City of Thunder Bay looks for input on waterfront development
Online survey launched, in-person feedback sessions planned for summer
The City of Thunder Bay is looking for public input as it considers the next phase of waterfront development.
An online survey has been launched to give residents the chance to provide feedback as the city updates the existing Waterfront Master Plan, with a focus on the Pool 6 area.
Guy Walter, landscape architect with the city, said the Waterfront Master Plan hasn't been updated since 2015, despite several new opportunities emerging for the waterfront.
"The 2015 plan included the addition of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, a number of upgrades, and possible future cruise ship terminal areas," Walter said. "Most of it was really recreation-based. There wasn't a lot of development outside of the art gallery and a proposed Nordic Spa location, and also a bit of a cultural campus."
Since then, however, the city has cleaned up the Pool 6 area, and that in turn has led to interest from developers, Walter said.
"We have plans that are really at the point that they need to evolve," Walter said. "We've got a number of other projects along the waterfront that are part of that original master plan that are also evolving at the same time."
And part of that planning, Walter said, involves asking members of the public what they'd like to see.
"With the survey going out, this is really to initiate this process so that we can get the feedback of what the public really appreciated, or thought was really high value, from the previous master plan," he said. "But also looking to see what investment they would like to see the city and the community put into the waterfront to bring more development, or more activity, or better utilize the lands so that we have a higher interest, a higher activity and higher value at our waterfront."
In the meantime, Thunder Bay's Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) is also taking a look at the development of the city's waterfront, but from an economic perspective.
The organization is currently undertaking a best-use study of the area, said CEDC CEO Jamie Taylor.
"It's a study that's going to look at really what is the maximum economic value that we can get out of those lands," Taylor said. "So it's very different than what the city is undertaking."
Taylor said the study has been underway for the past few months, and is expected to be completed in June. It will then be shared with the city to help inform any decisions made about waterfront development.
"I think everything is on the table," Taylor said. "We've asked our consultants to really take a look at anything that would be supportive of what's already down there, so taking a look at what's already at Prince Arthur's landing that could be complementary, and then what other viable business opportunities could be."
Taylor said the development of the waterfront will mean good things for Thunder Bay's future.
"Everything that's happened down at the waterfront has spurred the development that's been happening in the downtown core, the redevelopment," she said. "Twenty years ago, it was very different."
"The development that has happened [has] allowed us to be able to attract the cruise shipping and create a whole new industry for our community," Taylor said. "So I view the waterfront as one of our greatest assets, and we want to ensure that we develop the rest of it in the best way that we can."
The city's survey can be found on its Get Involved website. Walter said further public engagement sessions are being planned for this summer.
