Return to higher properly values.

• Author: JARRE, RALPH

Sense that Thunder Bay market has bottomed out encouraging

The make-up of the Thunder Bay commercial market is as diverse as the geographical makeup of the city itself. Effectively the north core and south core, formerly the town centers of Port Arthur and Fort William, bookend the intercity area which is now the hub of retail activity for the City of Thunder Bay.

The Intercity Shopping Centre, the major big box outlets such as Wal-Mart and the soon-to-be developed Camrose property are all located in this area.

Where vacancy rates have increased over the past few years in the core areas, intercity has shown positive growth. Lease rates and property values are substantially higher in intercity. However, there is a trend to fill in the voids left by the earlier exodus in the cores at rental rates that are lower but still sustainable by the property owners. The north core has experienced a quicker rebound with the casino development, Magnus Theatre relocation and expansion, as well as anticipation of commercial development on the lakefront at the marina. It is expected that in the near future this area will be a centre of high demand comprised of boutiques, entertainment and food establishments, as well as a solid base of office space.

The south core is still quite soft in vacancy and values, but the sense by many that the market has bottomed out is encouraging entrepreneurs to take advantage of some excellent opportunities that may pay off in the long run. An example of this being a for mer movie theatre transformed into a medieval dinner theatre with audience participation.

In the industrial sector...