City negotiates for rail lands.

A great deal of North Bay's hope for the future is riding on the rails of Canadian Pacific Railway's waterfront rail yard.

Redevelopment of the rail yard is a key element of North Bay's economic development strategy. The city has several ideas for the property which separates the downtown area from the waterfront. These include a hotel and convention centre, recreational facilities and commercial development.

"I like to refer to it (the property) as the third jewel of the Triple Crown," comments Stephen Sajatovic, North Bay's director of planning and development. "It presents a tremendous opportunity for the community and would give it a real boost in image. It's a wonderful opportunity if we can ever pull it off."

However, before the 45 to 50 acres can be sold for development, CP Rail must be accommodated with alternate rail lines and a yard.

A committee made up of representatives from Canadian Pacific, the city, Canadian National Railway and the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission is studying a plan which would see CPR use CNR's lines and contract the services of Ontario Northland's shop and yard facilities.

CPR spokesman Paul Thurston confirms that the company is investigating the possibility of using CNR's lines through North Bay.

According to Sajatovic, that discussion is tied to top-level negotiations between the two rail lines over the possible rationalization of services between Ottawa and Coniston.

Any redevelopment of the rail yard would also require an environmental analysis to determine whether the site contains any hazardous materials, adds Phil Richardson, president of the North Bay development firm The Richardson Group.

The Richardson Group has drafted plans for the site which include a hotel and convention centre, a four-season playground facility and a retail mall complete with a major department store such as Eaton's or Sears.

However, Sajatovic points out that if the land becomes available for redevelopment it will be sold to the highest bidder.

Sajatovic recalls that the idea to redevelop the rail yard originally came about after The Richardson Group submitted a similar proposal for the waterfront and was turned down by city council.

"The city had gone to a proposal call, and it was that proposal call that spurred us to go back to CP Rail to say there is interest for this type of land use," he explains. "That's how the whole issue began."