A new loft condominium development in Thunder Bay's north core is taking shape as part of a larger urban movement to lure people back downtown.
Superior Lofts, a Toronto-based developer, is renovating a former Cumberland Street bar into high-end living and business space offering views of the harbour and the Sleeping Giant.
The company acquired the century-old, two-storey building last June and is creating nine studio residential units and four commercial spaces.
Sean Serino, one of the partners in the venture, moved back to his hometown two years ago to work on the city's waterfront revitalization project, Prince Arthur's Landing, as an architect with Brook McIlroy.
“It was nice to come back because things are happening and people are getting excited and that (Prince Arthur's) was fun to be a part of.”
With construction of the waterfront Delta hotel and two adjoining condos now underway, Serino notices more reinvestment in the core as older, vacant buildings on nearby Red River Road are being converted into restaurants and bars in keeping with the city's vision to create a north end entertainment district.
Serino, who grew up in Fort William, on the city's south side, remembers the north end as the place to go for nightlife, but there was never really a hub of establishments within walking distance.
“You couldn't walk from one bar to another in the winter when it was freezing. What's really appealing is the promotion of pedestrian access and lifestyle that wasn't existing before.”
Serino said the north core has wonderful historic buildings, some in serious decline, “but thankfully this one is built on pretty good bones.”
After acquiring the building last year, contractors set about doing some interior demolition, installing new steel framing, plumbing and electrical. A leaky roof has to be replaced.
A basement level and main floor served as a bar and event space. The upstairs was packed full of junk from its time as a warehouse for Marshall-Wells, a hardware merchant, at the turn of the last century.
When complete in the fall, the finished units will expose the original brick, post and beam construction.
Though the price points have yet to be finalized, the units will range between $200,000 and $600,000.
“The condo lifestyle is unique to Thunder Bay because people expect a yard, garage and certain amenities with the price they get,” said Serino. “Here you're selling them on the view, the waterfront setting, the loft style and the downtown location.”
Early reaction has been favourable with two residential and commercial units already sold without even advertising. Serino's main employer occupies one of the spaces.
When completed in November, Serino estimates their project investment will between $2 million and $2.5 million.
“It's ambitious but manageable.”
Jim Commuzzi, restaurateur and vice-chairman of the Waterfront District Business Improvement Association (BIA), said the investment in Prince Arthur's Landing, new condos, restaurant expansion and the resurgence of live theatre and waterfront festivals remind him of the activity in the 1960s.
“We are on the cusp of an explosion here that is a resurgence of the heydays of our forefathers,” said Commuzzi, owner of Rooster's Bistro. “We’re excited about the energy and the way people are enjoying the night life of the downtown core.”
As part of the BIA's Heart of the Harbour branding campaign, they've sought to boost pedestrian traffic and attract people to live downtown.
Like Serino, he's building three new apartments in a building next to his restaurant.
Last year the city streetscaped in front of his establishment, installing decorative lamp posts, planting trees and widening the sidewalk to 15 feet. “This will allow us to have an outdoor patio.”
Commuzzi said the Thursday-to-Saturday night life has helped clean out the prostitutes and drug dealers. “People create security.”
His restaurant is located one block from the site of a proposed downtown multi-plex events centre.
If an arena and convention hall comes to fruition, Commuzzi knows it will drive more traffic into the core.
While in downtown Winnipeg at a recent convention, Commuzzi experienced the vibe around the MTS Centre during an NHL game night.
“It gave me the opportunity to walk around and see the synergy that was happening when the arena was full and from people walking downtown, in and out of all the different restaurants and novelty shops. The place had an energy about it, even while the people were in watching the game. That can happen here.”
Although the waterfront development and arena talk has provoked much fiery community debate about its public costs, obstructed views of the harbour and possible parking issues, Commuzzi brushes aside all the negative talk.
“When all the parking is taken up then we’ve done our job. We're in a great position and it’s a tribute to people down there for last five or six years fighting for it.
