Turning the Sault into 'Eden'.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: NEWS

Philip Garforth wants to replicate Eden on Sault Ste. Marie's waterfront.

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The lead developer for the city's Gateway site finally unveiled his much-anticipated master plan to city councillors and staff behind closed doors in the Sault, May 4.

The Toronto developer has assembled an impressive team of internationally-experienced design, operating and financial partners in the hopes of transforming the Sault's brownfield Gateway site into an upscale, mega-tourist attraction that will rival anything in Ontario or the United States Midwest.

After more than six years and several unsuccessful bids by four previous developers, Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation president Bruce Strapp says the city has finally landed a "great team" with a "good financial package" to move the ambitious $53.7-million project forward.

The tourist attraction component of the site will be called Borealis, named after the forest-based story it will tell.

Inspired by the bio-domes and tropical rain forests of the Eden Project in Cornwall, England, it will the only project of its kind in North America, combining "education with entertainment," says David Marshall, research analyst for Design International, the project's architects.

The Garforth Group, which has spun off subsidiary Legacy Quest Developments Inc. to oversee the Sault project, also introduced their development team. It includes Design International, Select Contracts Group, who will operate the site, and Bell Canada.

The developers have assembled a financial team that includes an undisclosed New York investment group and Sault Ste. Marie's Northern Credit Union.

Garforth is pushing to start construction as early as August with an eye to opening in 2007.

"I'm ready to get moving and I'm probably as anxious as anybody up there to get this going," says Garforth in an interview from his Toronto office. "It's now up to (city) council to do their work and it's got to be expeditiously."

Strapp could not provide a time frame when construction tenders will be called this year, depending upon council approval, finalizing agreements and NOHFC funding approval.

Garforth wants shovels in ground by late August, which Strapp describes as a "best case scenario."

The project now enters a due diligence phase to finalize legal agreements, transfer the city's $1.8 million, 14-acre property to the Garforth Group, plus secure $15 million from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation...