Northern Ontario developments!

Originally Posted by vid

And for the record, about a dozen people commute between Thunder Bay and Toronto, 1600kms. There is some site on StatsCan with commute figures to back that up, too.

Yeah, Cambridge has about 1200 going to Toronto, 200 coming from Toronto, also backed up on that same Statscan site (2001 figures). 1400 in total . Not sure if that's anything to be proud of though. It's pretty terrible for the environment.

Hmm, I wonder how that works with Thunder Bay though... Does it count as a commute if you only physcially go to your workplace once every week or two?

[vid]

I don't know? Maybe they're counting place of work? I don't think that data looks at how often they commute. They probably see something living in Thunder Bay, working in Toronto, and assume they commute every work day. (They probably don't know where Thunder Bay is, anyway. )

[vid]

Latest news:

Leon's Furniture is coming back to Thunder Bay. They left a few years ago and were replaced by Dufresne. They haven't announced a location but there were rumours of a Leon's store being built on Fort William Road. Construction begins in Spring for a late 2008 opening.

More terrible news for Atikokan:

Latest setback for Atikokan clouds town's future
Tb News Source | Web Posted: 11/15/2007 9:01:00 PM
http://www.tbsource.com/localnews/index.asp?cid=101966

The forest sector crisis has caused economic woes across the region but two recent developments in Atikokan has put the community on the brink of disaster.

Last week the community's second largest employer and biggest ratepayer, Fibratech, went into receivership. The move came at the same time Buchanan Forest Products announced the shutdown of its Atikokan operations and there is growing discontent as the community attempts to come to grips with its uncertain future.

Only this summer the future for Atikokan was brighter than it had been in a long time. The announcement of a co-generation power plant, providing affordable energy for the existing Fibratech operation and the announcement of a wood allocation for a new laminated veneer lumber operation had spirits high.

But that was before Fibratech went into receivership and 140 jobs were lost and Buchanan-owned Atikokan Forest Products announced it would idle operations until January.

Judi Simmons, president of the Chamber of Commerce and manager of the Thunder Bay Insurance branch in Atikokan sees this latest setback as the final breaking point for many people in the community. Mayor Brown remains hopeful that his community will rebound, that Fibratech can be revived through new investment and the economic roller coaster his town has been riding will come to a stop. But while Brown understandably needs to remain positive, Simmons' assessment of the situation is much more bleak.

==

In the tbt news report, both the mayor and head of Atikokan's Chamber of Commerce were on the verge of tears. The community is just hanging on by the skin of it's teeth. If the coal plant is shut down, then that's it, they'll have little choice but to pack up and leave.

Marine reserve puts positive spin on northshore economy
Tb News Source | Web Posted: 11/16/2007 4:47:32 PM
http://www.tbsource.com/Localnews/index.asp?cid=102012

It may take a few years but area planners are predicting a positive economic spinoff from a recent environmental announcement that turned a huge section of Lake Superior into a marine conservation area.

The Prime Minister himself made the official announcement that turned the north shore of Lake Superior into the world's largest freshwater reserve.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper used Nipigon as the backdrop late last month to proclaim the creation of the Lake Superior Marine Conservation Area and it wasn't lost on area leaders that the spin-off effects for the region could be monumental from the new title.

The designation not only marked a step toward the protection of one of Canada's most valuable resources it also helped open the door for opportunities for north shore communities to diversify their economies.

Aside from the tourism opportunities the Conservation Area will encourage, Prime Minister Harper also pledged $36 million for the new protected area.

Nipigon Mayor Richard Harvey is optimistic that a large portion of those funds will be spent in northshore communities to build interpretive centers, fund administrative offices and research that Harvey feels will go hand in hand with the designation of 10,000 square kilometers of water, lakebed, islands, and shoreline as protected areas.

[vid]

Thunder Bay:

Originally Posted by JMehagan

Marostica Motors is building a new showroom for their Suzuki and Subaru dealerships on Central Avenue. They are actually converting an older building for the purpose. The Hyundai dealership looks like it is staying on Alloy I think.

The Clinic/Community Centre on Golf Links Road is completed from what I can see.

Leon's announced the building of a new showroom and warehouse in the city starting in the new year The Fort William Road property perhaps?

I've also heard an interesting rumour concerning the site of Holsum
Bakery on Algoma Street. Apparently the building is either for sale or
sold and set to be demolished and replaced with a Shopper's Drug Mart.
It's a rumour, take it with a grain of salt of course, but it would radically change the commercial landscape of South Algoma Street should it happen.

http://tbaydevelopments.googlepages.com/home

Proposal for some sort of fitness club in Westfort Village: http://www.thunderbay.ca/docs/news/4470.pdf It's located across the street from that apartment building, a relatively high density area. (By Thunder Bay standards, of course)

Demolition of the Bank of Commerce has begun, it will take about a month or so. They removed the windows and window frames on the top two floors today. I go by it almost daily so I'll keep you updated if you care. Maybe I'll find pictures?

ReGenMed is opening a tissue bank somewhere in town. http://www.nob.on.ca/aroundtheNorth/...7-RegenMed.asp

Harbour Expressway is going to stay Harbour Expressway. http://www.tbsource.com/Localnews/index.asp?cid=102084

Shuniah:

Their 99MW windfarm has been approved. http://www.chroniclejournal.com/top_story.php?id=76424 Phase one will be complete within a year, phase two by 2009.

Greenstone:

A relatively bright future in mining http://www.tbsource.com/localnews/index.asp?cid=102127

[vid]

Moncton recovered, so can Thunder Bay, says McKenna
Tb News Source | Web Posted: 11/22/2007 9:08:46 PM

Thunder Bay can learn a lot from the trials and tribulations of a never-say-die Maritime city hugging the muddy banks of the Peticodiac River, says former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna.

Moncton was hit hard with a triple-shot of economic calamity in the 1980s and 1990s, when CN closed its rail-yard, CFB Moncton shut its doors and a large catalogue office left workers high and dry. Thousands of jobs were lost, eerily similar to what’s happening today in Northwestern Ontario’s hard-hit forest industry.

But the hub of the Maritimes, so-nicknamed for its central location, managed to reinvent itself, rebounding from tough times to the point where in 2004 a prominent magazine named it the best city for business in Canada.

“Moncton was in very bad shape, but the attitude was optimistic and people rallied and got together and they identified the strengths that they had and marketed them aggressively and made a conversion to a new type of economy,” said the small-of-stature McKenna, in town on Thursday for a speaking engagement at Confederation College.

Thunder Bay’s recovery could be even quicker, McKenna added, saying he thinks the unofficial Northwestern Ontario capital has more assets than Moncton did at its lowest point.

McKenna, 59, served as Liberal premier in New Brunswick from 1987 to 1997 and has been long touted as a potential future prime minister. He cited Lakehead university, the new hospital and medical school and the Molecular Medicine Research Centre as ways the Thunder Bay economy can diversify itself from reliance on resource-based industries.

At the same time, he said the city’s geographic location, housing the third-busiest airport in Ontario, the availability of two railways and its deepwater port will make it an attractive stepping off point for global trade.

It’s just a matter of time, he said.

“You have a lot of natural advantages, and at some point there’s going to be a magic thing happen here and people are just going to wake up and say, wow, this is the new Thunder Bay,” said McKenna, currently the deputy chair of the TD Bank Financial Group, a position he’s held since May 2006. Immediately prior to that appointment, he spent a year as the Canadian Ambassador to the United States.

Isolation is not an excuse for failure, he added. Just because Thunder Bay is seemingly on its own in the Northern Ontario wilderness doesn’t mean it can’t embrace the new economy with open arms and find eager trade partners lining up to do business. It happened in New Brunswick and can happen here, he said.

“In the age of new technologies, proximity to major markets doesn’t matter anymore. You’re proximate if you’re connected, and Thunder Bay is connected as Moncton was connected,” McKenna said.

“I’d say 5,000 to 10,000 of our jobs are serving customers that are thousands of kilometres away. And in Thunder Bay, the fact that you have the quality of life that goes with living in such a wonderful community, represents a major advantage and the fact that you’re not sitting in the middle of a huge population base is less of a disadvantage than it used to be.”

^ Don't worry, cottage country will find you guys soon enough.

[vid]

Yes, most Torontonians have a three hour commute time, whats a 30 hour commute to camp?

[Danny D]

Originally Posted by vid

Thunder Bay:



Proposal for some sort of fitness club in Westfort Village: http://www.thunderbay.ca/docs/news/4470.pdf It's located across the street from that apartment building, a relatively high density area. (By Thunder Bay standards, of course)

Demolition of the Bank of Commerce has begun, it will take about a month or so. They removed the windows and window frames on the top two floors today. I go by it almost daily so I'll keep you updated if you care. Maybe I'll find pictures?

ReGenMed is opening a tissue bank somewhere in town. http://www.nob.on.ca/aroundtheNorth/...7-RegenMed.asp

Harbour Expressway is going to stay Harbour Expressway. http://www.tbsource.com/Localnews/index.asp?cid=102084

Shuniah:

Their 99MW windfarm has been approved. http://www.chroniclejournal.com/top_story.php?id=76424 Phase one will be complete within a year, phase two by 2009.

Greenstone:

A relatively bright future in mining http://www.tbsource.com/localnews/index.asp?cid=102127

Thats good news for the mining community up here a lot of old mines are thinking about opening back up from what i hear.

The Harbour Expressway should just be classified an avenue since its not really an expressway. I could say the same about the Thunder Bay Expressway as well.

[vid]

Well an avenue is traditionally tree lined and pedestrian friendly. It's really more of a road than an avenue, or just a highway. Changing the name would cost a lot of money though, it should just be left alone.

There is a "new" proposal for the waterfront. Its the same one as a few years ago but they're more optimistic. Click Tbaydevelopments in my sig, it's the latest news story.

[Danny D]

It would be cool if they would build a new Arena along with Lake Superior Place, It would be just like Duluth's DECC Center.

I think they could tree line Cumberland Street all the way from PA to Current River i mean its wide enough and it looks like crap the way it is now.

[vid]

What I think they might do is convert Water to two lanes, one way north bound and do the same with Cumber, with parking on the side of Cumberland similar to St. Paul Street. The way the two streets merge on either end of downtown is similar to many similar streets in other cities that split and become two on way streets. The only downside would be more traffic lights, but considering the success of the four way stop at the corner of May and Victoria, traffic lights might not even be necessary for most streets. The only problems would come from truck traffic, as it would be diverted into downtown under that set up, though that could be avoided with vehicle size by-laws and the completion of the Hodder Avenue truck by-pass.

The northern part of Cumberland is like most of Arthur, it's a service corridor. They should do something like what they did to Simpson in the early 90s, set up a BIA, and raise money to increase pedestrian environments along the street. It has a lot of cheap motels so it will be a first impression to cheap tourists that otherwise won't care but might talk. :O Trees should have been planted along Red River as well, but it's the same type of street. It isn't really meant for pedestrians.

If we include the new arena, we've got three things proposed for Pool 6. There isn't really enough room for all of them. We need a cruise ship terminal (well, not any more, but it would be handy for the future if we get cruise ships again) and that could be added to the LSP plan, but an arena/convention centre similar to DECC (which I think was expanded this year?) would take up a lot of room. We'd have to get CN to move their rail lines. The plans for the John St. overpass would have made them move it over to accommodate the bridge but that's been cancelled. CN doesn't use that yard much anymore, though, and that yard isn't in a position to really serve the intercity area. It's pretty much useless. Removing it would clear up enough space to make a convention centre/arena possible.

Though I prefer putting it on Simpson between Miles and Cumming. There would be enough room, parking shouldn't be much of a problem considering how many empty lots there are on Simpson. It would probably have an effect on Simpson similar to what the Casino did for Pearl (which was worse than Simpson up until the late 90s)

[vid]

Atikokan:

Atikokan plant could still be viable operation
Tb News Source | Web Posted: 12/3/2007 5:53:57 PM
http://www.tbsource.com/Localnews/index.asp?cid=102486

Community leaders in Atikokan are hoping to breathe new life into the town's idled Fibratech Manufacturing plant that went into receivership before it could capitalize on a new business venture and the municipality could recoup taxes owed to them.

The company's outstanding property tax bill has reached $1.5 million and Mayor Dennis Brown says Atikokan taxpayers are entitled to that money and the township will do everything it can to retrieve it. Fibratech owes its creditors more than $26 million and workers are also owed more than $350,000 in wages and other benefits.

The particle board producer went into receivership last month putting about 140 employees out of work but Mayor Brown says development, like the planned construction of a co-generation plant nearby, means the operation may still be viable.

Earlier in the year the community was granted a white birch wood allotment with the expectation a laminated veneer lumber facility would be erected on Fibratech property. Brown spoke with the accounting firm handling the bankruptcy last week and says there are interested parties.''I personally have talked to 3 groups and Bill Mauro has informed me that he's talked to 4 groups that are interested in purchasing the plant.''

The receiver sent out a package to companies across the country last week and Brown says he hopes more interest will be generated from that.

Soo:

Threats be darned, Sault looks for new waterfront developer
http://www.nob.on.ca/aroundtheNorth/...07-threats.asp

Sault Ste. Marie is again looking for another developer to conceive, design and build another mega-attraction on its waterfront Gateway site.

After shuffling Philip Garforth and his $54-million Borealis concept aside in November by terminating his contract, the municipality is advertising this winter to attract new proposals for a "major tourism project" at the site.

The city doesn't want to miss out on $15 million in a Northern Ontario Heritage funding program that was offered by the Harris government in the late 1990s for a 'destination attraction.'

"It would be unfair for council not to go out there and see if we could find another development interest to move forward with the project," says city planner Don McConnell.

Despite threats by the outgoing Garforth to tie up the 15-acre city-owned property in litigation for years, the city is set to post a request for qualifications (RFQ) for interested parties in trade papers and the MERX development web site.
The tentative deadline for submissions is Feb. 15.

Thunder Bay:

Ambitious plans for waterfront
By JIM KELLY | Thursday, November 29, 2007
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/stor...l.php?id=78039


Intern architect Cory Stechyshyn unveils his design of a proposed multi-use facility for the Thunder Bay waterfront.

Lake Superior Place may turn out to be a pie in the sky dream of a volunteer coalition or it could end up being a strong new landmark on the waterfront, identifying Thunder Bay to the rest of the world.
The interim chairwoman of Lake Superior Place said Thursday the long-term goal of the ambitious project on the site of the former Saskatchewan Pool 6 elevator is to create a four-season sustainable facility.
Laura Fralick said the current vision for Lake Superior Place includes four key elements:
• A meeting and reception facility.
• A national centre of excellence for large lake sustainability.
• An arts and cultural centre for aboriginal and regional artists.
• A national centre for ecological innovation.
But she has reservations.
“We have big ideas but we don‘t know if they‘re feasible,” Fralick said during a news conference.
“That‘s the other thing. The business plan will tell us if it‘s feasible or not.
“The city (which owns the land) wants us to prove our case.”
Fralick said the city has asked for a business plan that includes financial data on the project. She estimated the plan would cost between $60,000 and $70,000.
Lake Superior Place co-chairman Bruce Hyer said the project will cost tens of millions of dollars.
Hyer said the coalition‘s annual general meeting Thursday night would give organizers a chance to meet some of the 200 members of Friends of Lake Superior Place and community supporters, and to showcase the project.
The coalition could receive further advice and guidance.
“This is not a sprint, it‘s a marathon,” Hyer said, referring to the project. “It may take five to eight years (to complete), or not at all.”
Members of the public, business leaders, community groups and city officials all were invited to the meeting.
“Lake Superior Place will belong to the people of Thunder Bay,” Hyer said.

A lack of news about a waterfront developer has led me to believe that the city has yet to find one. The deadline was 5 days ago.

[Danny D]

Yup, i highly doubt any companies outside of Thunder Bay and nwo even know about the request for development. It seems that everytime the city goes looking for contracts/development they either get ignored or are put on the bottom of the list.

[vid]

They have to be more aggressive or more flexible.

[Danny D]

Agree'd. They also have to stop letting companies create sub-divisions and finish filling in the ones that are still half empty, the one near the hospital comes to mind. Although i don't know why people are building up here anyways, our population doesn't seem to be growing as fast as it was in the 50s-70s.

[vid]

Originally Posted by Danny D

Agree'd. They also have to stop letting companies create sub-divisions and finish filling in the ones that are still half empty, the one near the hospital comes to mind. Although i don't know why people are building up here anyways, our population doesn't seem to be growing as fast as it was in the 50s-70s.

They're growing really slowly. The one near the hospital isn't doing too bad, but Parkdale and the NW subdivision have been disasters.

In news: The city has found two people interested in the waterfront, according to what I've heard on the radio (can't remember which station, probably CKPR?) There will be proposals made public in January or February.

Skav's behind the YMCA was torn down over the weekend, and demolition has begun on the part of the old McKellar hospital. The front part along Arthur will become a new Shoppers Drug mart and the back end will be renovated by Habib into a long term care centre.

There was talk on CKPR about the new courthouse, but people somehow translated "Brodie street bus terminal" into "King's stereo building" and complained about it. They don't even understand the process or anything.

It's like CKPR only allows dumbfucks to call in or something? It amazes me at how many stupid people there are in this city! All this time, I thought I was exaggerating!

One more thing: TBCA wants a new name:

[Danny D]

Originally Posted by vid

They're growing really slowly. The one near the hospital isn't doing too bad, but Parkdale and the NW subdivision have been disasters.

In news: The city has found two people interested in the waterfront, according to what I've heard on the radio (can't remember which station, probably CKPR?) There will be proposals made public in January or February.

Skav's behind the YMCA was torn down over the weekend, and demolition has begun on the part of the old McKellar hospital. The front part along Arthur will become a new Shoppers Drug mart and the back end will be renovated by Habib into a long term care centre.

There was talk on CKPR about the new courthouse, but people somehow translated "Brodie street bus terminal" into "King's stereo building" and complained about it. They don't even understand the process or anything.

It's like CKPR only allows dumbfucks to call in or something? It amazes me at how many stupid people there are in this city! All this time, I thought I was exaggerating!

All i hear in the morning on the radio is old people complaining about snow removal and how the government should re-open the mills. Every once in a while i hear someone bash the waterfront proposal. To me its something that is going to benefit the city more than anyone thinks.

The Brodie terminal is in a kinda stupid area anyways. It should have been relocated a long time ago. God knows there are a lot of empty lots around there.

[softee]

Some good news from North Bay:

City to offer developers incentives
Council wants to turn 'dead' land into viable property
Posted By Gord Young
Updated 15 hours ago

The city is moving ahead with a plan to offer developers incentives to build on contaminated property.

The proposed community brownfield improvement plan, presented to council Monday during committee discussions, provides incentives such as tax breaks and grants to help defray costs of environmental cleanup.

“It takes a piece of land that is essentially dead and turns it into a viable piece of property,” said Coun. Mike Anthony, chairman of community services.

Anthony said the plan is intended to encourage development by placing those interested in building on a contaminated property on a level playing field with greenfield developments.

The proposed plan, which will be voted on next week, applies to several properties in the core of the city, most of which are privately owned. However, a key parcel — the former Kenroc/Uniroc site on Memorial Drive — is owned by the city.

And along with the plan, councillors will also vote next week to issue a request for proposals to sell the waterfront property, which has remained vacant for more than a decade due to its dirty industrial past.

If adopted, the brownfield improvement plan would waive certain fees for developers including those for planning applications, some legal fees, demolition and building permits, development charges and landfill tipping fees.

The plan would also offer grants for environmental studies and tax exemptions over three years that would be matched by the province.

Staff has recommended the city budget $300,000 over three years to cover some of those expenses, although those funds may have to be topped up, depending on the program’s success.

Grants, coupled with waived fees and other exemptions, could add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars for a developer behind a significant project. But the program is aimed at sparking development on property that would otherwise remain vacant and would generate tax revenue for the city after three years.

Anthony said there is already interest in the plan with 10 parties attending an open house at city hall Monday to learn more about the proposal.

In addition to the Kenroc/Uniroc site, properties that would qualify for the incentives include another parcel near Marathon Beach within the community waterfront park plan and six rail land properties adjacent to the park plan.

The incentive, however, would only be available if the proposed development contributes to the revitalization of the downtown.

Likewise, there are also properties within the former Canadian National Railway property which would only qualify for the program should the proposed development result in affordable housing.

Another group of properties along Jet Avenue would qualify only if the proposed development is for residential use.
__________________

[shreddog]

Originally Posted by vid

TSkav's behind the YMCA was torn down over the weekend

Saw that and kinda freaked out. What's planned for there? More parking? Hell I remember when that was a Loblaws!

Originally Posted by vid

and demolition has begun on the part of the old McKellar hospital. The front part along Arthur will become a new Shoppers Drug mart and the back end will be renovated by Habib into a long term care centre.

Sounds promising, have renderings been released?

Originally Posted by vid

There was talk on CKPR about the new courthouse, but people somehow translated "Brodie street bus terminal" into "King's stereo building" and complained about it.

Interesting side note, when Victoriaville was first built, a second phase was planned that would continue down Syndicate to Miles and result in the entire parking lot and the Brodie St terminal being converted to an indoor mall. Phase 2 was to start as soon as demand warranted it!

Originally Posted by vid

It's like CKPR only allows dumbfucks to call in or something? It amazes me at how many stupid people there are in this city! All this time, I thought I was exaggerating!

Bumblefucks sell advertising. If its any saving grace, I've found the radio fucktards in T Bay no worse than anywhere else. At least you can console yourselves, that these are mainly old people who are donating their money to you via Queens Park and the Casino!

Originally Posted by vid

One more thing: TBCA wants a new name:

Hmmm, I got a buck fifty, will that suffice?

[vid]

Originally Posted by shreddog

Saw that and kinda freaked out. What's planned for there? More parking? Hell I remember when that was a Loblaws!

I think it will be more parking, probably for the courthouse if the province decides to take the city's offer.

Originally Posted by shreddog

Sounds promising, have renderings been released?

Of course not. This is Thunder Bay!

Originally Posted by shreddog

Interesting side note, when Victoriaville was first built, a second phase was planned that would continue down Syndicate to Miles and result in the entire parking lot and the Brodie St terminal being converted to an indoor mall. Phase 2 was to start as soon as demand warranted it!

Originally Posted by shreddog

Bumblefucks sell advertising. If its any saving grace, I've found the radio fucktards in T Bay no worse than anywhere else. At least you can console yourselves, that these are mainly old people who are donating their money to you via Queens Park and the Casino!

Well the city only gets 5% back. :/ We contribute about 95% of it, too. Not really fair, but we now call that area "the entertainment district", so...

Originally Posted by shreddog

Hmmm, I got a buck fifty, will that suffice?

I think that's what they're asking, actually. 150K a year or something would be enough to more than cover their costs and pay for the improvements they building needs. 1.5 million would get a decade, which is usually how long those naming deals last I think.