

Thunder Bay is opening the doors to waterfront development.

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With a community-endorsed master plan fresh off the designer's board, the city is preparing to make its $100-million Prince Arthur's Landing project become reality.

City councillor Mark Bentz, who's chairing the City's waterfront development committee, says this quality of life project will "change the way people think about the city they live in."

"It's a renaissance project that'll change the city quite dramatically."

During March public consultation sessions, more than 1,000 Thunder Bay residents viewed the ambitious plan presented by Calvin Brook, principal partner for BMI/Pace, a Toronto-based urban design planning firm hired by the City.

The mixed use of new commercial, residential and recreational features that will more than double the green space at Marina Park. It's the first phase in a longer 10-year plan to reshape the the 52 kilometres of waterfront and connect the city's various neighbourhoods, business districts and natural areas with walking trails.

"It's a project of renewal with a strong economic development component," says Bentz.

The site's features will include a new hotel, condominiums, an artisans building and market place with an expanded marine adding more than 200 boat slips. The hotel and condos will be erected on an existing parking lot. Plans show bike trails, a waterfront promenade, gardens, a children's pond and playgrounds throughout the property.

Much of the development will be centred around the historic CN train station in a market square type setting.

Similar to harbour revitalization efforts at Duluth-Superior, public trails will pen up more parkland to the public to a maximum of 60 acres.

Keeping the waterfront as people-friendly for festivals and community events is vital. But building upscale housing and a hotel will keep the site populated and busy with year-round activity.

"It's not going to be a solid line of condominiums and hotels along the waterfront trail. We have certain design guidelines to maintain. The park is part of the mix that we think is essential."

Whether it's one main developer that eventually selected by the committee or multiple firms for each project component, Bentz says they must adhere to the master plan design guidelines.

Attracting private investment shouldn't be a problem, says Bentz. The committee has already fielded questions from interested hotel and condo developers.

"But nothing has been formalized because we haven't issued any RFP's (request for proposals) in terms of what opportunities exist."

Government funding will also play a role. But Bentz is unsure if Thunder Bay has access to a one-time Northern Ontario Heritage Fund program offered in the late 1990s, providing $15 million for a regional tourism attraction in each major Northern Ontario city.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie already cashed in on their $15 million for their proposed waterfront Borealis-Gateway attraction scheduled to break ground this spring.

Bentz suspects Thunder Bay's short and long-term plans to redevelop its waterfront should resonate with government funding agencies.

Construction tenders for the project's first phase, a skateboard plaza, will be released before the summer although bids for any major buildings likely won't be released for another year.

A waterfront manager is being sought to oversee the project, apply for any public funding available and deal with potential developers.

The City of Thunder Bay has antied up $8.3 million to leverage private and public sector funding.

The municipality is preparing to invest in infrastructure site servicing requirements and is in talks with CN and CP Rail on a pedestrian crossing off of Red River Road.

The site requires zoning amendment as a downtown waterfront space along with Fisheries approval, environmental assessment and site plan approvals.

Next to Marina Park, the city intends to reclaim a former industrial brownfield site, the historic Saskatchewan Pool 6 grain elevator imploded in 2002. It's being set aside for future development as public gardens and a cruise ship dock.

There's also tentative plans to lure a 100-year-old Great Lakes passenger steamer to the Thunder Bay waterfront.

Talks with the American owner of the S. S. Keewatin are still in the preliminary stages. The waterfront committee is recommending city council authorize a delegation to inquire about the ship's condition at its berth in Douglas, Michigan.

"It would be a very good addition to the waterfront, if it's the right fit," says Bentz.

www.thunderbay.ca/waterfront

By IAN ROSS

Northern Ontario Business