By DEAN LISK
The City of North Bay has received a number of proposals for the development of the rail lands, located between the city’s downtown and the waterfront of Lake Nipissing.
“We are in the middle of the proposal process,” says Tim Sheffield, CEO of North Bay, adding the city is currently in a request for proposal process and he cannot provide much information on the development.
“They gave us a general statement of what they were interested in doing a month ago, and now they are firming up their proposals,” he says.
When completed, the development of the rail lands will see the downtown of the city connected to the waterfront for the first time in its history.
The plan is to reintegrate the land, which is currently criss-crossed by a number of tracks and sidings, back into the landscape of the community by constructing new businesses, parks and residential structures in the area between Ferguson Street and Sherbrooke Street and the waterfront.
The $12-million rail land deal, a deal which closed in January, saw the city purchase 14 hectares of land from CP Railway, and drew mixed reaction from the public.
Sheffield says part of land was already leased by the city, while other segments were bought years ago from other property owners.
He says the $12-million deal included not only the purchase of the land, but also the moving of the existing tracks and other costs asscoiated with the transfer.
Two of the land use proposals which have been released to the public, include Dalron Development of Sudbury and the Empire Living Centre of North Bay for the construction of a senior’s complex on four hectares of land next to Oak Street West.
The site is currently used as a parking lot.
The companies had until the end of February to make a presentation to the city.
Developments have already been initiated on the edges of the rail lands along with renovations to downtown buildings.
Last month, an $840,000 federal and provincial funding announcement was made for the renovation of the CP Rail station on Oak Street.
The funding will be used to renovate the nearly 100-year-old two storey structure, which is one of the oldest in the city.
Fundraising in the community, and a $200,000-contribution from the city, resulted in renovations to the exterior of the building, including a new roof, canopy and chimney, being completed.
Work to the building’s plumbing and wiring, as well as structural repairs, still need to be addressed.
The Community Waterfront Friends, a group of North Bay volunteer and business organizations who were concerned about the direction the city seemed to be taking in regards to the rail lands and waterfront, is overseeing the restoration.
The newest funding means completion of the project, which is expected to play a key part in the development of the rail lands, will likely occur faster than first anticipated.
Renovations are expected to begin this spring and be completed in 2004.
The Friends have also indicated they would like to build parklands and a new carousel along the waterfront.
A carousel was opened on the city’s waterfront last summer on the eastern side of Memorial Drive, next to the CP yards, and was a large draw during the community’s Heritage Festival and air show.
The city’s Web site says the proposed “Winter Wonderland Menagerie Carousel” would be 22-feet in diametre, and include 14 animals carved in a downtown location by the local volunteers.
Subject to municipal approval, the carousel would be located in the Memory Garden Parkette at Fraser Street and Main Street, and would operate through the spring, summer and fall, and during the Christmas season.
