Borealis groundbreaking set for September.

Northern Ontario's biggest-ever tourism project is ready to start construction this fall in Sault Ste. Marie.

After seven years and a succession of wannabe developers for the Gateway waterfront property, Toronto developer Phillip Garforth and his company, Legacy Quest, is moving forward with their $54-million Borealis attraction. The groundbreaking is set for September.

The development, which will be built south of the existing charity casino, is scheduled for a ribbon cutting in the spring of 2008.

The final financial hurdle was cleared March 31, when Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci released a long awaited $15 million from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund at a sod-turning ceremony at the waterfront site.

City planner Don McConnell says the Borealis project is likely the single largest investment in tourism in the North, surpassing the $27-million Science North complex in Sudbury which opened in 1984.

The Heritage Fund money was originally offered by Queen's Park in the late 1990s, specifically earmarked for a major destination attraction in each of the six major tourism markets in the North. The Sault is the only project that qualified for the full amount of $15 million.

The primary lender for the project is the Commercial Capital Bank of New York. The Heritage Fund money will be dispensed over a period of seven years.

PCL Construction, which will be the project's main contractor, has promised there will be many opportunities for local trades people.

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Once the final drawings are complete, tenders will be going out advertising for contractors and skilled trade workers in the Daily Commercial News.

McConnell says PCL's intent is to hire as many locals as possible.

"They were really straightforward with that."

The timing of the construction could be considered perfect from an employment point of view. The Borealis will be sandwiched between the completion of the new downtown sports and entertainment centre in August and well before construction of a new hospital begins.

"We should be able to keep a fairly good workforce employed right through for a couple of years," says McConnell.

A long time running

The concept of developing the Gateway site has been discussed since 1988 when the city approved a waterfront development strategy to set aside the land for some kind of tourist attraction. The municipality assembled a parcel of land once occupied by a scrap metal yard (now the charity casino site), the Algoma Steel settling ponds and a fishery hatchery.

Garforth's ambitious master plans, first unveiled in April 2005, will include a Radisson hotel, restaurants, a performing arts theatre and retail outlets. With retail tenant improvements, the project's total realized construction value will be closer to $70 million.

The feature attraction will be a massive 35,000-square-foot green house covered by a large transparent dome that will house a diverse environment of plants and trees. The developers say Borealis will rival any tourist attraction in Ontario or the U.S. Midwest.

Aside from some minor legalities to clear up with NOHFC, and the completion of a site plan agreement between Garforth and the City, "it's pretty much ready to go," says McConnell.

"I don't see any significant problems."

McConnell extended his appreciation to Garforth and the provincial government for their patience while the deal was put together.

"They appreciated the difficulty to assemble a project of this size with as many different players that are involved. No one expected it to come together quickly and Mr. Garforth needs to be congratulated for his efforts on that."

Garforth, who is moving to the Sault, says the master plans were to be modified in April to accompany a slightly larger development than the original 14 acres. The company purchased some extra land near the St. Mary's River. They were finishing up engineering work and were obtaining building and foundation permits to start building by September at Northern Ontario Business press deadline.

Legacy Quest hopes to replicate the bio-domes and rain forest theme of Britain's Eden Project in Cornwall, considered one of that country's top tourist attractions.

Garforth believes the Borealis environmental theme will have greater substance and much more visitor appeal than a large-scale amusement park would.

"I think people are looking for experiences that are more challenging than Disney."

Brand name retail stores and restaurants such as Bell World and TGI Friday's will be part of the attraction, along with the relocation of the Agawa Canyon Tour Train depot. Legacy Quest is also in negotiations with other undisclosed retailers as possible tenants.

Despite some bleak tourism forecasts for 2006 and beyond due to passport concerns for American visitors, Garforth says he isn't worried.

"We hashed this to death," he says. "We're promoting this project globally, not just in the U.S."

Garforth says with the whole attraction package of the casino, entertainment acts and the visitor experience, he has faith Americans will get the necessary documents to cross the International Bridge.

"It won't be a big deal."

His company is talking to bus companies to set up Michigan routes and has plans to make a Canada Day presentation in Mackinaw City with the Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association.

Carlson Hotels, owner of the Radisson hotel chain, have European travel agents and will put together packages to include the Agawa Canyon Tour Train, Searchmont Ski Resort and other local attractions.

McConnell says the Sault already has a solid tourism base with about 1.7 million overnight visitations annually to the Sault and Algoma district, and that's what attracted Garforth to the area.

Sault economic development officer Norm Jaehrling says, in his chats with tourism industry leaders on the passport issue, the industry feeling is day visitors to attractions like Niagara Falls will feel the passport pinch rather than destination and overnight visitors.

City planning staff also have ideas for other complimentary tie-ins with the Borealis project. The waterfront boardwalk will eventually be extended east to the Bushplane Museum through the vacant Petro Canada tank farm. Restorations are ongoing at the Old Stone House and an attraction and investment strategy is underway to improve the downtown shopping core.

www.garforthgroup.com

By IAN ROSS

Northern Ontario Business