On the waterfront: hotel, condos on the horizon for Thunder Bay's waterfront.

• Author: Petersen, Brigitte
• Position: DESIGN-BUILD

A place to live, work and play That's what Thunder Bay's city council and administration are planning to create through the redevelopment of the city's waterfront.

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The project encompasses an area in Thunder Bay's north end, called Prince Arthur's Landing, which sits on the shore of Lake Superior. With a mixture of public and private investment, project proponents are working to make the waterfront area a year-round destination for residents and visitors. The vision includes expanding public park areas and recreation activities with the hope of reconnecting the downtown to its waterfront through the construction of a "mixed-use village."

"What I like about this project is that we will create a waterfront where there's a strong identity," said the City of Thunder Bay's waterfront development manager Katherine Dugmore. "It will be a fabulous place for citizens and visitors to go."

City officials hope the project, which involves about $65 million in private funding, will be a catalyst for tourism and help revitalize the north end's downtown core.

The city has sunk $22 million into the waterfront as its share of $66 million in combined government funding.

The publicly funded part of the project includes an arts centre, an exhibit space called Mariner's Hall, a water garden pavilion, children's pavilion, skating rink, splash pad, skateboard park, restaurants and cafes. Recreational paths and spaces are also to be added, while featuring public art installations in several locations. Construction work on some of these elements is expected to be complete by April.

There has been some opposition to the re-development due to concerns about the skateboard park, and about how the project would affect existing residential housing nearby.

"Some people were anxious about the (marina) park being taken away," said Dugmore. "Good urban planning should have parks mixed with residential."

A major part of the redevelopment includes private investment for a proposed hotel and two condominium buildings. In June, city officials met with the private development consortium, which includes Winnipeg companies Laureate Developments and the Re Solve Group to discuss this part of the development. Three hoteliers have expressed interest.

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The privately funded portion also consists of a commercial building for shops and restaurants, and redevelopment of an historic Canadian National Railway passenger station.

The project is...